Henry H. Hughes
Agency: Jackson County Marshal
Deputy Marshal Hughes was shot and killed on February 10th, 1877 while serving a warrant for assault with intent to kill. Three men, Richard Green, Richard Miller and George Tarwater encountered two men on the East Levee, named Henry Mensing and Isaac Gardney. A warrant for the assault on Henry Mensing was issued by Justice Ranson. Deputy Hughes operating on information received that the two men named in the warrant, Richard Green and Richard Miller were working six miles east of Independence for a man named Fisher as wood choppers. Deputy Hughes set off for the area and contacted Fisher on February 10 at 7 or 8 o'clock. Fisher confirmed that the two men were working for him and accompanied Marshal Hughes to the double cabin where the men were located. Fisher entered the cabin followed by Deputy Hughes and found the two men playing cards with two other men by firelight. Deputy Hughes read the warrant to Richard Green and Frank Miller in the presence of Fisher. He asked Green for his gun. Green stood and told Deputy Hughes to "get out of here and be damned quick about it. Green drew a pistol and fired three shots at Deputy Hughes inflicting a bullet wound to the deputy's left chest, piercing his lung, and another striking the deputy in the arm, breaking the bone near the shoulder. Deputy Hughes fell. Fisher attempted to render aid to Deputy Hughes and Green twice pointed his gun at Fisher and told him not to interfere. As Fisher held the dying man's head in his lap, Deputy Hughes requested Fisher speak to Hughes’ wife and children. Deputy Hughes died within five minutes of the assault.
Green and Miller fled together into the woods but were surrounded in a field the following morning, apprehended and taken to Kansas City for safekeeping. Green, alias Edward McFarren, was found to also be wanted in Fremont, Iowa where he had assaulted the sheriff and broke out of jail while being held for horse stealing. Green, properly known as McFarren, was the son of a well-to-do Iowa farmer from the Fremont area who had gained a rebel reputation becoming involved in petty robberies and depredations of all sorts.
Richard Green was found guilty of first degree murder by a jury. The jury was reported to have deliberated for merely 30 minutes after hearing the evidence during a three-day trial. His appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court was denied and he was hung on March 1, 1878 in a narrow alleyway between the rear of the new courthouse and the bluff. The Jackson County marshal presided over the execution. As he stood on the scaffold Green stated that "I die for my crime in the faith of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ." The execution was intended to be private but a crowd of thousands gathered on the day of the execution, covering the bluffs in the area and requiring Company A of the Kansas City Guard and the Craig's Rifles to be called out to keep the crowd back and prevent an accident.
Frank Miller was granted a change in venue, tried in Lexington, Missouri, found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to hang on May 8, 1878. The Missouri Supreme Court heard and affirmed Miller's conviction. Miller's sentence was later commuted by Governor Phelps in 1878 to ten years of imprisonment.
Deputy Marshal Henry H. Hughes served during the era when the County Marshal served Jackson County from 1871-1924. He attended all sittings of the criminal court of Jackson County, received all processes issued by the court, judge or clerk and attended to the service of such processes and apprehended criminals during the turbulent post civil war era in western Missouri. The marshal was the designated conservator of the peace in the county, maintained the jail and the courts and had all the powers in criminal cases that are or may be conferred on sheriffs. During this time the Jackson County Sheriff principally served in civil matters.
Deputy Hughes was survived by his wife and children.
Reflections:
References:
Reports of Cases Determined by the Supreme Court of the State of Missouri, Volume 67, By Missouri Supreme Court (Text)