There have been 10 lawful executions in Lafayette County with the first two legal hangings in April, 1834 being interrelated.

Unusual circumstances surround the execution of Leland Trumley, hanged April 4, 1834, and Mary Andrews, hanged April 30, 1834.

Mary Andrews was hanged here for the strangling of her infant daughter, Sarah Andrews, alias Sarah Thrumberg. On that day, April 30, 1834, was witnessed the first lawful execution of a woman in the state of Missouri.

Mary Andrews, alias Mary Thrumberg, alias Polly Trumley, was being held in the Lafayette County Jail, in “Old Town,” in connection with the Trumley case.

On March 5, 1834, Mary Andrews did strangle her infant daughter while being held in jail. According to early stories, she hid the body of Sarah Andrews under a bench in her cell, but later Sheriff James Fletcher and others found out about the strangling.

Justice was swift in those days. Mary Andrews was quickly indicted by the Lafayette County grand jury. On March 8, 1834, she was ordered to be imprisoned in the Ray County Jail. On April 1, 1834, she was brought to trial before the Lafayette County Circuit Court by a jury of 12 men.

The verdict was that she should be hanged on the 30th day of April, 1834, between the hours of noon and 2 p.m.

Circuit Court Judge John F. Ryland ordered that Sheriff Fletcher have Mary Andrews returned to the jailer of Ray County for safekeeping. All bills involving the Andrews case as submitted by Ray County Sheriff Thomas W. Jacobs and Hiram G. Parks, jailer, refer to the convicted woman as Polly Trumley.

It is interesting to note the breakdown of expenses incurred by the state of Missouri as allowed by Judge Ryland. They are as follows: $23.87 1/2 allowed to Jailer Parks for board from March 8 to April 30, 1834; $8 allowed to Sheriff Jacobs for guards Wilson McKinney and Jailer Parks at $1.25 per day and to A. Marlin for horse and carriage at 50 cent each of five trips, and for services; $64.61 1/4 for trial fees; $23.75 to P.S. Edwards of Richmond for 19 days guard service; $12.75 for six days board in Lexington, carriage, horse and wages; and $18 for guards in Lexington at a fee of $1 per day for six days each.

On April 30, 1834, Mary Andrews was hanged on the courthouse lawn in “Old Town” by Sheriff Fletcher for which the fee of $10 was paid. The grand total cost to the state for the Andrews case was $160.98 3/4.

Leland Trumley

On Nov. 5, 1833, Leland Trumley was indicted by the grand jury for the crime of murder by him of one James Stephens. Trumley committed the bloody act with an axe.

On March 6, 1834, Trumley was tried before the circuit court by a jury of 12 who found him guilty of the crime.

On March 7, 1834, Judge Ryland sentenced Trumley to be hanged until dead by the neck on April 4, 1834, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

It was further ordered that Sheriff Fletcher convey Trumley to the sheriff and jailer of Ray County for safe keeping under a guard of three men.

It was further ordered that the state recover from Trumley all of the cost incurred by the suit.

Trumley became the first man to be legally hanged in Lafayette County.

It is not exactly known why Mary Andrews was being held in the Lafayette County Jail in early March, 1834, or why she took the name of Polly Trumley while being held in Ray County.

As the story goes, apparently Mary Andrews and Trumley conspired to murder James Stephens, a lover or possibly a common-law husband of Mary Andrews. Court records do not reveal this information. Mary Andrews was never brought to trial in the Stephens murder case.

Apparently there was considerable sentiment in Lexington and Lafayette County concerning Mary Andrews and Trumley or Judge Ryland would not have ordered the two to be held in custody of Ray County authorities.

The last legal hanging took place February 16, 1893. On that day, the Lexington News issued a supplement, in which the 10 executions were listed.

A bill was passed by the Missouri Legislature in 1937, prohibiting legal hangings in the counties and centralizing executions at the state prison.