While Missourians remember 1820 for the path to statehood, a callous crime in December occupied state news through May 1821.
On December 13, 1820, John Duncan murdered Jacky B. Stephens, his wife Elizabeth, and two young sons in Madison County. Stephens had allegedly stolen money from David Caruthers, and a group of men had whipped him, trying to get him to admit it. He did not, and Circuit Court convicted the group of assault and fined them.
Later Duncan came to Madison County from Sumner Co., Tennessee. When he heard of the dispute, he offered to kill Stephens for Caruthers for money, which Caruthers refused. Duncan still suspected Stephens had money or others would pay him for killing Stephens.
Duncan came to the Stephens home to look at some land Stephens wished to sell. Stephens and his son went with Duncan to view the land, and on the way ran a rabbit into a hollow tree. The boy returned to the house for an ax. Stephens and Duncan continued to the land, whereupon Duncan shot him, beat him, and cut his throat. He met the boy, then fatally struck him on the head.
Duncan returned to the house, and told Mrs. Stephens her husband needed her to witness a corner of the land. Her younger son followed as they left. Once they were a distance from the cabin, he cut her throat, then cut the boy’s throat. Duncan intended to slay the two daughters, but instead had the elder one search the cabin. They found, not the hundreds of dollars expected, but only $68 in a chest, whereupon Duncan fled.
Duncan later confessed to the crime. The March 1821 Circuit Court indicted him for the murders, empaneled a jury, conducted the trial, and Duncan was hanged April 5, 1821.
