On Wednesday, April 20, 1892, neighbors 44-year-old John Crawford and 47-year-old Nathaniel Aldridge of Ozark County, Missouri, got into a dispute over what one report at the time called "family matters." The argument led to a "shooting scrape" in which Aldridge (name given as Aldrich in some reports) was killed instantly and Crawford was wounded. The latter retreated to his house, and Aldridge's twenty-three-year-old son, Joe, who'd taken a part in the confrontation, went after him. Joe Aldridge tried to gain admission at the Crawford residence but was denied entrance. As he was being put out, though, he fired at random, and the bullet found "a resting place in Crawford's eye, killing him instantly." Young Aldridge, who was slightly wounded in the melee, was arrested for his part in the deadly affray, along with two of his brothers who had no part in the incident.
Another contemporaneous report stated that the disagreement grew out of a disturbance that Joe Aldridge had caused at the church Crawford attended, but a grandson of Crawford said many years later that the Aldridges came to the Crawford place angry over a disputed fence. The second contemporaneous report, unlike the first, claimed that Joe Aldridge suffered serious injuries, so serious that it was doubtful whether he would ever be able to testify.
Both dead men, according to contemporaneous reports, were well thought of in the community, and excitement ran high in the immediate aftermath of the double tragedy. Nat Aldridge, a "well-known stockman and cattle dealer," was buried in the Mammouth Cemetery a few miles south of Gainesville, near where both men lived, while Crawford was buried at the Gainesville Cemetery in Gainesville.
Apparently the first report was more accurate than the second, at least as far as Joe Aldridge's injuries were concerned, because he did recover and go on to marry and have kids. The outcome of the legal proceedings against him for the killing of Crawford, if indeed there were any, has not been determined, however.
3 comments:
This is unbelievable don't these old hillbillies have anything better to do my goodness
Great information. John Crawford was my 3xGreat Grandfather. When I attended my Aunt's funeral approximately 10 years ago, a distant cousin of mine showed me what he claimed to be the front door of the house where the shoot out took place. It had what appeared to be several bullet holes and shot gun pellets lodged in it. A story I had heard from family regarding the dispute was that one of Aldridge's son's had tried to marry one of Crawford's daughters, but had been refused and cross words had been spoken. Not sure of the veracity of any of this, but when I read "family matters" that's immediately what came to mind. Thanks for the write up.
great article and i'd always heard these stories from my grandma hannah clute allen who was the granddaughter of john crawford. her momma roxie clute was john's daughter who left missouri upon her marriage and moved to texas. one of my cousins told me about the feud originating out of a church dispute but said an uncle told her it was just about a fence. waste of life, great example of ignorance and pride and speaks to the need to keep smashing the patriarchy.
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