The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-08-28

MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST %, 1865.
Horrible Outrage in Missouri.
JUDGE WRIGHT AND FOUR OF Ills SONS MURDERED
COLONEL BABCoKE AND A PARTY OF HIS MILITARY
PREVIOUS MURDER OF HDEPUTY-sHERIFF IN PULASKI
coUSTy-TIIE REIGN OF THE PARTY OF "INTEIII-
9ENCE, HONESTY" ETC, ETC.,
From the Missouri Republican, August 21.l
On Thursday afternoon last Judge Lewis T.
Wright and four SONS wcre cruelty and inllumGnly
murdered by the roadside, on tho route from
Rolla to Houston, five miles west of tho for
mer place. The murders, as we arc informed,
were committed by squad Of Miller county
militia, somo ninc in number, under command of
Cole county. 1t appears that this colonel and his
squad Of militia, on Tuesday last went to the resi-
der denco Of Judge Wright, in Phelps county, about
Thursday. On that day thoy arrested Judge
Wright and five Of his sons. Some sort Of on III
yestfgation was made into accusations brought
against the parties, either fanced real, when it
was determined to take them to Rolla az was
given out for further trial: Mrs. Wright, the wife
and stepmother of the judge, and his sons Mt first
implored Colonel Babcoke not to take her family
away.
Finding that her entrcaties wero unayailing, she
then beBought him to permit her to accompany
thcm This also was refused, but upon her implo-
ring him to do something for her protection Gs
she was fearful of being murdered if left alone,
tho youngest son, o mere STRIPPING, was released.
The judge was then mounted on q horse by him
self, and his four on two other horses under
ken to Rolla Before reaching that point, as stated
above, they were all inhumanly butchered and
their bodies lcftlyng in the brush by tho road side
No less than twcnty-six shots were fired into the
persons Of the fivol Twelve OF them took effect
in tho heads. Before tho bodies were reached by
Inc frantic wife and mother and her remaining
son, four Of the yo were dead, and the fifth nscn
sible and dying. About five o'clock Thursday eve
ming word came to Rolla that the murders had
row and indignation. Nothing, however, was done
In the matter that evening. Nextmorning wagon
was sent out, and the bodies of tho five murdered
men were brought into Rolla. A gentleman who
saw them says they presented q horrible appear
ance-their faces al ghastly with wounds and
bblood and II blackened With With powder Judge Wright
held close to burn it, and leave large blotches
Of powder sticking in the skin.
The judge is represented to as being about
sixty years of age, and an eatimable citizen. For
the past twenty-five years he had resided in Phelps
county, and held the Office Of county Judge for q
beginning Of troubles in Missouri Miss he had te en
5oyed the confidence and esteem Of the military in
command in his neighborhood, his house being
men were camping at q beautiful spring on his
premises and near his residence, Two gentlemen,
intimately acquainted in Phelps, assure us that no
more honorable or more respected citizen lived in
1he country.
It is said that two Of the murdered sons had
been in tho rebel army, and had returned since the
IaprfenaeE OF aenesAi ne. Iay,or, under whose
this was the inducing the cold-blooded muir
der of nearly @ whole family To their credit, and
to the credit of the whole neighborhood, it should
be said however, these young men were beEav-
ing themselves with becoming, pfopriety, their
conduct gaining them the confidence and good
will of many Union soldiers and citizens in that
community. So indignant were some Of these
soldiers ct tho brutal outrage perpetrated in their
murder, that they at once expressed a Willingness
derers. And tis all the more damnng to the lawless
brigands at whose hands this atrocity was perpe-
trated, that they should travel many miles from
A.
Iaw-abiding Of that community were wiling to
afford .hem countenance and encouragement. We
BbcoSe eher s Om ss OIL
northern part Of Miller county, with a detachment
of forty or more men, on his errand OF blood.
Pulaski county. Near Waynesville, the county seat
of Pulaski, they arrested w. Stewart, ESQ.,, q re-
spectacle citizen, formerly deputy sheriff of the
also arrested o number Of men and women on
their route, and woman is said to be still missing,
whom these red-handed outlaws are believed to
have made away with.
The attention of Governor Fletcher is called to
these henous and atrocious outrages He has
been making speeches here and there over the
State, in which he has denounced the threats of
the lawless men Of his party against returned
rebels, promising that even they should be pro-
tected by the laws Here ia @ case in which two
OF these men have been seized in open day and
cruelty murdered by other men under his COM
mand, as commander-n n-chief of the militia of the
State, and in pay Of the State Besides, there are
four, and probably five others, oil, SO far as we
know, innocent and unof1ending citizens tone Of
whom is o wonlan) atrociously butchered bv these
enemies of mankind. Let him set about to cause
the arrest and punishment Of these bloody
marauders. Until this is done for decency's sake,
let him never open his lips to utter promises Of
protection to any man or woman in Missouri. To
do so would be cruel mockery added to the muir
derous wrong. His party friends are morally
guilty Of these offences Newspapers, public meet
ings, and grand juries men Of Ills political faith,
the commission Of these diabolical deeds. Let him
see to it that the perpetrators are punished. he
do not the blood Of innocent victims will cry from
the ground, against him. Since the above was
written, We have been shown q letter from high
ly respectable Union man, residing at Rolla, from
which we make the following extract referring to
the horrible affair, Of which we have attempted to
give detail: '.v.... q. W.
Judge l.. F. Wright and four Of his sons were
yesterday most brutally shot and murdered by
mob Of Miller County militia, under command of
Colonel Babcoke. The bodies have been brought
into town to-day and eoroners jury is hold
as well as sorrow, is expressed by all parties in
politics The militia, numbering about forty, have
been ordered to report at Rola, whom 1t is expected
they will be turned over to the civil authorities to
arrest have already been issued. The military