Jul 29, 2026 · 1 hr · 9 segments
On the eve of the 1898 election, the old Webster County Courthouse was crowded with officials collecting ballots and preparing for the next day’s vote. Beneath its dome, a simmering feud between two…
Champ HerrenHost
Some time ago, and many of you have heard this story before, But I began researching several local murders, crimes, et cetera, that in some cases I knew a little bit about.
The question becomes is how did these two men get to this point? Let me give you a little background.
Mark Twain said if the desire and opportunity to kill always met, no one would escape hanging.
In most cases, folks cool off or are stopped, or maybe the more introspective talk themselves out of the act before it's perpetrated.
It seems that none of these mitigating factors came to play in the murder of David H. Shelby by Richard Kazee under the dome of the old Webster County Courthouse on the day before the November election, 1898.
There are various family stories and stories there is enough convoluted information about what led up to this.
But it seems that it originated... with Shelby or Shelby, either Shelby witnessing or someone close to Shelby witnessing Kazee steal money from the collection plate.
Kazee vehemently denies the accusation and is in such a puff that he quits the church entirely.
To compound matters, and this is going on, this is, as I understand it, This is all leading up to the November election.
Kazee, a Republican, was supporting John L. Jackson for county treasurer, while Shelby, a Democrat, convinced the popular George Washington Minor to run for the same office.
This may not have been intended as a slight, but that's how it worked out in light of everything else.
Some time ago, and many of you have heard this story before, But I began researching several local murders, crimes, et cetera, that in some cases I knew a little bit about.
The question becomes is how did these two men get to this point? Let me give you a little background.
Mark Twain said if the desire and opportunity to kill always met, no one would escape hanging.
In most cases, folks cool off or are stopped, or maybe the more introspective talk themselves out of the act before it's perpetrated.
It seems that none of these mitigating factors came to play in the murder of David H. Shelby by Richard Kazee under the dome of the old Webster County Courthouse on the day before the November election, 1898.
There are various family stories and stories there is enough convoluted information about what led up to this.
But it seems that it originated... with Shelby or Shelby, either Shelby witnessing or someone close to Shelby witnessing Kazee steal money from the collection plate.
Kazee vehemently denies the accusation and is in such a puff that he quits the church entirely.
To compound matters, and this is going on, this is, as I understand it, This is all leading up to the November election.
Kazee, a Republican, was supporting John L. Jackson for county treasurer, while Shelby, a Democrat, convinced the popular George Washington Minor to run for the same office.
This may not have been intended as a slight, but that's how it worked out in light of everything else.
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