Person:Liberty Snook (1)

Humeston New Era Extra: "Our town was thrown into a high state of excitement about 1 o'clock on Monday by the arrival of information that Liberty Snooks had been killed by Deak Gwinn. The particulars of the crime are given as follows: Snooks is a brother-in-law of Gwinn's and on account of some family trouble there was considerable ill feeling between them. Snooks lives about four miles northwest of Humeston, just over the line in Lucas County, and Gwinn had been staying with his mother, who lives quarter of a mile south of Snook's in this county. A little after noon, Monday, Gwinn appeared in the road in from of Snooks' house, called him out, and told him he had come to kill him. Mrs. Snooks didn't want her husband to go out, but he didn't appear to be afraid of Gwinn, and went out to where his horses were tied to the hind end of a wagon. He told Gwinn to go away, that he didn't have time to fool with him, and began to untie one of the horses. Gwinn then asked if he had called his mother (Mrs. Gwinn) a liar, and Snooks said he had, whereupon Gwinn levelled his double barrelled shotgon on the fence and told Snooks that he had him now. Snooks told him that when he got ready to shoot to fire away, or words to that effect, and Gwinn pulled the trigger. At the first shot, Snooks was about twenty-three feet from Gwinn. He put his hand up to his side, and turning to a boy, a nephew of his, who was standing near, told him to go for a doctor. The shot had scared the horse he had untied but he held on to it, and when about forty feet from Gwinn he shot the second time, when Snooks fell dead. Gwinn then shouldered his gun and went off down the road toward his mother's home. The nephew immediately got on a horse, and in company with another boy came to town and gave the alarm, and as soon as preparations could be made a crowd started out to hunt the murderer. Dr. Arnold went out and examined the murdered man, and found him in a shocking condition. One shot had struck his right arm and side which were filled with shot from his shoulder to below the hip. The other shot which was probably the first one, all struck within a radius of six inches, just over the heart. An inquest was held by Dr. Stanton, coroner of Lucas County [Iowa] about 10 o'clock Monday night." Daily Iowa Capital; Des Moines, IA; August 5, 1891

This item was found in the obituary files at the Iowa Genealogical Society in Des Moines, Iowa. Liberty Snooks born in 1860 in Illinois and was the son of John and Eliza (nee Willey) Snook, Sr.

“The jury in the case of Byron Gwinn on trial at Chariton last week for the murder of his brother-in-law, Liberty Snook, brought a verdict of murder in the first degree and fixed the penalty at life imprisonment. The verdict was brought in about 6 o’clock Sunday evening, since which time formal sentence has been pronounced and Gwinn taken to prison. The crime for which Gwinn will now have to pay the penalty was commited about one o’clock, Aug. 8, the particulars of which were published in this paper at the time and are well known to our readers. Liberty Snooks, the murdered man, was born Feb. 23, 1860 in Knox County, Illinois and was the son of John Snook of Derby. He leaves a wife, three children, ages 3, 7 and 9 respectfully (sic). He was a man universally liked and respected and his death was a sad and bitter blow to his relatives and many friends. Byron Gwinn was a young man of about 24, just starting out in life and might, had he chosen to use his opportunities in the proper direction made a successful start in life. His crime was heartless and cruel and leaves many sad hearts.”

In a post dated 8/11/06 on GenForum’s Snook site, a Ray Gwinn wrote asking about Ralph’s second wife and gave these details, “Liberty’s the one that was killed by his wife’s brother for calling his mother-in-law a liar.”

In last week’s Chariton Patriot was published a notice from the governor that application has been made for the pardon of Byron Gwinn, who was convicted of the murder in the first degree in August 1891, in the district court of Lucas County and sentenced to the penitentiary at hard labor for life. The crime was killing his brother-in-law Liberty Snook and was committed northwest of this place, in the edge of Lucas County, and will be remembered by many of our citizens. The application will be presented to the next general assembly for action.

Parole was denied for the murderer of Liberty Snooks--after 19 years of imprisonment--family argued that his sister would still be in danger. (longish article)

1. ↑ John W. Snook’s genealogy chart.
2.   For Life.
3.   Humeston New Era (2).
4.   Parole Denied.