The Sunday Globe
Washington, D. C.
December 22, 1901

Police officers of two continents are searching for Stewart FIFE, who is accused of having murdered Frank RICHARDSON, of Savannah, Mo. The young man is not an ordinary criminal. He is the son of a millionarie, and when he disappeared he is supposed to have had plenty of money with which to pay all needful expenses and to move about from place to place as the exigencies of his pursuit seemed to demand. But whether or not he will succed in escaping justice remains for the future to determine. On his trail is Frank GROUARD, who bears the reputation of being one of the shrewdest and most untiring detectives in the United States. He has had many noted cases in charge, and has never been known to give up the pursuit until his game was driven to quarry. He is known throughut the west as "the human bloodhound."

It was last Christmas eve that the tragedy for which FIFE is wanted occurred. RICHARDSON was shot at the door of his wife's room in their handsome home in the suburbs of Savannah and fell dead at her feet. No one save Mrs. RICHARDSON was within hearing of the shot, and she declares that she saw no one.

The wife was indicted for the murder and her trial is set for January of the coming year. Not even her legal accusers believe that she actually committed the crime.

Ranged on her side is her brother-in-law, John D. RICHARSON, jr., a man of vast wealth and the Chicago manager of the American Biscuit trust.

The accusation against Stewart FIFE, Mrs. RICHARDSON'S friend and the son of RICHARDSON'S partner, came with startling suddenness a few days ago. It adds another element to the mystery which has baffled the shrewdest detectives in America. FIFE quietly left Savannah six months ago. His fathe rhas a fortune reputed at $1,000.000.

In addition to employing GROUARD, the authorities have taken the usual course of sending out description, pictures, and among of reward offered to the police of everytown and city in the country.

Frank W. RICHARDSON, the murdered man, was a wealthy merchang. In addition to his department store at Savannah, Mo., he owned large blocks of stock in the American Biscuit trust, his brother's company, and a good deal of real estate in the neighborhood. He carried a large life insurance.

RICHARDSON was a man noted for his many gallantries, a favorite with women and most often seen in their company. Among men he was less popular. He had many enemies who might have killed him except for the fact that RICHARDSON himself was a fearless man and a dead shot.

Gossip for some time previous to RICHARDSON'S murder had been busy with the name of Mrs. RIcHARDSON. Among her reputed admirers were several neighboring young men and Stewart FIFE, now charged with RICHARDSON'S murder.

FIFE'S father, a retired business man at St. Joseph, Mo., had purchased an interest in RICHARDSON'S store, with the intention of turning over the partnership to his son, Stewart FIFE. But young FIFE busied himself chiefly in sowing wild oats, to the scandal of Savannah and the country around. When not drinking too hard, he put in a part of his time at the RICHARDSON-FIFE store. Rumor declared that he spent a good deal of his time in the RICHARDSON home.

Mrs. RICHARDSOn is a handsome, dashing woman, who was brought up to spend a great deal of money, for her father was a rich ranchman of the southwest. She was fond of all sorts of amusements, rode well, drove a team of spirited horses and managed her own affairs without much regard to the criticisms of her neighbors.

On Christmas eve, 1900, young George CROWLEY, the wealthy farmer and reputed admirer of Mrs. RICHARDSON, took dinner with the RICHARDSON family. After dinner, he drove home and RICHARDSON walked over to the RICHARDSON-FIFE store.

During the interval between 7 o'clock and about ten o'clock that evening, the movements of Mrs. RICHARDSON are not known except by her own account. She says that she remained at home waiting for her husband to come back and take her to the theater. RICHARDSON stayed at the store talking with the clerks and smoking his cigar. A little after 9 o'clock the elder of his boys, John, came in.

"Did your mother go to the Christmas tree at the church?" he asked the boy suddenly.

"Why no, mamma's at home,"said the child.

RICHARDSON grabbed his overcoat and pulled his hat down over his eyes.

"Has it come to this!" RICHARDSON was heard to shout hoarsely as he ran into the house.

From this time the story must be taken up by Mrs. RICHARDSON, who was the only known eyewitness to what followed. Mrs. RICHARDSOn says she heard her husband's angry exclamation, "Has it come to this!" and that immediately afterward he pushed into her room. It seemed to her that she heard the steps of a second man with RICHARDSON in the hall.

"I was sitting on a lounge behind the door," says Mrs. RICHARSON, "thinking to jump out and say 'Boo!' to Mr. RICHARDSOn when he came in. Just as his foot was on the threshold I heard a shot and my husband sank to the floor. Then I heard footsteps going out by the back way."

RICHARDSON had been shot through the brain from behind and died instantly.

"I'm gong down the street to get some presents that I had forgotten about," he remarked to one of the clerks, and went out hastily, slamming the door behind him. He went directly home. He walked around to a side window.

After Mrs. RICHARDSON'S indictment for the murder of her husband, her brother-in-law, John D. RICHARDSON, of Chicago, hurried to her assistance. he employed the ablest lawyers in the state to defend her and succeeded last fall in having her released on bail of $20,000.

On the night of RICHARDSON'S murder, young FIFE was seen waiting from the neighborhood of the RICHARDSON home toward his club about 10 o'clock. He forged ahead hurridely, his overcoat on his arm. Afterward, he declared that he had been at the club all evening, but this was proved untrue. He had been at his store and left early in the evening, carrying his revolver with him.

The St. Louis Republic
St. Louis, Missouri
Monday, March 3, 1902, page 5

Savannah, Mo., March 2. - The peace of the community of Savannah is threatened by the factional interest taken in the approaching trial of Stewart FIFE, who is charged with the murder of Frank RICHARDSON. Reports circulated, which hint that the name of a woman of high social standing here may be drawn into the case to prove an alibi for FIFE, have roused the indignation of many of the chief citizens and it was openly stated here to-day that "lead pills" [illegible] the portion of scandal mongers who publicaly utter damaging accusations.

"I denounce as an absolute falsehood the current assertion that we will try to prove FIFE'S alibi in this manner," said Frank KNICERBOCKER, one of the attorneys for the defense to-day. "I know the lady who is meant, and I know that there is no truth in all that has been said."

FIFE has sympathizers by the score, but many are bitter against him - even more so, perhaps, than in the case of Mrs. RICHARDSON, who was recently acquitted at Plattsburg. Savannah bears the reputation of a law-abiding city, but the Southern trait of summary action when a woman's name is lightly treated is not lacking, and the situation seems near boiling point.

The prosecution in the case made two startling announcements to-day, one of which involves another romantic story on the order of the Minard SHOEMAKER exploded solution of the strange RICHARDSON murder. The other is the assertion by Charles F. BOOHER, who is conduting the prosectuion, that he will produce a woman as witness who will testify that FIFE parctically confessed to her. This woman's name, says BOOHER, Is BRINKMAN and her home is in St. Joseph.

Jule SANDERS, one of FIFE'S attorneys, said on behalf of his client that the testimony will be discredited.

Edward SMITH, alias Minard SHOEMAKER, of Council Bluffs, Ia., it will be remembered, swore that upon the day and hour of the murder he was in the RICHARDSON home on burglary bent, and that he witnessed the shooting and could identify the man who did it.

Now comes a letter to Prosecuting Attorney BOOHER from Kellerton, Ia., in which the writer tells of a written confession by a man who clained to be the much-sought murderer. The letter was written with an indelible pencil in a flowing hand an upon paper with the letterhead of W. W. PEASLEY, a lumber merchant of Kellerton. It was signed "W. W. PEASLEY." The writer stated that an employe (sic) of his, Matt HIGGINS, received the confession.

On January 2, 1901, something more than a week after RICHARDSON'S death, HIGGINS was cutting lumber in the heart of a wood about three miles from Kellerton. According to BOOHER'S information, based on statements, the latter had rested to lunch, when a young man whose clothing was torn, whose face was wasted and who seemed very tired and on the verge of starvation approached him. The stranger begged a bite to eat of the lumberman.

HIGGINS took pity and divided his lunch. Then the young man, according to the letter, hung around as if he had something on his mind. Finally, his face blanched and, acting nervously, the stranger called HIGGINS' attention.

"I am the murderer of Frank RICHARDSON," he said, according to the letter. Then he sat down upon a log and wrote upon a scrap of paper a brief confession, signing a name. He gave this to HIGGINS and departed. The writer said that so far as was known he was not again seen in the vicinity of Kellerton.

The sensational story of the RICHARDSON case was not then common property in Kellerton, and BOOCHER'S correspondent said that beyond communicating the above facts to hem as his employee, HIGGINS had done nothin. But PEASLEY concluded by saying that the information had reached FIFE'S attorneys and that the alleged confession was in their hands. In no place did the writer state the name signed to the slip of paper or state the literal verbage of the supposed confession.

Attorneys KNICKERBOCKER and SANDERS both declare that they know nothing concerning such a confession. Attorney BOOCHER, warned by the Council BLuffs fiasco, is not inclined to place great credence in the Kellerton story, but says that it will be investigated. No steps have as yet been taken toward going to Kellerton or toward obtaining a full statement from the man, Matt HIGGINS. The young man of the wood could not have been FIFE, since the latter was in Savannah at the date given in the letter.

The FIFE case will come up to-morrow morning. John RICHARDSON, one of the testifying witnesses who have delayed the trial, reached Savannah this afternoon.

Mrs. RICHARDSON said to-day that her second son, Frank, the other of the witnesses, has left Alamo Gordo, New Mexico, where he had been visiting he grandfather, and is on his way here. His arrival is expected Tuesday.

Prosecuting Attorney BOOHER said that he will not allow his case to go to trial unless, beyond giving assurance that Frank RICHARDSON will appear, the opposing attorney allow what is averred as Frank's testimony in the prosecutor's affidavit to be read as evidence. In the event of the lad's nonappearance, Attorney SANDERS said that the defense would agree to this. If the attorneys hold to this position, Judge BURNES, who is to try the case, will proceed and order a jury. It is expected, however, that the evidence will not be reached before Thursday.

Young John RICHARDSON, who also was at Alamo Gordo, has traveled 2,600 miles in two weeks. Boyishly he tells that he was a surfeit of railway travel and bemoans the fate that his sudden return cut short a prospective outing which held such alluring promise as the opportunity to learn to ride a "bucking broncho" or to "throw a lasso."

Mrs. RICHARDSON, engaginly polite as ever in manner, said this afternoon that she dreaded another ordeal on the witness stand. "I had hoped it was all over," she said.

She appears in better health, and the anxious, heavy expression which was hers when the weight of accusation was upon her, is absent.

-Hastings MacADAM

The St. Louis Republic
St. Louis, Missouri
March 21, 1902, page 2

Savannah Mo., March 20. - Stewart FIFE'S case went to the jury at 9 o'clock to-night. The twelve men filed to the chamber to deliberate on a verdict after patiently listening to the arguments of the chief attorney, which were stretched over a period of 10 hours.

Judge BURNES instructed the Sheriff to properly guard over the deliberations of the jury and announced that he would receive a verdict at any hour of the night.

The entire FIFE family was in the coutroom while the jury filed out and remained standing about nervously chatting, awaiting a verdict.

Deputy Sheriff Peter NEFF, who has charge of the FIFE jury, announced a few minutes before midnight that the jurymen had not reached an agreement, and had gone to bed.

The FIFE family has left the courtroom, giving up hope of a verdict before morning.

The jurors retired without taking a vote and will begin to ballot in the morning. It is the general opinion of those who attended the trial that FIFE will be cleared.

The State has southg to convict on circumstantial evidence alone - on a thousand circumstances of seemingly little importance woven into a web about Stewart FIFE. Yet the State did not bring FIFE within four blocks of the scene of the crim.

The chief circumstances upon which the whole case was based are as follows:

First - RICHARDSON was killed by some one whoe motive for so doing was not robbery.

Second - He did not kill himself, as no revolver was found.

Third - An alleged motive was found in the case of FIFE since some testimony was found which pointed to an infatuation for Mrs. RICHARDSON.

Fourth - Alleged quarrels between FIFE and RICHARDSON.

Fifth - Alleged threats against RICHARDSON by FIFE.

Sixth - State found that no other man had a motive.

Seventh - FIFE once owned a .32-caliber Herrington & Richards revolver.

Eighth - Such a revolver was found under a sidewalk three weeks after the shooting.

Ninth - The uncertainity of judging times.

By this, the proscecution sought to argue against the alibi.

These are the alleged facts by which the jury was called upon to base a judgment.

The jury in the FIFE case was compelled to sit passive while seven attorneys, three against and four for the defendant, in speeches varying from twenty minutes to four hours in length, endeavored by spinning out persuasive eloquence to win a verdict. The testimony offered by the 127 witnesses who have been examined had been carefully collated by each of the attorneys. Each built from the evidence a superstructure of logic, and crowned it with metaphors and fine words. During the protracted speechmaking Stewart FIFE sat motionless and, seeminly, inattentive.

All the members of his family sat near him, and were frequently moved to tears. References to the "gallows" by the defending lawyers, references to the young man whose career is "all but blasted on the threshold of his life," and to aaged Thomas FIFE, the "gray-haired father of the defendant, whose one foot is in the grave" - such "heart-wringing" utterances called forth the women's handkerchiefs all through the crowded courtoom. Under such an onslaught upon the emotions the compassionate eyes of Savannah's womankind, who flock to the court as to a theater, began to look upon FIFE both as martyr and hero.

The flow of argumentative eloquence reached high tide this afternoon when Attorneys BOYD and BOOHER made the concluding speeches for the defense and the prosecution, respectively.

James W. BOYD is a South Carolinian, is a fiery speacker, and, when carried away in his enthusiasm, is recongnizably a true representative of the Tillman State.

Charles F. BOOHER as a political speaker and orator at the bar has earned a wide reputation. The fact that these two were to speak to-day was widely known and attracted many attorneys from St. Joseph and surrounding counties to hear the verbal duel between the opposing lawyers.

"I have endeavored to fathom the character of Stewart FIFE," said BOYD, in part. "I have found that he is a generous, open-hearted youth with but one fault - he will drink once in awhile. yet, the prosecution has gone to the suburbs of hell, to the divca of St. Joseph, to find evidence to convict him, and they say that he fled from St. Joseph to escape arrest. I say he did not go in secret. I tell you that if one man or two men or three men were suspected of the murder of RICHARDSON, and that, if they determined to live here in Savannah until they lived suspiciion down, they would live to be as old as Methuselah. Never did a man leave home more openly. He told all his firends that he was going. he went in broad daylight to the depot, bought a ticket to Roseberg, Ore., upon which he signed his name. Then he boarded his train.

"Now, gentlemen of the jury, here is that ticket."

The canceled ticket coupon, which had been admitted as evidence, was handed to the jury for examination. In referring to the Owl Club testimony, BOYD said:

"I want to state the circumstances against me as harshly as they can be stated. There is one State's wintess, Jean COOK, whose testimony seems to contradict Stewart FIFE'S assertin that he was in the Owl Club at five minutes to 9. COOK said he was there about that time. But COOK was not absolutely sure about the time, and he was in but one room of the club. Now, COOK may have been in the club andnot have seen FIFE, or he may havve been mistaken in the time.

"Gentlemen, it is not incumbent upon the defense to prove that Stewart was at the Owl Club, or at any place. Bu tit is incumbent upon the prosecution to prove that this defendant was at the RICHARDSON house, was there and killed RICHARDSON, and they have not done that. And if they have not done that, can Stewart FIFE be sent ot the gallows, or worse, incarcerated in the Penitentiary?"

Boyd spoke for more than three hours, and Booher took up the argument from the prosecutor's point of view.

"This is a case of grave import," said he, "not alone so fare as this young man is concerned, but so far as the whole State is concerned. Now, right at the beginning, I wish to say: 'Why is it that the whole influence of this defense has been exerted to prove not only Stewart FIFE'S innocence, but to shield Mrs. RICHARDSON, who has endeavored to aid the defense in every possible way, by suggestion and otherwise, throughout this trial?' My whole motive in conducting this prosecution has been directed to determine the identity of Frank RICHARDSON'S slyaer. A most dastardly crime has been committed, and now, who is the criminal? Now, they say the State has not proven a motive. The evidence has shown that an acquaintance grew up betwen Stewart FIFE and Mrs. RICHARDSON, which became n intimte friendship and lastly a deep attachment. They were seen together often at day and at night, andnow can you thing that there was no motive?

"There is no more powerful motive for the performance of a good or an ill deed - a crime - than love. And I say that this motvie prompted Stewart FIFE.

"Now too, these five able lawyers for the defense have endeavord all through this trial to cast suspicion upon another.

"I am willing to take them up on this question and fight them in any court in the United States at any time."

BOOHER began speaking at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and had not finished at 6 o'clock. He began again at 7 o'clock and spoke for two hours. When, at 6 o'clock, Judge BURNES asked the jurymen whether they would prefer to hear BOOHER'S argument to its close before taking supper, one replied:

"Your Honor, I guess we'll eat and come back for another round."

The courtroom was accordingly vacated for an hour, but by that time a larger crowd had assembled for BOOHER'S second barrel.

Peter BRIGHT, for the defense, resumed the argument this morning where J. A. SANDERS left off last night. He was followed by K. D. CROSS for the prosecution. The latter is a young attorney who made a matter-of-fact argument which was effective. The next speaker, Frank KNICKERBOCKER, the Mayor of Savannah, spoke for two hours in FIFE'S cause, and reviewed all the evidence in the case. Mr. BOYD followed KNICKERBOCKER.

-Hastings MacADAM

The St. Louis Republic
St. Louis, Missouri
March 22, 1902, page 1

Savannah, Mo., March 21 - Stewart FIFE, the young man who was charged with the RICHARDSON murder on circumstantial evidence alone, went free this morning, amid the huzzahs of his friends and relatives when the jury reported a verdict of not guilt.

From the moment the jury retired last night to deliberate the announcement of a verdict was expected. But as the jurymen explained to-day, they had no intention of reporting in the small hours of the night, since they would then be at once discharged, and as they are all farmers, be far from home without accommodation for the night. Accordingly, they slept, ate breakfast leisurely, and announced a verdict at 8:30 o'clock. Judge BURNES soon reached the courtroom. The opposing counsel were on hand, and the defendant, his sisters, younger brother and mother were present.

In response to the Judge's query, John HOBSON, who had been elected foreman of the jury, replied that an agreement had been reached. The verdict was passed to the Clerk of courth, who read: "We, the jury, find the defendant not guilt."

FIFE, since he had first entered the courtoom, had been sitting quiet and expressionless. When the verdict was read he smiled slightly and turned to one of his sisters, who sat beside him. She put her arms about his neck and kissed him, not once, but many times. He smiled again, but sill said nothing. Then followed the usual round of congratulations and handshaking. The FIFE family, including Stewart, passed from one to the other of the jurymen, thanking them for thus lifing a great burden from their shoulders.

Mrs. Addie RICHARDSON, who know ell enough the feeling of relief which goes with acquittal, terful and with trembling voice, was in court. She shook hands with FIFE and with the jurymen. She feels that the acquittal of FIF completed her own vindication, and such is the general sentiment here.

Stewart FIFE was compelled to hold a regular reception, so far as the young women of Savannah were concerned. In scores they assembled in the courtroom when they heard the news to congratulate the young man, whose innocence they had always maintained.

Thomas FIFE, the father, has been unwell, but this morning he was able to leave his bed and go to court. He reached the Courthouse a few minutes after 9, all unconscious of what had occurred. He was acquainted with the news by excited women, who fell weeping on his shoulders, crying for joy, as if the day of redemption was at hand.

Stewart FIFE has not decided upon his future course, save that he will not remain near Savannah. A friend of his, Edward TABOR, from North Yakima, Wash., has beenwith him through the trial. FIFE may return with TABOR to the Northwest. Asked how he felt now that it was over, FIFE said, "A man who would not feel relieved would be made of stone."

Prosecuting Attorney BOOHER said that the death of RICHARDSON is a closed chapter, so far as he is concerned. "It looks as if this community is unable to solve this mystery," said he, "There will be no more arrests. A solution is farther away than ever."

-Hastings MacADAM

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2010