Murder
The average sentence for someone convicted of murder in a Stoddard County court from 1849 to 1929 was 17 years. The average time actually served for murder was 4.35 years.
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1. William Culbertson 1849
2. John W. Johnson 1876 3. John Ramsey 1881 4. Albert Walker 1881 5. John H. Harper 1882 6. William Muse 1885 7. Samuel D. Henson 1888 8. Samuel Hacker Boyt 1889 9. Marion Long 1893 10. Henry Splitory 1898 11. Charles Bingham 1901 12. Jacob Black 1904 13. Fred Riddle 1904 14. John Granger 1907 15. Walter R. Hutchison 1916 |
16. Mick or Nick Bryant 1921
17. Daniel Mathis 1923 18. Birl (Burl) Pointer 1923 19. George Lloyd 1923 20. James Cooper 1924 21. George Cartwright 1925 22. Mose Henson 1925 23. Dink Lucas 1925 24. William F. Crabtree 1926 25. Julius Jennings (black) 1929 |
Julius Jennings - Murder, 2nd Degree
Julius Jennings - From Canalou, Mo. Wife was Rosetta. Convicted of 2nd degree murder, sentenced to 30 years, served 11 years and 7 months (Missouri State Archives)
(Bloomfield Vindicator - May 3, 1929)
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(Bloomfield Vindicator - May 31, 1929)
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Stoddard County Court Murders
Descriptions
William Culbertson - 1849 - In a July 10, 1931 “Some History of Stoddard County,” by George Munger. - William Culbertson indicted for murder of Henry Cultbertson, June of 1849, tried and convicted, sentenced to fifteen years (of which he served four years).
Albert Walker - October 1880 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Albert Walker and James Layton went into Mr. P. G. Wilson’s drug store in Bloomfield. They began making noise and raising cain, asked and then told by Robert White, the clerk to leave. They said they could do as they pleased but finally left and waited in the streets where they taunted White. They said if he stepped out they would kill him. He went to the doorway and a shot was fired killing White. White was shot through the heart killing him nearly instantly. The two men jumped into the wagon, but Layton was too drunk to get in and was left. Walker tried to make his getaway but was captured. Layton was later only charged with fined with carrying a concealed weapon. Walker was sentenced to twenty-two years, but served one year and nine months. On June 30, 1883, the case went before the state supreme court who reversed the decision and Walker was freed.
John H. Harper -September 6, 1881 - September 24, 1881 - Killed Ambrose Snider. Harper was 35 years old, 5’8”, 160lbs. He escaped Sheriff Lewis and M. R. Hale at Charleston. He went to New Madrid and then down the Mississippi River to Vicksburg, Mississippi. He was captured in March of 1882. His trial was Friday July 21, 1882, he was found guilty and sentenced to ten years. He served three years and eleven months of that sentence. In an 1880 article it is noted that Harper’s wife was taken to the asylum for mental derangement.
William Muse - May 17, 1884 - Bloomfield Vindicator - “A Horrible Crime.” Mrs. Solomon, a sixty-five year old widow was shot by William Muse. Muse broke into her home with an accomplice to watch the road, Idleman, attempted to ravish her, but she would not be quiet. Muse shot her six times and then fled from the scene. One article said that he showed no remorse. He was able to use his mail wagon to go from Kennett to Bloomfield where he was arrested for the crime. He was sentenced to fifty years but only served eight months.
John Ramsey - June 28, 1884 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Murdered Charles Flint at Jenkin’s Mill, just south of Dexter. His first trial resulted in a hung jury, the second trial he was convicted of 2nd degree murder and sentenced to twenty-five years in the state pen. He was pardoned by Governor Chrittenden because of his heroic actions during a fire at the State Pen.
S. Hacker Boyt - May 15, 1886 - Bloomfield Vindicator - William Woods was killed about four and a half miles southeast of Essex, a short distance from the Broad Water Bridge on the Dexter and Nettle Ridge Road. Woods was shot five times in the head and his body was hit with a shotgun blast. Boyt was arrested, the article did not say why or motive. It did mention that Boyt came from a good family. February 12, 1887 - Bloomfield Vindicator, “W. A. Thompson deputy sheriff came up Wednesday evening and remained overnight. Thursday morning he took Hacker Boyt and the two Lacy boys in charge and left for Richland township where they will have their preliminary trials.” March 12, 1887 - Bloomfield Vindicator - “Hacker Boyt plead guilty to murder in the second degree, but up to the present no sentence has been passed.” Hacker served three years and six months of his ten year sentence.
Samuel D. Henson - March 10, 1888 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Henson accused of killing Joseph C. Howell. An article complained that the trial had been delayed fourteen months. There were 50 witnesses in the case. The murder occurred in Advance and was blamed on drinking whiskey.
Marion Long - February 19, 1891 - Poplar Bluff Citizen - Confession: “ My name is Marion Long, I am twenty-one years old and my home is at Bloomfield, Illinois. I killed Matthew Vandover, and it was his wife who made me do it. She has been after me for the last month, telling me that her husband had threatened my life a number of times, and that I had better look out and kill him first if I had a chance. I had known Mrs. Vandover and her husband for about two years, and he was always jealous of me. Some time ago - the exact time I am unable to give - I went to board with the Vandovers. I was there only two weeks and was compelled to leave for the reason that Vandover was jealous of me. During these two weeks he accused me of leading his wife astray, and every time he talked to me he had an open knife in his hand. After leaving the Vandovers I went to work for a farmer named Rent Langley, whose farm is about a mile and a half from the Vandovers. While I was working there I met Mrs. Vandover at times on the roadway, and we would talk. I met her both before and after I went to board at her house. On the Saturday before I killed Vandover I was sent into the woods by Lankley to get a load of wood. The place where I was to ge it was not far from the Vandover homestead. I think it was about a quarter of a mile. While I was gathering the wood I wanted to see Mrs. Vandover, and so I passed by the house, but at some distance, so she could see me. She did see me, however, and sent her twelve year old boy, named Theodore, with a not to me. The note stated that she was going to the house of a neighbor, named James Webb, and that she wanted to see me there, as she had something to tell me. ‘I went down the road until I came near Webb’s house. There I stopped and Mrs. Vandover came up.’”
“The spot where we talked was a little off from the roadway. The conversation lasted about ten minutes, and was all about her husband threatening my life. She said that he had hid on the roadside a number of times to kill me., and that he had made threats to her about taking my life two or three times.” Vandover’s wife wanted Long to kill her husband. With reluctance he agreed to. She sent Long $10 to kill her husband. Occurred in Poplar Bluff.
Long went to his home in Bloomfield, Illinois and borrowed a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson from his brother. About 7PM in the evening he arrived in Harviell. She gave Long more money and left the door to her home open. Long entered the home, found Mr. Vandover standing next to his bed, he shot hime once at close range killing him. He then fled and caught the train home where he was arrested by Sheriff Gardner. He was sentenced to life in prison but only served eight years and six months.
Henry Splitorff - March 1898 (Splitoff in Bloomfield Paper, Splitory in Missouri State Pen Records)- St. Joseph Gazette-Herald, September 8, 1900, “Governor Issues Pardons.” Splitorff arrived at Missouri State Pen for 2nd degree murder in September of 1898. He killed Sam Rogers while attempting to separate parties who engaged in a fight at a dance given at his home in Stoddard County (Richland Township). The trail judge and many citizens asked for the pardon on the ground that the sentence was too severe. Happened in Frisco.
“A Country Dance.” March 11, 1898 - Bloomfield Vindicator - (spells his name Splittorff) March 6, 1898. About eleven at night, at the dance, John Peck and Eldo Trotter began to quarrel over a girl. Fight grew to include, James Peck, Trotter, Jess Lines, Sam Rodgers, Charlie Woodruff, Pleas Rodgers, and Henry Splittorff. During the fight, Jess Lines knocked down Splittorff with a pair of brass knuckles, Splittorff rose up and tried to break the men apart when he was hit by Sam Rodgers and knocked back down. Splittorff rose up and shot Rodgers in the breast, Rodgers ran outside. Splittorff ran outside and shot him again dropping him. Someone ran and got the constable and Splittorff was arrested. He was sentenced to ten years in prison but served two years. He had done one stint in prison at Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Charles “Charley” Bingham - July 5, 1901 - Bloomfield Vindicator - “Charley Bingham Shot and Fatally Wounded Frank Chase.” “Killing at Hunters Switch.” Hunters Switch was located a few miles east of Essex (Huntervile) along the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, & Southern Railroad. Bingham shot Chase with a .41 Colt, the cause for the killing was believed to be over a woman. As of the printing of this issue, Bingham was on the run. The wounding happened on the Saturday night before Friday, July 5. Chase lived through the night and died the next day. It noted that both men worked at a local saw mill and neither were well known in the county. Friday, September 27, 1901 - Bloomfield Vindicator- George Crain returned from Jeff City Wednesday, where he had taken him to begin his sentence. Bingham served two years and seven months of a ten year sentence.
Fred Riddle - February 27, 1902 - March 8, 1902 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Fred Riddle killed Gus Laus at Dexter on Thursday, February 27. Nineteen year old, Riddle, a bartender at Riddle’s saloon, shot and killed former Dexter marshal, Gus Laws. Laws was shot once in the head, he was 35 years old, married with no children. July 10, 1903 Bloomfield Vindicator - “Riddle is a young man who was born and raised in Dexter and is popular among those who know him. He had a considerable temper, and when angry is liable to act without discretion.” He was sentenced to ten years, but only served one year and two months.
Jacob Black - December 30, 1904 - Bloomfield Vindicator - “Jacob Black Sentenced,”
In the spring of 1904 the family lived at Bell City. Black and his wife had a child. Black confessed to killing the child and buried it under the floor. The child was found with a leather strap around its neck and rolled up into a burlap sack. Black then ran off with a 12 year old (Mortie E. Booth) that was living with them. The mother was left sick and destitute and told police what happened. The sheriff found Black in Scott County and arrested him, the girl was found in Illinois and also brought back. Black and company came from Arknasas and Black said that he was a preacher. Mrs. Black brought her young child (the only living child the pair had) to jail with her but its sad state inspired officers to remove the child from her and place it in a caring home, but it was too late, it died soon after. Black tried to commit suicide in jail by slamming his head into the bars. The wife went to jail and Booth went to the reformitory. Jacob Black served nine years and eleven months of his ninety-nine year sentence. He was paroled and his full citizenship rights were restored.
John Granger - 1905 - May 17, 1907 - Bloomfield Vindicator - While attending a dance in Bernie, John Granger and Matt Hopkins got into an argument, Granger shot Hopkins. He was arrested and charged with murder. Convicted and given a ten year sentence, which he only served one year and sevens months of. He was pardoned by the governor on account of his consumption.
Walter Hutchison - 1916 - Bloomfield Vindicator March 19, 1915 - There’s an early March issue of the Vindicator that mentioned the trial was continued until March 15, 1915. In the March 19 Vindicator it only mentioned that he was charged with 2nd degree murder after the jury deliberated overnight. He was given a ten year sentence which he served six years. It also mentioned the case was appealed. A June 9, 1916 Vindicator paragraph mentioned that the Supreme Court reaffirmed the earlier decision and he was sent to the pen for his ten year sentence. Mentioned that Hutchison was from Fisk.
Nick Bryant - July 1, 1921, Bloomfield Vindicator - “Murder at Canalou Near County Line, Nick Bryant shot his neighbor F. D. Wolf Whom He Accused of Stealing.” Bryant killed neighbor F. D. Wolf after he accused Wolf of entering his home and taking things. They got into an argument and Bryant pulled a pistol and killed Wolf instantly. He later went to Morehouse and surrendered. Sheriff Walker sent deputy, Wid Hill to pick him up. “Bryant is a bachelor who has lived there for several years. He bears a good reputation. Wolf was married and had also lived in the vicinity for sometime. He was sentenced to fifteen years and served eight of those.
James Cooper - February 24, 1922 - Bloomfield Vindicator - “Another Killing in the Cooper Family.” James Cooper shot and killed his nephew, Clarence Cooper on a state road three miles north of Aquilla, last Saturday evening about 5:00PM. C. Cooper had a wife and infant child. James and his wife were arrested and charged with 1st degree murder. The wife was bailed on bond by her father, W. T. Henson (a wealthy landowner in Pike Township) at $5,000. The pair had eight children from 9 to 20 years old and they were sent to stay with relatives and neighbors. Jim Cooper claimed the act was done in self defense. Joe Cooper, James Hester and Frank Menley were interviewed nearby. All heard the shots. Clarence Cooper was found lying next to the road, face downward. It was determined that shots were fired from a double barrel shotgun at close range. The autopsy revealed that the shells used in the killing had been altered to be more deadly according to the autopsy. The killing occurred near the spot that Clarence Cooper killed his cousin, Edgar Cooper, who was also a son of James and Clara Cooper, and his uncle Will Cooper, last August. “It is believed that the tragedy last Saturday resulted from the family feud that has existed in the Cooper family for a quarter of a century that has resulted in three killings in the past five months.” Clarence was in Bloomfield all that day and rode the train to Acquilla where he got off and walked toward his home. Jim and his wife who had also been in Bloomfield, had taken their buggy and waited for Clarence to come by. Cooper served five years and eight months of a ten year sentence.
Retaliation
Bloomfield Vindicator - March 9, 1923 - “Another Tragedy in the Cooper Family Fued,” Joe Cooper shot and wounded his brother James Cooper and James’ daughter, seventeen year old Bessie. Jim and daughter were in his bugg when Joe Cooper’ in Charley Stock and Carmen Harris’ automobile pulled up beside them and fired three shots, one striking Jim in the hip and one striking Bessie in the arm. Stock and Harris saw Joe Cooper walking toward Acquilla and offered him a ride, they said they had no idea he was going to do what he did. Joe went on into town and turned himself in. Joe Cooper was sentenced to three years for the assault, but only served two years and seven months.
George Lloyd - March 23, 1923 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Lloyd murdered Bill Baker near Salcedo in July of 1923. He served five years and two months of a twelve year sentence.
Daniel Mathis - 1924 - May 4, 1923 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Mathies shot and killed Charles Volmer, a blacksmith whom he worked for, of Bell City. Occurred just before the holidays. Mathies was drunk and thrown out of the shop by Volmer. Mathies was sentenced to five years but only served three years and two months.
George Cartwright - Friday April 10, 1925 - Bloomfield Vindicator - “Whiskey Quarrel Causes Killing.” George Cartwright was a laborer of Morehouse, he was accused of killing Leo Miller, whose body was found at Wamble curve south of Essex. The two men were in the same car together along with Lloyd Ferrel, a young man that lived in Morehouse. They had been to a moonshine seller near Fisk. Ferrall was also arrested as was Lou Miller, an uncle of the Leo Miller, both men for liquor charges. September 18, 1925 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Cartwright was charged with killing Cleo Miller near Essex one night in April. He said it was done in self-defense, but was unable to convince the jury. Cartwright ended up serving five years and four months of his ten year sentence.
Dink Lucas - July 1925 - White Mule & Murder - One hot summer night in July 1925, Charles Miller was walking to his home near Dickerson School between Bernie and Frisco. He heard several shots up the road, then a speeding car passed by him, he got a good look at the occupants, it was his landlord, John Burgess and Dink Lucas, Burgess’ farmhand. He ran down the road, when he reached his home he discovered his wife hysterical on the front porch. Their six year old daughter, Pauline, had been shot as she was sitting on her mother’s lap. She was killed instantly.
When the sheriff arrived, Miller said that Burgess and Lucas had done the killing. He believed it was because they must have thought that the silhouette of his wife and child was actually himself. Miller indicated to the sheriff that a few weeks prior he and Burgess had a disagreement over some white mule (moonshine). A few weeks later Burgess’ still was raided by police. Burgess assumed Miller rat him out (which actually was not the case).
Burgess and Lucas were arrested, Lucas went to trial first, he was convicted and sentenced to life in the state pen. Two years later, Lucas escaped prison and disappeared for seven years. Eventually he was located in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. The sheriff petitioned to have him extradited back to Missouri, but it was denied on account of a strong showing of ppl in support of Lucas in Santa Rosa. Not to be defeated, two years later Sheriff Barham again petitioned the governor of New Mexico (a new governor) and it was granted. Lucas was extradited back to Missouri from his then home in Roswell, NM. Lucas was free for ten years. He did three years in the state pen upon return before the governor commuted his sentence.
Whatever happened to Burgess? Burgess was a well to do landowner that could afford the best defense money could buy. His case was continued for nearly a year before it went to trial. In the end he was acquitted.
One final element remained in this story. Two years after that tragic day, the Millers sued Burgess and Lucas for the pain, suffering, and debilitating impact on Mrs. Miller ($30,000). I was unable to find out whether or not they were successful.
Mose Henson - July 31, 1925 - Bloomfield Vindicator - “Pike Township Man Murdered Wednesday.” Erastus Duncan was shot by Mose Henson as a result of an old grudge between the two men. Henson shot Duncan at the Casey place on the Bell City to Ardeola road. The two men were bachelors at 45. Henson lived with another family near Cross Road School. Duncan lived on the T. J. Allen farm, but was previously from Essex. Duncan, found shot in the side, had on him a pistol, two knives, and pair of brass knuckles. The charge was originally 1st degree but it was changed to 2nd degree. Jury deliberated for two hours. He was sentenced to seerve ten yeas but only served five.
William F. Crabtree - Friday, September 25, 1925 - Crabtree, 67 years old charged with the September 17, 1925 killing of thirty-five year old Ben Croy in the rear of the Tibbs and Biggs Mercantile Store in Advance around 2:00PM. The two argued over a mutual business dealing, Croy called Crabtree, “a vile name.” Crabtree pulled a knife and stabbed Croy eleven times. On March 9, 1926, Crabtree was sentenced to ten years for 2nd degree murder. Crabtree served five of his ten year sentence.
Julius Jennings - March 1, 1929 - Bloomfield Vindicator - “Negro Confesses To Murder.” Sheriff Fred Beal returned from Murphysboro, Illinois with Julius and Glover Jennings. Julius was charged with the murder of Dudley Brown of Parma on January 8, 1929. Julius’ confession freed his brother Glover of any wrongdoing. The murder occurred over a business deal with a pawned pistol, Julius claimed it was self defense. He shot Brown on the Spitler farm. “Heaviest sentence that has been passed during this term of circuit court was given to Julius Jennings.” Trial found that Jennings shot Brown through a window at Brown’s home without justification. He served eleven years and seven months of a thirty year prison sentence. -latter two sentences taken from May 3, 1929, Bloomfield Vindicator.
Burl Pointer - September 21, 1923 - Vindicator - Pointer was charged with murdering his cousin, Horn Pointer one Sunday evening after drinking heavily throughout the day. The pair got into an argument and Burl shot Horn. Occurred at Bernie. He served one year and nine months of a two year sentence.
August 17, 1931 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Burl Pointer attempted suicide, but failed to be successful. Shotgun missed most of the back of his head. His daughter, Juanita, was hysterical.
August 24, 1934 - Bloomfield Vindicator - “Sometimes referred to as the bad man of Dexter.” Arrested by Highway Patrolmen. Pointer challenged the night watchman, J. E. Boyles after Boyles told him to go home. Boyles hit him over the head with his billy club and put him in jail. Pointer paid the fine, he went home and grabbed a shotgun and went to Boyles house where he tried to get the man to come out (he was sleeping). From there he went to Kirby’s filling station at the bottom of Cotton Belt Hill. Two state patrolmen noticed Pointer and saw his shotgun leaned up. A scuffle occurred as Pointer went for his shotgun, the patrolmen beat him down and took him to jail and charged him with using a deadly weapon in an open and threatening manner. Back in 1919 he had also exchanged shots with L. O. Harris, Harris was peppered but nothing came of it.
Assault
- Elihn Vincent Assault Shooting w/Intent To Kill 1856
- John Vaughn Assault w/Deadly w/Intent To Kill 1857
- George Wilson Assault 1874
- Frank Schackleford Assault to Kill 1876
- Walter Phelan Assault w/Intent to Kill 1877
- William H. Harper Felonious Assault 1879
- W. T. Hoffman Assault to Kill 1884
- William Black Assault to Rape 1886
- William Burke Assault to Kill 1888
- Hugh Montgomery Felonious Assault 1891
- Benjamin Dickerson Felonious Assault 1892
- J. W. Crabtree Assault to Kill 1893
- Henry Sherlay Assault to Ravish 1893
- Henry Stokes Assault to Kill 1893
- A. J. Carter Assault to Kill 1899
- Herman Hendrixson Assault w/Intent to Kill 1899
- James Hendrixson Assault w/Intent to Kill 1899
- Mote Robbins Assault w/Intent to Kill 1902
- A. J. Mannin Assault to Kill 1902
- John Money Assault to Kill 1903
- Sid Cunningham Assault to Kill 1904
- David Brand Felonious Assault 1920
- Thomas Jewel Felonious Assault 1920
- J. M. Baylee Assault on Minnie Boyles 1924
- Will Emery Felonious Assault 1924
- Logan Green Felonious Assault 1924
- Joe Cooper Assault to Kill 1925
- Herschel Pool Assault w/Intent to Kill 1926
- Herman Stroud Assault w/Intent to Rape 1929
Herman Stroud
Herman Stroud, convicted of assault with intent to rape and later convicted of rape (only convictions 1928 and after include a mugshot)
Herman Stroud was born in Olive Branch, Illinois on February 24, 1903 to Alonzo and Lucie Stroud. In 1910 he was being raised by his maternal grandparents. He grew to be a big man, even passing as a professional wrestler when he entered the county for the first time.
Stroud was married to Lora Shrum of Puxico, on October 16, 1926. She died of typhoid fever and an attack of congestion while he was incarcerated on November 30, 1931 (only seven months after their son William Clay was born). They had two children, Esther Ruth and William Clay (She was living with her mother at the time).
His first run in with the law that shows up in the local paper was in April 1929 when he was accused and convicted of attempted rape and given two years in the state pen. He served a little over one year of a two year sentence before he was released. His wife testified on his behalf during that trial.
In the 1930 census he is listed as a machine operator in the clothing factory of the Missouri State Penitentiary. It said that he attended no school but the 1910 census listed him as attending school. He could read and write so he must have gone to school some.
On January 12, 1931, a warrant was issued charging him with the rape of a fifteen year old girl west of Bell City near the Little Rock school. The actual crime was alleged to have occurred on January 1, 1931. He wasn't out of the pen for seven months before he committed this crime. Stroud had taken a train from Dunklin County to Bell City where he got off and hitched a ride with Jesse Cravens (whom he did not know). Cravens and Stroud traveled west along Hwy 91 until just a little before the junction with Hwy 25 where Cravens dropped off Stroud beforing turning on a side road that led to his home. Stroud walked west a short distance when he came upon a fifteen year old girl that was walking from a neighbors home to her own. Stroud grabbed the girl and took her under a bridge where she was attacked. After the attack, he took off. He set a nearby barn on fire to distract would be pursuers. Throughout the night the girls father, neighbors, and deputies searched. A few days later he was arrested in Clarkton. Jesse Cravens traveled down there and identified him as the man that had he had given a ride to. He was brought back to Bloomfield to stand trial for the attack.
Stroud was married to Lora Shrum of Puxico, on October 16, 1926. She died of typhoid fever and an attack of congestion while he was incarcerated on November 30, 1931 (only seven months after their son William Clay was born). They had two children, Esther Ruth and William Clay (She was living with her mother at the time).
His first run in with the law that shows up in the local paper was in April 1929 when he was accused and convicted of attempted rape and given two years in the state pen. He served a little over one year of a two year sentence before he was released. His wife testified on his behalf during that trial.
In the 1930 census he is listed as a machine operator in the clothing factory of the Missouri State Penitentiary. It said that he attended no school but the 1910 census listed him as attending school. He could read and write so he must have gone to school some.
On January 12, 1931, a warrant was issued charging him with the rape of a fifteen year old girl west of Bell City near the Little Rock school. The actual crime was alleged to have occurred on January 1, 1931. He wasn't out of the pen for seven months before he committed this crime. Stroud had taken a train from Dunklin County to Bell City where he got off and hitched a ride with Jesse Cravens (whom he did not know). Cravens and Stroud traveled west along Hwy 91 until just a little before the junction with Hwy 25 where Cravens dropped off Stroud beforing turning on a side road that led to his home. Stroud walked west a short distance when he came upon a fifteen year old girl that was walking from a neighbors home to her own. Stroud grabbed the girl and took her under a bridge where she was attacked. After the attack, he took off. He set a nearby barn on fire to distract would be pursuers. Throughout the night the girls father, neighbors, and deputies searched. A few days later he was arrested in Clarkton. Jesse Cravens traveled down there and identified him as the man that had he had given a ride to. He was brought back to Bloomfield to stand trial for the attack.
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December 29, 1937, Herman Stroud got in a delivery truck and drove away from the Missouri State Pen. He was captured a little over a month later in Chester, Illinois and returned to the Missouri State Penitentiary. Authorities had originally believed he was in the vicinity of Acorn Ridge where his children lived.
He died in Bowie County, Texas on January 17, 1975. 
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(Bloomfield Vindicator)
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Rape
Thomas Briant - 1874 - Sentenced to five years, served three years and three months. No further info.
Squire Wallace - 1876 - Sentenced to fifteen years, served four years and nine months. No further info.
James Futtner - 1888 - Sentenced five years, servede one year and one month. No further info.
Thomas Nydem - 1903 - October 8, 1903 - Poplar Bluff Citizen - Three men were charged with a “horrible rape” near Essex. Two were brothers, Nydem, and one was a brother in law. They were taken to St. Louis for fear of mob violence. The girl was Gertie Gibson, a nine year old gear that was a housemaid for the Nydems. Nick Nydem, Robert Nydem, and Robert McCombs accused as partners.
July 24, 1903 - Bloomfield VIndicator - On July second, Nick Nydem went to Gertie Gibson’s mothers home, a neighbor. The girl went with him to stay so that his wife could pick blackberries, and she would help with the Nydem’s little child. Gibson remained there nearly two weeks. She was returned to her parents in a dying condition. The girl could not speak. The attack it was determined had occurred within forty-eight hours. She died before a doctor could reach her. All three Nydems and the McCombs man deny any knowledge of what occurred. The sheriff arrested all of them in an effort to try and get information from them. Eventually Thomas Nydem is the once prosecuted for the crime based on circumstantial evidence. 7 jurors wanted hanging, five voted for life sentence. The cases against the other three defendants were dropped. He served nine months of a 99 year sentence, discharged by the Missouri Supreme Court.
J. M. Winstead -1911 - May 19, 1911 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Winstead of Bell City, was charged with assaulting his four young grand-daughters. WInstead, 56 years old and claimed to be a preacher. The victims were: Floda and Carrie Wilkerson, daughters of John M. Wilkerson, they were ten and fourteen. Mary and Sarah Sitz, daughters of Lovey Sitz, aged fourteen and eleven years old. September 29, 1911, Winstead plead guilty to the charge of rape against Carrie Wilkerson and was sentenced to ten years. The other cases were continued. The other cases were later dropped. Winstead served six years and four months of his ten year sentence, which was commuted by Governor Gardner.
Charles Merritt -1913 - August 15, 1913 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Merritt who lived in the southern part of Stoddard County, was charged with raping his fourteen year old sister. He was housed in the Poplar Bluff jail. Was sentenced to five years and served three years and eight months.
G. S. Thompson -1914- July 3, 1914 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Charged with rape and convicted, sentenced to five years, served two years. No further info.
Clarence Hart - 1919 - sentenced to five years, served ten months. From Dexter. No further info. He was fined for felonious assault in 1913.
Bedford Doublin - 1924 - September 26, 1924 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Bedford Doublin plead guilty to rape and sentenced to four years in prison, served three years and one month. Mable Doublin of Puxico was his wife. According to later newspaper reports he went on to be a well known and respected farmer in the area after his prison sentence.
Finis Elzie Preslar -February 21, 1926- In April of 1922 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Preslar was acquitted of the murder of Dug Tuck in Frisbee, Dunklin County. He plead self defense.
July 2, 1926 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Elzie Preslar, Jadie Preslar, and Herbert Samples charged with rape of Medie Pewitt, a sixteen year old. Pewitt was spending the night at a neighbor's home, Samples called for her and told her that her mother was sick and that he would walk with her to her home. They were overtaken down the road by the Preslar in their Hudson coach automobile. They took Pewitt and Samples with them to a secluded place where the crime was committed. Elzie is a thirty year old with a wife and young daughter. Jadie and Samples are his cousins. He was acquitted of murder once and convicted of a liquor violation, he was out at the time of the crime on appeal for that charge. The jury deliberated for two hours and handed back a verdict of guilty and sentence of twelve years. The other two got four years each and were ordered to the reformatory school until the age of 21.
He was sentenced to twelve years and served four years and three months. His wife was named Velma and lived in Holcomb. The case went to the Supreme Court but he was ordered back to prison.
Cecil Wells -1926- March 12, 1926 - Bloomfield Vindicator - State vs. Cecil Wells, Juvenile Court. Plead guilty to rape. Sentenced to two years. Served one year and one month. No further info.
Edgar Fields - 1927 - March 25, 1927 - Charged with rape against step-daughter. Sentenced to two years, served one year. Has his mother listed as Francis and his wife’s address as Jeff City. No further info.
Isaac McKee - 1927 - December 23, 1927 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Black man charged with rape, trial by jury and sentenced to two years in pen. Served one year and three months. His spouse’s name was Lillie and they were from Hayti.
Squire Wallace - 1876 - Sentenced to fifteen years, served four years and nine months. No further info.
James Futtner - 1888 - Sentenced five years, servede one year and one month. No further info.
Thomas Nydem - 1903 - October 8, 1903 - Poplar Bluff Citizen - Three men were charged with a “horrible rape” near Essex. Two were brothers, Nydem, and one was a brother in law. They were taken to St. Louis for fear of mob violence. The girl was Gertie Gibson, a nine year old gear that was a housemaid for the Nydems. Nick Nydem, Robert Nydem, and Robert McCombs accused as partners.
July 24, 1903 - Bloomfield VIndicator - On July second, Nick Nydem went to Gertie Gibson’s mothers home, a neighbor. The girl went with him to stay so that his wife could pick blackberries, and she would help with the Nydem’s little child. Gibson remained there nearly two weeks. She was returned to her parents in a dying condition. The girl could not speak. The attack it was determined had occurred within forty-eight hours. She died before a doctor could reach her. All three Nydems and the McCombs man deny any knowledge of what occurred. The sheriff arrested all of them in an effort to try and get information from them. Eventually Thomas Nydem is the once prosecuted for the crime based on circumstantial evidence. 7 jurors wanted hanging, five voted for life sentence. The cases against the other three defendants were dropped. He served nine months of a 99 year sentence, discharged by the Missouri Supreme Court.
J. M. Winstead -1911 - May 19, 1911 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Winstead of Bell City, was charged with assaulting his four young grand-daughters. WInstead, 56 years old and claimed to be a preacher. The victims were: Floda and Carrie Wilkerson, daughters of John M. Wilkerson, they were ten and fourteen. Mary and Sarah Sitz, daughters of Lovey Sitz, aged fourteen and eleven years old. September 29, 1911, Winstead plead guilty to the charge of rape against Carrie Wilkerson and was sentenced to ten years. The other cases were continued. The other cases were later dropped. Winstead served six years and four months of his ten year sentence, which was commuted by Governor Gardner.
Charles Merritt -1913 - August 15, 1913 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Merritt who lived in the southern part of Stoddard County, was charged with raping his fourteen year old sister. He was housed in the Poplar Bluff jail. Was sentenced to five years and served three years and eight months.
G. S. Thompson -1914- July 3, 1914 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Charged with rape and convicted, sentenced to five years, served two years. No further info.
Clarence Hart - 1919 - sentenced to five years, served ten months. From Dexter. No further info. He was fined for felonious assault in 1913.
Bedford Doublin - 1924 - September 26, 1924 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Bedford Doublin plead guilty to rape and sentenced to four years in prison, served three years and one month. Mable Doublin of Puxico was his wife. According to later newspaper reports he went on to be a well known and respected farmer in the area after his prison sentence.
Finis Elzie Preslar -February 21, 1926- In April of 1922 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Preslar was acquitted of the murder of Dug Tuck in Frisbee, Dunklin County. He plead self defense.
July 2, 1926 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Elzie Preslar, Jadie Preslar, and Herbert Samples charged with rape of Medie Pewitt, a sixteen year old. Pewitt was spending the night at a neighbor's home, Samples called for her and told her that her mother was sick and that he would walk with her to her home. They were overtaken down the road by the Preslar in their Hudson coach automobile. They took Pewitt and Samples with them to a secluded place where the crime was committed. Elzie is a thirty year old with a wife and young daughter. Jadie and Samples are his cousins. He was acquitted of murder once and convicted of a liquor violation, he was out at the time of the crime on appeal for that charge. The jury deliberated for two hours and handed back a verdict of guilty and sentence of twelve years. The other two got four years each and were ordered to the reformatory school until the age of 21.
He was sentenced to twelve years and served four years and three months. His wife was named Velma and lived in Holcomb. The case went to the Supreme Court but he was ordered back to prison.
Cecil Wells -1926- March 12, 1926 - Bloomfield Vindicator - State vs. Cecil Wells, Juvenile Court. Plead guilty to rape. Sentenced to two years. Served one year and one month. No further info.
Edgar Fields - 1927 - March 25, 1927 - Charged with rape against step-daughter. Sentenced to two years, served one year. Has his mother listed as Francis and his wife’s address as Jeff City. No further info.
Isaac McKee - 1927 - December 23, 1927 - Bloomfield Vindicator - Black man charged with rape, trial by jury and sentenced to two years in pen. Served one year and three months. His spouse’s name was Lillie and they were from Hayti.