The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-03-03
BURNED AT THE STAKE.
AtrociOuS Murder of a PettiS
County Woman.
Her Murderer Burned Near
GEORGETOWN.

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Georgetown.
Tragedy Enacted Nearly Thirty
two Years ago.
No person can realize the changes that
have taken place in Missouri during the
past thirty years, unless they have been
here through the change.
Now, events are dated "before the war"
and "after the war" Years ago il was ''be-
ore the niger was burned, !" or "after the
niger was burned" as that was the i'm
portant event in the era OF Pettis county.
1t transpired in June, 1853,
NEARLY THIRTY TWO YEARS AGO,
and tire who'll matter vas - revolving
throughout, We have concluded at this late
day, to give an account OF il as a reminis-
cence, not as a news item.
There lived on Heath's creek, at the
place now owned by Abe Harvey, family
by the name of Raines. IL consisted of
Mr. end Mrs. Raines and two children, one
about four and the other about two years
OF age. Mr.. and Mrs. Raines were noted
for their hospitality, and particularly for
their
KINDNESS To THE NEGRO SLAVES,
who, when put on short rations at home,
and nearly starved, would 60 over to
"Massa Johns" and would always get
something to eat.
Another family lived in the neighbour
hood by the name of France; they lived on
what is now known as the Lower farm.
This family, though wealthy, were regard
ed as
BAD PEOPLE.
They would kill their neighbors' stock
and would lash their slaves numerically,
and would almost starve them to death.
The family, all grown, were feared gener-
ally throughout the neighborhOOd.
The Frances owned negro named Sam,
who is the subject of this sketch.
Mr.. Raines and Mrs. Rsiaes were strict
church attendants. and this was known
generally. Mrs. Raines' condition was so
delicate that she could not attend, but it
did not deter her husband, who
LEFT HER AND THE CHILDREN AT HOME.
to be gone a few short hours to service, on
that beautiful Sunday morning., little
knowing or suspec;ing that he would never
again see the loved face of his wife in life
but such was the case.
Young France was also at the church,
and his uneasy actions and frequent turn
ings and twistings, getting up and going
out, attracted the attention Of several, who
remarked there must be
SOMETHING THE MATTER
with Shepherd France" He knew terri
BILE tragedy was being enacted near by,
that would leave that devoted husband
wifeless and two little children mother
less.
The services over, Mr.. RaiDes got upon
his horse and started home. He was an
intelligent man and clear of superstition,
but states that
BLACK PAIL
arose before his eyes when within a mile or
two of home, and he was surrounded by
inky darkness, and terrible presentiment
took possession of his mind. He put spurs
to his horse and rapidly galloped home.
When he neared the W JOdpile his horse be-
gan to brighten. Closer inspection of the
cause proved 10 be the
CORPSE OF HIS LOVED WIFE,
lying weltering in her own blood surrouded
BY hogs, which were eating of the blood,
but had not yet touched the body. The
poor man was grief stricken, and stood like
one paralyzsd or rooted to the ground. He
could not comprehend, al first, the terrible
calamity that had overtaken him. His lit
tie four year old bad been left for dead,
but had resuscitated, and was sitting upon
The fence near by. The father screamed 10
him, Gin the name of God
"wHo MURDERED YOUR MoTHEK%
TIE little hoy lisped out: Frances Sam
killed mamma ana me too" As soon as
Mt Raines could recover mis- al most lost
senses, he carried his dead wife into the
house and laid her dOwn-and strange 10
say, the stains OF he, blood could be seen
Years after upon the hoOr-took his two
little children and lstt them al his brother
n-law's, who was also a France, and
started for an officer, Frank SprInkles, who
lived five or six miles off. The officer re
spOnded, and soon the whole country was
MA FURoRE OF EXCITEMENT.
Sam was ut once arrested, as we'll as his
young master Shepherd, and wss taken to
Georgetown and placed in Jail. A spy was
placed IN an upper cell TO hear what might
pass between the two, which fact Young
France found out by some means. The
negro Sam had already
MADE PARTIAL CONFESSION,
duplicating his master. Young France
oniy upbraided Sam for duplicating him,
saying, "S2m, ycu know had nothing to
do with having her murdered, did II" Sam
responded "no," upon which France was
discharged, though still regarded by many
as guilty.
Monday was devoted to
! BURYING THE. DEAD WOMAN,
and was one OF the largest funerals ever at.
tended in Pettis county. Tuesday Sam
was taken before Squire, sprinkle for a pre-
liminary examination. All was excite
mert Knots of from ten to forty persons
could be seen with dark and ominous
countenances, excitedly discussing the
murder. Long hunting rifles and the
bowie knife-then Missouri wespons-were
in the hands Of every man. By the time
the Squire was ready TO try the case,