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NEWS ARTICLES
Scott County Missouri Genealogy Trails Fatal Accident, April 21, 1843 A Daring Fox, Feb. 17, 1857 Murder in Scott County, Mo., Feb. 17, 1858 Convicted Murderer Commits Suicide, Feb. 9, 1882 Bits From Benton, Mo. Robbed A Bank, Aug 5, 1892 John Davis, Aug. 9, 1893 Big Fire in Benton, MO, Oct 25, 1893 Deputy Collector Killed, Oct. 31, 1895 Watermelon for the Mayor, July 28, 1898 Woman Is Charged With Killing Husband, Jan. 28, 1908 A Man Drowned, March 6, 1908 Mysterious Murder, Sept 18, 1908 Loses Bride by Sleeping, July 21, 1909 Melon Growers Organize, July 2, 1919 FATAL ACCIDENT April 21, 1843 Source: The Southern Patriot (Miss.) From the Benton (Mo.)
Banner of April 1.--Fatal Accident.--Mr. Charles Pease, formerly a
citizen of this county, but more recently a resident of New York, was,
we understand, thrown from his horse a few days since in Holmes county,
and instantly killed.
This makes the third brother out of the number of six, who settled in Yazoo county several years ago, who has come to his death by violent means. Henry Pease, the eldest of them, met his death in the summer of 1840, by being violently thrown from a vehicle. J. M., a younger brother, was shot dead in a rencontre last fall, and now Charles, whose business in Mississippi was to adjust the affairs of his deceased brother, James M., is, by the inscrutable hand of Providence, as suddenly ushered into eternity. Thus, by this unforeseen stroke of an all-wise God, is the heart of a father made desolate. A DARING FOX February 17, 1857
Source: The Charleston Mercury The Illinois
Emporium tells the following rather foxy story:
"A gentleman residing
in Scott County, (Mo.) informs us that while he was leisurely riding
along the banks of the Mississippi last week, with a half dozen
favorite chickens thrown across his saddle bow, a large fox emerged
from the woods and impudently followed him. Thinking Reynard
would lay himself liable to capture in making off with them, he tossed
the shanghais from his horse. They had scarcely struck the
ground before the fox had seized them. Our friend threw
himself from his horse, but before he had cleverly alighted, the fox
with all six of the fowls, was several feet out in the Mississippi,
paddling with an industry worthy of the occasion, for the opposite bank
of the river. After offering his kingdom for a gun, about a
dozen times, our friends bestrode his nag and pushed onward, feeling
very much like he had been abominably "sold.'"
MURDER IN SCOTT COUNTY, MO.
February 17, 1858 Source: Daily Missouri Republican from the Cape Girardeau (Mo) Eagle A correspondent writing from
Benton, informs us of the discovery on the morning of Friday last, of
the body of a man who had evidently been murdered. The body was
found secreted under the floor of an untenanted house on the road from
Benton to Charleston, and about one and a half miles from the former
place. Upon examination, it seemed that the victim had been shot
in the face, in and about the eyes, with what appeared to have been
pistol balls and medium sized shot. One of the balls passed out
of the back part of the head. There was also a wound on the left
side of the neck, made, apprarently, with a knife, the blade of which
must have been an inch or more in width. There appears, also,
several slight scars about and across the mouth, apparently caused by a
knife. Two new corn sacks were found in the house, on one of
which appeared marks of blood, as if made by wiping hands on it.
Near the house was found the remains of a very old saddle--both
skirts having been recently cut off--and the tree of the saddle, broken
in several places, with it were found a new circingle and girth, which
seem to have been little used.
The deceased was a stranger to those who found and subsequently saw him; there was nothing discovered by which his identity could be established, other than his apparel. He was about five feet six inches in height, about thirty-five years of age, and would weigh probably one hundred and forty pounds; had light hair, blue or gray eyes, and whiskers of a reddish hue. He had the appearance of having been recently shaved, and was plainly but neatly clad; had on two pairs of cassimere pantaloons; net drawers, two linen bosom shirts, (which from appearance had been put on but a short time before death,) net undershirt, plush vest and customer-made boots--all new; also a new black hat, a black frock or sack coat, somewhat worn, and had a comfort tied round his neck. The murder was committed before the recent fall of snow. As yet no clue has been discovered to the perpetrators. February 9, 1882
Source: Worcester Daily Spy Charles Miller, who was sentenced
on Monday last to be hung at Benton, Scott county, Mo., on the 10th of
March, for the murder of Franklin Hamilton, committed suicide in his
cell Tuesday night by hanging himself with a blanket.
BITS FROM BENTON, MO. September 21, 1889 Source: The St. Louis Republic --Mr. T. J. Merritt has been quite sick, but is now improving.
--Miss Sallie Williams, after a pleasant trip, has returned to her home. --Miss Ida Roeder, much to the regret of all, has gone to California to live. --Rev. John D. Vineil, D. D., has returned from the annual conference and will preach tomorrow. --Rev. Dr. Wm. J. Lee has bought a lot on Mitchell avenue and will build his home next spring. --"The Two Batchelors" will be placed upon the boards next Thursday evening by the Amusement. ROBBED A BANK
August 5, 1892 Source: St. Louis Republic Four Men Take $1,200 From the Benton (Mo.) Bank and Escape Special to The Republic--Benton,
Mo., Aug 4.--A daring robbery took place here yesterday. About 5
p.m. four masked men rode up to the bank and two of them dismounted
while the others held their horses. They entered the bank and
ordered Cashier Smith to "shell out," which he did without a word.
They secured about $1,200 and departed on a run. An alarm
was given and a party started in pursuit, but the robbers were mounted
on good horses and escaped. They are described as heavily built
men. They did their work in a professional manner.
JOHN DAVIS OF BENTON, MO.
August 9, 1893 Source: Argus and Patriot John
Davis, of Benton, Mo., was riding on a railway train last week when his
hat blew off about a mile before reaching Mora, where the train made a
stop of a minute. He jumped from the train, ran back and picked
up his hat, and caught the last car just as the train was pulling out
of Mora station.
BIG FIRE IN BENTON, MO.
October 25, 1893 Source: The New Haven Evening Register One Man Killed by a Gunpowder Explosion--
A Prisoner Excapes-- Property Loss $75,000 Benton, Mo., Oct. 25--Fire
yesterday destroyed 14 business houses and residences, including the
roller mill, two hotels, postoffice and jail. John Schaefer was
killed by an explosion of gunpowder and burned to a crisp. When
the jail took fire the prisoners were moved and one of them, under a
five years' sentence to the penitentiary, escaped. The loss is
about $75,000.
DEPUTY COLLECTOR KILLED Oct. 31, 1895 Source: Morning World-Herald St. Louis, Mo., Oct.
30--A special
to the Chronicle from Benton, Scott county, Mo., says that Deputy
Revenue Collector Mont P. Wade was killed there last night.
It is
believed that Wade's murder was the result of the recent raid of the
deputies into Shannon county to capture Moonshiners Romers and Renfrow.
WATERMELON FOR THE MAYOR
July 28, 1898 St. Louis Republic Mayor Ziegenhein received a
monstrous watermelon yesterday by express from Geo. A. Tomlinson of
Morley, Mo. On the card which was attached to the melon was the
inscription: "Remember the Maine, July 8" The Mayor sent
the big melon to his home, where his family of 10 will have an
opportunity to appreciate Mr. Tomlinson's kindness in a practical way.
WOMAN IS CHARGED WITH KILLING HUSBAND
January 28, 1908 Source: The Duluth News Tribune Benton,
Mo., Jan. 27--Mrs. James Hinkle living on a farm near here, was arested
(sic) today on the charge of having caused her husband's death
yesterday by giving him strychnine. In his dying statement Hinkle
accused his wife of having poisoned him. He said he had
complained of a chill and his wife had given him a strychnine pellet
telling him it contained quinine. He died soon after. Mrs.
Hinkle is 19 years old. Hinkle was much older.
A MAN DROWNED
March 6, 1908 Source: Scott County Citizen William Rice, of Adam's Mill, who
runs a hotel about five miles west of Oran, on Little River, was
drowned on Thursday night, February 27th near Spoke Town, on his return
home from Oran, about midnight in a slough about one mile east of Spoke
Town. His body was found Saturday morning February 29th, and was
buried at Perkins Station in Bird's Hill Cemetery on Sunday, March 1st.
This is another temperance lecture, as Rice was drunk when he left Oran and his friends advised him not to start for home. A quart of whiskey was found in his wagon. MYSTERIOUS MURDER
September 18, 1908 Source: Scott County Citizen Last Wednesday morning the usually
very quiet city of Blodgett was shocked by the announcement that Marsh
Stagner, of near that city, had been murdered by some unknown parties
on his return home from lodge meeting at Blodgett on Tuesday night.
Four gunshot wounds were found on his body and several buckshot
and bullets were taken from his body. Bloodhounds were put on the
trail and women's footsteps were followed to the Stagner home, where
Mrs. Stagner was put under arrest on suspicion. A man, unknown to
the writer, is said to be under suspicion as having been implicated in
the murder.
LOSES BRIDE BY SLEEPING
July 21, 1909 Grand Forks Herald Cape Girardeau, Mo., July
20--Because he was sleeping at the time set for his marriage to Miss
Safrola Tiplett, a school teacher of Morley, Mo., who was attending a
summer-term of the normal school here, John H. Brown, a traveling man,
is minus a bride he intended to have.
Brown, who is from Marseilles, Ill., met Miss Tiplett here several weeks ago. The couple became engaged and the wedding was to take place last night. Miss Tiplett, at the appointed time went to a hotel, where the ceremony was to take place. Brown was not there, and after an inquiry he was found at another hotel sleeping. Miss Tiplett declared the wedding off and left for her home in Morley. MELON GROWERS ORGANIZE
July 2, 1919 Kansas City Star Better Marketing Conditons Is Among Objects Sought
Morley, Mo.--A number of leading
melon growers have organized the Scott County Melon Growers'
Association, with headquarters here. Otto Bugg of Morley heads
the concern as president. J. T. Rosa, Jr., of the University of
Missouri College of Agriculture says that fifty melon growers have come
into the organization, and it is expected that eventually all the
important growers and shippers in this territory will enter. The
association has developed a large stimulus for increased melon acreage.
The melon growers of Dunklin County have also organized, and boosted the acreage to 10,000 acres in that county. The object of both organizations is to better the conditions for marketing the large melon crop of Southeastern Missouri. It is planned to make full use of the daily market reports of the United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Markets. It is also hoped that the associations will permit other co-operative work, especially co-operative spraying with power outfits, and seed selection, improvement and standardization. A record crop of watermelons is predicted this year in Missouri. |