Holt County, Missouri - Chapter 11: Crimes and Criminals. - Trial of John Lawrence Charged with Killing His Father. - Simero, 1917

CRIMES AND CRIMINALS. - TRIAL OF JOHN LAWRENCE CHARGED WITH KILLING HIS FATHER. - SIMERO TRAGEDY. - KILLING OF JOHN TAYLOR. - FIRST HANGING IN COUNTY. - FIRST LEGAL EXECUTION. - BRUTAL MURDER OF SAMUEL CROW. - MINOR CRIMES.

It is doubtful if any writer or historian likes to deal with crime and criminals. If he has the right kind of sensibilities in his makeup he shrinks from any mention of revolting and gruesome tragedies. He is' mindful of the effect which such things have on the young and is half convinced that much that is printed about the shocking deeds of evil doers would be better unsaid. But the historian must make his work complete. Some of it may be unpleasant, but it is history nevertheless. No effort will be made in the following pages to record criminal events in their chronological order. Mention will be made of the more important crimes, and that will suffice.

For several years prior to 1876 Hiram Lawrence lived on a farm about three miles southeast of Craig. He came to Holt County from Indiana and had been here about twenty years. He had separated from his wife and lived alone with his son, John Lawrence, and his aged mother, who was his housekeeper. On the evening of Sunday, January 9, 1876, Hiram Lawrence left his home intending to be absent but a short time. His son, John, was away at the time. When the senior Lawrence did not return by morning Mrs. Lawrence notified the neighbors and a search was instigated.

It was known that there had been an estrangement between the father and son and suspicion soon was fastened upon the young man. He took an indifferent interest in the search for his father, and when news came of the finding of the body, instead of going to the spot John went to the house and waited there until it was brought in. He was placed under arrest after the coroner's jury had returned its verdict.

The trial of young Lawrence was one of the most sensational in the criminal annals of Holt County. The best legal talent of the county and some good lawyers from St. Joseph participated. James M. Limbird was prosecuting attorney. He was assisted by E. Van Buskirk of Oregon, and John D. Strong of St. Joseph. The defense was represented by Judge T. H. Parrish of Oregon and J. W. Stokes of Craig. The evidence was circumstantial but it was strong enough to secure a conviction. Lawrence was found guilty of murder in the first degree. Because of a flaw in the indictment - which did not state the full name of the accused - he was granted a new trial. The verdict was the same as at the first trial. Lawrence was sentenced to be hanged, but the governor commuted the sentence to imprisonment for life. Lawrence was released from custody a few years ago and spent a few days in Holt County near the scene of the crime for which he was convicted.

John F. Simero figures prominently in the early criminal history of the county. He was a carpenter and had the reputation of being a rather reckless and dare-devil sort of fellow. He committed the double crime of wife murder and suicide February 28, 1877.

He was a Russian and his real name is said to have been Simeradski. He was married under the name of Radski. His wife explained, to the neighbors, that this change in name was necessary because her husband had been a soldier in the United States army and had deserted. When he wanted to re-enlist he changed his name to escape detection. On the day of the crime he went up town and flirted with the flowing bowl for a time. He went home and a quarrel started between Simero and his wife. Two sons who were in the house were sent away and shortly the report of a shotgun was heard. Simero had shot his wife in the face. Then he went to the stable where he reloaded the gun, and, removing his right boot, placed the muzzle to his head and pulled the trigger with his toes. His death was instant, while his wife lingered for several hours. Simero left a note, written in German, in which he said the domestic trouble between himself and wife was caused by the meddling of well intentioned friends.

John Taylor, who resided in Atchison County a short distance from the dividing line, was killed in a saloon in Corning May 19, 1880, by William Moore. Taylor was said to be quarrelsome when under the influence of rye essence. He and Moore quarreled over a game of cards and Moore was put out of the saloon by the keeper. He tried to buy a pistol but was refused. He threatened Taylor while talking with the hardware man from whom he sought to purchase the weapon. At another store he bought a knife and returned to the thirst emporium.

Taylor came out and renewed the fight. Moore stabbed him in the abdomen, inflicting a wound from v/hich Taylor died forty-eight hours later. Moore seems to have been badly frightened when he came to a realization of what he had done. He ran into the house of a Mr. Snow, rushed excitedly upstairs into a room in which a young lady was dressing, begging her to protect him from the mob which was chasing him. She ran down stairs frightened half out of her wits. Moore was arrested and taken to jail. In June, 1881, he was convicted of murder in

James B. Inks was hung in the court house yard in Oregon, January 30, 1897, for the murder of John Patterson, a farmer who resided in the Triumph neighborhood. This was the first legal execution, and the only one to date in Holt County. Inks had accused Patterson of paying attention to Mrs. Inks, but the trial jury did not give credence to the claim. Inks and Patterson met on the streets of Mound City, May 15, 1895, and after some words had passed between them Patterson was shot. He died in a few hours. The case was appealed to the supreme court and all of the subterfuges known to the legal fraternity were brought into play to have the verdict of the lower court set aside, but without avail. The date of the execution was first set for January 3, 1896, but the appeal acted as a stay of execution. The supreme court then fixed the date for December 30, 1896, but Governor Stone granted a stay until January 30, 1897.

Matt Spellman was shot and killed on the streets of Mound City by Sam Pollock July 26, 1890. The men had disagreed over business matters. Pollock was tried in August, 1891, the result being a hung jury. At the second trial in January, 1891, Pollock was acquitted.

Lee Harriman was shot and killed in Maitland, July 20, 1894, by G. W. Moulden. A fued had existed between them for some time. They quarreled over a revolver and in the fight which followed Moulden fired with fatal results. A special term of court was held in October and Moulden was acquitted.

Dillon B. Taylor, living near Craig, died from drinking poisoned coffee March 11, 1896. An inquest was held March 17 and two days later, Gertrude, his 13-year-old daughter, was arrested charged with the crime. She waived examination and was indicted by the grand jury April 27. She was tried May 4 and the following day the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

The first case of hanging of which there is any record in the county occurred in the road between Forest City and Mound City, July 17, 1874. James Ross had been accused of horse stealing and the evidence was so strong that the irate farmers decided not to take a chance with the exasperating delays of the law and took matters into their own hands. Ross was hung to a tree by the vigilantes. C. E. Barnes, J. O. Dick, Sol Catron, W. H. Simpkins, Frank Bridgemon, John Foster, Royal VanDusen and C. H. Groves were arrested, charged with the crime, and at the April term, 1875, their bonds were fixed at $12,000. The amount of bond required would indicate that the authorities thought they had a good case against the men. But they seem to have changed their minds by the following August, for at that time the defendants were discharged.

Mary Donoghue died in December, 1875, as the result of a criminal operation said to have been performed by Dr. J. S. Bumps of Forbes. Bumps was arrested December 14 and sent to jail. A change of venue was taken to Atchison County in January, 1876. He was tried in May that year and convicted of manslaughter in the second degree. He was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary, and on May 8, committed suicide in the Rock Port jail by taking morphine.

Next to the Lawrence case, and equally as brutal and fiendish was the murder of Samuel Crow, living alone on a farm about six miles north of Oregon. He was 77 years old and something of a recluse. The body was found early Sunday morning, March 26, 1899, dead in bed. The head was beaten to a pulp, one arm was broken, evidently in an effort to ward off the blows of his assailant, and the lower jaw was broken.

The following day an ax handle was found in an old well marked with human blood and hair. Suspicion pointed only in one direction, and clew after clew was run down. The result was the arrest of William Miller and Thomas, Will and Dan Ferguson, May 4, 1899. The case was called for trial October 30, 1899, at which time the indictments against the three Fergusons were quashed. Miller was convicted of murder in the first degree November 4, and the date of his execution fixed for January 5, 1900. The case, like most murder cases, went to the supreme court, which tribunal, on April 10, affirmed the decision of the lower court. The second date set for Miller's execution was June 15, 1900. Judge G. W. Murphy and H. T. Alkire, attorneys for Miller petitioned Governor Stephens to commute the sentence to life imprisonment, and on June 12, the governor granted the request.

Miller went to the penitentiary and on August 4, 1909, Governor Hadley paroled him. There was always a doubt in the minds of many persons familiar with the case of the guilt of Miller and for this reason the parole was granted. Ivan Blair was prosecuting attorney at the time. He was assisted by John W. Stokes and John Kennish.

The motive for the crime was supposed to have been robbery. Crow had sold some land a short time before and it was known that he had about $1,500 in cash in the house, as he had an inbred aversion to banks and bankers. If the money was concealed about the house the murderers probably got it for it was not found by the authorities.

On Saturday evening. April 8, 1909, John W. Freeman, a carpenter, living in Craig, while on his way to the postoffice, was assassinated by being shot. Suspicion pointed to Ambrose Grounds who was arrested the same evening. In November the same year, he was found guilty and sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary. The crime was the outcome of Grounds paying attention to a daughter of Freeman, which the parent resented.

Guy Stanley was shot to death, while in bed, by Frank Vest, at the latter's home near Bigelow, December 3, 1911. According to the court records Vest seems to have been influenced by stories which his wife told him concerning Stanley. He testified that he thought his life was in danger as a result of what he had been told. Vest was indicted on the charge of murder in the first degree in January, 1912. His trial began April 8, and lasted for a week. The jury found a verdict of second-degree murder and fixed Vest's punishment at ten years in the penitentiary.

The first murder of which there is any record in the county was that of Zadoc Martin, who was shot to death with a rifle by William McKissick, April 24, 1843, in what was then Nodaway Township. McKissick was found guilty of murder in the second degree. He was prosecuted by Peter Burnett, who later figured prominently in the history of Oregon, and defended by -Col. A. W. Doniphan, who afterwards became a prominent character in the Civil war. McKissick was on September 23, 1843, found guilty and given three years in the penitentiary. He secured a new trial at which he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was fined $500 and sentenced to jail for six months. The fine was afterwards remitted and he was discharged from the jail because the place was deemed unfit for human habitation.

Jeremiah Garner was killed in the spring of 1845 by a companion while working on the roads near the Nodaway Iron Bridge. The deed was committed by a man named Stanley, who used a spade, striking Garner over the head, braining him. Stanley made good his escape.

James Kennedy was killed in Oregon, in 1862, by Andrew Burrier by being stabbed with a pocket knife. The quarrel originated over a note held by Burrier against Kennedy. The case was kept in the courts for a number of years and Burrier was finally discharged.

Lewis Garret was killed February 14, 1864. He was a Confederate soldier and was killed following a quarrel in Whig Valley, while home on a furlough. Sylvanius Grooms, Sam McClas- key, Robert Marion, Irenaeas Nease were arrested charged with the crime. They were bound over to the grand jury, but that body failed to find an indictment and the men were released.

Sheldon Smith, living near the Woods school house, was killed during the winter of 1861-62, by unknown persons. Mike tSephenson was arrested, but there was no evidence against him and he was discharged.

George Burnett, a member of Patterson's Militia company, shot and killed a young man named Pope, at the old city hotel in the fall of 1864. This hotel occupied the corner where the Woodland now stands, and at the time of the murder was conducted by John Reeves and wife (later Mrs. Mary Bevan). Pope was evidently under the influence of liquor and was trying to force an entrance into the room of a lady guest at the hotel. The woman became alarmed and, calling for help, Burnett answered. Pope was shot during the disturbance. Burnett was acquitted.

Sarah Jane Wilson killed her husband, Thomas Wilson, in Oregon in the summer of 1865. Wilson was sick and occupied a room in the upper story of their home, which was located near the school house square. The husband and wife participated in a little diversion in the nature of a family quarrel. In the scuffle she knocked him down stairs. In falling he sustained injuries from which he died. In October, 1865, Mrs. Wilson secured a change of venue to Buchanan County, where she was convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary. She was afterwards pardoned.

An Indian was killed on the ice in the Missouri River in 1867. John C. Hinkle and John H. Notele were arrested, it appearing that the officers of the law did not appreciate such efforts at making good Indians out of bad ones. But there was no evidence against the men and the case was dismissed.

The charred bones of a human being, supposed to have been a young man named Thorpe, were found in an ash heap a short distance south of Forest City January 1, 1890. Circumstances indicated that Thomas Fee was responisble for the death of Thorpe. Fee was arrested in February and in September, the same year, he was tried and acquitted. Fee afterwards was sent to the penitentiary for forgery.

Joseph Young was killed at Corning June 14, 1884, by Robert Henderson. They were section men and in a quarrel Young was struck with a shovel. Tfie following year Hender-

Nona Hudson was killed near the town of Forbes February 9, 1915, by his half-brother, Ernest Walker. The men, who lived with their mother, Mrs. Walker and her second husband, were at work in an orchard, with other members of the family. They went to the house and, the evidence at the trial showed, quarreled over the owneship of a typewriter. A pistol came into play and in the fight it was discharged killing Hudson almost instantly. Walker testified that he did the deed in self defense; He was tried at the May term of court the same year and acquitted.

Beecher Knapp, a farmer in the Nishnabotna neighborhood was killed on the streets of Corning August 6, 1914, by John W. Wilson, the town marshal. Knapp, with a couple of friends, are said to have been driving rather recklessly through the streets and when an effort was made to arrest them Knapp resisted. The marshal called one or two men to his assistance, but before he could get all of his forces in working order he drew a pistol and shot Knapp, the shot taking effect in the breast. Wilson was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary December 8, 1914. He was paroled two years later.