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Story
May 11, 1878
Narragansett Herald
Narragansett Pier, Washington County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Willis James was acquitted of murdering five members of the Spencer family in Clark County, Missouri, due to insufficient evidence. The brutal killings occurred in a barn, house, and field with no apparent motive or robbery, leaving the crime a mystery.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
A Mysterious Murder.
Willis James was believed to be the murderer of five persons in Clark county, Mo., but he has been acquitted, there being very slight evidence against him. If he is innocent, the crime is indeed a mystery. The murdered persons were the Spencer family, consisting of a farmer and his two sons and two daughters. The father and one son were killed in a barn, the other son and a daughter in the house, and the remaining daughter in a field close by. No motive for this horrible butchery has been discovered. James is a relative, and it is not known that there was any quarrel between him and the Spencers. No robbery was committed. James gave the first information of the crime, having, as he said, found the bodies on going to the house on an errand. There was a little blood on his handkerchief, but he said that it had come from his nose; and several splashes on his hat, that looked as though they might be blood, but a chemist was not willing to swear what they were. Conviction was impossible on such slight evidence, and no more could be obtained.
Willis James was believed to be the murderer of five persons in Clark county, Mo., but he has been acquitted, there being very slight evidence against him. If he is innocent, the crime is indeed a mystery. The murdered persons were the Spencer family, consisting of a farmer and his two sons and two daughters. The father and one son were killed in a barn, the other son and a daughter in the house, and the remaining daughter in a field close by. No motive for this horrible butchery has been discovered. James is a relative, and it is not known that there was any quarrel between him and the Spencers. No robbery was committed. James gave the first information of the crime, having, as he said, found the bodies on going to the house on an errand. There was a little blood on his handkerchief, but he said that it had come from his nose; and several splashes on his hat, that looked as though they might be blood, but a chemist was not willing to swear what they were. Conviction was impossible on such slight evidence, and no more could be obtained.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Mystery
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Murder
Acquittal
Mystery
Spencer Family
Willis James
Clark County
What entities or persons were involved?
Willis James
Spencer Family
Where did it happen?
Clark County, Mo.
Story Details
Key Persons
Willis James
Spencer Family
Location
Clark County, Mo.
Story Details
Willis James, a relative of the Spencer family, was accused of murdering the farmer, his two sons, and two daughters in their home, barn, and field in Clark County, Mo., but acquitted due to minimal evidence including possible blood on his items. No motive or robbery found; James reported discovering the bodies.