March 17, 1874

On March 17, 1874, the reputed outlaws John Younger and his brother James Younger fought a gun battle about 1/4 mile east of here with detectives James Wright and Louis J. Lull, alias Allen, while L.B. Daniels acted as a local guide for Wright and Lull. In the fight, John Younger and E.B. Daniels were killed. Detective Lull was severely wounded and taken to Roscoe for treatment, where later reports said he either died or pretended death to escape from the rest of the Youngers. Detective Wright disappeared. The Youngers were natives of the area and frequented Roscoe. The detectives were Pinkerton agents out of Chicago whose mission was to capture the Youngers and their cousins, the James Brothers.

Missouri · United States