USA > Missouri > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Missouri : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Clinton County in the late war, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
When we arrived at the foot of the hill, they stopped in the middle of the road till I came up, and Langston remarked to me, "we might as well show him the varmint," meaning the cowhide. Whereupon I drew out the cowhide. Langston took it our of my hand and rather flourished
412
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
it before Willard's face, asking him how he liked the looks of it. Willard remarked to me, "Jennings, that's not for me, is it ?" I answered, " I hope not ; show us the money, and do the thing that is right and it shall not be."
We then went on to the top of the hill, some three hundred yards, and stopped in the middle of the road. Willard seemed to be indifferent about going to where he said the money was hid, and here said he had none, and wanted to come to town-wanted to go and see old Johnny Crooms ; said he could get the money of him, etc. I told him that was only a come-off, and that Crooms would not let him have the money. Other remarks of the same character were made for a few minutes, when Langston remarked, "Willard, you have lied long enough-it is time you had shed your linsey." With this remark, Langston commenced unbut- toning Willard's vest. Unbuttoning his vest, Langston discovered in Willard's bosom, or under the waistband of his pantaloons, a butcher knife. Langston snatched it out of Willard's clothes and drew it back behind him. He did not draw it back in such a way as to lead me to suppose that he intended to stick it into Willard. But Jones seemed to apprehend something of the kind, for he snatched it out of Langston's hand and gave it to me, and told me to keep it and not let Langston have it. I did so-put it in my bosom and kept it until after Willard was dead, and then put it in his hat and set it near his head, with his coat and vest, after we had packed him away from where he had died to the place where he was found by the crowd that went out.
About the time that I took the butcher knife (it was an old one- looked like it had been much used about the house-it was loosely hung in his pants, without any scabbard) Langston slapped Willard in the face with his open hand. Jones interfered, laid his hand on Langston and said, "don't strike him that way, Billy."
Langston desisted-struck him no more; but pulled off Willard's coat and vest and laid them down in the woods. Here Jones came up with a man whose name I understood was Matthews. I never saw him before nor heard of him, and have never seen him since Willard's death, and do not know what become of him. I shall speak more about him directly.
Jones produced his bottle of whisky and we all took a drink round, Willard, Matthews and all. I, however, put the bottle to my mouth, but could not drink, it was too hot. I had been sick, and was then salivated and my mouth was quite sore.
Langston then took Willard by the arm and led him off into the bushes. Willard made no resistance. I picked up Willard's coat and vest and carried them with ne, and we all, Anderson, Jones, Matthews and myself followed a few steps behind. We went some twenty-five or thirty paces into the thicket west of the road, when Langston stopped with Willard, and we all clustered around them. Langston then asked for the "jewelry," and Anderson pulled out the hand-cuffs. Langston told Willard to pull off his shirt. I stepped up and said it would answer to turn it up. Langston said it would be in the way. Anderson said it was not worth while to tear up his shirt. Willard then pulled off his shirt and hat and laid them down near where he stood. Anderson then stepped up with the hand-cuffs and tried to put them on Willard, but could not do it right. Langston then took the hand-cuffs from Anderson and put them on Willard himself. Here I produced the rope and Ander-
413
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
son fastened it to the hand-cuffs and looked around for a suitable tree to tie Willard to. A little red-bud sapling stood not far off. Anderson looked at it and said, "I guess this will do," and tied the other end of the rope to the tree, Willard now standing up, with his hands stretched up nearly on a level with the top of his head and a foot or two of loose rope to play on from the tree, his suspenders tied round his waist to keep up his pants, with his back naked.
Langston now took the cowhide in his right hand, standing by Wil- Jard's left side, and gave him ten or twelve or fifteen stripes. I did not think the stripes were severe. They left stripes on his flesh, but did not draw blood. Willard, however, begged, and every time the cowhide hit him he hallooed. It seemed to hurt him considerably.
Anderson then took the cowhide and gave him about as many stripes and about as hard, with about the same effect, as did Langston. They then handed me the cowhide, and said, "ain't you going to give him some too?" I took the cowhide, and Willard said, "Jennings, you ain't going to whip me, too?" I said : "Willard, I am a poor man ; have to work hard for my living, and you are cheating me out of my just rights ; you ought to be whipped ; I owe it to you ; it is just." And with this, I gave him about as many stripes, about as hard and with about the same effect as had Langston and Anderson.
There was no proposition made to Jones to whip him that I now recollect of. Whether there was or not, Jones did not whip him then or at any time afterwards. Jones did not strike him at all, at least while I was present. Jones helped us to take the body of Willard off after he was dead to the place of concealment, but so far as I know did not touch him so as to hurt him during the whole day. When Willard died Jones was the worst frightened man I ever saw.
We now desisted, and Anderson untied him from the tree and we all sat down to talk the matter over. We all drank of the whisky. Willard drank also. Something was now said about the $45 buried in the grave- yard. He now said he had none, but still wanted to go and see old Johnny Crooms-said he could get the money of him, etc., and said something about going to see a man down towards Lexington, Missouri, that he could get the money of him, etc., with various subterfuges to get off. I believe that I now remarked, that a little more would set him right. Anderson and Langston both then tied him up to the tree, and I told him, while I held the cowhide in my hands: Willard, if you have any means to pay us, do so, and save yourself all this .. He made no reply. I then gave him about as many stripes as I had done before. This time, however, as he would pass to and fro, so as to avoid the stripes, (for it seemed to hurt this time worse than before, though I am not conscious that I struck him any harder) I changed the cowhide from my right hand to my left, giving him four or five licks with the right and then that many with the left.
While I was now whipping him Anderson had gone off a few steps and cut some switches; several, I don't know how many ; they were three or four feet long. I don't recollect what kind of wood they were, and came up with them about the time that I finished. He threw them down on the ground, all of them but one, which he retained in his hand. Langston now took the cowhide, and picked up the switches, and used both, first one and then the other on Willard. This time Langston hurt
414
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
him much worse, and he complained, begged and hallooed louder, especially when Langston used the switches. They were heavier and hurt worse than the cowhide.
I now interposed, and told them that Willard had enough ; I was satisfied and my sympathies now began to be with him. I persuaded Langston to stop, and I went and untied Willard, and we all set down. Willard was now bleeding pretty freely. I thought he had enough. My feelings were now bad. The sight of his blood hurt my feelings-I struck the poor fellow no more after this; and from that time till his death I did all I could to save him. By this time, however, the others, Langston and Anderson, seemed to be under vindictive feelings, and were evidently under the influence of whisky.
I now proposed to turn him loose and let him go, stating that he would leave the country no doubt, and not appear against any of us for whipping him. He said he would go immediately away and never come back.
I then asked Willard "if he really had no money ? ' He said " he had not a cent in the world ! That his wife had given him a dime that morning to pay for his letters, and that he had not another cent." Here something was said about his wife having money. Some of us asked " if she had any ? whether she kept the money ? where she kept it ? what had become of the money that his furniture brought the day before," etc. He then said that he had some eight hundred dollars hid in Dr. Keedy's field. I knew nothing about the field. Some of the others did. They seemed to understand it, and we all agreed that it was a come off.
He then intimated that perhaps his wife might have as much as seventy-five or eighty dollars in the bureau drawer. I then proposed that he should send an order to his wife for it. He said his hands were so paralyzed that he could not write. I then told him that I would write it for him. To this he agreed, and I did write the order myself, and he took the pencil and signed his name to it. Jones took the order to Wil- lard's wife, and after being gone a suitable length of time he returned with no money-said the woman had no money-that she said she had but a few cents, twenty or thirty cents-some small sum, at least. That she said she had given her husband a dime that morning, and had only that much left.
What Jones told the woman I know not, but to the best of my recollection, the order contained nothing threatening. After Jones returned, we upbraided Willard for deceiving us. Langston said "Snatch him up again." Langston and Anderson tied him up again. Then Wil- lard begged and entreated for God's sake to whip him no more. He said " he had enough !" He begged hard, poor fellow ! I now begged for the poor fellow ! I felt bad. I did not know what to do. I walked off a few steps. They commenced whipping him again. Langston was now whipping him, but I thought not so hard as before. But Willard complained most bitterly. I started off with an intent to leave entirely, when Langston asked me where I was going. I replied " after a drink." Willard said, " Jennings, for God's sake, bring me some water !" Langs- ton now handed me the bottle, and said, "bring also some whisky." I came then down to the grocery, as stated by the witness on my trial, and purchased a jug with the privilege of returning it that evening, and getting my money back (which I did), and the bottle of whisky, and
415
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
returned immediately. I should not have returned at all but to carry the water to Willard, with some desire that I might interfere for him. I now began to fear the thing might be pushed too far. I was not absent, I should think, more than thirty minutes.
On my return I found them all setting down on the ground. Wil- lard looked bad ; he showed signs of exhaustion ; looked languid. I did not ask them, but they had evidently been whipping him pretty severely while I was absent. I gave Willard some whisky, but he did not seem to relish it. He drank freely of the water and said it was good. The others drank freely of the whisky. I now took Langston and Anderson to one side and begged them to desist-told them that they had given him enough-too much. I poured the water on Willard's head. I remained with them twenty or thirty minutes. While I was there they did not whip him any more.
I took the jug to go after more water, and Langston handed me the bottle, and told me to bring more whisky. I then came down to the Farmer's House and lingered about there a few minutes, when three young men asked me to join them in a game of cards. I consented and sat down in the bar-room and played cards for perhaps an hour. I was at the Farmer's House at least an hour and a half. Jones came in about this time. I saw him as he came up. He had been down town and was returning to the woods. I met him at the door. He had a little tin bucket in his hand, and said that he had been after their dinners. I previously understood that morning that they had not had their break- fasts. I requested Jones to take the jug of water and bottle of whisky with him, that I did not intend to return any more. Jones said that he could not very well take them and the dinner. And he further said that he would like to have me go up anyhow, saying, "I think that they have given him enough, and if you will go up perhaps we can persuade them to quit." And with this view only I went up. When we arrived they were all sitting down on the ground. I looked at Willard and the poor fellow looked horribly bad. He was now badly blooded, and I saw that they had beaten him desperately while I was gone. He was sitting on the ground, with his head rather resting on his hands, which were sup- ported by his knees. I approached him and asked him if he would have some whisky. He said nothing, but shook his head. I told him to smell of it, and held it to his nose. He merely breathed over it. I insisted that he should taste of it and held it to his mouth. He took some in his mouth, but spit it out again. He did not swallow any of it. I again told Langston and Anderson that they had given him enough-too much. So said Jones. Langston and Anderson both said that they intended to give him more. I told them to eat their dinners first, perhaps they might feel in a better humor after dinner. In the meantime I had given Willard a drink of water. He drank heartily, but did not seem to relish it-it did not revive him. I poured some of the water upon him, and also poured some of the whisky upon his head.
Langston and Anderson now stepped some ten or twelve paces to one side and set down to eat their dinner. They asked me to join them in eating dinner. My mouth was too sore to eat the victuals that Jones brought ; it was bread, meat, and potatoes. Nor did I feel in the humor to eat. I stepped aside with them, however. Jones said that he had eaten his dinner at home and could not eat any more. Jones seemed to
416
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
sympathize with Willard, and while we stepped aside to eat, Jones remained with him, and stood not very far from him, governed by no other motive I think, but sympathy. He stood a few feet from him. Langston and Anderson had just begun to eat, had eaten but a few mouthfuls, when Jones remarked, "Willard is dying !" We all sprung to our feet and ran to him, and by the time that we got to him he had lain down on his back, and afterwards breathed not a single breath. His vital powers were all exhausted. He had lost much blood, had been some hours in indescribable physical suffering, and now died as easy as going to sleep. I never saw anybody die any easier than he died.
Here we all stood around the fellow, and it came upon us in an instant, with all its terrible reality, that we had murdered him !
I believe that I was more self-possessed in this awful crisis than either of the others. Jones was the worst frightened man I ever saw in my life! Langston was considerably agitated and alarmed. So was Anderson. It was a terrible time. The reader cannot possibly appre- ciate our feelings.
I think that I first broke silence by asking, "Boys, what will you do?" Langston spoke and said, "We will take him off and conceal him, and at night we will come and throw him into the Missouri River." Langston said, "Let no man reveal this," or words to that effect. I then took Willard's shirt, while the rest held him up, and put it on him. I also drew up his pantaloons around his waist. They were down around his ankles. In putting on his shirt and drawing up his pants I noticed that the fellow was awfully whipped. I know nothing about the wounds on Willard's head, as spoken of by the surgeons that made the post mortem examination. I did not notice them, but I have no doubt but the whipping was sufficient and did produce his death.
After putting on his shirt and adjusting his pants, Langston took hold of one arm and I the other ; Anderson took hold of one leg and Jones the other, and we bore him off some forty or fifty yards into the thicket to the place of concealment. I don't now recollect that a word was spoken by any of us as we bore him away. We did not drag him that I recollect of, though we might have let some part of his body touch the ground as we went through the thicket, but I think not. After lay- ing him down in the thicket, as he was subsequently found by the crowd that went out that afternoon, we all returned to the place of whipping. I then took Willard's hat, his vest, coat and boots, and returned with them to the dead body, as it lay in the thicket, and laid them all down together, not far from his head. I turned round to go back, and then remembered that I had Willard's butcher-knife in my bosom, and I turned about and put the knife in his hat, and then left and went to the place of whipping and found them standing about. Jones, I think, at this time was throwing the switches away, and other ways trying to obliterate the evidence of the transaction. Some short conversation now took place between us, about the best way to act so as to keep the thing concealed. We soon agreed in the manner of separately going into town. Jones handed me the rope and I subsequently threw it into Blacksnake. I don't know who took the cowhide nor the hand-cuffs. Jones took the bucket that had the dinner in it. I took the jug ; I don't know who took the bottle. Jones now struck off into the bushes by himself. Langston, Anderson and I came down the road together to the
417
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Farmers' House. Here Langston went in, and Anderson and I came on to the grocery, where I had got the jug. Matthews, spoken of before, had not been with us from the time the whipping began in the morning ; I did not perceive when nor how he left us. I have since understood from my fellow sufferers that he lay round there in the thicket and saw all that took place, and then left for parts unknown. He took no part in the matter whatever, and the only motive that he could have had in being present was a curiosity to see what was going on. Of Jones, the motive that took him there, I have never been able to comprehend. He seemed to have no ill-feeling whatever towards Willard, did not a thing under the heavens to hurt him, seemed to sympathize with him, took his part, evidently kept Langston from hurting him, and yet took out the first bottle of whisky, took the order to Willard's wife, went after the dinner, and helped us carry the body to the place of concealment after the man was dead, and the only pay he seemed to have received at all, as Wil- lard owed him not a cent, was the most terrible fright mortal man, per- haps, ever got.
At the grocery where I got the jug, Anderson and I remained but a minute or two, just long enough for me to hand up the jug and get back my money, when we went back to the Farmers' House. Here we found Langston, and joined him in taking a drink of whisky. Mr. Heed, about this time, stepped in and some of us asked him to take a drink with us. He thanked us, and remarked that he was in a hurry, took a drink of water only, and started off in the direction that we had just come. Langston now stepped out at one door, Anderson and I at the other. We soon fell in together on the street, and came down town. About half way between the Farmers' House and the bridge across the Black- snake, we met and passed a woman. Just after we passed her Langston remarked, "that is Willard's wife." Anderson nor I knew her. I turned, however, and looked at her as she walked in the direction that we had just come. As soon as we crossed the bridge on Blacksnake we sepa- rated. I went down on to Main Street, and Langston and Anderson in the direction of their houses, and I saw no more of them till I saw them in prison.
We left Craig's law office in the morning, I should think between eight and nine o'clock. We parted at the bridge across Blacksnake, I should think not later than two o'clock in the afternoon-it was the 27th day of July, 1852. I well remember that it was a beautiful, bright, sun- shiny day, but rather warm. The whole of the transaction as detailed above in reference to Willard's death, took place just as I have here stated, in manner and order of time, with the part that I and others took in it, to the best of my recollection, so help me God! Freely, frankly, and honestly made, without reservation or concealment. And oh, what a day's work that was !
The first place that I stopped at on Main Street was in a black- smith's shop. I stepped in and talked a few minutes with a man about doing some painting for me. From there I went directly to my own residence. My wife was at home by herself, pleasant and kind in feeling, knowing nothing about the transactions of the day. She asked me what detained me that I was not home to my dinner ? I made some evasive reply. She spread the dinner on the table for me, and I sat down and eat a bite by myself ; remained only a few minutes at home, and then
418
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
went round to my shop. I remained a short time in my shop, then took my book and went to Estes' tin shop, to have some settlement with him. There was some business transactions between us. Estes was not in ; I was told that he had just stepped out but would be in in a few minutes. I waited till he came in-quite a good while. When he did come in I learned of him that the murder of Willard had been found out, that the body had been found, and that a great crowd had gone out there, and that he had been and seen the body. He was very much excited, and could not talk of anything else but the murder of Willard. Of him I received ten dollars, and he said at some other time we would have a settlement. I then went back to my shop, put my book in the chest, locked it up, made some other little arrangements about the shop, and returned home. It was now supper time. I eat a light supper and wa's sitting in the front door of my house, with my wife and family, just at dusk, when Jacob Langston, son of the old gentleman, came in at the back door, (this was the first time that he ever came to my house) and said he wanted to see me. He appeared to be somewhat excited and much affected. We stepped aside into the little porch, and he told me of Willard's murder, that his body had been found, etc., and that his father had been arrested on suspicion of being engaged in the murder, and he wanted to know of me, "if I knew whether his father had any hand in the matter." I gave him some evasive answer, which, however, did not seem to satisfy him. He soon went away, and I then went around to my partner, Mr. Beal's. He had recovered from his " sun-stroke," and was up. He told me that I was suspicioned of having some hand in Willard's murder, and asked me if it were so! Said he hoped it was not so! I denied it, and somewhat evaded the conversation. I remained at Mr. Beal's but a short time, when I returned back to my residence. A few steps from my door, young Langston met me, and seemed much inter- ested, and wanted to find out whether his father was concerned in it. Let me depart from the thread of my narrative here, just long enough to say that young Langston had no part in the murder of Willard whatever. I am almost certain that he knew nothing about it. He was entirely innocent of the whole matter.
When young Langston came to my house the second time, he and I walked out on Main Street to see what was going on, and to make what observations we eould. I still held out to young Langston that if his father had any hand in it that I was not aware of it, still affecting an innocence on my part. We walked down Main Street to Robidoux' corner ; paused there awhile, and then went on to the Public Square. There were a good many people on the Public Square at the time, and there had been more excitement about Willard's murder than I was aware of at the time. The people were somewhat scattered and scatter- ing at the time. They were collecting and had collected in little groups in different parts of the Square, and were in low, under-toned conversa- tion. There was evidently quite an indignant feeling in the public towards the perpetrators of the deed. Young Langston and I mixed not with any of these little squads of folks, but passed through-made but a short walk, and returned. I saw and recognized several persons during this walk. Dr. Crane I particularly recollect passing, and spoke to him, and I think he returned the salutation, "Good evening," or something like that. Young Langston and I soon separated. He went on and I
419
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
returned to my own house, not later than ten at night, I should think, and went to bed. My wife, in the meantime, had heard of the murder of Willard-that Langston, Anderson and Jones had been arrested, and that rumor and suspicion connected me with them. She was uneasy and mentioned it to me. I denied knowing anything about it, and quieted her as best I could, and then went to sleep. I was not very stout, being unwell, as I have before stated, had been on my feet all day, and the part I had borne in Willard's death was taxing my powers pretty heavily. In my mind I was not apprehending any danger. I knew that there would be a trial the next day of Langston, Anderson and Jones, and supposed that I should be called on as a witness only. I had no dread of being apprehended myself. Under all the circumstances I slept very quietly during the night.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.