March 30, 1899 Harrisonville, Missouri Edwin Bates Soper is hanged for the murder of his wife and two children In April 1891, Soper suddenly announced to neighbors and acquaintances he had heard of a local “blind tiger” (an illegal saloon) and had decided to move there, then quickly sold his butcher shop and moved away.…
Man kills stepmother, 4 siblings over financial dispute
February 19, 1901 Kennett, Missouri James Tettaton (29) is hanged for the murders of his step-mother and 4 siblings (Note: Newspapers report the family by a variety of names, including Tettalon and Tetterton, though the grave of Mrs. M. J. Tettaton establishes the correct spelling.) On April 25, 1899, neighbors of the widow Malinda Jane…
Man executed for killing friend who refused to buy him a drink
April 1, 1955 Jefferson City, Missouri Dock Booker is executed for the shooting death of his friend Earl Harrison after Harrison refuses to buy Booker a drink Booker and Harrison, both baseball pitchers, had previously had arguments over which was the better player. With tensions between the two already high, the two men visited the…
Teen killed while babysitting
March 18, 1950 Columbia, Missouri Janett Christman (top photo, left) is killed while babysitting a toddler Christman, killed three days before her 14th birthday, had been babysitting a 2½-year-old boy. Police received a call around 11 p.m. on March 18, later presumed to have been from Christman. A “girlish” voice gasped “come quick” and was…
Man sets fire to building, kills 6 children
March 12, 1999 St. Louis, Missouri Nevelyn Stokes (23) sets fire to an apartment building, killing six children under the age of 9 Earlier in the evening, Stokes was physically assaulted by a man and woman he encountered on the street. Allegedly, Stokes had robbed the woman the month before and the assault was in…
