1860-1869

In January 1865, Governor Thomas Fletcher appointed Horace Swift as the new warden of the penitentiary. Warden Swift received a number of praiseworthy endorsements for his new position. One referred to him as "... a gentleman, a patriot and ... a man of industry and capacity for business he identified himself with our great freedom loving party in its earliest day ..."

Upon assuming the job, Warden Swift reviewed the method of leasing the prisoners to a contractor for daily wages. He felt that this provided a good income for the state, and as the lease of John How expired on January 15, 1866, Swift entered into a number of new contracts that commenced on the expiration of How's lease. The lessees operated various small industries in and around Jefferson City. The contract lease system continued until 1873 when the state reinstituted its old method of leasing the entire institution to one lessee.

Much opposition resounded from the townspeople to the idea of allowing the prisoners to work at various trades outside the gates of the prison. Most of these cries of discontent stemmed from persons engaged in the work that the convicts did at a minimum wage. Others felt a fear for their safety with condemned men parading up and down the streets. Still fewer voiced compassion in reference to the fairness of forced labor and the inhumanity that could easily result. The Missouri State Times published an article March 4, 1865 entitled, "Convict Labor", in which the author stated:

Civil War Splits the State

The Civil War took an especially hard toll on the citizens of Missouri. It pitted neighbor against neighbor, and sometimes even families were torn apart by differing loyalties. Northern sympathizers joined the various Missouri militia groups, while Confederate loyalists fled their farms and homes, and sometimes joined roving bands of like-minded guerrilla fighters dedicated to preserving slave ownership.

During the war many farmers and landowners lost everything they owned. Soldiers marching through the state stole their livestock, robbed their homes and sometimes torched them. Jefferson City narrowly escaped being burned to the ground. An editorial in the Jefferson City State Times (July 1865) decried the lack of organization in bringing these "war criminals" to justice:

A fort was located in Jefferson City, on the promontory called Minor's Hill, overlooking the Missouri River and adjacent to the penitentiary. There, earthen fortifications shielded cannon that were directed at key points of entry into the city: the Missouri River, the railroad, and the road leading east toward St. Louis. Thousands of soldiers under General John C. Fremont were encamped here, and officers requisitioned wagons from farms and homes throughout the area to gather and transport food for the soldiers. The penitentiary shops were used to manufacture equipment for the troops.

... murders have been committed, houses plundered, outrages have been perpetrated by men, against whom it is impossible to establish a charge of crime. Witnesses have died or moved to other states, others, being rebel sympathizers will not swear to anything which will establish the guilt of a rebel.

Reno Gang Executes Historic Crime

Postwar chaos was the perfect backdrop for the activities of some siblings about to perpetrate a historic crime. The Reno family moved their six children from Kentucky to Rockford, Indiana, before the Civil War. They settled on what was considered in those days to be a large farm. The wild brothers—John, Simoen, Frank and William—were involved in a series of incidents, including several arsons, around Rockford and Seymour, a neighboring town. The family relocated just outside St. Louis, on the Missouri side of the Mississippi. When the war started, all four of the unruly brothers joined the Union Army. Only one would remain in the army long enough to be honorably discharged. The others continued their lawless behavior and, by the end of the war, all four had organized a dangerous gang of outlaws whose territory included Missouri.

On the evening of October 6, 1866, three of the four brothers boarded an Ohio and Mississippi Railway train near Seymour. They entered an express car, assaulted a railroad employee and then forced open a safe containing $16,000. A larger, more secure safe was thrown from the train. The fourth brother and other gang members attempted to open it with no success. Evidently, there was an eyewitness to this historic first train robbery, for a posse was soon formed that gave chase. The gang fled southwest to Missouri, a haven for outlaws. Soon after eluding their pursuers, the Reno Gang robbed the Daviess County Treasurer's Office in Gallatin. They got away with $22,000, a huge sum of money at the time, and fled back to Indiana. Because of their previous criminal escapades, the nation's premier detective operation, the Pinkerton Agency, was also in hot pursuit.

John Reno had been recognized by an eyewitness to the Gallatin robbery and soon he was apprehended by Indiana authorities. Secretly transported to the Missouri line, he was taken into custody by the Daviess County sheriff. Tried and convicted of the treasurer's office heist, John Reno was given a sentence of 25 years in Missouri's penitentiary. While he was safely behind bars, the remaining brothers and gang members continued a string of murders and robberies that lasted for months until the Renos were caught and lynched by Indiana vigilantes.

The saga of John Reno doesn't end there. Governor B. Gratz Brown commuted Reno's sentence in 1873, on the last day of his term of office. The circumstances surrounding the commutation invite speculation. The governor had asked the secretary of state to countersign and affix a seal on a blank pardon that the governor had already signed. His explanation for the unusual request was that he had not made up his mind whether he would use it or not. He did use it and an official document shows that on January 8, 1873, his last day in office, he commuted John Reno's sentence from 25 years to ten. The commutation entry in prison records, however, was subsequently erased and, even later, torn from the record book.

Early document shows transfers of prisoners

The document at the left, dated January 10, 1866, shows the transfer of prisoners from the county court to the penitentiary. It reads as follows:

Received of Patterson Shereand Marshal of Kansas City Missouri the bodies of William Moseley William Madden and William Smith convicted at the December term (1865) of the Kansas City Criminal Court and each sentenced to imprisonment in the Missouri Penitentiary for a term of years.

Signed by W.A. Swift, Warden by S Wilcox, Clk Marshal 2 days at 1.75 3.50 3 guards 2 days " at 1.50 9.00 3 prisoners 2 " at 1.50 9.00 158 miles, ew, 4 (not legible) 101.12 $122.62

Plea for release of Civil War prisoners

The letter reads: State Penitentiary, Jefferson City, Mo June 5, 1869 Hon Wm. E. Robinson Member of Congress Brooklyn, N.Y. Hon Sir, Your communication of the 1st just has been duly received. It is impossible to describe much more impress the entire satisfaction its weight has produced. In reply to your query whether I heard any news I would state that Capt. Wm. Enries of Gen. Schofield's Staff has assisted at this just iteration ostensibly to make a report of such Military Prisoners as are confined here, in regard to their condition and time of imprisonment but really it is supposed with a view of releasing such prisoners whose conduct has been meritorious and transferring the remainder to such a place as the Sec of War may designate. I am inclined to think that the present administration (end of page 1) will act mercifully in the cases of Military Prisoners in general it is to be deplored that sufficient lieniency is not intended to act committed principally from the impulse of righteous anger, aggrivated by a series of circumstances over which the unfortunate victims has no control and which in a manner of speaking has been the result of the late war, and contingent from its acts. To you alone and the exercise of your high influence in any case, is to be ascribed the recent visit of Capt. Enries, the result of which remains to be seen, but all the Mil. Prisoners as well as myself pray and hope that it will terminate successfully. Sending you the prayers and blessings of the poor soldiers confined at this place as well as my own everlasting thanks and gratitude. I am, Sir Very Respectfully Your Obt. Svt John Lord