The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-08-16
A HORRIBLE DEED.
Brutal BHtchery Of a Family OF Fire Per-
sons in Clark County, Mo.

Brutal Hatchery of a Family OF Fire Per-
SONS ia Clark County, Mo.
From the Keokuk Gate Ctyl
A Gate city reporter, just from the
scene, brings further particulars of the
shocking murder of Lewis Spencer and
his four children, near Lrlray, in Clark
county, Mo. From the condition of the
wounds when the physicians were called
in it Is thought the massacre was COM
mitted just before daylight. The mur-
derers procured the ak from the wood
pile, and evidently went first to the sta
BILE and climbed mp ladder on the out
side to the loft, where Mr.. Spencer and
his son, Willis, aged 10, were sleeping,
and commenced the bloody work upon
them, dealing heavy blows upon the
heads of each. Mr.. Spencer had in his
possession at the time about 81 200,
which the assassins secured. They then
kitchen window, and forced open door
into bed room on the first floor in
which were sleeping the daughter, Jane,
aged Is, and the son, Charlie, aged 7.
Jane seems to have been struck while
asleep, but the boy WAS partially
awakened, and struggled across the
body of his sister, and was found in that
position. The other daughter, Alice,
aged 90, was sleeping up stairs alone,
and did not appear to have moved after
the fatal blow was struck.
The murder was first discovered by q
brother-in-law of Mr.. Spencer named
Willis James, who went there to work.
He gave the alarm, and the neighbors
soon cOngregated at the scene. "he
father and both sons were still breathing
when found, but were in an unconscious
condition. The father and one son lived
about two hours, and the other son a
little longer All five of the victims
were killed with an AK, receiving from
one to three blows each on the head,
fracturing their skulls and mangling
their faces frightfully. The AK was
found under the back part of the house,
beneath the window through which the
murderers had entered 1t was very
heavy one, and was besmeared with
blood
Nothing in the house was disturbed or
carried away except water-bucket,
which it is supposed they used in wash
ing the blood from their hands and
clothes. The tracks leading away from
the window indicate that there were two
persons engaged in the slaughter.
Mr.. Spencer's father, who is 80 years
of age, and lives in the neighborhood,
on learning the fate of his sons family,
was stricken with grief, and will prob
ably not recover from the shock.
The news of the massacre spread rap
idly, and soon hundreds of people were
gathered ut the scene Vigilance COM
mittees were formed, and the day was
spent in securing the country in every
direction. Before night over l 1000 men
on horseback were engaged in the search,
but 10 traces of the murderers could be
discovered. During the night vigilantes
were stationed on all the roads. Mean
time a Coroner's inquest on the bodies
was commenced. The principal witness
was Willis James, the brother in law.
During the inquest few drops of blood
were discovered on his clothes He was
questioned about this, but accounted for
it by saying he had the bleed a day
or two previous. The conclusion had
already been reached that the deed was
committed by some one familiar with the
premises, and knowing that Mr. Spencer
had large amount of money with him.
The presence of this blood and other
circumstances led to the suspicion that
James is the guilty party. At last ac-
counts the vigilantes had taken charge
of him and another man named Brady,
and gone off into the woods with them.
There is no positive evidence against
them, but if the guilt can be fixed on
them there is no doubt that they will
swing, as the populace are in frenzy
over the dastardly outrage.
The funeral of the victims took place
to-day, and was attended by about
1000 people. The bodies were all
buried in one grave.