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Age: 40 Town Marshal John Meeks was dismissed from his position by the town council sometime about December 1906. Albert Clutterbuck, a farmer, was hired to replace him. Thereafter, Meeks resented Marshal Clutterbuck and blamed him for his dismissal. On December 14, 1907, their paths crossed on Main Street and Meeks taunted Marshal Clutterbuck demanding to know why he had him removed. Marshal Clutterbuck denied the accusation. Meeks slandered Marshal Clutterbuck and then drew a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver and fired three times at Marshal Clutterbuck. One round struck him at the navel, ranging left and lacerating his intestines badly. Town Marshal Springer Carpenter arrested Meeks and removed him to the Boone County Jail. Marshal Clutterbuck was taken to the home of Michael Cahill. Marshal Clutterbuck died the following day, December 15, 1907. His body was taken to and laid out in his mother’s home. It appears that Marshal Clutterbuck was survived by his mother, Frances, and eleven siblings. He was buried December 18, 1907, in the Clutterbuck Family Cemetery at the end of Price Pike, on the left, about 200 feet from the road. By December 20, 1907, emotions in Florence were such that it was determined that Meeks should be moved to the Kenton County Jail in Covington to prevent a mob lynching. Meeks was tried, convicted, and, on April 25, 1908, sentenced to life in the Kentucky penitentiary. During an altercation between another prisoner and prison guard P. J. Mulken, Meeks intervened and saved Mulken’s life. Soon after, on July 6, 1916, Meeks was paroled after having served only eight years. Marshal Clutterbuck’s uncle, James R. Clutterbuck, served as a Constable in 1866, Boone County Deputy Sheriff in 1881 and Boone County Sheriff from 1884 to 1888. If you have further information, artifacts, or pictures of this officer, please contact the Museum Director at Director@GCPHS.com. |
Narrative written by Cincinnati Police Lieutenant Stephen R. Kramer (RET)
References:
Rueben Clatterbuck, 1850 Census, b. 1798 in VA; Carpenter; Spouse, Julia F. Clutterbuck b. 1815 in VA; Children, Alfred J. Clutterbuck b. 1829 in VA Carpenter; Julia F. Clutterbuck b. 1832 in VA; Martha J. Clutterbuck b. 1834 in VA; James R. Clutterbuck b. 1839 in VA; John M. Clutterbuck, b. 1841 in VA; William G Clutterbuck, b. 1845 in VA; Ephia W. Clutterbuck 1849 in VA
Clutterbuck, Ruben (MW40), 1870 Census, OCC Farmer, b. 1830 in VA; Spouse, Francis Clutterbuck FW34 b. KY; Father, William Clutterbuck MW71 b. VA; Nan Clutterbuck (13), Eugene Clutterbuck (11), Stonewall J. Clutterbuck (7), Mary Clutterbuck (5), Albert Clutterbuck (1); others Andrew MW 37, John Page 18. Living next door, William E. Clutterbuck (48), William Clutterbuck (18), Edwin Clutterbuck (16), Mannie Clutterbuck (14), Thomas Clutterbuck (13), George Clutterbuck (10), Kate Clutterbuck (9), Lee Clutterbuck (7)
Albert Clutterbuck, 1870 Census, Florence District, Boone County, Burlington Post Office, DOB 1869, Male, Age 1, in KY, Father, Reuben Clutterbuck (40), Mother Francis Clutterbuck (34), siblings Nan Clutterbuck (13), Eugene Clutterbuck (11), Stonwall J Clutterbuck (7), Mary Clutterbuck (5), possible grandfather (71), possible uncle Andrew Clutterbuck (37)
Albert Clatterbuck, 1880 Census, Florence, Boone DOB 1868, Male, Age 12, in KY, Father, Reu Clutterbuck (50) of VA, Mother Francis Clutterbuck (40) of KY, siblings , S. J. Clutterbuck (17), Mary Clutterbuck (15), Robert Clutterbuck (9), Maggie Clutterbuck (7), Clinton Clutterbuck (4), Benjamin Clutterbuck (1), possible uncle Andrew Clutterbuck (47)
Albert Clutterbuck, 1880 Census, Residence Florence, Boone, Kentucky, DOB 1868 in KY, Father Reu Clutterbuck of VA, Mother Francis Clutterbuck of KY, Age 12.
Jas. Clutterbuck, 1880 Census, Residence Florence, Boone, Kentucky, DOB 1837 in VA, married to Belle Clutterbuck of KY, Parents born in VA, Age 43, Occ Justice of the Peace, Children; Adna, Stanley Clutterbuck, Leslie Clutterbuck, and Homer Clutterbuck. [Comment: possibly Reu Clutterbuck’s brother]
Chapter 1470. An Act for the benefit of James R. Clutterbuck, Sheriff of Boone County. Whereas James R. Clutterbuck, Sheriff of Boone County, was charged with and held to pay in the year 1884…
James H Clutterbuck (James A?), 1900 Census, Residence Constance Town, Boone, Kentucky, DOB May 1868 in KY, Mother Julia F. Clutterbuck of KY, White, Single, Sisters Sarah E. Clutterbuck and Lucy E. Clutterbuck
James Clutterbuck, 1900 Census, Res Bullittsville, Boone, KY, DOB 8/1838, Spouse Susan E. Clutterbuck of KY in 1897, Parents married in KY, Son Leslie Clutterbuck DOB 1873. OCC Farmer
John Meeks, Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, KY), December 21, 1907, John Meeks, former Town Marshal of Florence, Ky., is being guarded in the Kenton County Jail at Covington. Fear of mob violence on the part of friends of Albert Clutterbuck, whom Meeks is alleged to have killed, led the authorities to move him from the Boone County Jail at Burlington, Ky.
Florence Timeline, Boone County Public Library, 1907 – John Meeks, recently fired from his position of Town Marshal, shot and killed his replacement, James Albert Clutterbuck, during an altercation on Main Street.
Killing at Florence, Boone County Recorder, December 18, 1907
Meeks Paroled, Boone County Register, July 6, 1916, page 1
Grant County, Kentucky, Genealogy and History, “December 19, 1907, Albert CLUTTENBUCK, a Boone County farmer, was shot at three times by John MEEKS, a former Florence Town Marshal on Saturday; he died Sunday; MEEKS was hurried to the Burlington jail.