Mexico weekly ledger., 1888-12-20
THE FLETCHER TRAGEDY.
Another Account of the Fatal
Registration at Martlnsburg
in September. 1868.

Al. G. Turner, of this city, re-
ceived from Caleb T. Martin, Of
Martinsburg, Monday. a letter
detailing the Fletcher Marshall
tragedy twenty years ago. In the
main points, the letter differs but
little from the account of the trag-
edy published in the LEDGER but
| the communication is printed as
being from an eye witness OF the
massacre-a gentleman altogether
reputable. The letter is as follows ::
TO Al. Il. turner. Mckee. Mo.
MARr1NsBuRe, Mo, Dec. 10
DEAR SIR: | write of the tragic
death of the Fletcher brothers and
Edward Marshall, which occurred
at this place in 1868. Having
directly to do with the matter were
a man named Ostsrhaut, now of
Wellsville, and a man by the name
of Galloway, who now lives in
Colorado.
On September %, the day before
the massacre, Osterhaut was at the
Elzea school house registration,
where he questioned Haz Glas-
cocks right to register as a voter.
Glascock drew his pistol and threat
ened to shoot Osterhaut. He was
backed by no one at the time, but
in q moment George w. Adams,
the present sheriff of Audrain
county, revolver in hand, came to
his assistance, causing the reglstra-
ton party to back down.
The next day the posse came over
to NJ artinsburg, armed to the teeth,
determined to murder at the least
excuse offered. Osterhaut was at
the time Constable of Cuivre town
ship and he appeared as officer in
command and challenged Sam
Fletcher's right to register. Fletch-
er protested in a wordy manner.
| when Osterhaut showed his cooked
revolver in his face, arresting him
in the name of the State. Kit Car
son, the sheriff, was present and
he took charge of the prisoner, 60
ing out of the house and into the
street with him. Davie Fletcher,
a brother of Sam, came up as the
two reached the outside and asked
what the matter was, when a man
named Catlett spoke up and insult
ingly answered the questioner.
Fletcher at once drew his pistol
and a hum of excitement arose
| from the spectators. Osterhaut,
! who was an on-looker, Immediately
returned to the house and told
Galloway that the party must
either run or fight, Galloway
grasped his pistol at once and
came out of the room, followed by
Osterhaut, the latter taking his
place by the side of the prisoner,
who had been disarmed. When
Galloway saw Dave Fletcher, with
pistol in hand, cycling Catlett, he
began firing. The first shot struck
Fletcher. killing him instantly.
Edward Marshall, a farmer, was
behind Galloway and the moment
the latter fired at Fletcher, he fired
a shot at Galloway, missing him.
Marshall Immediately started off
after firing, when Galloway turned
and shot him. About the time
Marshall was shot, Sam Fletcher
clasped his hands to his sides and
ran away from Osterhaut, who had
shot him through and through.
Fletcher received another wound
in the arm, supposedly from the
pistol of FAINT Harlinger. Russell
Martin died o typhoid fever on the
morning of the massacre and many
of the citizens were at his residence
while the killing was in progress
The statement l have given is tina
of J. w. Fike, who was present
and witnessed the whole of the
difficulty. CALEB T. MARTIN.
Several of the men who took {
part in the affair are yet alive
Galloway, who has acquitted of the
murder of Marshall and Dave
Fletcher on the ground of self-de
tense, is now a wealthy cattle
owner in Colorado, and at one
time was a member of the Colorado
Senate. w. H. Day is at presen
the Representative of Seward
county, Kansas in the Legislature