The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-10-21
NO. IL.
HORRORS IN MISSOURI.
Wholesale RuteherY by the State
Mflftia.-A Judge and Four Sons
BrutalIy Murdered.

[From the St. Louis Republican, Aug. 71.l
On Thursday afternoon last, Judge
Lewis r. Wright and four Of his sons
were cruelty and inhumanly murdered by
the roadside, on the route from Rolla to
Houston, some FIVE miles southwest of
the former place. The murders, as We
|aTe informed, were committed by squad
of Miller county militia, some nine in
number, under command Of Col. Bab-
coke, who resides in either Miller or Cole
county.
It appears that tbs Colonel and his
squad of militia, on Tuesday last, went to
the residence of Judge Wright, in Phelps
county, about ten miles from Rolla.
They remained there until Thursday.
On that day they arrested Judge Wright
aad his ave sons. Some sort Of an in
vestigation was made into accusations
brought against the parties, either fam
eied or real, when it was determined to
take them to Rolla as was given out, for
further trial. Mrs. Wright, the wife
and step-mother Of the Judge, and his
sons, at first implored Col Babeoke not
to take her family away. Finding that
besought him to permit her TO accompany
them. This was also refused, but upon
her imploring him to do something for
her protection, as she was fearful of be-
ing murdered if left alone, the youngest
son, mere STRIPPING, was released.
The Judge was then mounted on a
horse by himself, and his four sons upon
two other horses, under guard of the
squad of militia, ostensibly to be taken to
Rolla. Before reaching that point, as
stated above, they were all inhumanly
butchered and their bodies left lying in
the brush by the road side. No less
than twenty six shots were fred into the
pc sbns Of the FIVE! Twelve of them
took effect in their heads Before the
bodies we're reached by the frantic wife.
a1d mother and her remaining son. four
Of the FIVE were dead, and the fifth in
sensible and dying.
| About o'clock Thursday evening
word came to RolIa that the murders had
/ been committed, creating intense feelings
lof sorrow and Indignation. Nothing,
however, was done in the matter that
evening. Next morning a wagon was
sent out, and the bodies of the FIVE MUIR
dered men were brought into Rolla. A
gentleman who saw them, says they pre-
sented horFiblesappearance, their faces
all ghastly with wounds and blood, and
blaekened with powder Judge Wright
had been shot in the side of the face, the
weapon being held SO close as to burn it,
and leave large blotches of powder stick
ling in the skin.
The Judge is represented to us as be-
ing about sixty years of age, and an estf-
, mable citizen. For the past twenty-five
years he had resided in Phelps county,
J and held the Office Of county Judge for a
number of years prior to the war Ever
since the beginning of our troubles in
Missouri he had enjoyed the confidence
, and esteem of the military in command
in his neighborhocd. his house being fre-
quently the stepping place of officers
whose men were camping at beautiful
spring on his premises and near his resi-
ldenee. Two men Intimately acquainted
in Phelps, assure us that no mesa
bic or more respected
: