taken into custody in Sedalia, A t first he maintained that a part-
ner had killed Clark but he became frightened when officers told him
that there was a possiblity that he would be lynched and confessed,
He was taken.to Morgan County on a change of venue and he escaped
from the jail there. He was not arrested again until 1881 when a
custody there. Patterson was returned to Henry County and, as almost
12 years had passed Since the commission of the crime and public
passions had cooled, he was tried there, convicted and sentenced to
die. He repudiated his confession made at the time of his original
arrest and maintained once again that the murder had been committed
by a partner, .It was shown that a man who had died several years
previously in Newton Cofinty had’ made a death bed confession that he
had killed Clark, but the Governor refused to commute the sentence,
He was publicly hanged in an open’ BARKXEXK space on the bank of Town
Creek, Clinton, on July 22, 1881, Just before his execution, he gave
a wooden box which had been nailed shat to officers and asked that it
be mailed upopened to his wife, The officers opened &he box and found
a gold watch which had been stolen from one of the deputies and the _
orp ouing note+!Now, wishing everybody We], I bid adiey to all,"
For sources, see small cards y 1 Cas A Yad,
taken into custody in Sedalia, A t first he maintained that a part-
ner had killed Clark but he became frightened when officers told him
that there was a possiblity that he would be lynched and confessed,
He was taken to Morgan County on a change of venue and he escaped
from the jail there. He was not arrested again until 1881 when a
létter WAEXESWMAXIHKHASXABESHERA mailed from him in limingstone Co.,
1ll., was found in his deceased father's papers and he was taken into
custody there. Patterson was returned to Henry County and, as almost
12 years had passed since the commission of the crime and public
passions had cooled, he was tried there, convicted and sentenced to
die. He repudiated his confession made at the time of his original
arrest and maintained once again that the murder had been committed
by a partner, .It was shown that a man who had died several years
previously in Newton Cofnty had’ made a death bed confession that he
had killed Clark, but the Governor refused to commute the sentence,
He was publicly hanged in an open’ BREKXEK space on the bank of Town
Creek, Clinton, on July 22, 1881, Just before his execution, he gave
a wooden box which had been nailed shat to officers and asked that it
be mailed upopened to his wife. The officers opened he box and found
a gold watch which had been stolen from one of the deputies and the
--following note+—"Nows-wishing everybody well, I bid adi eu tg all,"
For sources, see small a Ni Wal 17 is pale Zz 2
taken into custody in Sedelia, A t first he maintained that a part-
ner had killed Clark but he becane frightened when officers told him
that there was a possiblity that he would be lynched and confessed»
He was taken to Morgan County on a change of venue and he escaped
fron the jail there. He was not arrested 11881 when a
Bo tener tesa Lent nr? im in Limi
latter
space on the bank of Toun
Just before his execution, he gave
shat to officers and asked that it
e_ The officers opened ahe box and found}
‘tolen from one of the deputiss and the
following note: "iow, wishing eve: bod, Tb x
Fe oe et a Be A
PATTERSON, John We
Pattersoh, a young white man, moved to Jasper Coe, Mos, in 1868 with
his parents, In late November or early December, 1869, he was in
Yedalia where he met James G, Clark, a resident of St. Clair Co. who
had been to St. Louis to borrow Some money, Clark had purchased some
lumber, a lounge and two chairs in Sedalia and he engaged Patterson
who had a wagon and team to drive him home, ORXEKEXEXEIEEEXE Patter-
son had observed two $50 zm bills in Clark's wallet and, mistaking
them for $500 bills decided to kill and rob his employer. Their
first night out, they made camp on Tebo Creek in Henry County and
Patterson slept in the wagon while Clark, who was ll, slept in the
house of a farmer who lived REXEXGERY nearby. when they started out
the next morning, the ailing Clark lay down in the back of the wagon
and he finally SSEER went io sleep. Patterson Stopped at a point in
Leesville township and struck Clark over the head twice with the
pole of a hatchet and then cut his throat with the blade, He dragged
vhe body into some weeds where it was later discovered and identified
by the farmer with whem he had Spent the night. Patterson drove his
wagon to Brownington where he sold the chairs and lounge before re~
turning to Sedalia, He was tracked by the wheels on his wagon and
PATTERSON, John We
Pattersoh, a young white man, moved to Jasper Coo, Moe, in 1868 with
his parents, In late November or early December, 1869, he was in
Sedalia where he met James G, Clark, a resident of St. Clair Cos who
had been to St. Louis to borrow Some money, Clark had purchased some
lumber, a lounge and two chairs in Sedalia and he engaged Patterson
who had a wagon and team to drive him home. DEXEREXEXEXEERXY Patter-
son had observed two $50 mm bills in Clark's wallet and, mistaking
them for $500 bills decided to kill and rob his employer. Their
first night out, they made camp on Tebo Creek in Henry County and
Patterson slept in the wagon while Clark, who was ill, slept in the
house of a farmer who lived RERE REY nearby. When they started out
the next morning, the ailing Clark lay down in the back of the wagon
and he finally B8ZEA went to sleep, Patterson Stopped at a point in
lessville township and struck Clark over the head twice with the
pole of a hatchet and then cut his throat with the blade. He dragged
the body into some weeds where it was later discovered and identified
by the farmer with whom he had spent the night, P atterson drove his
wagon to Brownington where he Sold the chairs and lounge before re-
turning to Sedalia, He was tracked by the wheels on his wagon and
PATTERSON, John We
Pattersoh, a young white man,
his parents, In lat: early December, 1869, he was in
lames G. Clark, a resident of St. Clair Cos who
louis to borrow some money, Clark had purchased some
dumber, a lounge and two chairs in Sedalia and he engaged Patterson
5 Patter-
eam to drive him home,
fou hed observed two $50 am bills in Clark's wallet and, mistaking
then for $500 bills decided to kill and rob his omployer. ‘Their
y made camp on Tebo Creek in Henry Couniy and
the wagon while Clark, who was ill, slept in the
7 who lived KEXEXENGS nearby, When they started out
the next morning, the ailing Clark lay dow in the back of tne wagon
and he finally W6ENA went to : Patterson stopped at a point in
ieesville township and struck Clark over the heed twice with the
Pole of a hatchet and then cut his throat ws.
he body 4
chairs oungs before re~
He was tracked by the wheels on his wagon and
