In the winter of 1909, the town of Clarence, Missouri, was shaken by the loss of its City Marshal, Henry R. Rickey. A dedicated lawman, Marshal Rickey was investigating a recent break-in at a local clothing store with his son, who also served as his deputy. Their investigation led them to a railroad yard near the scene of the crime, where they discovered a cache of stolen goods. The father and son duo decided to lie in wait, hoping to apprehend the thieves upon their return for the stashed merchandise.
As two men approached the hidden cloths, Marshal Rickey and his son emerged from their concealed position to confront them. In a sudden and violent turn of events, one of the men drew a handgun and fired at the lawmen. Marshal Rickey was struck by the gunfire, sustaining a fatal wound. In the ensuing chaos, Rickey's son returned fire, discharging his weapon six times into the darkness as the two suspects fled the scene. Despite his efforts, neither of the assailants was hit. Marshal Rickey succumbed to his injuries the following day, on Sunday, January 10, 1909.
The investigation into Marshal Rickey's death led to the swift apprehension of one of the suspects the very next day. He was promptly charged with murder. During the trial, the captured suspect pointed the finger at his accomplice, claiming the other man was the one who had fired the deadly shots. The key testimony came from Marshal Rickey's own son, who admitted under oath that he could not be certain which of the two men had actually pulled the trigger in the dimly lit railroad yard. This element of doubt resulted in the suspect's acquittal for the murder charge. He was, however, found guilty of the break-in at the clothing store and was sentenced to a term of three years in prison. The second suspect, the man believed to be the actual shooter, managed to evade capture and was never brought to justice for his role in the death of Marshal Henry Rickey.
