Clay-Ray County MO Archives News.....Ern Clevenger's Double Crime at Missouri City December 9, 1898 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ronald J. Reid rreid21@cox.net August 4, 2010, 10:14 pm The Kansas City Journal December 9, 1898 THE MURDERS OF DELLA CLEVENGER AND GEORGE ALLEN The Kansas City Journal, Dec 9, 1898, page 1 DUE TO JEALOUSY ERN CLEVENGER’S DOUBLE CRIME AT MISSOURI CITY MURDERED HIS RIVAL IN LOVE THEN SHOT HIS COUSIN, DELLA CLEVENGER, PERHAPS FATALLY. Affair Occurred at the Close of Church Services Last Night-Murderer Made His Escape- Was the Black Sheep of Clevenger Family. MISSOURI CITY, MO., Dec. 8 – (Special) At the close of church services tonight, held in the Clevenger school house, Ern Clevenger shot and killed George Allen, and then, turning the weapon upon his cousin, Della Clevenger, shot her, perhaps fatally. Disappointment and jealousy were motives for the crime. Joseph (should read Jerome) Clevenger, father of Della, would not allow his nephew, Ern, admittance to his home to pay attention to Della. Ern seems to have been the black sheep of the family. While good hearted and well meaning when sober, he was drunk most of the time. Ern was apparently greatly attached to Della, and grew despondent and morose when he saw the place, which he considered of right his, taken by George Allen, a handsome young fellow and one of the best known young men in the county. All day Ern Clevenger had been drinking freely. To-night he placed a revolver in one pocket and a bottle of whisky in another and went to church, where he knew he would meet his rival and his sweetheart. He took his seat back of the Clevenger pew and remained very quiet during the meeting. When the congregation arose for the benediction, Ern Clevenger arose also and stood with bowed head. When the last word was uttered by the preacher the murder took a step forward toward Allen, at the same time drawing a 28 caliber revolver from his pocket. “D—m you: I’ll show you,” he dried, hoarsely, and, placing the gun at the back of Allen’s head, fired twice. Allen fell without uttering a word. Then the murderer turned the weapon upon his cousin. Joseph Clevenger had rushed forward to protect his daughter, but arrived too late. He seized the murderer by the arm, but Ern Clevenger, uttering a horrible imprecation, wrested himself free, and in the confusion, made his escape. Thick woods surround the schoolhouse, and it is thought he is in hiding there. His home is in Tennessee, and he may try to go there. The sheriff has been telegraphed to, but the roads are so impassable that he has not yet had time to arrive. The Kansas City Journal, Saturday, December 10, 1898 CLEVENGER ATTEMPTS SUICIDE Perpetrator of Perhaps a Double Murder Would Take His Own Life. MISSOURI CITY, MO., Dec. 9. – (Special) Della Clevenger, Ernest Clevenger’s victim of Thursday night, is still alive and is conscious, although the ball passed entirely through the brain, lodging against the occipital. Her chances for recovery are very slight. After making his escape, Clevenger went to the house of Tom Tarwaters and told Tarwaters that he had been robbed and that he wanted a revolver so he could pursue the robbers. Tom gave it to him. As soon as Clevenger got the weapon he made for the school house and shot at Miss Jennie Clevenger, the girl with whom he was in love. Then he ran and was pursued by Constable E.A. Donovan and Fred Page. As Donovan neared Clevenger, the latter turned and fired two shots at Donovan, who promptly retreated. About 6 o’clock Friday morning Clevenger was tracked to the house of his grandfather, John Clevenger. He was lying by the stove with a horse blanket over him. Sheriff Jake Hymer and Sheriff-elect John King were notified and went there at once. Clevenger seeing the game was up, placed a weapon to the side of his head and fired, but the ball made only a very deep flesh would. The murderer thought his shot was fatal to himself and lay down to die. When the sheriff aroused him he said: “Oh, what have I done: What happened last night?” That was all he would say. He was taken secretly to Liberty, as the neighbors had threatened to lynch him. While on the train Russell Clevenger, brother of the wounded girl, asked Ernest Clevenger why he did the deed. Clevenger answered, “I had my own reason. I am sorry I shot Della, but I meant to kill Jennie and your dad, too. Then I guess I would have fixed myself if there was any chance to do it.” Public feeling here is intense. The opinion is all against Clevenger. Sheriff Hymer is taking every precaution to prevent a lynching, which will undoubtedly follow should Miss Clevenger die. Coroner Rowell held an inquest over the body of young Allen to-day, but the verdict is withheld. The murder was evidently deliberate. Thursday afternoon Ernest Clevenger lay in wait for Allen beside a country road with the intention of killing him. Allen came along in a wagon, and Clevenger stopped the horses and tried to drag him from the wagon, but Allen threw him off. It is said that Charles West, a young farmer, with whom Clevenger had been drinking Thursday, promised to help do Allen up. He has disappeared since the murder. The Kansas City Journal, Dec 14, 1898, page 2. Don’t Want Clevenger Lynched. MISSOURI CITY, MO., Dec. 13. – (Special.) Dr. D.K. Morton has just returned from the bedside of Miss Della Clevenger, who was shot by Ernest Clevenger Thursday night, and reports her much better. She has a good chance for recovery. Parties have been to see Jerome Clevenger, father of the girl, and Almarine Allen, father of the murdered man, regarding their willingness to have Clevenger lynched. Both said not lynch him, but have him removed to Kansas City, so he would be safe. Kansas City Journal, Dec 25, 1898, page 2 Miss Clevenger Is Improving. MISSOURI CITY, MO. Dec. 24 -(Special) Dr. D. K. Martin, the physician attending Miss Della Clevenger, the young woman who was shot by Ern Clevenger on the night of December 8, says her chances for recovery now are very good, although the bullet from a 38-caliber revolver went entirely through her brain paralyzing her left side. She Is rational and has been since she was shot. The Kansas City Journal, March 14, 1899, page 7. THE BULLET LOCATED SUCCESSFUL X-RAY OPERATION BY DR. J.N. SCOTT RECALLS A TRAGIC SHOOTING DELLA CLEVENGER NEARLY KILLED AT MISSOURI CITY Ern Clevenger Killed His Rival, George Allen, and Missed his Cousin, Jennie - An Operation Will Be Performed and Bullet Removed. The tragic shooting of a young man and woman, by the cousin of the girl, which occurred last December in a church in Missouri City, was recalled yesterday by the bringing here of the young woman to have the bullet in her head located by x-rays. Ern Clevenger, a young man of Missouri City, had become wildly jealous of his cousin, Miss Jennie Clevenger, and bitter in his hate toward George Allen, his rival. On the night of December 8, after a day of drinking, young Clevenger went armed to the neighborhood meeting house, where he knew he would find his cousin with her escort. At the close of the meeting he pushed his way to where young Allen and Miss Clevenger and her sister Della were standing about the stove. With only an oath as a warning, he fired two shots at close range into Allen’s head, killing, him instantly, and then turned, it is thought, to shoot Jennie Clevenger. For some reason the shot missed its mark and Della Clevenger, turning just at that time, received the bullet in her forehead. The wound was thought to be fatal, but after a few days the girl began to recover. She gradually regained strength, though almost helpless on the side on which the bullet had pierced her brain. About ten days ago, after the would had closed up, she began to complain of a pain in her head, and yesterday, under the care of her father and sister and Dr. D.K. Morton, she was brought to Kansas City for an X-ray photograph to locate the bullet and determine the possibility of its removal. Miss Clevenger was taken to the office of Dr. J.N. Scott, 424 New Ridge building, who makes a specialty of X-ray work, and two photographs were taken of her head. The bullet had entered the forehead a little to the right of the median line and ranged very slightly downward. Its location, as shown by the side and front view negatives made by Dr. Scott, is in the back of the head, in nearly the same relation as the point of its entrance to the median line and about an inch from the surface of the skull. Dr. Morton expressed the opinion that the bullet could be removed, and said the operation would probably be attempted before long, at the girl’s home in Missouri City. Ern Clevenger, the murder, and almost double murderer, was captured the next day after the shooting and will soon go to trial at Liberty, Mo. The Kansas City Journal, Friday, April 7, 1899 LIBERTY JAIL DELIVERY. Two clay County Murderers and Two Other Criminals Make Their Escape. LIBERTY, MO., April 6. – (Special) Four prisoners confined in the county jail made their escape early this morning, and up to this time nothing has been heard of them. They were Frank Wade and Ernest Clevenger, charged with murder; George Wilson and Bunnie Stockton, held for assaulting young girls. The escape was discovered by Night Watchman Wymore, who thinks they escaped about half past 1 o’clock. The lock on the outer door had been pried open with the leg of an iron bed, which was found outside the door. The inner door was probably not locked, as it would be almost impossible for it to be unfastened from the inside, the bolt being fastened on the outside by an eccentric passed through a slot and locked out of reach of any implement the prisoners could possibly use. The eccentric was found hanging on the iron gate in the passageway. Wymore immediately gave the alarm and Sheriff King, Deputies Cave and King, Constable Thompson, Will Wymore and others immediately went in search of the escaped men. It is generally believed that Wade will be captured early, the opinion being that he will immediately go to his old home near Pratherville. Stockton, Wilson and Clevenger are East Tennesseeans, and it is thought they have left for that section. Stockton and Wilson had several callers on Monday and a consultation with their attorneys on Wednesday. Wade killed Alex Schamnet, near Pratherville, in the fall of 1897, and was convicted and sent to the penitentiary for twenty-five years. He was granted a new trial by the supreme court and was brought back to Clay county and indicted by the February grand jury. He would have been tried at the June term of court. Clevenger killed George Allen, near Missouri City, several months ago, and also shot his cousin, Miss Della Clevenger, at the same time. She is in a critical condition and will probably die. The Kansas City Journal, April 8, 1899. MURDERER WADE CAPTURED. Found Hiding in a Strawstack Near Kearney and a Farmer Took Him Back to Jail. LIBERTY, MO., April 7. – (Special) Francis M. Wade, one of the four inmates of the county jail who escaped Thursday morning, was captured this morning near Kearney, Mo., by fort Randolph, a farmer. Wade was in hiding on Randolph’s farm in a strawstack and was discovered accidentally while Randolph was feeding. He made no protest and was brought to Liberty this evening and committed to jail again. He gave no information concerning the other prisoners or the manner in which they escaped. Rewards are offered for the other three, but, feeling confident of Wade’s capture, no reward was offered. It is thought the others deserted Wade as he is demented. Ernest Clevenger is aged 23; five feet, nine inches high; weights 140 pounds, and has smooth face with a scar on the forehead between the eyes; reward of $100 for his capture. George Wilson, aged 27; five feet, ten and one-half inches high; weighs 175 pounds, and is smooth shaved except small “sideburns.” Which he may have had shaved off; reward of $25 for his capture. B.B. Stockton is 23 years old; five feet, six inches high; weighs 135 pounds; smooth shaved and has black curly hair; plays the banjo; reward of $25 for his capture. All the men show signs of confinement in jail. The Kansas City Journal, April 18, 1899, page 2. ERNEST CLEVENGER RETAKEN. Clay County Murderer Arrested Near Vibbard, Mo., and Returned to the Liberty Jail. LIBERTY, MO., April 17. – (Special) Ernest Clevenger, the murderer who escaped from the county jail in company with Wade, Stockton and Wilson, on the night of April 6, was captured near Vibbard, Ray county, this morning, by Constable Sisk of that place. Sheriff King was notified by wire and immediately left to take the prisoner in charge. He returned at 5 o’clock and took the prisoner direct to jail, where a large crowd had assembled. Clevenger evinced much pleasure at the excitement caused by his arrival and greeted everyone with a broad smile. When he stepped into the jail corridor, however, his demeanor changed and as the prison doors once more clanged behind him and angry scowl crossed his countenance and a muttered oath passed his lips. He said the reason he had not made better progress in his flight was because he would lose his way at night and would sometime traverse the same ground he had gone over the previous night. At one time after escape, he said, he was with two miles of Liberty. Wade, the other murderer, was captured the next day after the escape. Stockton and Wilson are still at large. The Kansas City Journal, April 21, 1899, page 1. TO AVOID MOB VIOLENCE Murderers Clevenger and Wade Removed From the Liberty Jail Last Night. LIBERTY, MO., April 20, - (Special) Information was received here this afternoon to the effect that a body of men would arrive in Liberty to-night from Miltondale and Ray county for the purpose of lynching Ernest Clevenger, held for the murder of George Allen, and his cousin, Miss Della Clevenger, on December 8 last. Deputy Sheriff Ed Cave decided it advisable to transfer the prisoner to a safer place, so he was taken on the 9:35 Burlington train to some place temporarily, and will probably be returned to Liberty in a few days. The citizens of Liberty seemed to lack interest in the case and manifested no desire to take the law in their own hands, as it is the universal opinion here that Clevenger will get his deserts at the hands of the law. Wade was also taken away with Clevenger. The Kansas City Journal, Nov 22, 1899, page 2. CLEVENGER SENTECED TO DIE Murderer of George Allen and Della Clevenger to Be Hanged January 5. LIBERTY, MO., Nov 21. – the death sentence was to-day passed upon Ernest Clevenger by Judge E.J. Broadus. Clevenger was convicted November 7 of the murder of George Allen and Della Clevenger during a religious revival near Missouri city. When the judge told him to stand up he had nothing to say and gave no evidence of emotion. Friday, January 5, 1900, is fixed as the day of execution. Clevenger, who was in loved with Della Clevenger’s sister, Jennie, and was jealous of Allen’s attentions to her, went to a schoolhouse near Missouri City where a prayer meeting was in progress to Allen and Miss Jennie Clevenger. He had been drinking. He sat quietly through the service and after the benediction he walked up to Allen, said “I’ll show you,” and shot him. Allen was shot in the back of the head and died at once. Clevenger then shot Miss Della Clevenger in the head and aimed again at her sister. The girls’ father knocked the revolver up and the bullet went wild. Clevenger was captured next day. The St. Louis Republic, June 16, 1900, page 8. HANGINGS IN THREE MISSOURI TOWNS. Ernest Clevenger Pays the Penalty at Liberty for a Double Murder. IT TOOK PLACE IN CHURCH Holloway executed at Linn – Negro Put to Death at New Madrid for Killing Two Persons Liberty, Mo., June 15. – Ernest R. Clevenger, aged 25 years, was hanged here at 5 o’clock this morning in the County Courtyard. The execution was witnessed by about fifty men. Clevenger met death fearlessly and walked up on the scaffold unassisted. At 4 o’clock this morning he was taken from his cell to the County Collector’s office, where his spiritual advisers prayed and talked with him. He said he had made peace with God and was ready to die. He ate a hearty breakfast and calmly smoked a cigar. The death warrant was read to him and as the clock struck 5 he was led to the scaffold. The two ministers went upon the scaffold with the doomed man. As the first strap was put on , Clevenger said: “God will save me.” When asked if he had anything to say, Clevenger replied: “I wish to say farewell to you all and hope you will find out some day that I ain’t worthy of the death I am dying.” He was pronounced dead in thirteen minutes from the time of the drop. Clevenger did not sleep any last night and spent the time walking the floor and writing letters. The crime for which Clevenger was hanged was the murder of a third cousin, Miss Della Clevenger, and a young man, George Allen. The tragedy occurred during religious exercises in Clevenger Schoolhouse, near Miltondale, east of Missouri City, December 8, 1898. Clevenger was in love with a sister of the girl who was killed. On the day of the shooting he was drinking heavily. That evening Miss Jennie Clevenger drove to church with George Allen, a distant cousin. Clevenger met them and tried to stop them, but failed. Although Allen was one of his best friends and was engaged to another girl, Clevenger became wildly jealous. With a companion he went on to the schoolhouse. While the minister was pronouncing the benediction, Clevenger drew his revolver and fired at Allen. The ball entered the back of Allen’s head and killed him instantly. Clevenger then shot at Jennie Clevenger, who was standing next to Allen, but she stooped to catch Allen as he fell. The bullet missed her and struck Della Clevenger. It remained in her head until her death five months later, notwithstanding the X-ray was used to locate it and every effort made to remove it. Clevenger took to flight, but was caught. While confined in jail at Liberty he managed to escape, but was soon recaptured. He made every effort to escape punishment, but the Supreme Court reaffirmed his sentence and the Governor refused to interfere. Additional Comments: Transcriber’s Notes: 1. The Clevenger name caught my attention while searching the newspaper archives of the Library of Congress because my GG-Grandfather’s (Samuel S. Cruse) brother Absalom Cruse married Nancy Jayne Clevenger and my GG- Grandfather’s son Floyd married Fannie Clevenger. The Cruse’s and the Clevenger’s were neighbors, friends and family in the Clay and Ray County area for many years. This piqued my interest in this sad saga. 2. Della and Jennie Clevenger were the daughters of Jerome and Bellona Clevenger nee Frakes. The family lived in the Fishing River Twp., of Clay County. According to Della’s tombstone she was born on Oct 10, 1883 so she was not yet 16 years old when she died on April 19, 1899. Della is buried in the Old Allen Cemetery in Ray Co., MO. Jennie, the love interest in this story, was born in 1881 according to the 1910, 1920 and 1930 Census and her tombstone and therefore only 17 years old. Della parents are also buried in the Old Allen Cemetery. 3. Jennie married Frank D. Smith in 1902. Jennie died in 1972 and is buried with her husband in the Union Baptist Cemetery, Orrick, Ray Co., MO. Frank died in 1953. 4. George F. Allen was the son of Almorine and Hannah Elizabeth Allen, nee Creason. He was born in 1877 and therefore was 21 years of age when he was murdered. He is buried in the Union Baptist Cemetery, Orrick, Ray Co., MO. His parents are also buried there. 5. The 1900 Census shows that Almorine and Hannah Allen were enumerated two dwellings from my GG-Grandparents (Samuel and Jennie Cruse) and their children. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/clay/newspapers/erncleve262gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mofiles/ File size: 20.6 Kb