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Monday, August 7, 1854, a
terrible melee occurred in Smithville, this county, which resulted in the
death of two citizens of the place, John W. Douglass and S.J. Ross, and
the lynching of three men accused of their murder, Samuel Shackelford, Wm.
Shackelford and John W. Callaway. The following statement of the affair
was furnished by the surviving (?) citizens of Smithville and published in
the Liberty Tribune:
There had been a gang of
thieves and outlaws quartered in this vicinity, which fact had been
established by a court of inquiry, according to the laws of the country.
These thieves and incendiaries were notified to leave Clay and adjoining
counties by more than 100 respectable citizens of this vicinity. Their
answers were that they would not leave, and that 50 armed men could not
make them leave. Thus the matter passed on until Monday, August 7, the day
of the election, when they sent word that they intended to clean out the
town, commencing on those who had used the most exertions in prosecuting
them with the law, even telling their friends where they wished to be
buried if they fell in the conflict.
They then armed
themselves with two revolvers each and bowie-knifes and dirks. Thus
equipped, they made their appearance in town. Their leader, Samuel
Shackelford, commencing a conversation, in an insulting manner, with John
W. Douglass, and alluded to Wm. Ross, both respectable citizens of this
community. Mr. Ross replied in a calm manner, but was dared to the onset
by Samuel Shackelford, and at that moment a person, a relation of
Shackelford’s passed between them for a moment. Shackelford drew a
revolver, the person passed on, and Shackelford shot Wm. Ross twice,
wounding him severely, perhaps mortally. Shackelford then turned and shot
Mr. Douglass twice, and then shot at M. Imhoff twice. Douglass then
returned the fire on Shackelford twice, wounding him, and then Douglass
drew a bowie-knife, he being the only citizen on the ground who was armed.
Wm. Shackelford seized Douglass and got his knife and pistol, and then
commenced the work of destruction on Douglass, inflicting several wounds,
of which Douglass fell dead. He then shot twice or three times at M.
Imhoff, but without effect.
This
postcard, mailed in the early 1900's gives us a small glimpse of the early
days in Smithville. What buildings stood, what roads were paths 50
years earlier is left to our imagination. Were the men in this
picture boys at the lynching 50 years earlier?
Persons then interfered
to stop the effusion of blood. Saml. Shackelford stabbed every person whom
he suspected as his enemy, inflicting a mortal wound on S.J. Ross, and
also cutting and stabbing Ira Witt, who was a stranger, and only engaged
for peace, as also young Ross. John W. Callaway ran in and shot at M.
Imhoff and missed him, as did Samuel Shackelford. Callaway then shot Wm.
Slater, wounding him slightly in the leg.
By this time the fight
became general. Stones and clubs were in order. The Shackelfords and
Callaway retreated, and in doing so attempted to kill others whom they
considered their enemies. Samuel Shackelford’s pistol, which he drew with
the intention of shooting Mr. Payne, missed fire, and then threw the
pistol at him. They then entered a drug store and locked themselves up for
defense; but owing to Samuel Shackelford being wounded, and people
threatening to fire the house, they surrendered to the populace.
The people were frenzied.
Ropes were called for, guns and pistols procured, and all hands calling
for immediate vengeance on the murderers. Thus it passed on, until the
people were alarmed in all direction, and notified of the circumstances.
They came from Platte county. Ridgeley was a precinct, and it being a
public day the people flocked in gangs to the place.
The cry was “Lynch them! Hang the thieves and murderers!” Two or three
hundred persons were present. Wm. Shackelford was then hung. John W.
Callaway was next hung. He stated, before his death, that Samuel
Shackelford was to blame for all the trouble; that Sam. Shackelford had
induced him into stealing horses; that Sam. Shackelford stole the mule
that he was arrested for, and he took it and sold it in St. Joseph; that
they had concluded not to kill the people of Smithville and vicinity [and
would not have made the attempt] but for the over-persuasion of-
[sic] that he
would stand up to them and see them through. The same was affirmed by Mrs.
Shackelford, although they had agreed among themselves to go into the
massacre before---- [sic] came. Sam. Shackelford was hung next, all to the same
limb.
The peace officers made speeches against mob law, and used every
exertion for the civil authority to have its proper course, but all to no
effect. Order was confounded; confusion reigned. Men paraded
the streets like dragoons in military service. The whole of this
resulted from an effort on the part of the citizens to bring these thieves
to justice according to the law, for the commission of crime, their guilt
of which they acknowledged. The people are satisfied with what they
have done, so far as civil authority is concerned.
.......
There had been an attempt
made to assassinate Douglass at the dead hour of night, supposed to have
been by these murderers, and he was threatened by them, which was the
reason why he was armed.
Callaway, at the time of his lynching, was under $1,000 bond to answer
a charge of stealing a mule from Calvin Smith, in the fall of 1852.
The Shackelfords and Callaway were hung on a sugar tree, near the bridge
across Smith's Fork; the tree is still standing. The mother of
the Shackelfords, and the wives of Callaway and one of the Shackelfords
were present and witnessed the execution. They wailed, moaned,
screamed, entreated, cursed and prayed by turns, striking the lynchers
with their hands and with sticks, and striving frantically with all their
might to rescue them. At the time he was hung, Sam. Shackelford's
skull was crushed in, the wound having been inflicted some time
previously, but he was "game " to the last.
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