From 1884 National Historic Co., St. Louis MO History of Monroe and Shelby Counties....page 732
"On the 8th of June a scouting party of the Eleventh Missouri State Militia, commanded by Capt. W. W. Lair, made a prisoner of Maj. John L. Owen, who lived near Monroe City, in Marion county, and shot him. Owen had been a Major in the Missouri State Guard under Gen. Price. He had taken part in the fight at Monroe City, when he burned the depot, some cars, and destroyed other property amounting to about $25,000. Returning home in December, 1861, he found an indictment for treason hanging over him, and so he could not come in and surrender. He continued to hide out until he was captured.
He was found in a patch of brush near his residence, early in the morning. Near him lay his blankets and a revolver. Capt. Collier and the Shelby county company made him prisoner, and took him to his family. Here they assured his wife they would take him ,to Palmyra and would not harm him. Half a mile from his house they set him on a log against a fence, and put eight bullets through him—caliber 54. The shooting was done by the immediate orders of Capt. Collier, although Capt. Lair was present. These oflicers are both now residents of Shelbyville, and Capt. Collier states that when he
left Palmyra he had strict orders to enforce the terms of Gen. Schofield’s “ Order No. 18,” enjoining the “ utmost vigilance in hunting down and destroying” all bushwhackers and marauders, who, the order said, “ when caught in arms, engaged in their unlawful warfare,” were to be shot down “ on the spot.”
The action of Capts. Lair and Collier was approved, by their superior oflicers, but condemned by very many people, who regarded the killing of Owen as an atrocious murder. It was said that he did not come within the purview of Schofield’s order, in that he was not engaged in “ unlawful warfare ” at the time of his capture, and that he was unarmed. Three or four members of Collier’s company have assured the writer that Owen did have a pistol near him when captured, which he admitted was his, and this was construed to be the same as if he was “ in arms.”
No session of the county court was held from November, 1861, until in May, 1862. Pursuant to public notice given, the court convened May 5. There were present one of the old justices, Daniel Taylor, and two appointed by Gov. Gamble—Samuel Huston and' Robert Lair—in the room of James Pickett and Perry B. Moore, turned out for disloyalty."
Note that Capt. Lair was appointed to the local county court effectively becoming prosecutor, judge, and executioner. This all under McNeil's watch at Palmyra. Surprise not.
Thanks for pointing out the story.
John R.