The end of the Civil War was a time of traumatic social and political upheaval in western Missouri. Residents were caught up in the crossfire between military forces, guerillas, and vigilantes. Among the episodes that have intrigued people looking through the criminal records of the time is a shocking double homicide. A newly freed young black woman and her child were shot in the head at close range by a man riding a grey horse. Three women faced daunting choices between seeking justice or conforming to the social expectations of the times. It is a crime officially unsolved to this day. Historic documentation that has survived since the end of the Civil War leaves gaps in reporting the full story. This true crime account re-tells the story of the 1866 double homicide from the viewpoint of those involved in an unsuccessful prosecution. Racial and cultural barriers to prosecution are analyzed along with evidence that seeks to uncover the identity of the likely murderer.
