Clay-Platte County MO Archives Obituaries.....Dunnigan, Benjamin F. May 14, 1862
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Ronald J. Reid rreid21@cox.net September 9, 2007, 7:17 pm

The Liberty Tribune, May 23, 1862
Liberty Tribune, May 23, 1862:
From the Plattsburg News – Horrible Tragedy.
Three has been considerable excitement, a general feeling of indignation and 
regret, among all classes of our citizens for the last day or two, in 
consequence of the murder of Benjamin F. Dunnigan, a young man universally 
respected and beloved by all who knew him.  He was shot from his horse on the 
14th inst., about three miles east of this place.
We are not in possession of all the circumstances attending the tragedy, but 
from the best information we can get, it appears that he was riding along the 
public highway between Mr. Carter’s and town about 8 o’clock in the morning, 
when some person stepped from the brush and shot him, the ball taking effect in 
the back and passing out at the right breast, killing him instantly.  The 
murderer is not known.  Mr. Carter who is the young man’s step-father, and with 
whom he had staid the previous night, heard the report of two guns directly 
after young Dunnigan left his house, and feeling uneasy he immediately hastened 
to the spot and found the young man dead – weltering in his own blood.  It was 
a cold and heartless murder.  Young Dunnigan was a soldier in the service of 
the United States and as such had the respect and confidence of all.  He 
belonged to Capt. Charles C. Bassett’s company.
Mr. Nathaniel Grant, a well known citizen of Clay County, was also robbed and 
his life threatened about the same time and place, and it is supposed by the 
same individual.  His evidence has been taken before the Coroner’s Jury; in 
which he gives a full description of the felon.  We earnestly trust, that the 
citizens and soldiers will use every effort to bring the perpetrator to justice.
There has been a good, number of our citizens arrested; men who have hitherto 
been above suspicion, and we trust that the proper authorities will not act 
rashly or punish any man without first having sufficient evidence against him.  
Mr. Grant can certainly identify the criminal, and when he does, we hope that 
he will meet with even justice.
This thing of bushwhacking must be stopped, or every man’s life will be in 
danger and every silent glen a place for human slaughter.


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