Do you have a family story that has been passed down for several generations? If so, have you been able to document any of it?
I recently started a project to update my research of the Alexander Crawford who married Margaret McElwee in Lincoln County, Kentucky in 1788 and his descendants. In particular, I am trying to document one line for yDNA purposes. Since I’m encountering missing land records for the county where the son resided, I decided to skip to the grandson in hopes of finding a record connecting the grandson to his father.
When I looked at Ancestry trees and the FamilySearch tree for the grandson, Jones A. Crawford, they all seem to have the same information for his death: “shot and killed through a picture window of his home.”
While that little detail is not documented, it is screaming at me to check newspapers and document it.
My first attempt was to try and locate an article between 1870 and 1880 in a Laclede county newspaper. Since many of the older Missouri newspapers have been digitized on Newspapers.com I started searching that site. (Missouri newspaper project) And I didn’t find anything.
However, when I broadened my search to the entire state and to 1870 thru 1900, I hit paydirt! And I verified that a Crawford was killed by a bullet going thru a window. But it was a John Crawford and not a Jones Crawford. In addition, the incident occurred in Ozark county, Missouri and not in Laclede County, Missouri. The newspapers from all across Missouri reported on this incident.
In Ozark county recently John Crawford and Pat Aldrich quarreled over family matters, which resulted in Crawford shooting and killing Aldrich, being himself wounded. He retreated to his home; followed by Joseph Aldrich, son of the dead man. Young Aldrich attempted to enter Crawford’s house, but was put out. As he was ejected he fired a shot at random. It struck Crawford in the eye, killing him instantly. Young Aldrich was slightly wounded. Both dead men are well thought of and the killings have caused much excitement, which may become serious. The young man was arrested.
The Laclede County Republican, 29 Apr 1892, page 8 available on Newspapers.com
Fatal Duel Between Farmers
The St. Joseph Herald, 23 Apr 1892, page 1 available on Newspapers.com
West Plains, Mo, April 22 — News of a terrible tragedy which took place in the interior of Ozark county last Wednesday has just reached here. John Crawford and Nathan Aldrich, neighbor farmers, quarreled and fought a duel with Winchesters. Aldrich was killed. The lattter’s son, Joseph Aldrich, went to Crawford’s house to avenge his father’s murder. He was ejected from the premises, but taking aim at the house he fired a random shot from his rifle. The bullet crashed through the window and struck Crawford over the left eye, killing him instantly. Young Aldrich was arrested.
A search of the 1880 census found the Aldridge family living in Bridges Township, Ozark County, Missouri. However, no Crawford family was listed in that same township.
Continuing to read the newspaper articles, I found more details about the incident and the trial.
In the case against the Aldridge boys, a change of venue was granted to esq. Mashboro of Jasper Township, Preliminary examination was waived by defendants and bonds for the sum of $6,000 were filed for their appearance at the next team of circuit court. Clark, an Attorney of West Plains, was employed to assist the prosecution, and Col. Love is Attorney for defendants.
The Ozark County News (Gainesville, Missouri), 28 Apr 1892, page 1 available on Newspapers.com
A Deplorable Killing
The Douglas County Herald, 5 May 1892, page 3 available on Newspapers.com
M. Aldridge, Clay Florence and Jas. A. McKeel, who were called to Ozark county Thursday forenoon of last week by a telegram announcing the killing of John M. Crawford and Nat. T. Aldridge, the wounding of the latter’s son, Joe, returned home Monday last and from them we learn the following particulars in regard to the unfortunate affairs. There had been bad feeling between Crawford and Aldridge for some time on account of the latter’s daughter joining the Christian church, of which the former was a member, which is supposed to be the cause of the killing. Crawford and Aldridge were neighboring farmers, living only about a quarter of a mile apart. Wednesday morning of last week Aldridge walked over to Crawford’s house for the purpose of seeing if their family troubles could not be peaceably and amicably settled. They walked away from the house a short distance, remaining in consultation for half an hour or more, and were coming toward the house seemingly the best of friends. At this juncture Joe Aldridge put in an appearance and commenced talking rather angrily, when Crawford remarked, “This looks as though you were going to double team on me,” and retreated to the house. It is not positively known whether the Aldridges attempted to follow or not, but Crawford soon appeared at the door with a double-barrelled shot gun when the shooting commenced. Both fired almost simultaneously. Aldridge was shot in the breast and killed instantly, while the latter’s bullet struck Crawford in the right side of the hip, smashing the handle of his pistol and driving the main spring almost through the lower part of the body. At this juncture Joe Aldridge ran into the house and attempted to wrest the gun from Crawford, who at the same time was trying to shoot with the revolver, not knowing it had been disabled. Young Aldridge was ejected from the house and running to where his dead father lay, grabbed his pistol and fired through the door, the ball striking Crawford in the right eye, killing him dead. Joe Aldridge received a wound on the side of the head, but is not considered dangerous. About this time John Aldridge, an elder son, who had only recently returned from Texas, came up and commenced abusing Crawford’s family in an angry and insulting manner. Both the boys were arrested shortly after and are still in custody, bail being refused until after the preliminary examination is held. Both the dead men were well known in this county and have many relatives and friends here who regret to hear of the deplorable manner in which they gave up their lives. [Marshfield Chronicle.]
Wiped Out in Blood
The Aldridge – Crawford Fatal Affray — Both Men Killed
A Lost Hat, Found by somebody in This County, Wanted Badley — A Reward for It — Full of Bullet Holes
Late Saturday evening two of the Shock boys came to the Ledger office to inquire whether or not a hat had been found and advertised in the paper. The Shocks seemed quite disappointed when told that the Ledger had not contained an advertisement of this character.
Mexico Weekly Ledger, 19 May 1892, page 3 available on Newspapers.com
“Well,” said Mr. Shock, “we want that hat and are willing to pay a good reward for it.”
“The hat must be a valuable one,” was suggested, whereupon Mr. Shock said it was of no value at all except to the man who lost it. “The hat is a mute witness in a murder trial soon to take place in Ozark county,” said Mr. Shock, “and it must be found.”
The following advertisement was ordered inserted in the hope of finding the lost article:
Hat Lost $2.50 Reward — Between Mexico and Prairie View Church, a few days since, a man’s large brim white hat, on the Texas cow-boy oder. Leave at Ledger office and get reward.
The hat has eight bullet holes in it and was worn by J. B. Aldridge, of Gainesville, Ozark county, Mo., in one of the fiercest and bloodiest affrays that ever took place in this state, in which N. T. Aldridge, his father, was murdered by John Crawford, who, in turn was shot dead on the spot by J. B. Aldridge. Both the Aldridges are well known to stock men in this county, and the Ledger a few weeks since announced a rumor that the elder Aldridge had been murdered. The younger Aldridge has been here for some days settling up his father’s business with the Shocks and others and left for home Saturday.
The killing of the elder Aldridge and Crawford occurred at Gainesville on the 20th of April. For years there had existed between the two men a deadly feud which nothing but blood could wipe out. On that day they met and the difficulty was renewed. Crawford was doubly armed — he carried both a shot gun and a revolver. With one barrel of the gun he killed old man Aldridge and fired the other at the son, who had come upon the scene. The charge of shot only wounded J. B. Aldridge. Then Crawford drew his pistol to finish his bloody work, but young Aldridge wrenched it from the desperate man and with it avenged his father’s death, killing Crawford on the spot. The younger Aldridge had a narrow escape; a portion of the charge from the shot gun barely grazed his head, while eight of the shot went through the hat he was wearing. Aldridge was released on bond, the killing of Crawford being considered justifiable. This is why the lost hat is wanted. It has seen considerable service and is of no value to anyone except Aldridge. Bring it to the Ledger office.
Probate Docket
The Ozark County News, 11 May 1893, page 1 available on Newspapers.com
Following is a list of settlements in the Probate court for the June term, 1893
First Day
N. T. Aldridge
Circuit Court
The Ozark County News, 22 Feb 1894, page 1 available on Newspapers.com
The February term of the circuit court adjourned Saturday night about 10 o’clock. It had been a busy week in court, and all connected with it were tired and glad when the end came. This is especially true of jurors and witnesses who were compelled from inclement weather and others crowded into the court room to spend the nights, as all available room at hotels and private dwellings was filled.
The grand jury returned an indictment against Chas. Hampton for the murder of Davenport. The court admitted defendant to bail in the sum of $5,000, which he filled, and the case went over to the August term.
The case against Joe Aldridge for the killing of J. M. Crawford was the last to be tried. The jury was out about four hours and returned a verdict of guilty and fixed the punishment of the defendant at a fine of $500. The other Aldridge boys were discharged.
Fined for Murder
St. Joseph Gazette, 23 Feb 1894, page 5 available on Newspapers.com
West Plains, Mo., Feb. 22 – Joe Aldridge was convicted of manslaughter in the Ozark County Circuit Court and fined $500. A man named Crawford killed a neighbor named Aldridge, and to avenge the death of his father Joe Aldridge killed Crawford.
Died of Heart failure
The Sedalia Democrat, 18 May 1894. page 1
Mrs. Amanda Aldridge, aged 59 years, died of heart failure at 6 o’clock last night at her home near Green Ridge. The funeral will be held this afternoon at her late residence and the interment will be in a neighboring cemetery.
Sheriff’s sale — N. T. Aldridge and wife Amanda’s land to be sold
The Ozark County News, 6 Aug 1896, page 1 available on Newspapers.com
Since all of the newspaper articles used the given name of John instead of Jonas and placed the event in a county other than Laclede County, Missouri, I’m concluding this ‘shot thru the window’ tale is not associated with Jones A. Crawford.
A search of Find a Grave for a John Crawford who died in 1892 in Missouri turned up a John Martin Crawford buried in Ozark County, Missouri. Attached to the memorial was an image of the “Wiped Out in Blood” article. The tombstone picture also supported an April 1892 death date. However, the memorial had a July death date. (An edit was suggested.)
