Harrison County Missouri Crimes

HARRISON COUNTY MISSOURI CRIME NEWS

1871

Foster, John C.

Murder at St. Joseph

A man by the name of John C. Foster, of Cainsville, Harrison County, Missouri was poisoned at St. Joseph, on Monday of this week, and died a few minutes after swallowing the dose. It seems that he was driving a team, and at Amazonia met a stranger whose name is supposed to be Doyle, who wished to ride to St. Joseph with him, stating that he had been waiting some time for a chance, and that he would pay him when he arrived there. On the way down he was repeatedly asked by his companion to drink, but refused until he reached the city, when he partook of a glass of beer. He noticed that it had rather a peculiar sweetish taste, but he thought nothing of it at the time. Soon after drinking the beer, however, he discovered that he was poisoned, and in about forty minutes thereafter he died in great agony. The murderer made his escape.

The following is his description: Apparently about 30 years old, heavy set, about five feet ten inches high; he wore a white shirt and gray pants and had on a cap. In a small hand trunk in the wagon, among other things, was found the discharge of a soldier named Patrick Doyle, aged 27 years, the description of whom answers exactly to that of the prisoner.

ARREST OF THE ST. JO POISONER:
The St. Joseph Hearald, of yesterday gives the following account of the arrest of Doyle, who is supposed to have poisoned Mr. Foster:
A man supposed to be the poisoner of Jno. C. Foster on Saturday last in this city, was captured at Osborn. He was recognized by Mr. Crews of Stewartsville, as a man that kept a saloon in Oregon a few years ago. then his general reputation was that of a hard case. He went by the name of Jim Doyle in the mountains. Mr. Clews recognized him as soon as he saw him yesterday morning in Stewartsville, and asked him to come and take dinner with him. Doyle appeared fidgety, looking around now and then as if suspecting some one after him, and said he did not feel well and guessed he would walk around to raise a perspiration,, which always made him feel better. He got up, but instead of coming back to dinner, sneaked out of town by a by way.

In a short time afterwards Mr. Leech, the Marshal at Stewartsville, came along and commenced talking about a horrible murder that occurred in St. Jospeh, and began to read the account from the Morning Herald to Mr. Crews. After finishing the account of the murder, Mr. Crews informed him that a man of that description was there fifteen minutes before; his name was Jim Doyle instead of Pat Doyle, and that he knew him quite well. The Marshal, accompanied by Mr. Crews, then proceeded after him as hastily as possible. They came up with him near Osborn. The Marshal commenced by asking him a question to which he made no reply. The Marshal then tapped him on the shoulder and told him he was his prisoner. Mr. Crews and the prisoner chatted about old matters quite freely. the Marshal made him walk for a mile and a half on the way, during which time when the prisoner would meet with a stick on the road he would look at the Marshal and then at the stick, as if to see if an opportunity were allowed for picking up the club and going for the Marshal. He told the Marshal once that if a club was in his hand he would go for him (the Marshal) before he knew what he was about.

On being interviewed by the reporters when he got into jail, he stated that he was born in Lenaway County Michigan; that he lived at the mountains six years ago, was in St. Joe before, and was arrested on suspicion of being an escapted convict from the Nebraska penitenary; stayed at Easton sincle last Saturday morning and ws on his way to St. Paul Minnesota, when he was captured. He is a hard looking specimen, and answers to the description of the man who poisoned Foster. He wears soldiers' clothes and a cap. His manner is that of an impudent villian, and there seems to be no doubt that the right bird has been caged.
[source: The Leavenworth weekly times, August 31, 1871 edition.]
[transcribed by: Melody Beery]

1887

Downing, Joseph

A MEXICAN TRAGEDY
FIVE MEN SHOT IN A WESTERN MINING CAMP AND FOUR KILLED

Santa Fe N.M., Sept.1: A bloody tragedy occured at the Meadville mining camp, Rio Arribaco county, Friday. there were five men in camp, and but one of them is now alive to tell the story. The victims were Albert A. Mead, late of Santa Fe; K. Harvey Mesk, of Aledo Ill; Joseph Downing of Harrison County, Mo, and P.H. Hands, Frederick Mead, the fifth man, escaped with a slight wound. These men were partners in a stampmill until recently, when Albert Mead withdrew and brought suit against the others, the Mead brothers being cousins of his.

Wednesday Albert Mead left here to get some papers at the mine. Before he left he said he intended to get possession of his mines again if he had to kill every man in the company. When Albert arrived at the camp he hid in ambush for a favorable opportunity. Finally Fred Mead and Mr. Hands appeared. Albert stepped from behind the brush, Winchester in hand, and ordered a halt. Albert ordered Hands to call Harvey Mead and Joe Downing. Mead and Downing came out. Albert fired and Downing fell dead. A second shot killed Mead. His third shot killed Hands. Fred Mead attempted to fire at Albert, but his weapon snapped. Albert fired at Fred five times while Fred was running toward him. Finally the two men clinched and struggled for the weapon. Fred wrenched it from Alberts hands, knocked him down and shot him throught the heart.
[source: Daily Evening Bulletin, Maysville, KY, September 1, 1887 edition]

1894

Spragg, David G.

KILLED HIS FAMILY
Terrible Deed of an insane Man in Missouri

Ridgeway, Mo. Dec. 13: The most horrible human butchery ever recorded in this section was committed five miles southwest of this city yesterday afternoon. David G. Spragg, in a fit of insanity, murdered his wife and two children and mortally wounded his two step-children with a butcher knife, then took his own life with a rifle. The nearest neighbor of the Spraggs lived almost a mile distant, and it was some time before the news of the crime spread. In a few hours numbers of people arrived from town and an investigation of the scene was made. The most sickening sight met their gaze. Lying in the yard near the gate were the remains of Mrs. Spragg, mutilated almost beyond recognition and her disheveled hair drowned in the pool of blood surrounding her. In the little dwelling in one corner of the sitting room lay the lifeless body of little Caley, six years old, and in the other, Albert a four year old boy. Albert's head, resting on the slate with which he had been playing, was a mass of coagulated blood and brains, while blood still oozed from the gaping wounds in the throats of each. On the kitchen floor with blood besmeared all over his hands and face and still clenching the terrible instrument of death in his hands and with his head almost severed from his body lay the author of the awful scene. The two step-children of Spragg both under six years old were taken to the home of neighbors, where they are dying from dozens of cuts that cover their bodies. Evidences of a terrible struggle were plainly visible in the Spragg house. The walls, books,stove and furniture were spattered with blood, chaires were upturned, the oil can overturned and things generally turned upside down.

The particulars of the butchery are learned from Dora Onstatt, a step daughter of Spragg. She is a child of eleven years, and after eluding her step-fathers murderous grasp, escaped to a neighbors and gave the alarm.

[source: The Princeton Union, Princeton, Minn. December 13, 1894 edition]

1901

Price, John T.

Parader Shot Down
Murderer then commits suicide to escape capture:

St. Joseph, Mo., May31: John T. Price, an old soldier of Bethany, Mo. was murdered while in a parade which was on the way to a cemetery by Art Miller, jewler, who was a brother-in-law of Price. they had not been on good terms for several days. Miller escaped to his home, but soon killed himself to escape capture.

Miller had been drinking during the day and had frequently made threats against the life of Price. He waited till the parade had passed in front of his store, when he rushed out, pistol in hand, and shot his victim to death. Both men married sisters. Miller and Price were among the prominent residents of Harrison County, Missouri. Both men had good military records during the war of the rebellion.

[source: The Norfolk Weekly News Journal, Norfolk, NE, May 31, 1901 edition]

Back to Index