The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-09-01
HORRIBLE OUTRAGE IN PHELPS
COUNTY, mo.


COUNTY, mo.
Jndge Wriqhl and Four Of his Sons 4U,tr-
dered-C0l. BaJcoke and party of has
Militia the AS5assins Previous Mur-
der 81 a Deputy Sheriff IN Pulaski
County-A Woman -lrreSted BY item
still Missing.
From the Missouri Republican,, Avg. II.
On Thursday afternoon last, Judge
Lewis Z Wright and four of his some werd
cruelty and inhumaniy murdered by the
road side on The road from Rola to Ilous-
ton, some FIVE miles southwest of the for
mer place. The mur rs, as we are n-
formed were committed by squad of
Miller county militia, some nine in rum-
Der, under command of Col. Babcoke,
who resides in either Miller or Cole county.
1t appears that this Colonel and his
squad OF militia on Tuesday last went to
the residence of Judge Wright, in Phelps
county, about ten miles from RolIa
They remained there until Thursday. On
that day they arrested Judge Wright and
five OF his sons. Some sort of an invests
CATION was made into accusations brought
against the parties, either fancied or real,
whe1 it was determined to take them to
RolIa, as was given out, for further trial.
Mrs. Wright, the wife and step-mo,her
Of the Judge and his sons. al first impored
Col Babcocke not to take her family
away. Finding that her entreates were
unavailing, she then besousht him to per-
nit her to accompany him. Tbs also
was refused, tut upon her imploring him
to DO something for her protection, as she
WAS fearful of being murdered if left alone.
the Youngest sou, 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 all were inhumanly butchered
and their bodies left lying in the brush by
the roadside. No less than twenty-six
shots were fired into the persons of the
five Twelve Of them took effect in their
heads. Before the bodies were reached
by the frantic wife, mother and her re
mining son, four of the five were dead,
and the fifth insensible and dying.
About 5 o'clock Thursday evening word
came to RoIa :hat the murders had been
committed, which created feelings Of in
dignation and sorrow Nothing, however,
was done in the matter that evening.
Next morning a wagon was sen; ont, and
the five murdered men were brought into
Rolla. A gentleman who saw them, says
they presented a horrible appearance.
their faces all ghas,ly with wounds and
blood, and blackened with powder. Judge
Wight had been sho: in the side of the
face. the weapon being held so close as TO
burn it, and leave large blotches Of powder
sticking in the skin.
1t is said that two ofthe murdered sons
had been in the rebel army, and had re-
turned since the surrender Of General
Dick Taylor, under whose command one
of them had served. 1t may be that this
was the cause inducing the cod-booded
murder of nearly whole family. To
their credit, and TO the credi. of tue whola
neighborhood, il should be said, however,
thesoyoungm men were behaving themselves
with becoming proprie'y, their conduc!
gaining them the confidence and good
will Of many Union soldiers and citizens
lp that Comrjjhlty.
We understand that some day previ-
Gus, this Col. Babcoko started either
from Jefferson City or the northern part
of Miller county, with de,achmen. of
forty or more men, on Lis GRAND Of blood.
From thence they Travelled through Mil
Iersssinto Pulaski comfy. Near Waynes-
vile, the county seat of Pulaski, they
arrested w, Stewart, Esq, n respectable
citizen, formerly deputy sheriff Of the
county, whom they cruelty put to death.
They also arrested a number 0. man and
women on their route, and a woman is said
to be still missing whom these red banded
outlaws are belived to have made away
with.