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There were a number of Missourians connected to that event.
I stumbled across this story which doesn't concern outlaws and it happened across the river in Illinois in 1900. I thought it was interesting and always wondered how it would be determined if it happened, now I know;
DIED IN TWO COUNTIES
A peculiar case occurred near the little town of Arthur,Illinois a few weeks ago. A man was found frozen to death on a public road,which forms the dividing line between the counties of Moultrie and Douglas. The head and a portion of the upper part of the body was stretched across the line and lay in Moultrie County,while the legs and the lower part of the dead man's body projected over on the Douglas County territory. Before the body was removed,a jury had to be summoned to determine which of the two counties should take legal possession of the dead man's remains. There was but one way to decide the point of possession,and that was to take a measurement and award the county on which lay the greater portion of the body the right of possession. The measurement was carefully taken,and it fell to the lot of Douglas County to take the body in charge and the coroner of that county was given possession.
Delassus,Mo., Sept.13---A fatal shooting scrape took place in front of the courthouse at Farmington today,in which Sheriff McMullin and Henry Horn,a noted desperado,were the participants. There appears to have been an old feud between them,arising out of the frequent arrests of Horn for violations of the law and the last one taking place yesterday when he was arrested for disturbing the peace at the fair grounds. It is said that Horn came to town this morning with the avowed intention of killing the sheriff, for he expressed as much to several parties. He also tried to shoot another man at the fair grounds today and was only prevented from so doing by the interference of friends. McMullin and Horn were standing on the sidewalk on Main Street. Horn was a little under the influence of liquor and McMullin was trying to get him to desist in use of obscene and abusive language. Horn then started across the street,saying something and pulling his pistol at the same time. McMullin followed about five steps and Horn had crossed about two-thirds of the street,when he suddenly turned,taking deliberate aim at McMullin,who immediately brought his pistol in position. Horn then fired,striking McMullin near the nipple on the right side. McMullin returned fire hitting Horn's little finger,Horn fired another shot hitting McMullin in the abdomen. McMullin fired again striking horn just below the nipple but fortunately for him his suspender buckle kept the ball from penetrating his body. Horn's next shot missed McMullin. McMullin then shot Horn in the thigh knocking him down. Horn raised his pistol to shoot but seeing his adversary on his feet and ready to give another shot,he threw up his pistol and said;"I give up,I am dying." McMullin stood over him and replied; "You have also done the work for me." McMullin then walked off and would have fallen had not his friends assisted him to his home. McMullin will die. The sympathy of the community is with our sheriff who was killed in the discharge of his duty. He was about 60 years of age and leaves an interesting family to mourn his loss. Horn is in jail.
Thursday April 8, 1880
The little towns of southeast Missouri have their scenes of violence as well as the villages farther south. In the vicinity of Bertrand,a few miles distant from Charleston,John Douglas fired the contents of his shotgun last Monday into the body of William Lettsinger. The latter had accused Douglas of stealing two plugs of tobacco and as there seemed to be respectable foundation for the charge,Douglas became deeply angered,and having his shotgun at hand,promptly essayed the destruction of Lettsinger's life. Ten of the twenty shots that struck Lettinger passed into the cavity of the body. The wounds are regarded mortal. Douglas is in jail.
Tuesday July 20, 1880
Carrollton,Missouri.---At about 12 o'clock last night Patrick McHenry,a section hand on the Wabash,St.Louis and Pacific railway,living at Wakenda,this county, met his death in a singular manner. He was under the influence of whiskey and deposed to be noisy and abusive,so much so that the other parties in the house could not sleep. After repeated efforts to quiet him, one Davis,also a railroad employee, struck McHenry on the neck with his fist,killing him in less than five minutes. Davis fled the country immediately and has not been apprehended.
J.W.BOWSER,LUMBERMAN WELL KNOWN IN CAIRO,KILLED IN HENSON MISSOURI
HIS FORMER EMPLOYEE SUSPECTED.
Bowser was sitting at his home reading by a window about 8 o'clock. His wife had been with him for a moment and while in the next room heard the noise of an explosion. She rushed back into the sitting room and found her husband lying dead from terrible wounds. Believing the murder to be the work of robbers, the thoroughly terrified woman hid herself behind a door in the room and awaited she knew not what. After a while she summoned her courage and ran to the nearest neighbor to tell the awful news. Posses and bloodhounds were started out as soon as possible,but as yet no clue to the murderer has been found. Suspicion points however,to a former employee of Bowser's . Two had been ordered to leave his farm a day or two previous,although no arrest has been made. The remains of the murdered man were taken to Charleston,Missouri yesterday for internment in the Odd Fellows Cemetery. Bowser was formerly of the Bowser Milling Company at Anniston,Missouri,but a few months ago sold his interests in the firm to the Sondheim Lumber Company of this city and retired to live on his farm at Henson,comprising 1,700 acres. He was well liked,but unfortunately had a quick temper,which was the means of causing him Ill will of those with whom he had disputes. It is known that he was not on good terms with several of his former employees.
May 1904
The jury at St.Louis in the case of Robert Barry,charged with manslaughter,returned a verdict of not guilty yesterday. Barry is a Cairo boy who several weeks ago was attacked by a gang of drunken ruffians in front of a saloon in St.Louis while he was passing. He was knocked down and used his pocketknife in self defense. He had been arrested and charged with manslaughter. State's Attorney,Alex Wilson,of Cairo,went up to St.Louis and appeared for the defense. Barry arrived in Cairo this morning with his mother.
October 1904
Charles Gattrell Sunday evening shot and killed two persons at O'Brien's Landing,Missouri and injured a third. The dead are James Weaver,foreman of Bate's Camp and Alice Ward,colored woman. The tragedy occurred between 4 and 5 o'clock at Bate's Camp when Gattrell was the commissary clerk. After the shooting,Gattrell fled through the woods bareheaded and in his stocking feet,carrying the Winchester rifle with him with which he had committed the terrible deed. The injured person was a boy named Adam,who is expected to recover.
Wednesday Nov. 18, 1857
Mississippi County,Missouri
Mr.Horregan had stolen some hogs.Mr.Jones saw him kill them and became a witness.
Horregan threatened Jones not to appear before the grand jury. Mr.Horregan showed up at the Jones house and attacked him and Mrs.Jones with a hatchet. Mrs.Jones later died and Horregan was arrested and jailed in Charleston,Missouri.
1847
John Sladen murdered a man named Reed in Cairo and robbed him of $40. He was captured a year later and jailed at Hillsboro,Jefferson Co.Missouri.
1849
Wayne Co.Missouri
Three men of the Williams family killed a man named Morgan and his two sons-in-law over a dispute of land that Morgan was living on.
1918
SIKESTON MAN KILLED IN ST.LOUIS MONDAY,WAS ROBBED,SHOT THEN FINISHED BY AUTOMOBILE
St.Louis,Mo., Apr.6---William Wright,52,of Sikeston,Mo.,came to St.Louis last Saturday to see the city. On the same day he reported to the police that he had been robbed of $80. On Monday he was struck by an automobile at Ninth and St.Clair streets and was killed. S.Sachs,of 1167 Walton,who was driving the machine,testified at the inquest today that he was going very slowly and that Wright,who seemed to be in a dazed condition,stepped directly in front of the car. An examination showed that Wright had been shot,no later than Sunday. No clues to the shooting have been found.
Four men named Rhoades,Meyers,Hamilton and Brown had formed a secret organization for purposes unknown to anyone but themselves,but now generally supposed to have been robbery and outlawry and by accident let their plans become known to William Knox. He had not been in sympathy with them and gave them away,whereupon they concluded to kill him and on last Monday night visited his house for that purpose. Knox succeeded in evading them by disappearing through a back door. The other people of the house,becoming alarmed at the threats of the four men,also attempted to make their escape but were fired upon. One shot taking effect in the legs of a man who had an infant in his arms. Three shots also struck the infant in the legs and body. The scoundrels also fired at one of the women as she ran through the orchard but without effect. They then remained around Knoxs' house until daylight,when they left,taking the direction of the man that ran whom they had shot. They had gone but a short distance when they found the wounded child lying on the ground. They took it back to the house and dressed it's wounds. They then proceeded in search of the wounded man. They soon found and also assisted him back to the house and called a neighbor,whom they instructed to attend to the wounds. Early Tuesday morning Knox swore out a warrant for the arrest of the four men and had it placed in the hands of the constable who proceeded to perform that duty. Finding the quartet,the constable was promptly informed that they would not be arrested by him,but after some conversation they consented to go,telling him to lead the way and they would follow. After proceeding some distance they changed their minds,and turning into the woods,ran off and were not seen anymore until yesterday morning. The sheriff of New Madrid County,being notified,went with a posse of ten or twelve men to the scene of action which was near Bayne's store,and while there saw the four men coming down the main road to them and seeing who they were,mounted their horses and gave chase. The quartet seeing the officers advancing took to the woods and concealed themselves in the brush. In about an hour the sheriff and his men came upon them hiding behind a log,the first intimation they had of their proximity being a volley of buckshot fired into the party,instantly killing one of the deputies,Robert Laforge,and wounding another,Albert Hunter. The sheriff's party returned the fire and for several minutes a regular battle ensued,but the ambush gave the outlaws such an advantage as to force the officers back,leaving the murdered man,Laforge,on the ground. The desperadoes quickly relieved him of his money,jewelry and pistols then retreated. The sheriff's party soon rallied,and with an increased force of forty men continued the pursuit. Early in the afternoon they found one of the desperadoes,Rhoades,who had been so badly wounded as to be unable to travel and took him prisoner. Rhoades' statement is that his comrades,finding him shot through the leg and face,concluded that they would be unable to escape with him. Leaving him one pistol,they sent him to the house of a widow woman and told him to do the best he could for himself then deserted him. He was kept under guard until he escaped,but was soon found afterwards in a stable hanging by the neck from the rafters. The sheriff and party are still hunting the other three but had not discovered their whereabouts at this hour. The desperadoes are armed with double-barreled shotguns and four shooters each and are determined not to be taken alive. The whole community is in a terrible state of excitement,young Laforge having a large and influential circle of relatives and friends. The citizens of New Madrid have offered a reward of $600 for the three desperadoes.
SUNDAY MAY 15, 1881
It has been ascertained that the four murderous ruffians who fired upon the sheriff's posse near New Madrid Missouri the other day and killed young Laforge,had protected their breasts and backs with steel plates made by themselves off crosscut saws. The County Court of New Madrid County has made an addition of two thousand dollars for the capture of the gang. One thousand dollars for Meyers and five hundred for each of the others. This makes the reward for Meyers twelve hundred dollars and for J.O Hamilton and F.Brown,seven hundred dollars each.
October 5, 1899
Whiting,Missouri
Ben Leshough shot and killed Burley Lacey during a crap game.
October 12, 1899
Charleston,Missouri
City Marshal Elmo Fry was shot and killed by Riley Powell in a saloon.
March 25, 1899
Kennett,Missouri
James H Tettaton killed his stepmother,two half-brothers and two half-sisters then burned the bodies in their home so he could get his hands on the estate. He had recently been elected a member of the board of trustees of the village of Bernie. He was sentenced to be hanged.
Thursday October 30, 1862
Mississippi County,Missouri
A man named Stark was killed by Bob Blandford over an argument about a stolen horse.
Wednesday February 20, 1867
Tipton,Missouri
A man named Clark shot and killed William Harlan over a game of cards.
Wednesday March 13, 1867
Sarcoxie,Missouri
TWO BROTHERS BUTCHER EACH OTHER
James Q Barnack,one of the wealthiest men in the area,died leaving as his sole and exclusive heirs his two sons,Jacob and Johnson,the only living survivors of his family. Being in their twenties and attending the same academy in Pennsylvania and later Amherst College,they were very close. Things changed when their father died,the older brother became abusive to his younger sibling,striking him on occasions. One day they decided to have it out and met on the street with their guns. After emptying their revolvers at each other they proceeded to beat each other with the butts of their weapons. Some men found them on the road,the older brother stiff and dead,the younger brother severely wounded and not expected to live was raving like a maniac.
April 23, 1906
New Madrid,Missouri
At New Madrid Sunday,during a game of baseball between Malden and New Madrid clubs,a difficulty ensued between bystanders in which Malden City Marshal John H McMillan was shot dead by some unknown person. At the time of the shooting,McMillan was talking with friends from Malden and was being partially held by Sheriff Henry of New Madrid County,who was a close and personal friend of the marshal. The shot was fired over the sheriff's shoulder and the latter's face was powder burned.
Thursday August 2, 1888
Charleston,Missouri
Charley Williams killed Alex Smiley by kicking him to death.
1877
Diehlstadt,Missouri
Bert Franklin robbed and murdered farmer Joshua Bumpass.
August 1895
Mississippi County,Missouri
Will Hogen shot and killed Charles "Red" Jackson by the river.
Wednesday January 17, 1872
St.Louis,Missouri
One of the rascals and murderers of the day,passed thru Cairo yesterday. His name is Newman and he says he is one of the notorious Hildebrand's gang of cutthroats. He was captured at Lake Providence by the three officers having him in charge and was heavily ironed and shackled. By his own confession he has killed or aided in killing 29 men during his career of crime. It is said that he used to reside in this city and is yet remembered here. The officers were taking him to St.Louis where he will in all probability receive the deserts he so richly merits.
May 1906
Sikeston,Missouri
Webb White tried to rob three men on the street,two of the men fled while the other,J.F Cannady,killed Webb White.
June 1906
Dexter,Missouri
Newton Riddle,saloonkeeper,is shot by Ned Jones,gambler. The gambler had been intimate with the saloonkeeper's daughter. They both had shotguns but the gambler was quicker.
August 1906
Charleston,Missouri
Arthur Barker,a farmer,was found murdered in the woods near his home yesterday. His head was almost shot away with a charge of buckshot and his body was cut and bruised. He left to go squirrel shooting and when he didn't return,searchers went out and found his body. Ben Ghormborough,farm hand, was seen in the vicinity and arrested but released for lack of evidence.
November 1901
Audrain County,Missouri
Godfrey Winzer,a German farmer,was found guilty of working on the Sabbath,commonly called Sunday,and was fined $10.
June 1913
Vandalia,Missouri
John Nicholson pleaded guilty to murdering his wife and nine year old adopted son by pouring oil over them while they slept and setting them on fire. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
July 4, 1873
Butler County,Missouri
John W Purdam murdered a young farmer named Scott.
October 22, 1871
Butler County,Missouri
A man named Dyer kills James Trotter with a cleaver.
January 1879
Audrain County,Missouri
Walker Kilgore shot and killed his cousin Dow Willingham over an argument about the hauling of corn.
August 31, 1883
Mexico,Missouri
Hamilton Hall,the druggist, was fined $5 and costs for selling soda water and a cigar on Sunday.
July 13, 1889
Laddonia,Missouri
W.E Grubbs,an attorney, was arrested here this morning and fined $1 and sentenced to ten days in the county jail for whipping his wife.
November 21, 1885
Thomason,Missouri
Dave Wilkinson was hanged here today for the murder of officer William Lawrence,whom he shot when Lawrence attempted to arrest him for burglary. Wilkinson is not his name and he refuses to reveal his right one. He walked to the scaffold with a firm step and stood on the drop without a tremor. As the noose was being adjusted he said to the sheriff, "you fellows get $50 for such work." He had nothing else to say,but listened attentively to the service. He fell a distance of seven feet,dying without a struggle.
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