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1 _FA2 2 DATE 1918 2 PLAC same residence 1 _FA3 2 DATE 1860 2 PLAC Census, Nodaway Co. MO Owned home on lots 2,3,4,7,8 Block 58 Original Town of Hopkins, MO during 1890's. Dr. Gerard had a large Victorian Home build at a cost of $7,000. (I have a picture of this house) He sold this home in 1898 to E.C. Wolfers for $2,000. He owned business buildings and sold those in 1897. Melvina Hatfield's parents are Jeanette Wilkinson and Elihu Hatfield. She died March 1881 aged 70 years, 4 mos. She is buried in the Original Cemetery. No record of Elihu Hatfield being buried there. I have a copy of Stephen W. Garard and Melvina Hatfield, both of County of Nodaway married 29 day of October 1862 (Justice of Peace) signed James T. Williams J.P. I also have the marriage license of Stephen and Melvina's daughter: Cora Vance Gerard of Hopkins, Nodaway and MO and Charles L. Wiehl of St. Joseph, Buchanan Co. MO. issued 21 May 1888 in Maryville, MO. by Lawrence J. Growney recorder. Below it states that Henry Bullard, clergyman, married them 22 day of May 1888 in Hopkins. _______________________________________________________________ Article concerning rape charges against Stephen W. Gerard Nodaway Journal on 23 Dec 1886, announced that "Dr. Stephen W. Gerard, of Hopkins, was arrested for raping Lavina Fine age 13 on 02 Jul 1886" The following article was in the Hopkins Journal 19 March 1887. "Perhaps no case in any court has attracted more widespread attention than that of Dr. S.W. Gerard, of this city, which was finished at Maryville last Saturday. The citizens of this place took an active part pro and con from the first and we are sorry to say that in several instances friends have been transformed into foes over the mater, but we sincerely hope that the ties of friendship that have been broken may again be cemented, and that peace and harmony will once more reign supreme in this community. Forgive as you would be forgiven, and the problem is solved. Life is too short and uncertain to cherish hatred and malice in your heart toward any one. We are neighbors together, serving the same govemment and the same God and striving for the same goal, so if we live in peace with one another on this earth our happiness will certainly be far greater when we come to cast anchor on that sunner land of the New Jerusalem. The JOURNAL at no time has taken sides on the case in question. If Dr. Gerard was guilty, no punishment was to too severe. If he was innocent, he should be acquitted, have been our sentiments. A jury of seven good, tried and true men found that he was innocent, and no reasonable person should refuse to believe a man innocent until he is proven otherwise. The trial was an impartial one so far as we know, and the evidence certainly justified the verdict. We believe the people who were interested and active in prosecuting this case did right, and no one should hold malice against them for doing what they believed to be in the interest of virtue and the protection of what is more sacred than all else-the home. No one should withhold from others what they grant themselves--the right to follow the dictations of their own conscience. It has been stated that those engaged in prosecuting the case did so with spiteful malice and hatred. We do not believe this. The prosecution simply followed the dictation of their own conscience and now that the doctor has proven himself innocent of the charge, these people will, or should be, the first to extend to him the right hand of fellowship. It would not be showing a Christian like spirit for them not to do so, for Dr. Gerard stands today an innocent man in the eyes of the law, and no person should believe him otherwise, for the Bible says: "Judge not that ye be not judge." If Dr. Gerard is guilty his own conscience will punish him far greater than any that could be inflicted by human hands. If he is guilty he cannot escape the wrath of that just Judge who sit on the celestial throne above and rules the universe. The following extracts are taken from the Maryville Daily News concerning the trial: The terrible suspense and anxiety of the friends and family of Dr. S.W. Gerard of Hopkins was brought to a satisfactory end this morning when the twelve men selected by the attorneys for prosecution and defense to decide from the evidence whether or not the doctor was guilty of the terrible crime with which he was charged came into the court room and announced through their foreman, Jonathan Sprague, that they had found it impossible to send to the penitentiary or doom to death a man whom the evidence proved conclusively to be innocent of the charge. The arguments in the case were concluded Friday at 12:30 and the jury retired to consider the question. During all yesterday afternoon and up to late in the evening the jury stood seven for acquittal and five to conviction; this being the standing of the first ballot before a word was said pro or con regarding the evidence. In the evening another ballot proved that two of the five had been convinced that they were in the wrong and on this count the vote stood nine to three in favor of acquittal. Two more later in the night changed their opinions and when the jury retired to rest at one o'clock this morning there was but one man remaining who had a doubt of the innocence of the accused. The man who had stood out up to one o'clock was in a better mood after his short rest and by the time of the opening of the court this morning he had come to the conclusion that the doctor was a much wronged man and deserved to be liberated and to return to the bosom of his family and to associate, a vindicated man, with his friends all of whom have stood by him in this, his hour of need. The joy and happiness of that faithful and loving wife, who has been constantly with him in the court room, encouraging him with an ever present expression of hopefulness upon her countenance, and shielding him from the arrows of withering sarcasm and terrible denunciations of the attorneys for prosecution, can hardly be imagined. The actions of Mrs. Gerard in this case are deserving of the highest commendation from those who have in their hearts the least of the Christian Spirit of Mercy and is but one more monument larger and grander than all the rest erected to the fidelity of woman's love. There are many who find fault with the verdict as rendered and say that the jury have taken from the people, the protection that the law should accord to womankind, and have virtually licenses all men to commit such crimes and go unpunished. In answer to this one juryman said that the evidence of one girl whose character, if not proved had, was at least questioned in a manner that would leave the jury in doubt regarding the reliability of her testimony, and that if it were possible to convict a man on such evidence, there is not a man in the whole country whose life, liberty and property could not be placed in jeopardy by any woman, no matter how low in the scale by which woman are weighed, she may be." News story which states Dr. Gerard not guilty (Mar 19 1896 Hopkins Joumal) Obituary: Gerard, (Dr.) Stephen Wines b 22 Jan 1834, London, Madison Co., OH d 31 Jan 1918 Hospital, St. Joseph, MO buried: Lot 2, block 4, original cemetry, Hopkins, MO\ m: Melvina A. Hatfield, 1860 native of lilinois, died 1882 children: Cora-Jennie (d. 1904) and Lilly (Lillian) He started study of medicine 1855 beginning practice in 1858. He moved west to Dallas County, l for one year, then to Mt. Ayr, lowa, for six months. He then moved to Maryville, MO., for one year, afterwards locating in Zenia. In 1870 he opened drug business in the new town of Hopkins and continued his profession. Dr. Gerard closed practice here about 1900 (1901 in one report) and moved to St. Joseph Mo. with a daughter, Mrs. Chas. L. Wiehl. Another daughter, Mrs. Louis C. Booth, Sheridan, Wyoming also survived. Because of the sickness of a little granddaughter (diptheria) Dr. Gerard's body was placed in a receiving vault in St. Joseph at the time of death until burial in Hopkins 10 months later.

1 _FA1 2 PLAC Married by Justice of Peace, James T. Williams

1 _MEND Divorce Marriage