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got this from a local newspaper--it's a hoot
June 26, 2010 is Luray’s
OUTLAW Day. Please plan to
come and enjoy visiting, playing
games and all the usual events
of the OUTLAW day!
1880 was still a time when
folks became easily upset over
the Spencer Murders and the
lynching of Bill Young near
Luray. Peaksville was a small
town with several general
stores, a hotel, and a livery
which was a barn where they
fed and cared for your horse.
Then, there was the man that
went by the name of ‘Lane’ and
called himself a ‘detective’ and
had made himself well known
during the time shortly after
the Spencer murders when a
family of five were murdered
brutally by ax in the wee hours
of August 3, 1877. Lane got
himself deeply involved in the
aftermath and the following
story from the newspaper in
Alexandria tells a bit of it.
Alexandria Commercial
(newspaper) February 20,
1880-- “Just after the lynching
of Young at Luray, Sheriff
Graves of Scotland County
telegraphed to Messrs. Will
Huston and Tom Curts of this
city (Alexandria) to go out to
Peaksville and arrest Lane and
Smith. If they could find them.
Will and Tom had no particular
desire to meet those two blood
thirsty devils, but when duty
called it was ’there to obey’, so
they saddled their steeds and
dragged out there through the
mud, reaching the place a little
after nightfall. They put up at
the little hotel, saw that their
horses were properly cared for
and they sauntered across the
street to a dry goods store,
where a crowd had been very
animated, but there came a
sudden lull as the two
Alexandrians approached and
entered the building. There
was no one inside except the
proprietor, and Tom set up the
cigars and all sat down to enjoy
a smoke.
Directly the front doorcreaked,
and head of a tall,
raw-bonded countryman was
exposed to view, who came
forward and essayed to engage
the Alexandria warriors in
conversation. He asked them if
Lane and Smith had been
captured yet, etc, etc. Tom told
him he didn’t know. “Who are
you?” inquired the visitor.
“Stock-men from Illinois” said
Bill, “What are fresh milk-cows
worth out here, now?” This
disarmed all suspicions on the
part of the intruder and a
general conversation on
agricultural topics ensued.
Huston and Curts got away
alright the next morning and
returned to Alexandria. The
former was in Kahoka a few
days ago and heard some fellow
from Peaksville telling how
they would have walloped the
ground with ‘those two fellows
from Alexandria that night if
they had only been certain
what they were after. Huston
introduced himself to the
Peaksvillian, then and there
and directed him to go back to
his crowd and tell them that if
it would be any satisfaction to
them to have another chance to
‘lick’ them right back, he and
Curts would lose a day from
their work and make another
trip to Sweet Home township.
But the Peaksville
representative didn’t think it
was necessary.”
To this day the true
murderers of the Spencer
family has not been
determined. Lane and others
disappeared after having
created more confusion than
help.
here's a map link--Kahoka is about 1/2 way between Alec--on the Miss river--lower right and Luray
View Larger Map
June 26, 2010 is Luray’s
OUTLAW Day. Please plan to
come and enjoy visiting, playing
games and all the usual events
of the OUTLAW day!
1880 was still a time when
folks became easily upset over
the Spencer Murders and the
lynching of Bill Young near
Luray. Peaksville was a small
town with several general
stores, a hotel, and a livery
which was a barn where they
fed and cared for your horse.
Then, there was the man that
went by the name of ‘Lane’ and
called himself a ‘detective’ and
had made himself well known
during the time shortly after
the Spencer murders when a
family of five were murdered
brutally by ax in the wee hours
of August 3, 1877. Lane got
himself deeply involved in the
aftermath and the following
story from the newspaper in
Alexandria tells a bit of it.
Alexandria Commercial
(newspaper) February 20,
1880-- “Just after the lynching
of Young at Luray, Sheriff
Graves of Scotland County
telegraphed to Messrs. Will
Huston and Tom Curts of this
city (Alexandria) to go out to
Peaksville and arrest Lane and
Smith. If they could find them.
Will and Tom had no particular
desire to meet those two blood
thirsty devils, but when duty
called it was ’there to obey’, so
they saddled their steeds and
dragged out there through the
mud, reaching the place a little
after nightfall. They put up at
the little hotel, saw that their
horses were properly cared for
and they sauntered across the
street to a dry goods store,
where a crowd had been very
animated, but there came a
sudden lull as the two
Alexandrians approached and
entered the building. There
was no one inside except the
proprietor, and Tom set up the
cigars and all sat down to enjoy
a smoke.
Directly the front doorcreaked,
and head of a tall,
raw-bonded countryman was
exposed to view, who came
forward and essayed to engage
the Alexandria warriors in
conversation. He asked them if
Lane and Smith had been
captured yet, etc, etc. Tom told
him he didn’t know. “Who are
you?” inquired the visitor.
“Stock-men from Illinois” said
Bill, “What are fresh milk-cows
worth out here, now?” This
disarmed all suspicions on the
part of the intruder and a
general conversation on
agricultural topics ensued.
Huston and Curts got away
alright the next morning and
returned to Alexandria. The
former was in Kahoka a few
days ago and heard some fellow
from Peaksville telling how
they would have walloped the
ground with ‘those two fellows
from Alexandria that night if
they had only been certain
what they were after. Huston
introduced himself to the
Peaksvillian, then and there
and directed him to go back to
his crowd and tell them that if
it would be any satisfaction to
them to have another chance to
‘lick’ them right back, he and
Curts would lose a day from
their work and make another
trip to Sweet Home township.
But the Peaksville
representative didn’t think it
was necessary.”
To this day the true
murderers of the Spencer
family has not been
determined. Lane and others
disappeared after having
created more confusion than
help.
here's a map link--Kahoka is about 1/2 way between Alec--on the Miss river--lower right and Luray
View Larger Map
