Homicide in Wmson Co

Abstracted from the Egyptian Republican

donated by Sharon Bradshaw-Hampton

 

Date Person Murdered by Whom Where How
1862 Stocks, Reuben Unknown ?Aikin Gang 1 at his front door on Eight Mile Prairie Shot
1862 John Burbridge in the 128th IL Inf Crain, Terry 2 Crab Orchard Bridge, Jackson Co, IL hit in the head w a stone
1862 Tippy, Henderson Stacey, William-aquitted Crab Orchard Creek near Marion stabbed
Dec 1862 Baker, James unknown assassinated at his home Shot
1863 Emerson, James unknown assassinated near Blairsville while hunting Shot
Spring 1863 Dr Bandy Aikin Gang 1 Attacked and beaten--survived  
Spring 1863 Cox, George Aikin Gang 1 Attacked but escaped  
1863 Robertson, Daniel Unknown 3 near his home Shot in the head
1863 Robertson, Joseph Unknown 3 Escaped shot 4 times
1863 Wascher, Peter Unknown 3 at his home--escaped  
1863 Stilly, James Butts, Ben in his field beaten with a hoe
1863 Moulton, William Unknown 4   Shot
1864 Moore, Samuel Washum--aquitted a saloon in Jeffersonville beat to death w a club
1864 Pickett, James Hinchcliff, Vincent--aquitted 5 at Blairsville Shot
Mar 1864 Jordan, Richard Parker, V-ran & not caught   Shot
1865 Canady, Isham not listed--aquitted in downtown Marion Shot
1865 Howard, C unknown assassinated near Herrin's Prairie Shot
1866 Burton, William L Ward, Dixon B--aquitted Sulphur Springs during a fight Shot
1866 McManan, Samuel Ward, Dixon B--aquitted Sulphur Springs during a fight Shot
01 Jan 1867 Corder, Phillip Thompson Cover, Samuel--aquitted 10 in Marion Shot
1867 Latta, John Sims, Horace-aquitted 6 Sim's Mill on Saline River stabbed/ bled to death
1867 Cheneworth, John unknown 7 Herrin's Prairie near his home Shot
Nov 1868 Stanley, William unknown 8 assassinated Shot
01 Dec 1868 Lowe, Andrew J Barham, William J 11 in Lowe's Saloon in Marion Shot in the head
1868 McHaney, Charles a boy named Rogers--aquitted near Marion Stabbed
Summer 1869 Mr Mandrel Mandrel, George 9 Northern Prec beaten w an ax
1870 Cash, Isaih unknown assassinated by his wagon Shot
1870 Pinkey, Thomas unknown killed in his fields on Herrin's Prairie Shot
1871 Walker, Martin G Owen, John 12 at his home beaten w the barrel of a gun
1871 Springhardt, Valentine not listed--aquitted at a mill hit w a wrench
22 Apr 1872 Vancil, Isaac group of KKK 13 Blairsville Twp Hung
1872 Myers, James Tyner, Samuel 14 near his home Shot
Aug 1872 Absher, Samuel Allison, Richard-escaped Rock Creek Prec over a chicken coop Shot
Apr 1873 Newton, William Wise, Francis M-escaped over a mule deal Shot from him horse
1874 Gibbs, James Burnett, Dock-escaped south of Marion in a fight bled to death from being cut up
17 Sep 1874 Culp, Stewart unknown coming from DeSoto Shot, neck broken
1874 Meece, William Keeling, Samuel 15 at a church in Northern Prec Shot
1874 Murray, Capt James B Ferrell, Leander-aquitted 16 in downtown Marion Shot
Summer 1876 Lipsey, Samuel Kelly, John Carterville Stabbed

1 The Aikin Gang was formed by George Aikin... He had tried to sell out the 128th IL Infantry unit in Cario but was not sucessful, he then went to Missouri.. He brought the Gilde brothers, Allen and Charley, back to Blairsville. There along with his son, John Aikin, they began what was known as the Aikin Gang.. Over time this gang began to grow, becoming involved in several murders and at least 50 robberies.. James Cheneworth was also a member who was arrested.

2 Terry Crain was also a member of the 128th IL Inf, he wsa not indicted for the murder until Oct 1875 and tried in Aug 1876--sentenced to 15 years

3 A group of six men drressed as soldiers got Daniel and Joseph Robertson (brothers) to go looking for a supposed deserter. They shot Daniel off his horse and then tried to kill Joseph. After he escaped they went to the house of Peter Wascher and tried to kill him, but he fired back and escaped as well.

4 In the murder of William Moulton-- Joshua McGinnis, Dock Dickson, Thomas Murray and Henry Norris were arrested-- there was no evidence and they were all aquitted.

5 James Pickett was a lawyer from Grassy Prec who was in Blairsville handling a case against the adminstrator of the William Hinchcliff estate.

6 Horace Sims was aquitted of the murder because at the time of the stabbing the men were fighting and Sims happen to be on the bottom.

7 In the John Cheneworth murder, William Chitty was arrested but aquitted

8 In the Wm Stanley murder, Isiah Cash was arrested but aquitted. There was a long standing fued between the Stanley and the Cash families.

9 George Mandrel had murdered his father in a bloody beating with an ax in the road to there home. George was found to be insane.

10 Cover was hit first with brass knuckles by Corder.

11 Wm J Baraham was arrested by BF Lowe and jailed in Marion, where he escaped 07 Sep 1869. William had been decalred insane. 5 years later he was turned in by a lady in TN. He was returned to Marion and found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 1 year.

12 John Owen was sentenced to 25 years at Joliet Prison

13 Isaac Vancil was 73 years old and was living at Vancil's Bend of the Big Muddy River near Blairsville. At the time he was married to my 3 great grandmother, Mary (Dillon) Finney-Vancil. According to the newspaper accounts, the KKK told him to leave the area which Isaac refused to do.. They returned on the 22 Apr and took Isaac from the house and hung him by the river where he was found the next day. 18 men were arrested.. Arrested and sent to Benton were: Pleasant G Veach, Francis M Gray and Samuel Gassett.. Arrested and jailed in Marion were: Jesse Cavens, William Samsom, Samuel Sweet, Jonas G Ellett and John Rich. 10 others were sent to Perry Co.. They were tried in Dec 1872 in Franklin Co, IL and were all aquitted. Later some were indicted in US Court in Springfield, IL under an anti KKK act but they were also aquitted.. The prosecuter in the case was Col Ambrose Spencer, who was arrested on 06 Jan 1873 for false imprisonment of the 18 men and he served jail time.

14 James Myers was shot by his step son.. At the time of the shooting Myers did not died so Samuel was not charged and ran away never to be heard from again.. James did died a few days later for the gun shot.

15 Samuel Keeling escaped and went to KS. About a year later he was returned by John Fletcher and sentenced to life in prison

16 It seems Capt Murray was walking down the street in Marion when he saw Ferrell sitting near a store.. He fired at Ferrell who shot back and killed Murray. There had been other instances where Murray had tried to kill Mr Ferrell.

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