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 44
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I remained in doors next morning, with the exception of doing what we call " chores," till after breakfast. I then went round to my shop, intending to work a little. I made some start at work-brought in a few plank ; made some directions in relation to business with one or two persons, and began perhaps to use the saw on some of the plank, when friends began to come in. One and another, and another, stepped in. The conversation was almost entirely about the murder of Willard. There was an intense feeling about it. Several persons told me that suspicion strongly rested on me as being engaged in the affair. Mr. Hoagland, I recollect, told me that I was strongly suspected, and asked me : "Jen- nings, are you guilty or not guilty ?" I denied it. Others told me the same. At length some person came into the shop and took me out to one side and told me that a warrant was out for me, and that I would soon be apprehended, and said : "Jennings, the excitement is very high, and I would advise you to leave for a few days, till the excite- ment is over, and then return. Others soon advised the same thing. And I reflected on the matter-thought perhaps I had better leave for awhile. There was no judge then in this district. I did not know how long I might have to be in jail. The public feeling ran very high, and I thought best to absent myself at least for a few days.
I made it convenient to see a few friends with whom I had business, obtained a little money. went to a store and purchased a pair of shoes, and went round home. There I met my sister, Mrs. Hebron. She had heard of all these things, and had come round to see about them. She and my wife were both much alarmed, and wept bitterly. I told them not to be alarmed ; that all would come around right. I told them that I would withdraw for a few days, till the excitement was over, etc. I put on clean linen, and immediately left. I took the road out by the rope- walk. At the forks of the road I took the Savannah road ; then again took the Rochester road till out a mile or two ; I left the main road and took the prairie, brush, woods and by-paths. Without taxing the patience of the reader with an uninteresting narrative of this adventure, in which in fact nothing remarkable or that would be interesting to the public occurred. I worked my way into DeKalb County. From Maysville, on Friday morning, I wrote back to my brother-in-law, Mr. Hebron. This letter was soon at hand, and by it my whereabouts was soon known. On Saturday morning I was arrested, some six or seven miles north of Mays- ville, by Officers Heed and Finney, and brought back to St. Joseph the same day. We arrived in town about sunset. On our arrival in town I
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was put in prison. In prison I found already Langston, Anderson and Jones. They had been apprehended and put in prison on Tuesday night, and had been brought before Justices Wash and Lewis, and their trial before this examining court begun. The next Monday being election, the further proceedings in their trial was postponed till Thursday, there being three days of election. I now was placed with them for trial, and the trial set for Thursday.
When I was introduced into prison I found Langston, Anderson and Jones. They appeared tolerably cheerful-were disappointed at seeing me -- said they supposed that I was entirely gone, and seemed rather to regret that I had been apprehended.
Thirteen long months have these poor fellows, Langston, Anderson, Jones and myself lain in prison together. Always, except when separated by the officers for a few hours, or days at furtherest, during my trial, in the same room. These thirteen months have been to me an age! Nor has the time dragged less heavily with them. During this wearisome time we have lived in peace with one another. There has been no recrimina- tion, no censuring each other, no bickering, and but very seldom has the matter been spoken of at all. We all understand ourselves-know the part each acted in that tragedy, and have generally been silent about it. To-morrow I shall separate from them-my companions in guilt-my companions in suffering, and from my very soul I pity them! I pity their families! I wish I could help them! . But I cannot. I bear against them no bad feelings in the world. Myself, and myself only, do I blame for this that now hangs over me --- there never has been a hard word passed between us in prison.
I know not what disposition, of course, that the court will make of Langston, Anderson and Jones. It would meet my hearty approbation, and I wish I knew such were the case, that they might be acquitted and restored to their families. Willard is dead-was most inhumanly mur- dered; his family is ruined. I have laid in jail thirteen long months and suffered more than a thousand deaths. They, too, have suffered equally as much ; our families are all crushed down to rise no more-ruined forever. I have to die. The blood of a thousand men would not make atonement for Willard's. If the divine claims of "Eye for an eye, tooth for tooth," be just, my death ought to satify the claims of justice, how- ever others may have bore a conspicuous and even leading part in the crime. I say then, if it could be compatible with the claims of the law, and the ends of justice could be satisfied without their blood, I would rather Langston, Anderson and Jones could be spared.
KILLING OF HOWARD GLENN.
On the 4th day of October, 1873, in the town of Plattsburg, William Barnes and Howard Glenn became intoxicated. They had during the day one or two encounters, without any serious results.
Barnes went home, and Glenn concluded that he would also return home, and had to pass along the same street upon which Barnes resided. Mr. C. G. Livingston accompanied Glenn, and when they arrived opposite to where Barnes lived. Glenn expressed a desire to see Barnes, and become reconciled. Glenn called for Barnes, who came out. Each
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expressed friendly sentiments, but finally angry words ensued. Glenn asked Barnes if he had a pistol, when the latter went into his house, returned with a pistol, and after the exchange of a few words, Barnes shot Glenn, who was carried home, and died next morning at 4 o'clock. His remains were followed to the grave by a large concourse of people. Barnes was arrested and confined in jail. The parties were not hostile to each other, but in a moment of frenzy, intensified by ardent spirits, a tragedy was enacted which left one family desolate and the other in a painful condition.
The following is the report of the coroner's jury, and the testimony of C. G. Livingston, who was present when Glenn was shot:
STATE OF MISSOURI, SS. COUNTY OF CLINTON.
An inquisition, taken at the residence of Howard Glenn in the city of Plattsburg, in the County of Clinton, on the 5th day of October, 1873, before me, William Morris, Coroner of the county aforesaid, upon the view of the body of Howard Glenn, then and there lying dead. James H. Rogers, Henry B. Baker, James W. Y. Hughart, W. W. Sherman, Mason Hord, and J. H. West, good and lawful men, householders of Con- cord Township, in Clinton County, State of Missouri, who being sworn and charged, diligently to inquire and true presentment make, how and in what manner and by whom the said Howard Glen came to his death, upon their oaths do say: We, the jury find from the evidence before us, that the deceased, Howard Glenn, came to his death from a pistol shot wound, inflicted on the 4th day of October by William C. Barnes, in the city of Plattsburg, County of Clinton, State of Missouri, October 5th, 1873.
MASON HOOD, W. W. SHERMAN, J. H. WEST, J. W. Y. HUGHART, J. H. ROGERS, H. B. BAKER.
C. G. Livingston's testimony:
C. G. Livingston sworn and examined, says: I reside in the city of Plattsburg, Clinton County, State of Missouri. Yesterday about three or four o'clock, Mr. Glenn, deceased, was down in town; he started up home and my brother Thomas told me to get up behind the deceased on his horse and ride up home with him. We got up opposite to where William Barnes lives, when deceased spoke and said he was going to call William Barnes out. " It is a drunken spree; I have nothing against him, nor he against me; I want to make it up with him." Deceased called to William Barnes, and he came out to the fence. Deceased said, " What was the use of fussing." William Barnes said, " Mr. Glenn, I always looked upon you as a brother." Deceased said, "I don't suppose there is anything between us." William Barnes remarked that he " would fight deceased at any place and in any way. Iwill fight you with a revolver." Deceased said "Have you a revolver?" Mr. Barnes said "he had," and turned around and went into the house. Mr. Barnes came out with a revol-
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ver in his hand. I never saw the revolver until he got to the gate. As soon as I saw it, I jumped off the horse and commenced shaming him for having the revolver, and started towards him. He cocked the revolver on me, and said, "if I came any nearer he would shoot me." I kept walking around him on the street, and the first thing I knew, he pointed the revolver at the deceased and fired. Deceased fell partly on the sidewalk on his right side. As soon as he fired, I jumped at him and caught the revolver. He attempted to fire the second time. I threw the pistol up and the cap bursted. I took the revolver away from him, and gave it to John Livingston. I got on Livingston's horse and went up in town after a doctor. Deceased was sent up home where he now lies by Mr. Doniphan. Deceased was from thirty to forty feet from William Barnes when he was shot. Mr. Barnes was on the sidewalk when he fired.
Barnes was afterwards tried and sent to the Penitentiary for ten years.
DOUBLE CRIME-THE MURDER OF MOLLIE STEEL ..
On the night of August 9, 1867, in the City of Plattsburg, between 11 and 12 o'clock, when the streets were crowded with people returning from Lake's circus, the citizens were stricken with terror by the murder- ing of Miss Mollie Steel, daughter of Colonel John Steel, by Charles V. Jones, and the killing of himself.
Miss Steel, accompanied by Mr. Charles O. McMichael, had just passed the residence of Benjamin F. Willis, Esq., when Jones hurriedly and cautiously walked up behind McMichael, and drawing a revolver, leveled it at Miss Steel's head and fired, the ball entering just back of the lower part of her right ear and passing out back of her left ear, caus- ing instant death.
Immediately after firing, Jones ran a few steps across the street, and putting the pistol against his right temple, pulled the trigger and launched his guilty soul into eternity.
John S. Funkhouser, who was a few feet behind McMichael and Miss Steel, walking with a lady, called for help, when Jones started off, appa- rently with the intention of escaping, but before any one got to Jones he had taken his own life. Funkhouser then hastened to the relief of Miss Steel, and with the assistance of several other gentlemen, she was carried into the residence of Mr. Willis. Drs. Vanhook, Essig and Spencer made an examination of the wound.
Mr. Willis' house was soon filled with ladies and gentlemen, and the street was thronged with people. Consternation was depicted on every countenance, and but few dry eyes were in the crowd, while the shrieks and lamentations of the mother and sisters of the unfortunate young lady were heart-rending in the extreme. Mrs. Steel was so overcome by the violent death of her daughter that she swooned.
Miss Steel was one of the most fascinating and interesting young ladies in Plattsburg, admired by all who knew her, and almost idolized by her parents.
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Charles V. Jones came to Plattsburg, the latter part of the war, from Hannibal. Making Steel's Hotel his home, and, being there thrown into the society of Miss Mollie, he conceived an attachment for her, which, for a while, was reciprocated, and an engagement ensued. Sub- sequently leading a dissipated life, which neither the pursuasions or entreaties of friends could induce him to break off, the parents of Miss Steel opposed the fulfillment of the engagement, and he was discarded. Whereupon, the vindictiveness of his nature exhibited itself in making threats to take her life. An examination of his letters revealed the fact that he had frequently threatened her life, and one letter stated that if she did not marry him in January (last) he would kill her. Several per- sons were cognizant of his making threats, but no one seriously appre- hended that he would ever carry them into execution. With the excep- tion of the deceased, no other member of Steel's family had any knowl- edge of such threats. On the Friday evening previous, when no one was at the supper table but the family, Jones asked Mr. Steel if he could have supper, and, being answered in the affirmative, he went into the room. In a few moments he came out, handed Mr. Steel pay for his supper, and passed on. It was afterwards believed that he intended to murder Miss Steel in the presence of the family, and there is no doubt but he would have done so had she been present.
Miss Steel's funeral was attended by almost the entire population of Plattsburg, and many person from the country. It was the largest funeral that had ever occurred in the city up to that date.
EXECUTION OF ALBERT HUGHES.
Probably the largest crowd of people that ever assembled in Platts- burg, was on the last day of September, 1868, to witness the execution of Albert Hughes. From ten o'clock in the morning until the prisoner was taken from jail, the public square and adjoining streets were almost jammed with men, women and children, a great majority of whom were apparently anxious to witness the tragic end of Albert Hughes. There must have been eight thousand persons, the most of whom were present at the execution.
A few minutes before one o'clock, Sheriff Phillips brought the pris- oner out of his cell, placed in a wagon on his coffin, and with Reverends Jesse Bird and W. W. Roberts, and a strong guard of armed men on horses, followed by a vast number of persons riding and walking, pro- ceeded to the gallows, erected in the valley a short distance north of the Fair Grounds. Arriving at the scaffold, the crowd that had already col- lected there, was pressed back, and the guard entered and formed a circle. The sheriff then took the prisoner up the ladder to the gallows, the ministers following. At one o'clock precisely, Mr. Phillips com- menced to read the death warrant, which is as follows :
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
STATE OF MISSOURI, SS.
COUNTY OF CLINTON.
The State of Missouri to the Sheriff of Clinton County, Greeting :
WHEREAS, At the November term, A. D. 1867, of the Circuit Court of Platte County, in the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Missouri, and on the fifteenth day of said month, the Grand Jurors of the State of Missouri, for the body of said county of Platte, returned into the Circuit Court of said Platte County, while the said court was in open session, a bill of indictment against Albert Hughes for murder in the first degree ; and
WHEREAS, After the said defendant, Albert Hughes, had been duly arrested according to law, and brought to trial before the said Circuit Court of Platte County, on the indictment aforesaid, for murder in the first degree, to wit : on Tuesday, the 17th day of December, A. D. 1867, upon the affidavit of said defendant, Albert Hughes, duly made and filed in open court, as provided by law, a change of venue in said case was awarded by said court to the Circuit Court of Clinton County, in said Judicial Circuit of the State of Missouri ; and
WHEREAS, On Thursday, the 11th day of June, A. D. 1868, said cause having come on for trial before the Circuit Court of Clinton County, aforesaid, pursuant to the change of venue, awarded as afore- said, and the said defendant, Albert Hughes, having been tried before said court by a jury of twelve good and lawful men of the County of Clinton, aforesaid ; and
WHEREAS, The jury aforesaid, after hearing the evidence and the arguments of counsel, as well for the defendant, Albert Hughes, as for the said State of Missouri, and after receiving the instructions of the court, and having retired and maturely deliberated on the same, returned into open court the following verdict, to wit :
We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree, and assess his punishment at death.
JOHN STOVER, Foreman.
AND WHEREAS, The judge of said court, in open court sitting, did upon, and in accordance with the verdict of the jury aforesaid, (as the record of said court doth show), sentence the said defendant, Albert Hughes, to be, on Friday, the 24th day of July, A. D. 1868, and between the hours of eight o'clock in the forenoon, and four o'clock in the after- noon of said day, hanged by the neck until he be dead, dead, dead.
These are therefore to command you, that on Friday, the 24th day of July, A. D. 1868, and between the hours of eight o'clock in the forenoon, and four o'clock in the afternoon of said day, you take the said Albert Hughes, and hang him by the neck until he be dead, dead, dead, in accordance with the sentence of our said Clinton Circuit Court, pro- nounced and of record as aforesaid ; and that on the first day of the next term of our Clinton Circuit Court, you have this writ, with your doings certified thereon, before the judge thereof.
Witness, William Leonard Birney, clerk of our said circuit court, with the seal thereof hereto affixed, at the office in Plattsburg, this 23d day of July, A. D. 1868.
[SEAL.]
WILLIAM LEONARD BIRNEY, Clerk. PER FRANK YOUNG, Deputy Clerk.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
When the sheriff had concluded the reading of the warrant, Rev. Mr. Roberts advanced to the side of Hughes, and read, in an impressive manner, the first sixteen verses of the Fifty-first Psalm. After which, the Rev. Mr. Bird offered up an eloquent and fervent prayer. When the prayer was finished each of the ministers bade the prisoner farewell and retired. The sheriff then informed the prisoner that if he desired to say anything he could do so. Albert Hughes then, in a clear and distinct voice, made the following dying speech :
Well, my friends ; I suppose you come to see Albert Hughes leave this world. My friends, why am I sentenced to death for murder ? Why has this happened ? I worked for old man Jenkins one month, and asked for money-fifty cents. Daniel Jenkins then came up and ordered me out; I went to the dining room, and the old man followed me and asked me how much he owed me. I told him I did not know-I was no scholar. Dan Jenkins then came in and took me by the collar with one hand, and, with the other, cocked his rovolver, when his poor old father said, " hold on !" He is dead now-God bless him. Jenkins then took me to the stable, where he drew his pistol in my face, and I was thrown into the manger by that man. He then said : "Albert, I give you two hours to leave this house, and if I catch you here again I will take your life." My friends, I did not expect to be injured by him. Then I was knocked dead by that man. What did I do? Nothing! What did I say? Nothing ! My friends, I went out into the country about seven miles, and came back to town the next Saturday evening. Didn't think there was any danger, when he knocked me dead again. When Jenkins was killed, they said Albert Hughes did it. They got me in Kansas, brought me back, and put me in jail. Crowds of men around the jail asked : " What did you kill Jenkins for ? there is no use lying." The witnesses that swore at the court house that when they got me I said, " I didn't do that at Platte City ; " my friends, I tell you that is not so.
My friends, Albert Hughes, who stands before you to-day, stood in that stony cell for fear of a mob. Don't understand me to say that I didn't kill Daniel Jenkins, nor that I did. God above knows. Ain't I a pretty looking object to stand and resist two or three men? Again they said they would give Albert Hughes his choice to go to Wyandotte or Platte City. I didn't want to go there again. My friends look at it. I know nothing about law. I had been bound out, and didn't have a spelling book in my hand. By looking over my mistress' shoulder I learned A. B. C. I expect nothing in this world. My friends, as I was telling you, they said Jenkins whipped me for riding his horse. If he did whip me for that he never said so. Well, my friends, I don't believe I have much longer to talk with you. I must go home to rest. There is nothing here for me. They say Albert Hughes killed Daniel Jenkins. Maybe I did kill him. I don't pretend to say I didn't. If I did, it was because that man said he would kill me. My friends, look at it. I believe this is all I have to say to you. Oh! my friends, I hope to meet you in glory. Mr. Phillips, I am ready to die.
The cap was then drawn, over his face, the halter placed round his neck, and his feet tied together. He then asked for a drink of water which was brought to him, when he said, "Good-by, my friends." Mr
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Phillips then took his hand and said, "Good-bye, Albert," to which he replied, "Good-bye, Mr. Phillips, meet me in glory."
The rope that held the trap was then cut, and Albert Hughes at 1:33 was launched into eternity. He fell about eight feet, the rope stretching so much that his feet rested upon the ground. The rope was then short- ened, and after a slight movement or two of his legs and arms, and a quivering of his body, he remained perfectly motionless.
A few minutes after the trap fell, some man, full of whisky, shouted for Jeff. Davis, when the sheriff and marshal arrested him and placed him under guard. Some little excitement was created by the guard drawing and flourishing their pistols, but they were soon replaced and quiet restored. Mr. Phillips very properly remarked during the excitement that he would permit no man on the ground to halloo for either Abe Lincoln or Jeff. Davis, and if he couldn't prevent it peaceably he would do so by force ; that this was no political matter and he did not intend to have any disturbance.
Thus ended the first and last public execution in Clinton County.
ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.
On the 18th of July, 1868, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, F. Kennedy while sitting in front of the Southern Hotel, was accidentally shot by James Mooreland. Mooreland was sitting near the door of Riley's drug store, examining a double-barreled shot gun belonging to a negro, and which was offered for sale. Mooreland raised the hammer of the gun, being assured the gun was unloaded, to test the strength of the spring, and perceiving no cap he let the hammer fall, and to his consternation the gun went off, severely wounding Mr. Kennedy. who was occupying a chair some thirty yards distant.
The gun was loaded with squirrel shot, five of which entered his right arm, two his right side, and twelve piercing his legs. As soon as wounded Mr. Kennedy got up and walked into the hotel, the blood flow- ing freely from his side, arm and legs. Physicians were immediately called, who made an examination of the wounds and administered to his sufferings. At night he was removed to his residence. Some thirteen shot struck the chair in which Kennedy was sitting and a number buried themselves in a fence and tree beyond. That he was not killed may be considered miraculous.
The accident was a warning to those who carelessly handle firearms.
A TERRIBLE CRIME.
On the afternoon of the 24th of September, 1880, one of the most devilish and blackest of crimes was committed by a mulatto negro man on a handsome, and very accomplished young married woman of wealth,
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
and high social standing, about ten miles southwest of Plattsburg. She had gone on horseback to the little village of Edgerton, and when returning she had to alight to open a gate, almost in sight of her house. The villain, lying in wait, crept stealthily behind her, seized her riding- skirt and threw it over her head, twisting it tightly and tying it securely, in which condition-her vision obscured and her arms thus encased in a garment of strong texture, unable to resist him or make her screams heard-he dragged her to a ravine close by and accomplished his hellish purpose. In the meantime, the horse without rider, wended his way to the house, and being discovered by a hired man who started to look after the lady, whom he soon met making pitiable flight. She told the sad story of her treatment and directed him to the spot, and instantly he started in pursuit. On reaching the gate a man was seen going into the woods at a distance and he shot at him, but lost his trail. Bent on' his purpose, and to avoid the possibility of recognition, the scoundrel had divested himself of his clothing, and had wallowed in the mire of a pond, besmearing himself with mud, and after he had left his helpless victim and ran away she only extricated her head from its encasement in time to get a distant look at a nude man having the appearance of mud on him. It turned out that he was a hired man who had been in the employ of the lady's husband for three years, and who was enjoying the utmost confidence of the whole family. After leaving her, he went to the pond and hastily washed off the mud, donned his clothing and whipped round by a circuitous by-way and came home. He, too, was told of the terrible treatment of his mistress, and no sooner told than he also joined in the pursuit. They soon aroused the neighborhood, and before dark the whole country was alive with excited men, on the hunt for the villain.
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