Crimes in the County

By 1876 there had been 285 assults to commit murder

The first murder was in 1813, when Thomas Griffee (Griffth) shot an Indian.  Then in 1814 Thomas had a man named Elliott who worked for him, this man got into it with John Hicks who killed him.  In 1818 Isaac Herrin found an unknown man dead at the Stotlar place.  1821 in Rock Creek Prec, Henry Parsons just shot an unknown man for no reason.  He lived on Davis Prairie and killed Indians.  Then in 1823 he killed Parson Crouch.  He had lived on the Crab Orchard Creek near Bal Norman.  Henry had bought Crouch's farm and told him to leave.  When he didn't leave fast enough, Henry shot and killed him, and fled to TN. In 1833 Gideon Alexander shot James Youngblood, although he did not died for 5 or 6 years from the wound. In 1841 Jeremiah Simmons got into a fight with JG Sparks in Marion.  Wm Benson was the constable and broke it up.  Simmons started after Benson when Andrew Benson, saw this he tried to intervene but Simmons stabbed him to death.  Simmons fled to IA, but was brought back and acquitted.   1854 John Mosley clubbed James Burnett to death, he ran to MO but was caught, received 6 years and served one.  1859 George Ramsey shot Jack Ward, he disappeared.  Also in the same year John Ferguson, a young boy,  shot Ellen Reed in her bed, apparently she was with his father.  He ran off but came back years later. In 1859 an unknown man was found hung south of Marion.  In 1861 RT McHaney shot an unknown Irishman 4 miles east of Marion, he was acquitted.  1862 Reuben Stocks, who lived on Eight Mile Prairie was in Blairsville when he got into it with some of the Aiken gang, one of them shot him.  Reuben was in the 78th IL at the time.  Terry Crain, while in the 128th IL, was with his unit as they crossed the Crab Orchard Bridge into Jackson Co, he hit John Burbridge with a stone and killed.  Crain was not indicted for the murder until Oct 1875, he received 15 years.  William Stacy stabbed Henderson Tippy and was acquitted.  And in Dec 1862 James Baker was shot by unknown parties in Bainbridge Prec.  1863 brought more killing with the new year.  George Aiken had gone to MO and got Allen and Charlie Glide plus his son, John Aiken, they along with a few more where known as the Aiken Gang.  In 1863, they were thought to have shot and kiled James Emerson.  They were responsible for several murders, at least 50 robberies, they attacked Dr Bandy and George Cox.  As they problem with the gang grew many were arrested including James Chenoworth.  In the same year, 6 men went to Lake Creek Prec and got Daniel Robertson and his brother Joseph to help them look for deserters, they shot Daniel and tried to kill Joe, who escaped.  Then they went and tried to kill Peter Wascher.  Benjamin Batts (?Butts) killed James Stilly with a hoe.  William Moulton was killed by an unknown person.  Joshua McGinnis, Dick Dickson, Thomas Murray and Henry Norris all arrested and acquitted.  1864 saw Samuel Moore clubbed to death at a saloon in Jeffersonville, a Washum was indicted and acquitted.  Vincent Hinchcliff killed James Prickett a lawyer from Grassy, in Blairsville, James was working on a case against the administrator of Wiliam Hinchcliff's estate.  Vincent was acquitted. Then William C Parker shot Richard Jordan, Parker disappeared.

 In 1865 Isham Canady was shot in Marion on the square.  Christopher Howard was shot by an unknown person on  Herrin's Prairie. At Sulphur Springs in 1866, William L Burton and Samuel McMahan were shot, Dixon B Ward was indict and acquitted.  1867 saw two murders, Horace Sims was stabbed by John Latta at Sims Mill on the Saline River.  John Chenoworth was found shot near his hme on Herrin's Prairie, William Chitty and his son arrested but acquitted.  In 1868, a Mr Rogers stabbed Charles McHaney, he was acquitted.  In Nov 1868, Isaiah Cash shot William Stanley in Southern Twp at an election, 2 years later Cash was murdered. 01 Dec 1868 William Barham shot Andrew J Lowe in Marion, Barham was believed to be insane.  On Sep 1869 Barham escaped and 5 years later turned up in TN, were a lady friendturned him in to police.  He was found guilty and received 1 year 01 Jan 1869 Samuel Cover killed Phillip Thompson Corder in Marion, he was acquitted. An insane man named George Mandrel living in Northern Prec, killed his father was an ax as he was walking home. 1870 Thomas Pinkney White of Herrin's Prairie left his house and walked across his field, only to disappear.  There were signs he was murdered. 1871 Mastin G Walker, who lived 7 miles NE of Marion was beaten to death by John Owen, he got 25 years at Joliet.  Then Valentine Springhardt was killed with a wrench at a Marion Mill, his killer was acquitted. 15 Apr 1872, a group of men from the KK ordered Isaac Vancil to leave the county.  He refused and on 22 Apr 1872, they hung him near his house.  18 men were arrested in Franklin Co but all were acquitted.  Some of those arrested were: Pleasant G Veach, Francis M Gray and Samuel Gossett in Wmson Co, then Jesse Cavens, William Samson, Samuel Sweet, Jonas G Ellett and John Rich.  Col Ambrose Spencer prosecuted this case.  1872 also saw James Myers, who lived on Eight Mile Prairie shot by his step son, Samuel Tyner.  Sam ran off and James died a few days later.

Aug 1872, Richard Allison killed Samuel Absher in Rock Creek Prec, he was never caught.  Apr 1873, Francis M Wise shot William Newton of Saline, he also escaped.  1874 Horace Carter, constable, killed William Willeford in Union Prec while trying to arrest Richard Hilliard.  Dock Burnett stabbed James Gibbs 7 miles south of Marion. 1874 Samuel Keeling shot William Meece at a church in Northern Prec, he escaped but was caught in KS, later sentenced to life in prison.  17 Sep 1874 Stewart Culp was shot by an unknown person.  1875 Capt James B Murray tried to kill Leander Ferrel in Marion.  Ferrell  returned fire and killed Murray. 1876 John Keeley stabbed Sam Tippy in Carterville.