Lafayette County MO Archives News.....Outrage in St. Francois County, MO June 30, 1843
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Kimberly Morgan http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000826 September 6, 2025, 5:43 am

Newspapers.com Online June 30, 1843
A most shocking murder was committed on Saturday night, the 30th within half a 
mile of Perryville, Perry County, in this State, by one James Layton, on the 
person of his wife.  He had been absent during the day, and immediately on his 
return at night, without previous quarrel, or cause of provocation yet known, he 
fell upon her with clubs, beat out her brains, broke her legs and arms, and 
otherwise abused her lifeless person, in a worse than brutal or savage manner.  
He then gathered together his children, five in number and took them to within a 
few rods of his father-in-law’s house, who lived not far off, & told them they 
must go to their grandfather’s and stay all night, as their mother was dead.—The 
cause of their appearance at that time, unaccompanied by father or mother, was 
subject of inquiry by their grandparents, when the oldest boy, about seven years 
of age, who was the only witness capable of giving any information of the horrid 
deed, gave a very circumstantial  account of the whole affair.  They immediately 
visited the theatre of this outrage, and found everything as the little boy had 
stated, even to the number of clubs used.  An inquest was immediately held over 
the corpse, and before morning not less than a hundred persons were in pursuit 
of the murderer.  It was supposed that he might have taken to a large swamp or 
marsh, somewhere in the vicinity for shelter, which was surrounded by a 
sufficient number, and would be thoroughly explored.  Others went in other 
directions; but it was supposed that he would not be taken alive, as he had 
taken his gun with him, and his pursuers were determined to take him, dead or 
alive, if they met with him.

One of the singularities of this case is, that the murderer was strictly a 
temperate man—never having been known to be intoxicated but once, and that as 
much as four years ago, nor is it supposed that he was intoxicated on this 
occasion.  Both their connexons are highly respectable; she was the daughter of 
Mr. Richard Maddoc, Sr. formerly of this city (Palmyra).—Rep.

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Outrage in St. Francois County, MO
About two years and a half ago James Layton committed an aggravated murder upon 
his wife, and was convicted of the same, in St. Francois County in this State, a 
few months since.  Saturday, the 17th inst (June) was the day appointed for his 
execution.—The St. Louis Democrat remarks:  He had obtained from the Governor a 
respite till the first of September.  But this was not generally known, and the 
people to the number of 3000, assembled to witness the execution at the 
appointed time.  An impression was somehow created, that justice would be 
cheated of its dues, and the people decided almost unanimously, that justice 
should at once be satisfied, at the expense of legal forms.  They burst open the 
– prison doors – took out the guilty man erected a gallows – deliberately hanged 
him, and then peaceably dispersed.

Additional Comments:
In the public domain, 181 years.  There are 2 articles so I used the latest date
deathpenaltyusa is using Lafayette as the county so that's what I'm using.
James Layton, Columbia Herald-Statesman, Fri, Jun 30, 1843, Page 2, 
Newspapers.com online, https://www.newspapers.com/image/936244403/?
match=1&terms=james%20layton, accessed 5 Sep 2025
James Layton, The Weekly Courier-Post, Sat, Feb 20, 1841, Page 2, Newspapers.com 
online,
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1029376696/?match=1&terms=james%20layton, 
accessed 5 Sep 2025

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