Lafayette County, Missouri - Murder of Jas. S. Lightner contributed by: Steve Shipe An interesting newspaper article about the death of James S Lightner on 26 June 1861 in Lafayette County, Missouri at the hands of federal troops. The date of his death I got from an Adjutant's report on the Missouri Digital Archives Staunton Spectator Staunton, VA Tuesday, Sept 3, 1861 Mr Jas. S. Lightner Killed in Lexington, Missouri. The Lincoln men are committing the same outrages in the West that they are doing in the East. They are arresting and then murdering valuable citizens who have too much patriotism and self-respect to bow the knee to the Baal of Black Republicanism. From a correspondent of Lexington, Missouri, we learn that a worthy and respectable man -- Mr Jas. S. Lightner, who was a native of this county, has been murdered by Lincoln men. The correspondent to whom we referred, under date of August 1st, says: "Three days ago our citizens were surprised and alarmed at learning that James S. Lightner, a man of sterling integrity, and one of our most useful and respected citizens, had been shot dead at midnight by Lincoln's troops. while their prisoner was secured and entirely at their mercy. And yet such was the case. His wife went down to the boat early in the morning to take him a change of clothing, and while on the wharf it was blandly explained to her by one of the sol-diers, that her husband was dead. The poor woman was frantic for many hours, and her screams were distinctly heard at the distance of two or three squares. No one has ever been in formed with what Lightner was charged --nor have any been able to conjecture. All of the business houses have closed their doors to show their respect for his memory."