Description
“A TERRIBLE AFFAIR – A Well Known Citizen Assassinated in His Own House by a Negro - - The Murderer Escaped - - $500 Reward Offered for His Capture” - - We are called upon to chronicle the circumstances of the cold-blooded assassination of Mr. David W. Jenkins, at the Planter’s House, in this city, at 5 o’clock Tuesday morning. Mr. Jenkins was one of the proprietors of the Planter’s House, and his melancholy death has caused a profound grief in our community. the circumstances of the assassination are about as follows:
On Tuesday morning, just before daylight, Mr. Jenkins arose from his bed, and taking a lamp, proceeded to the Negro cabin immediately in the rear of the hotel, for the purpose of arousing the servants of the hotel. Just as he opened the door of the cabin, he was shot at from the inside of the room, the shot striking the facing of the door, and glancing, entered Mr. Jenkins’ neck, passing through and severing the jugular vein.
Mr. Jenkins then turned and walked up the stairway into the hotel, reaching the top of which he fell, and expired immediately, without speaking a distinct word. His young wife reached him only in time to find him in the agony of death.
Some contrariety of opinion is expressed by those who afterwards visited the premises, as to whether the assassin was inside the room, or was outside and fired through a rear window. There is also some doubt as to whether the shot first struck the door and glanced, killing Mr. Jenkins, or first passed through his neck and then struck the door. The alarm was immediately given, but the assassin, aided by the darkness, escaped. Immediate pursuit was given, and parties are searching in all directions but thus far without success.
The murderer is undoubtedly a Negro boy named Albert Hughes, who was formally in the employ of Mr. Jenkins at the hotel as a servant. Several weeks ago, on account of insolence, Mr. Jenkins knocked him down. Since then the Negro has sworn vengeance against Mr. Jenkins. Several Negroes, among whom are his partner, Smith, arrested, testified to the fact. Various circumstances, aside from the Negroes flight, establish his job unmistakable to Negroes, named Jack and Dan Waller, who were in the Negro cabin at the time of the assassination, have been arrested, and are lodged in jail. They pretend to have been asleep at the time, and affect to be ignorant of the presence of the assassin. Smith, the Negroes partner, pretends great ignorance. The real truth is, these Negroes know all about the affair, as do most of the Negroes in town, many of whom have been overheard talking about Mr. Jenkins and indulging in threats.
Mr. Daniel W Jenkins was the son of Mr. Howell Jenkins of this place, was 28 or 30 years of age, and had been married only about 11 months. His funeral took place on Wednesday, followed by a large concourse of our citizens.
Messrs. Howell Jenkins and Thomas Jenkins offer a reward of $500 for the apprehension of the murderer. We append description: Albert Hughes is aged about 16 to 20 years; dark copper color; about 5 feet high; heavy set and weighs about 135 or 140 pounds; is very straight and active; has long bushy hair, which stands out when combed; round, full face, and his fine looking; has an impudent, pert look; his parents are supposed to live in Wyandotte Kansas. (Researcher's note: The Planters' House hotel was formerly the Green House hotel built by Elisha Green on Lot 6, Block 28, in Platte City, Missouri. The current 2026 address is 101 Main Street, Platte City, Missouri.)Date(s) of Creation
11/15/1867
