Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
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1861, DEC. 322 TRIPLETT AND CLOSE. TRIPLETT AND CLOSE SHOT. Dec 17 - Col. Morgan, at 4 p.m., went with his men and prisoners to the Remington farm, on the road to Weston, and stayed until morning. The prisoners had their supper, and, as they sat on a log, an officer came and selected from the three Triplett and Close, and told them to go with him and several men in his charge. They were taken to the spot where two of Maj. Joseph's men had been killed. On the south side of the road, a hundred feet east of Bee Creek bridge, they were ordered to stand forth and be shot. Triplett stood and was shot, but Close ran into Bee Creek. His hands were bound, and he floundered in the mud. Just as he was rising on the opposite side of the creek, he was met by a soldier, who had crossed by the bridge, who plunged his bayonet through him several times, and left him dead in the mud. Two days later I passed the scene of this tragedy, and saw the pool of Tripletts life-blood. Some one had, from his blood, written the letters "U.S." on the southwest corner of the bridge. This grim memento of the war was there for many years. Dec. 20 - Capt. Havens, of the 18th Missouri, ca.me to Platte City. and remained a few weeks. He required national ags on all houses. and every man had to take the oath of allegiance to the United States. THE RECORDS OF COURTS. The removal and secretion of the records by Gordon and others was ground for the scheme of removing the county seat to Weston; and in furtherance of the plan I was served with a written order, from Col. Morgan, to send the remaining books and papers to Weston. No wagon could be found, as every convey- ance had been hid or removed. Thereupon. Col. Morgan sent me two Government wagons. which I filled with cases and old worth- less papers. Part of these were returned. I862. OllICERS. Governor, Ham. Gamble; Congressman, E. H. Norton; Sentaor, J. T. V. Thompson; Circuit Attorney, J. P. Grubb; Circuit Jugde, Silas Woodson; Sheriff, vacant; Coroner, G. W. Hood; Surveyor, vacant; Public Administrator, W. M. Paxton; Probate Judge, S. A. Gilbert; Circuit Clerk, G. W. Belt; County Judge, James H. Layton; County Attorney, R. P. Clark; County Clerk, D. P. Lewis; Treasurer, R. M. Johnson; School Commissioner, R. N. Harrington.