The true Democrat., 1854-09-13
The Smithville, Mo-, Tragedy

The smithville, Mo-, Tragedy We append below statement of the citizen of Smithville Mo-, in relation to the dreadful tragedy in that place on Monday Aug. 9th. I was prepared by those who witnessed the who'll affair, and may be relied on as authentic:
 To The Public
 Whereas the public attention is and will bt called on to inquire into the following report as to the wholesale butcheries committed in tht town of Smithville, Mo-, now be it known tba there had been gang of thieves and outlaw. quartered Ill this vicinity, which fact has been established by court Of enquiry accor- dlng to the laws of the country. Those thieves ana mcendlarles were notified to leave Clay and the adJolnng counties by more than one hun- urea respectable citizens of this vicinity Theil answers were that they would not leave and 1nat M nlty armed men could not make them leave. mus the matter passed on for season, until Monday, the 7th day of August, the day of the election, when they sent word that they in- tended to clean out the town, commencing on those who had used the most exertions in pros- ecutlng them with the law, even telling their friends where they wished to be buried if they fell in the conflict.
 They then armed themselves with two pis- Lols, (revolvers) each and bowie-k knives and dlrks. Thus equipped, they made their ap- pearance ln town. Their leader Samuel Shack teford, commenced conversation, in an insult lng manner, with John w. Douglas, and allud- ca to Wm. Ross, both respectable citizens of ehls community. MT. Ross replied in a calm manner, but was dared to the onset by Samuel i>hackleford, and at that moment person, a re- latlon ot Shackletord's, passed between them for moment; Shackleford drew revolver the person passed on, and Shackleford shot Wm. Ross twice, wounding him severely, perhaps mortally Shackleford then turned and shot Douglas twice, and then shot at M Imhof twice Douglas then returned the fire on Shackleford twice, wounding him, and then Douglas drew a bowie-knife, he, Douglas) being the only cti- lzen on the ground who was armed. Wm. Shackleford seized Douglas and got his knife and pistol, and then commenced the work of destruction on Douglas inflicting several wounds, of which Doug las fell dead. He then shot twice or three times at M Imhoff but without effect.
 Persons then interfered to stop the effusion of blood.-Samuel Shack leford stabbed every per- son whom he suspected his enemy inhicting a mortal wound on s. J. Ross, and also cutting and stabblng Ira Witt, who was a stanger, and Tony engaged for peace, as also young Ross.- John w. Galloway ran in and shot at M. Im- hof and missed him. as did Samuel Shackle- ford. Galloway then shot Wm. Slator, wound Ing hltn slightly ln the leg By this time the light became general. Stones and clubs were III order. The Shacketords and Galloway re- treated, and Ill so doing attempted to kill others, whom they considered their enemies. Samuel Shackleford's pistol, which he drew with the in- tention of shooting MT. Payne, missed fire, and he then threw the pistol at him. They then entered drug store, and locked themselves up for defence, but owing to Samuel Shackleford being wounded, and the people threatening to fire the house, they surrendered to the popu- lace.
 The populace was frenzied. Ropes were call ed for, guns and pistols procured, and all hands calling for immediate vengeance on the 1nur- derers. Thus it passed on until the people were alarmed in all directions, and notified of the circumstances. They came from Platte county. Ridgely was precinct, and 1t being a public day the people iocked in gangs to this place. The cry Was" Lynch hang the thieves and murderers." Two or three hundred per sons were present. Wm. Shackleford was then hung. John w. Galloway was next hung, who stated that Saml Shackleford was to blame fol all the trouble; that Sam. Shackleford had in- duced hIm into stealing horses; that Sam. Shack etord stole the mule that he was arrested for and he took 1t and sold it in St. Joseph; and that they had concluded not to kill the people ot tsmlthvlile and vicinity, but for the over per- suasion Ot--that he would stand up to them and see them through. The same was affirmed by Mrs. Shackleford; although they had agreed among themselves to go into the massacre be- fore-came. Sam Shackleford was hung next, all to the same limb
 Now the community claims the right to stop such wholesale butcheries, when every effort on their part is made for peace and no peace given them, only being shot down like beeves in a slaughter pen, or slaugtered like hogs in sty. Now the people are satisfied with what they have done, so far as civil authority is concern. ed. The peace officers made speeches against mob law, and used every exertion for the civil authority to have its proper course but all to no effect. Order was confounded; confusion reigned. Men paraded the streets like drag 'ons in military service. Now the whole of his resulted from an effort on the part of the ,itizens to bring these thieves to justice accor- ling to law, for the commission of crimes, their quilt of which they acknowledged.
 MANY CITIZENS
 Smithville, August 9th, 1854,
 P. S-There had been an attempt to assas. ;inate Douglas at the dead hour of night, SUD- posed to have been by these murderers, and he was threatened by them, which was the reason why he was armed.