Laclede County Jail Inmate Search

The first two original jails built in the town of Laclede County, Missouri burned down. The first was built in 1851 and the second built some time after 1857. The destruction of these jails made it necessary for the town to built a third jail. This third jail was built in Laclede county in 1876 by J. Pauly and his brothers and was completed for the sum of $4,000.

In 1859 Joseph Core moved with his family to Laclede County. Joseph served in the American Civil War and worked as a crop farmer in Laclede County, Missouri. On January 21, 1879 Joseph Core murdered George E. King. The murder was pretty gruesome leaving King shot in the body and his head beaten almost to jelly. Joseph was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to hang. He was publicly hung on March 5, 1880 in Laclede County, Missouri. Joseph's hanging being the first legal hanging in Laclede County, was attending by a large crowd of people from surrounding counties.

The interesting life of Billy Martin unfolded in Laclede county. He was arrested and brought to trial for the murder of George Mizer in February, 1880. Billy was sentenced to hang. Billy seduced the jailer's daughter, Maggie, the day before the hanging was to take place. Maggie was able to obtained the key to his cell and free Billy. The couple escaped on a mule with Maggie donned in a disguise. After a series of mishaps, Billy was re-captured together with his wife and was accompanied back to Laclede county to face the music. On the journey back, Billy Martin made a daring escape and jumped from the train. However, he was later found and brought back to be retried for his previous alleged offenses. After his new trial, Billy was acquitted of the previous murder charges. Subsequently, he was tried in Laclede County for horse stealing and spent time in the penitentiary.

In 1955, Laclede County under took another jail building project. This time, however, Laclede County Historical Society worked to memorialize the current jail and turn it into a museum. The former jail was designed with separate cells areas for men on the second floor and women on the first floor. The building also had an office, two bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, enclosed back and front porches and also bathrooms. It was a simple red brick two-story building with a cellar under the kitchen stairs. The prisoner cell rooms were a small rectangular shaped area with wooden floors with a metal spring cot against the wall. The jail adorned beautiful white paneled windows affixed with white metal bars with a slight arc at top.