I know really well that there are some people who we befriend, only to find out later that they don't have a single redeeming quality. Sadly, they snake their way into our lives. And yes, it's beyond me why we don't recognize that some folks are just scum, not to be trusted, not to be made your friend. While I might not understand what motivates such scum, I know they exist. Of course, I don't care to understand what makes them tick. They are not that important for me to waste my time trying to figure out.
That's sort of what we find in this 153-year-old murder mystery. There is no way of figuring out what really motivated someone to kill Kate Manning in 1871. Sure, the killer's motive could have been jealousy, rage, unrequited love, rejection, maybe he was used and tossed aside. Maybe it had nothing to do with love or passion or being a suitor. Maybe it is for the oldest reason in the world -- and it was simply over money.
Yes, there are things known only to God -- good and bad. Of course, there are those acts with motives too illusive for us to comprehend. And yes, my friends, that's important to remember in this story because the killer was possibly her own brother.
Just as with the exact date of her birth, we know that Kate Manning was born in Ireland sometime in 1843 -- but also used the alias Catherine McManus for one reason only known to her. She was murdered at the age of 27 in North Platte, Nebraska. She's buried in the North Platte Cemetery. She was the 1st woman to be buried in Lincoln County's "New" North Platte Cemetery after she had been first buried in North Platte's Old Downtown Cemetery.
Her simple headstone reads: Kate Manning, Died, May 9, 1871, Age, 27 years, 10 months, 15 days, Sister of Peter Manning. Murdered.
On the morning of May 9, 1871, Kate Manning, a young woman, almost 28 years old, was found shot to death on the claim that she had been holding down just a little Southeast of the town of North Platte, Nebraska. It's said Kate was well-known and respected by all. While that might have been true, her killer was certainly the exception. As for her killer, who killed her is considered a mystery. And yes, as sad as it is, her killer may have been her own brother. Yes, her brother.
On May 12, 1871, The Omaha Herald newspaper reported the following:
A Horrible Atrocity at North Platte.
Full Particulars of the of an Estimable Young Lady.
Her Own Brother Accused of the Crime.
To the Editor of the Omaha Herald,
Our town has just been thrown into a fever of excitement, by one of the dastardly murders ever recorded in the annals of crime.
Such a crime as makes the heart grow sick and faint, and almost leads one to believe in the total depravity of man.
THE FACTS
The facts are as follows: About a week ago it was rumored that certain parties were about to jump a claim, belonging to Miss Kate Manny, which, coming to her ears, she procured a tent, and, fitting it up, resolved to hold it by possession.Monday evening she took up her residence there, and proposed to spend the night. Since that time she was never seen alive by her friends.
THE SEARCH.
As she did not return as expected on Tuesday morning her friends became alarmed, and sent a messenger to learn the cause of her absence. THE SCENE.
On arriving upon the premises he was horrified by the dead body of Miss Manning, lying about a hundred yards from the tend, and covered with blood.He hurried back to town and told the terrible news.
THE MURDER.
In a short time a large crowd had gathered around the scene of the tragedy. On examination it was found that the murdered woman's death was caused by two pistol shots; either would have proved fatal. One bullet passed completely through the body, above the left breast. The other passed through her head. "A FEARFUL STRUGGLE."
There was evidence of a fearful struggle, and Miss Manning, being a strong and courageous woman, must have made a desperate resistance.From the appearance of the tent it seems that the murderer must have gained access to the interior before being discoverd. When, being awakened, the poor girl must have sprung up and discharged her revolver at the intruder, as she had one of Colt's make with her, and she knew how to use it. It was found in the tent, with three chambers empty.
The assassin evidently seized her, first by the wrist and then by the throat, (as the finger marks on both showed,) and then struck her on the head with his own pistol; and after stunning her, placed a pistol to her breast and fired, the clothing being singed.
She must then have broken away and ran to where the body was found, and then fell, when the miscreant placed his pistol to her head and shot her and she lay.
A was at once instituted, and three men living on an adjoining claim were arrested, but nothing could be proved against them.
THE MURDERER.
By examining the ground closely, a track was found where the murderer had stolen up to the rear of the tent, barefooted, and went from the same in an opposite direction. This was followed about half a mile, when it appeared that boots or shoes were put on. The track was then followed to town. It was observed that in the bare track there was a peculiarity about one foot, it being misshapen. HORRIBLE.
From circumstances not necessary to relate, suspicion at last fell upon a brother of the deceased, and he was arrested, when it was found his foot fitted the track precisely, and one was malformed. He was known to come to town about 11 at night, and returned about daylight.From these facts and previous threats, it seems conclusive that he is the author of the damning deed. This is all that can be learned at the present writing.
The murdered woman was a most estimable lady, and her death has cast a gloom over the whole community.
No cause can be assigned for the murder, unless it was perpetrated to receive certain property possessed by the deceased.
Should it be proven that the right man is caught, justice will not have long to wait with the present feeling of our community.
Now before I go on, let's talk about the date of her murder. I found two web sources stating she was found dead on her claim on April 9, 1871, but her headstone reads May 10th, 1871. While I checked to find any mention of Kate Manning or her murder in April of 1871, I couldn't find a word reported anywhere. But when I searched the newspaper archives month by month for 1871, they all indicate she was killed on May 9, 1871.
In haste, Pioneer.
-- end of The Omaha Herald article reported on May 12, 1871. As usual, when I post newspaper articles, I print them here just as it was printed back in the day with spelling and punctuation errors. Just as I found it in the newspaper archives.
So where did the April 9, 1871 date come from? Well, from what I can tell, that date comes from a genealogical website that claims it's in an article from The North Platte Bulletin published on August 14th, 2004. I wish I could say it is because I can't even it -- though I've spent hours on The North Platte Bulletin archive webpage with no luck in finding it.
So, because everything points to May and not April as being the month she was killed, including her headstone, I'm going with what's on Kate Manning's headstone -- May 10th, 1871.
Lincoln County Sheriff William Woodhurst found footprints from a peculiar shoe in the soft soil around Manning's tent. Kate Manning's brother Pete, who owned a saloon on Front Street, had a deformed foot. The sheriff tracked those footprints to Pete Manning's saloon. As soon as the sheriff matched his club foot with the tracks, Pete Manning was arrested and jailed.
According to many descriptions, Pete Manning was a pretty popular guy in North Platte. He was known for having a good disposition, he was said to be a happy sort of fellow who was all in all slow to rile. It's also said many there simply couldn't believe that he could have murdered his own sister.
The feeling among the townsfolk started to change when talk went around that Pete Manning was almost broke and in need of cash. Talk also started circulating that Pete had threatened to "jump" Kate's claim. All of a sudden, that happy, easy-going, local saloon keeper brother of Kate Manning looked like the prime suspect.
Soon, the North Platte's vigilance committee formed to gain access to the jail. The vigilantes had a rope, they picked out the tree, and they wanted Pete to hang for killing his sister. Not allowing prisoners to be taken is what Sheriffs and their Deputies do. In this case, Lincoln County Sheriff William Woodhurst had the help of his wife Mary who helped calm down the townsfolk. Supposedly, when the townspeople started to make their way into the jail, the Sheriff's wife calmed things down by talking to them and appealing to their sense of justice.
One newspaper report stated: A group of about 300 angry townspeople gathered in front of the jail with the intention of lynching Pete. The leader of the mob knocked on the jail door and demanded Pete Manning. Woodhurst's wife told the men that the sheriff was gone but that Manning was confined and a well-armed deputy was inside to protect the jail. "Anyone who enters the jail does so at his own risk," Mrs. Woodhurst told the crowd. Another man stepped forward and repeated the demand. "If you want Manning," Mrs. Woodhurst said, "get him in a legal way; but I think you had better go home to your wife, for I know she never would sanction you leading a mob." She went inside and bolted the door.
And no, they were not a mob. A mob means they were a large and disorderly crowd of people. That's not the case. These were the same friends and neighbors whom the Sheriff went to when he needed posse members, special guards, and assistance during disasters. These were the same people he knew and trusted to show up in mass when a fire needed to be fought. He met with them daily. He prayed with them in church and had supper in their homes. He knew they wanted justice. But no, he couldn't let them have justice at the end of a robe.
Sheriff Woodhurst knew well that in too many instances in frontier towns, good men, good lawmen, Sheriffs, Deputies, and Possemen, all purpose-driven, were no match for citizens with out-of-control emotions, anger, distrust in the criminal justice system, who had a desire to see someone pay for a killing. And in this case, it was a killing of a young girl who everyone believed was ruthlessly murdered by her own brother.
Knowing this, Sheriff Woodhurst understood the situation and sent for help and requested the use of soldiers from Fort McPherson. The fort's commanding officer Major Brown obliged and offered the Sheriff a detail of soldiers to act as extra guards. They stood outside to present a formidable barrier. The citizens disbursed and later returned with a petition demanding Pete Manning be turned over to that. Woodhurst refused, citing his duty to protect the prisoner.
The citizens feared Sheriff Woodhurst would try to sneak Pete Manning away to Fort McPherson. To counter this, the citizens volunteered to stand guard outside the jail to prevent Pete Manning from being removed without their knowledge. This standoff between the Sheriff and the citizens continued for five days.
Sheriff Woodhurst decided on a plan. Using the soldiers, the Sheriff sneaked a soldier's uniform into the jail. Once Pete Manning was dressed in the uniform, the Sheriff had Pete march under guard to the Army post when the soldiers were relieved at the end of their shifts. Dressed as one of the soldiers, Pete Manning was marched right past the citizens. The scheme worked, and Pete Manning was kept under guard at Fort McPherson until it was believed safe to return to the jail in North Platte.
As for the vigilantes, they soon discovered that the prisoner had been taken to Fort McPherson. Soon, the townspeople sent a committee to Fort McPherson demanding the surrender of Manning. Instead of getting Manning, they were told they had ten minutes to leave the fort or else. They returned to town without incident.
The citizens were angry but knew nothing could be done. After a few weeks had passed, Sheriff Woodhurst went to the fort and returned Manning to North Platte and put him in jail. By this time, tempers had eased and no further trouble from the townsfolk was had. All in all, the excitement had subsided.
Of course, Pete Manning's attorney didn't take any chances and immediately filed for and got a change of venue to Grand Island to stand trial there. A well-protected court tried Peter Manning for the murder of his sister. His trial is said to have taken several days.
Since no one saw who did it, the prosecution could only make a strong circumstantial case against him. To attack the circumstantial case against Manning, his defense attorney appealed to the jury saying that it didn't matter that "the shoe Pete Manning wore on his deformed foot was found to fit the impression in the soft soil." His defense attorney said it didn't matter because it wasn't unusual for Pete's footprints to be found all over his sister's claim. His attorney contended that such a thing was not out of the ordinary since, according to Pete, he visited her often. In the end, to everyone's surprise, Pete Manning was acquitted of the murder of his sister due to a lack of evidence to convict.
Very soon after the trial, a bartender who worked for Pete was considered a suspect. But he too was released. The citizens of North Platte met the bartender as he left the jail. They took him to a tree and tied a rope around the bartender's neck to get him to make a confession or tell what he knew about Pete Manning's involvement in his sister's death. But even threatened with death, the bartender denied all knowledge of the crime. Sheriff Woodhurst showed up, probably being resolute with a 12-gauge side-by-side, and helped the bartender leave town one step ahead of some unconvinced citizens. So in the end, if he knew, he kept it to himself.
As for Kate Manning's brother Pete, who owned a saloon on Front Street, had a deformed foot, a newspaper article states that he lost his saloon, had to auction off his property, and died penniless a few years later. It's true. As strange as it might sound, especially knowing there were still people there who believed that he murdered his sister, Pete Manning did in fact return to North Platte financially and physically ruined. Then, after battling an illness, some said may have been Tuberculosis, he died three years later.
As for the real killer, he was never brought to justice. Whoever murdered Kate Manning got away with it. Thus, who murdered Kate Manning remains an unsolved mystery.
As for my belief that there are things truly beyond our understanding. I believe some things are known only to God. And as for those who have literally gotten away with murder, those who may have never been made to answer for their crimes in our courts, those who have walked because our laws could not persecute them?
While we don't have to like such things, I was brought up to believe that when it comes to such things, we can only hope that God does not sleep and he does serve justice to such killers. I can only hope that one such killer who was made to stand before God to answer for his despicable act is the person who shot and killed Kate Manning on May 9th, 1871. After all, there is some solace in believing that God made her killer answer for what he did.
Tom Correa
