Re: Leonard Booth - Sams Cemetery
BOOTH
Posted By: JCGS Volunteer In Response To: Re: Leonard Booth - Sams Cemetery (Teddy Van Hoosen)
Date: 9/30/2014 at 13:18:48
I am enclosing some articles about Leonard Booth’s murder that were fund in the Daily State Leader (January 31, 1876 to February 9, 1876). Also at the end there is some information on Morris Spangler but nothing that tells too much of the trial.
Murder
Leonard Booth, of Franklin Township, Slain at his Home – Particulars of the Bloody Affair
Early this morning rumors of another murder in Polk county were rife upon the streets, but none could be found who were acquainted with the particulars. About 8 o’clock the following telegram was received by Coroner Griffith
Mitchelville, Jan. 31.
To the Coroner – Mr. Leonard Booth was murdered last night at his home in Franklin township. Come down. N.W. Cram
To this the coroner made immediate reply as follows:
Des Moines, Jan. 31
N.W. Cram, Esq. – Sick with pleurisy. Cannot come. Get Justice of the Peace. I.W. Griffith, Coroner.
THE LEADER immediately telegraphed to Mitchelville for particulars and is able to present the following account, procured from reliable citizens of that place.
It appears that on Sabbath evening a meeting had been held in Center school house, Franklin township, about a mile from Mr. Boothe’s residence. Among those in attendance were three young men, Morris Spangler, Mr. Newman, and Mr. Boothe – a son of the murdered man. After the services this trip took their homeward way together, and it seems Spangler and Newman commenced ridiculing and pestering young Boothe, who became somewhat excited and threatened to make his father acquainted with the circumstances.
Arrived at home he made good his threat by calling loudly his father’s name. Mrs. Booth was the first to hear and waking her husband, he immediately arose and appeared upon the scene in his shirt and drawers. To him the young Booth detailed his grievances, and very naturally received the sympathy of his parent. A wordy altercation ensued and the elder Booth in response to an assertion of Spangler’s called him a liar, but made no physical demonstrations toward him, where at young Spangler raising a heavy piece of a fence stake, struck Mr. Booth a powerful blow upon the head. It crushed through the skull, literally braining him on the spot. Spangler and Newman immediately fled. A neighbor of Mr. Booth’s who was standing near by and had witnessed the affair, assisted the son in carrying his father into the house, where he lingered in an unconscious state until 2 o’clock a.m. when he expired.
Young Newman was arrested soon after the fatal blow had been struck, but Spangler was nowhere to be found.
The excitement in the vicinity, and even in Mitchellville where all of the parties are well known, is intense. The neighborhood was alarmed, and during the entire night the search for young Spangler was continued but without avail. Public sentiment seems to be somewhat divided in regard to the matter – some believing that the murderer struck the deadly blow in self defense, others, and the larger number, that it was the result of impetuous anger.
The murderer is described as a tall, slim youth, 17 years of age, light complected and tolerably intelligent. His father, now dead, was once a citizen of Des Moines, where he pursued the avocation of a blacksmith. He died here about two years since. The young man has heretofore borne a good reputation and has been living quietly with the family of Mr. Thos. McClary, in Franklin township. He is the owner of 40 acres of land adjoining Mr. McClary’s farm.
Young Newman is but 18 years old and the Junior Booth the same age.
The scene of the murder is six miles northwest of Mitchellville where Mr. Booth has resided for the past two years. He had formerly resided for four years near Mitchellville.
The murdered man was about 50 years of age, and leaves a family consisting of a wife and several children. He was the owner of a small farm and also followed the business of boring wells. He is spoken of as a kind husband and father, but of his reputation in business and social circles the Leader is not informed.
The news of his tragic end was immediately telegraphed to his brother who is a prominent and wealthy man in the east. He is expected to arrive in time for the funeral.
Versions of the affair differ somewhat but all agree in the main with the above. Some aver that the elder Booth was advancing towards Spangler when he struck, and that Booth’s reputation was bad and his neighbors were generally afraid of him, as he was “always ready to fight at the drop of the hat.”
The terrible tragedy adds another to the long black list in Central Iowa. The circumstances thus far developed indicate that it was a result of a spirit of lawlessness, of neighborhood bickerings and jealousies, which have been lamentably frequent and have before borne their bloody fruit. It is high time that these horrible affairs should be stopped. Justice, stern and impartial should be meted out to all offenders, and in this way only can the reform be accomplished.
Source: Iowa State Leader; Monday, January 31, 1876, page 2, col. 2The Murder Near Mitchellville
The Murderer Still at Large but Supposed to be in the Neighborhood – Coroner’s Inquest, and Other Matters of Interest
Sheriff Lendrum returned last night from the scene of the Booth murder, six miles from Mitchellville and reports the facts of the case substantially as detailed in the Leader yesterday.
It appears that after the fatal blow was struck Spangler went directly to his home at McClary’s and there remained for sometime. Finally he put on his over-coat and said he was going down to Mr. Newman’s, about a mile distant. There he did go and requested to stay all night but his request was refused. Since that time Mr. Newman’s family claim to have seen nothing of him. It is pretty certain, however, that he was seen at different times, after it was known that Booth would die, but not by parties who were disposed to arrest him. It is the opinion of Sheriff Lendrum and others, that he is still secreted somewhere in the neighborhood.
A coroner’s jury was impaneled yesterday afternoon, and was in progress at 3 o’clock when the Sheriff arrived. Men, women and children, to the number of several hundred, had gathered, and the excitement was still running high.
The remains of the murdered man were exposed to view in all their horrible mutilation. The gaping wound was still open and brains and clotted blood had been allowed to dry in the hair, making a picture almost too horrible for imagination to conceive or pen to portray. The inquest was still in progress when the Sheriff left.
Young Spangler, the murderer is well known in Des Moines. His reputation here, as a boy was not of the best; in fact he was considered a “tough case,” and proved the source of serious trouble to his parents and friends. Mr. McClary with whom he has lived for two years, reports that he has been a faithful worker, and up to the present winter a steady youth, but of late had become somewhat unmanageable.
The funeral will take place tomorrow. One of Mr. Booth’s brothers, a wealthy gentleman from Springfield, Ill., has already arrived and another is expected.
Source: Iowa State Leader; Tuesday, February 1, 1876, page 4, col. 4The Last Murder
Additional news from the scene of the Booth murder, in Franklin township, are meager. The coroner’s jury returned a verdict to the effect that Leonard Booth came to his death from the effects of a blow inflicted by Morris Spangler.
The preliminary examination of young Newman is in progress today.
The funeral of the murdered man also took place from the family residence today.
Source: Iowa State Leader; Wednesday, February 2, 1876, page 4, col. 3Spangler Arrested.
Just as we go to press we learn that Spangler, who murdered Booth in Franklin township, last Sunday, was arrested near Oskaloosa, and is now on trial in preliminary examination at Mitchellville.
Source: Iowa State Leader; Thursday, February 3, 1876, page 4, col. 5Personal
The Leader received a call yesterday, from Mr. Booth, of Springfield, Illinois, the brother of Leonard Booth, who was recently murdered in Franklin township, in this county. He was called by telegram, and arrived at his brother’s house only in time to see his corpse. Upon the reflection made against him by certain correspondents of the Register at Mitchellville to the effect that he had given out that he proposed to spend money to convict Spangler, Mr. Booth feels grieved. He has had no intention of saying and never has said anything to this effect. All he desires is that the law may be administered justly and fairly, and he has no personal feelings to avenge.
Mr. Booth is the head of the firm of Booth & McCosker, manufacturers of wagons at Springfield, Illinois. The house is well known in this city, and the reputation which has been attained for himself and for his family is dear to him. That the sad occasion which called him here should also be made the occasion for personal reflection is unjust, and we might say unbecoming.
What Mitchellville and their county friends should do is to correct public sentiment in the community and close their bickering and strife. Let the laws be administered with impartiality, and the community will be at peace.
Source: Iowa State Leader; Saturday, February 5, 1876, page 4, col. 1Young Spangler, the slayer of Booth has returned to his old home at Mr. McClary’s in Franklin township, and is attending school regularly.
Source: Iowa State Leader; Wednesday, February 9, 1876I also found a scrap of paper that said Morris Spangler moved to Clarinda, Iowa (Page county), married, had children and farmed. The census records show the following for Morris Spangler:
Yr. 1860 – Res.: Lee Twp, Polk Co, Iowa – b. 1859 in Iowa (father: Charles)
Yr. 1870 – Res.: Iowa – b. from 1858 to 1859 in Iowa (father: Charles)
Yr. 1880 – Res.: Franklin Twp, Polk Co, Iowa – b. 1859 in Iowa (farm laborer)
Yr. 1885 – Res.: Clarinda, Nodaway Twp, Page Co, Iowa – b. 1859 (wife Idella)
Yr. 1895 – Res.: Page Co, Iowa – b. 1859 (wife Elizabeth*)
Yr. 1900 – Res.: Yorktown, Nodaway Twp, Page Co, Iowa – head; b. Aug. 1858 in Iowa (wife Idella)
* His tombstone lists his wife as Elizabeth I. Spangler. The website also has his obituary.)
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