Lynching of Joseph Tuttle
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On March 01, 1870, Joseph Tuttle was riding his horse through the streets of Venice, leading another horse. A remark was made by someone, that he appeared to be a horse thief. Tuttle passed the Venice ferry, and took the road leading to East St. Louis. While talking to a man from Edwardsville, Justice Robinson from Venice caught up with him, but rode on toward East St. Louis (supposedly to notify the police there). Unsuccessful, Justice Robinson turned around and found Tuttle near the Wiggins Ferry. He arrested Tuttle and took him to the jail in Venice. He left Tuttle in the charge of Deputy James Dickey, and left for Edwardsville with another prisoner, Anderson Reed. Tuttle was allowed to go to a saloon owned by Mr. Lammert, and passed some time away there. It later alleged that Tuttle went out of the saloon, and ran. Deputy Dickey followed and shot at him. A mob joined in the pursuit, also shooting at him. He soon fell into their hands and was thrown into a wagon. Tuttle was then hit with clubs and stones, and died at their hands. He was about 25 years of age. It was later found that he was engaged in stock trading, and was an honest, upright man. His body was never found.
INNOCENT MAN MURDERED BY VENICE MOB
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, March 03, 1870
On Tuesday morning, March 01, 1870, about 10 o’clock, Mr. Joseph
Tuttle was seen passing through the streets of Venice. He was riding
one horse and leading another. The remark was made by some person
that he had the appearance of a horse thief. He passed by the Venice
ferry, and took the road leading to East St. Louis. When about
halfway between Venice and East St. Louis, he was met by a man who
used to keep a soda fountain and confectionary stand on Fifth Street
in Edwardsville, and while talking to him, he was overtaken by
Constable Lammert, who merely spoke a few words and passed on.
Lammert alleges that he passed them for the purpose of going to East
St. Louis and notifying the police. Not being successful, he
returned and met them near the upper landing of the Wiggins Ferry
Company. Here, he arrested Tuttle and took him back to Venice,
confining him in the office of Justice Robinson. In the evening, he
started for Edwardsville, having in charge of Anderson Reed, and
leaving Tuttle in the charge of the Deputy named James Dickey. About
9 p.m., Dickey stated that Tuttle was desirous of going out to get a
drink – first leaving a valuable watch (a gold one) in Dickey’s
charge. He was allowed to go into the saloon owned by Lammert, and
there passed a short time away, in amusing the crowd by playing the
violin.
It is then alleged that Tuttle was allowed to go outside the house
for a few moments. Immediately on getting into the street, he
started to run. Dickey followed in pursuit, and shot at him. In a
moment, a mob had joined in the pursuit, many having revolvers, and
at least thirty shots were fired at the unfortunate young man. In
the excitement, he attempted to get into a saddlery shop owned by
Mr. Jasper. The door being locked, his progress was stopped, and he
fell into the hands of the ruffians. Mrs. Ward, who lives nearby,
states that at this point, Tuttle was struck with clubs and stones,
and pounded with fists. His shrieks and pleadings for mercy, to be
let live one hour longer, might have touched the hearts of savages,
but he obtained no reprieve, and in a few moments, he was a corpse.
It was nearly dark at the time of the murder, and so the exact
details are not obtainable.
The body was thrown into a wagon and conveyed, apparently, towards
the Alton road. Whether it was buried or thrown into the
Mississippi, none but the perpetrators can tell. The murder of this
young man in the streets of a thriving town is a most deplorable
outrage, and every effort should be made to bring the perpetrators
to justice.
Joseph Tuttle was about twenty-five years of age, and the following
particulars respecting him are from a reliable source. He is stated
to have been most respectably connected, and a relative of Colonel
James M. Tuttle of Keokuk, Iowa. The summer before last, he was
engaged as steward on the steamer “Sucker State.” Mr. A. C. Peckham,
of Fifth Street, made his acquaintance while on a trip to St. Paul
with his family. Mr. Peckham took a fancy to the young man, and
subsequently gave him a situation, and found him honest and
reliable. He was employed by J. W. Scott, No. 612 Washington Avenue,
in November and December last, and regarded as honest and honorable.
At one time, he was also steward on the steamer “Minneapolis.”
Recently, he was known to be engaged in stock trading. He was in
Edwardsville on Monday last, and had in his possession $1,000 or
$1,500. There is no reason at all to believe he was in any dishonest
practices, but all the evidence is quite to the contrary belief. If
justice never reaches his murderers, some of them are at least sure
to see this statement, and we hope the knowledge of the fact that
they have ruthlessly killed an innocent and honorable man may at
least put upon them the punishment of a lasting remorse. What adds
to the brutality of the deed, is that the character of the young man
had been vouched for by respectable parties on the same day of his
death. Shortly after his arrest, Tuttle stated that there were
parties in St. Louis that knew him, and on Tuesday a farmer came to
the city from Venice and called on Mr. Peckham and Mr. Scott
respecting the young man under arrest. Both of these gentlemen spoke
well of the prisoner, and Mr. Scott gave satisfactory certificates
of his character. The fact of certificates having been given must
have been known in Venice and to the crowd who shot down and mashed
the body of the ill-fated youth. We are told that the respectable
citizens of Venice are much distressed at the scenes enacted in
their town and vicinity, and well they may be, for they are
disgraceful to that section of the country. It is to be regretted
that the matter is removed beyond the jurisdiction of our city
police, for it is very doubtful if any very active measures will
ever be taken to arrest the perpetrators.
The parties who killed Anderson Reed and Tuttle were not concealed
in any way, except by the dim light, and several are said to have
been recognized. There is very little doubt but Tuttle had over
$1,000 on his person when he was killed, and the question is what
became of it? Did the men who shot him also rob the corpse? Are they
robbers as well as murderers? This should be examined into in
connection with the case. If the Madison County authorities fail to
display a proper vigor in investigating the outrage, it is to be
hoped the higher State authorities will take steps to prevent it
passing into oblivion without any effort on behalf of the insult and
outraged law.