On the night of May 10, 1894, in Linn County, Missouri, a tragic and brutal event unfolded, resulting in the death of 30-year-old Delora Meeks, her husband Gus, and two of their young daughters, Hattie, age four, and Mary, who was 18 months old. The family was taken from their home under the pretense of being moved by wagon. Along the journey, the horrific attack began.
The motive for this heinous crime was rooted in a cattle rustling operation involving Gus Meeks's employers, the
influential Taylor brothers, William and George. It is believed that the Taylors sought to silence Gus Meeks, who had knowledge of their illegal activities. Delora, a mother expecting another child, was shot alongside her husband. The two young girls were bludgeoned to death. The assailants left the entire family for dead, concealed under a haystack on George Taylor's property.
Miraculously, one of the Meeks' children, six-year-old Nellie, survived the assault. Though she had been struck in the head and left for dead, she regained consciousness the following morning. Dazed and injured, she managed to make her way to a nearby farmhouse and report the horrific events that had transpired. Her testimony was crucial in the subsequent investigation.
The discovery of the bodies sent shockwaves through the community. Suspicion quickly fell upon the Taylor brothers, who were prominent and wealthy citizens. An investigation led to their arrest, and they were put on trial for the murders. The case became a sensation, drawing widespread media attention. After an initial trial ended in a hung jury, a second trial resulted in the conviction of both brothers for the murder of Gus Meeks.
Following their conviction, William and George Taylor were sentenced to be hanged. However, before the sentence could be carried out on both, they managed to escape from jail. William Taylor was soon recaptured and was executed by hanging. George Taylor, however, successfully evaded capture and was never brought to justice for his role in the brutal slaying of the Meeks family. The story of the Meeks family murders remains a dark and infamous chapter in Missouri's history.
