Notes for David Bagby, Sr.: Judge David Bagby spent boyhood on fathers farm near Roanoke , MO. He went to district schools. He left home at 13 & worked as a farm hand for Clifton E. & James M. Denny. for 27 years. 1917 he sold his farm & moved to Fayette, Mo. Howard CO. 188 acres of improved land in Richmond township , Got into real estate business. 1911 elected Probate Judge, an again in 1922. David died while in office. Dec. 1924. Mo. Govenor appointed his wife, Cora to Judgeship for the remainder of his term. He was one of the organizers of the bank of Armstrong & was a director. This Higbee newspaper article was transcribed by Cathy Bollinger. Friday, 4 Jan 1924, Vol 37 No 37--A DEPLORABLE TRAGEDY--Judge Bagby Fatally Shoots J. M. Taylor at Fayette--One of the most deplorable tragedies in the history of Howard County, was the fatal shooting at Fayette last Saturday about 5 p.m., of John M. Taylor, a rich and prominent farmer of east of that city by Probate Judge David Bagby in the latter's office. Taylor was shot three times--twice in the neck and once in the leg, while one bullet passed through his clothing across his breast. Taylor never regained consciousness and died at 9 o'clock the following morning. The men were alone in Bagby's office at the time and no one but Bagby knows the cause of the trouble or what provocation or justification he had for the shooting. He came from his office, we learn, with the smoking revolver in his hand an d informed other officers in the court house that he had shot Taylor and asked that the sheriff be sent for that he might give himself up. Bagby was placed under $2000 bond at once and following Taylor's death the bond was raised to $10,000, and which Bagby had no trouble in giving. Bagby, who is 67 years old, and who has been in quite feeble health for a year or more, was unable to attend the coroner's inquest Monday, owing to his enfeebled condition and shock of the tragedy, but may be able to appear and give testimony Saturday, until which time nothing will be really known of the unfortunate affair, as Bagby, on the advice of his attorney, Robert Bagby, a brother, has refused to make any statement or comment, beyond the assertion, we learn, that he had to do it. While nothing is known as to anything leading up to the killing, it is reported here, but on what authority we are not advised, that the trouble was over financial matters pertaining to a note for $3,500 which Taylor had bought from a Boonville bank and which he had placed with Bagby, who handled, it is said, a great deal of Taylor's money for him. According to rumor here, this note came up missing and the presumption is that Taylor accused Bagby of appropriating it to his own use, or at least of defrauding him of the amount. It is also reported here, but it may be mere idle rumor, that Taylor went to one of the banks in Fayette that day to get track of the missing note and made threats against Bagby. ------------------ Higbee news paper. NOTE: Judge David Dies on DEC. 9th 1924 I will send results of jury's decision. JMB. ---------------- Friday, 30 May 1924, Vol 38 No 6--Bagby Trail to Jury--The trial of David Bagby, Probate judge of Howard County, who shot and killed John M. Taylor in his (Bagby's) office in the court house in Fayette late in the afternoon of December 29th, last, came up in the circuit court at Fayette Tuesday morning, and was still on yesterday, going to the jury at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The jury was still out at the hour of going to press. The following was taken from the Fayette Democrat-Leader. "Judge Bagby next took the stand in his own behalf. He testified that on the morning of December 29th Mr. Taylor called on him in his office and asked him to call the citizens Trust Company of Boonville by telephone about a $1000 note that he thought he had bought of that Trust Company several years previous. Judge Bagby stated that he called Mr. W. W. Kingsbury, of the Citizens Trust Co. who informed him that the Trust Company could find no record of such a note. He also testified that he told Mr. Taylor in the afternoon of his conversation with Kingsbury and that Taylor insisted that Kingsbury be called again that he (Bagby) told Taylor it would be of no use. Taylor then, so Bagby testified, said that he was going to Lionel Davis' office and for Bagby not to leave his office as he wanted to see him again. Taylor returned about five o'clock and walked into Judge Bagby's private office. The latter was in the outer office talking to someone and excused himself and went in where Taylor was. Judge Bagby stated that Taylor told him to close the door which he did. His further testimony was that Taylor at once asked him if he had again called the Citizens Trust Co. and he told him he had not as Mr. Kingsbury had already said that the Trust Company had no record of such a note. According to Judge Bagby's testimony Taylor then said, "I am tired of fooling about this; if you don't get that note I am going to kill you. The Citizens Trust Company is a bunch of thieves and robbers and you are a damned _______helping them out." "Bagby further testified that Taylor started to arise from where he was sitting and with his fist clinched said: "I am going to beat you to death right now." It was then that Bagby claimed he shot Taylor, having already placed his hands on the revolver in his desk when Taylor first threatened to kill him. Judge Bagby when cross examined by the state, testified that he had paid off the $3000 note he owed Taylor giving his explanation of how and when it was paid off. He testified that he had no key to Taylor's lock box and he had never taken anything from same."
More About David Bagby, Sr.: Burial: Fayette city cemetery. Occupation: Farmer /Jas. Denny-Judge-Fayette MO.
More About David Bagby, Sr. and Narcissa Francess Denny: Marriage: March 09, 1882
More About David Bagby, Sr. and Cora Lee Underwood: Marriage: September 03, 1893 Unk: Marrige date March 09,1882.
Children of David Bagby, Sr. and Narcissa Francess Denny are:
John Humphrey Bagby, b. October 20, 1883, Howard CO. MO., d. May 08, 1954, Los Angeles,CA..
Children of David Bagby, Sr. and Cora Lee Underwood are:
Narcissa Lee Bagby, b. 1900, Armstrong, Howard CO. MO, d., Moberly,MO. Randolph CO..
David Bagby, Sr. (b. October 02, 1858, d. December 09, 1924)
Notes for David Bagby, Sr.: