Deaths (Killings), Camden County, Missouri >From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1889. ********************************************************************** Laughlin, Dick - While attending school at the Laughlin School house on Big Niangua, near Gunter springs, in the winter of 1873-74, Emanuel Bunch and Dick Laughlin, together with other pupils, got into an alter- cation, in which Laughlin was killed with a rock, thrown at him by Bunch. Afterward Bunch and his father, James Bunch, the latter having uttered certain words which seemed to connect him as an accomplice, were indicted for the murder, and on the 18th of March, 1874, they were arraigned for trial, and answered the charge by a plea of "not guilty." Two days later, upon application they were granted a change of venue to Moniteau county, where they were tried, the father being acquitted and the son, Emanuel, receiving a sentence of two years' imprisonment in the penitentiary. Eurp, Asa - In April, 1874 Thomas Burnes and Asa Eurp were together going to a school meeting at Bollinger's schoolhouse, in Adair town- ship. They had been drinking "strong drink" and were under its influence. On the way an altercation ensued, in which it was alleged that Burnes stabbed and killed Eurp. The former was given a prelim- inary trial before Joseph Bollinger, a justice of the peace, by whom he was acquitted on the ground of self defense. McClurg, King (colored) - At the November election of 1874, at Linn Creek, King McClurg, who had been a slave of Gov. Joseph W. McClurg, and some other colored men, were engaged in front of the court house in a controversy or difficulty with some white men, when a white man, being in the court house where the ballot box was kept, rushed out, seized a rock and threw it at McClurg and killed him. The white man afterward fled the country, and has never been apprehended. Hubbard, George W. - In May, 1877, George W. Hubbard, living in the southeast part of Camden county, was shot and killed, and two of his daughters, one about twelve and the other about sixteen years of age, were wounded in his own house by the posse of a special constable, who went there for the alleged purpose of arresting a son of Mr. Hubbard, against whom a charge of horse stealing (said to be unwarranted) had been made. Some of the parties who committed this offense had promi- nent family connections, and all were acquitted on preliminary trial. The conduct of this constable's posse was generally condemned by the people. McLaughlin, William T. - In May, 1882, William T. McLaughlin, while passing along the highway in Section 22, Town 39, Range 16, was shot and killed by some person in ambush. John Hopkins was arrested for the offense, and given a preliminary trial before Wm. C. Brown, a justice of the peace, who committed him to await the action of the grand jury. Sheriff George lodged the prisoner in jail at Linn Creek on the 15th day of May, and soon after took him to the Lebanon, Laclede county jail, for safe keeping. In September, following, he was brought back to Linn Creek for trial, and on being arraigned obtained a change of venue to Miller county. The same week he broke jail at Linn Creek and escaped. On the 2nd day of December, following, Sheriff George re-arrested him in Carroll county, Ark., and brought him back. On the 16th day of February, 1883, the sheriff conveyed the prisoner from Lebanon to Tuscumbia, Miller county, where he was tried and acquitted. Gibson, Samuel - Samuel Gibson, an esteemed citizen who lived on the Wet Auglaize, in Auglaize Township, had a young man in his employ early in 1883. He took this hand and went to his field for the purpose of boring holes into stumps in which to put kerosene oil to saturate the stumps for the purpose of burning them. At one of the stumps the hand, whose name was Pruitt, struck Gibson on the head with the pole of an ax killing him instantly. A coroner's inquest was held, before which Pruitt testified that Gibson had attacked him with his cane, and that he struck the blow with the ax in self defense. The cane, however, was found standing against a hay stack in another part of the field. Pruitt made his escape and fled to Kentucky, but has not yet been apprehended for the crime. Burnes, Frank - In 1883 a shooting affray took place between several parties at the house of Bruin Cable, wherein Frank Burnes was shot and killed. Seven persons were arrested for the offense, and given a pre- liminary trial before a justice of the peace, who, for want of evidence to convict, set them all at liberty. Burnes, John - About the year 1884 William Frost shot and killed John Burnes, at a point on the Lebanon road eight miles south of Linn Creek. A coroner's inquest was held, and the evidence developed the facts that Burnes had previously threatened Frost, and that on this occassion had raised his gun to shoot him, but that Frost was the quicker of action. The verdict of the jury was, in substance, that Burnes came to his death by a gunshot wound from a gun fired by Frost in self-defense. Webster-Lyne Tragedy - One of the most shocking murders ever committed in Camden county was the following: In the fall of 1885 Jack Webster, a person alleged to have been of unsound mind, staid over night at the house of David Lyne, near Lyne's Mill. In the morning, Mrs. Lyne, after having breakfast nearly prepared, told her step son to bring in some wood to replenish the fire. The boy went out, followed by Webster and from a rail or other piece of wood cut a few pieces and carried them into the house. Webster remained at the wood pile and cut a little more wood, then returned into the house with the ax in hand, and at once attacked Mary Kirtz, a young woman then stopping there, and with the ax he inflicted two wounds upon her head, which caused her death a few hours later. At the juncture David Lyne, a cripple, having the use of one arm only, sprang from his bed (having not yet risen), and at once received a blow by the ax wielded by Webster, the cut being made in his left side. This blow was followed by another, made with the pole of the ax, on the right side of the head, crushing the skull. Mrs. Lyne and the step son escaped and ran for help. Webster then broke the door from its hinges and laid it out in the yard, and dragged the dead body of Lyne out and placed it thereon. He also dragged Miss Kirtz out and left her lying in the yard. The alarm being given Dr. M. L. Lyne and George H. Vinson were soon at the scene of action. On nearing the house they shot and killed Webster, alleging that they did it in self defense, as Webster was about to attack them with the ax. A coroner's inquest was held over the bodies of the slain, and from the evidence (the appearance of the table) it seemed that Webster, after committing his dreadful acts, sat down at the table and ate some break- fast before Dr. Lyne and Vinson arrived. The latter parties were exonerated by the coroner's jury for the killing of Webster. Phelon, Frank - In June, 1886 a prosecution was commenced against David A. Burnes for the murder of Frank Phelon. The case was continued from time to time until August 19, 1887, when the prisoner, having been apprehended, was arraigned for trial and plead "not guilty." Out of forty men summoned for the purpose, a jury of twelve was impaneled, before whom the prisoner was tried, and by whom the following verdict was rendered: "We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of murder in the second degree, and assess his punishment at imprisonment in the State Penitentiary during his natural life." ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. 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