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Obituaries and Death Notices
Cairo Daily Bulletin
4 Jan 1872-31 Dec 1872
Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois
Transcribed by Darrel Dexter
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The Cairo Daily Bulletin
Thursday, 4 Jan 1872:
The undersigned takes this method of returning her sincere thanks to the Germania Life Insurance Co., of New York, for the prompt and cheerful payment of a policy of $1,500 on the life of her late husband.
To Mr. Reinhold V. Belzner, the efficient agent of the
company, at Cairo, are
my thanks especially due for his kind and honorable action in the settlement
of my claim.
Monday, February 5th, at
12 o'clock, m., Mollie Riley
Conley, youngest daughter of William and Mollie A. Conley, aged
10 months and 22 days. The funeral will take place from the residence of
the parents, at 1 o'clock, p.m., today. Friends invited. (St. Louis and
Pittsburg
papers please copy.)
(Amanda Barber, born about 1840 in
England,
is listed in the 1870 census of South Cairo Precinct, Alexander Co.,
Ill.
She was living in the household of William and Jennie Shutter and was
a milliner.—Darrel Dexter) The first ward, within a stone’s throw of the St. Charles Hotel, was the scene of a sanguinary affray on Tuesday night last, in which a white woman named Mrs. Mary Clavin, alias Section Ten, shot and probably mortally wounded a colored woman named Mary Williams. The difficulty grew out of jealousy and whisky, in both which commodities of depraved human nature the women indulged. The wounded woman is black, but rather comely. Her reputation for chastity is not good. Mrs. Clavin her assailant is a termagant of the first water, and has for a long time been the terror of the police and the scandal of her neighborhood. In some way the black girl crossed the Clavin's path and aroused her jealousy and hatred. On Tuesday night they met and Clavin began to abuse the wounded woman who retorted in kind. Words brought on blows, and Mrs. Clavin, who had taken a few drops too much of the "creature," fiercely assaulted her enemy. Miss Williams unable to stand against her adversary, fled into another room, and closing the door attempted to hold it shut. Mrs. Clavin tried to burst it open, and failing, fired a ball from a navy revolver with which she was armed, through the door, striking Miss Williams in the breast. Officers Sheehan and Martin arrived on the battle field at this juncture and took the murderess into custody. She is in the county jail awaiting the issue of life or death which her victim is now contesting. Last night the physicians attending Miss Williams gave up all hope of her recovery.
(M. A. Clavin, female, born about 1842 in
Ireland, is listed in the 1870
census of Cairo, Alexander Co.,
Ill. Living in the household were her children, Dora, 10,
born in Mississippi; J. T., 7; and William, 5, both born in Illinois.—Darrel
Dexter)
The important witness in the case of the People vs. Charles
Walker, for murder, is a colored man by the name of A. H. Andrews,
now steward of the steamer St. Mary’s, in Bayou Teche. Walker
who murdered another negro with great deliberation some time ago and richly
deserves punishment, cannot be convicted if Andrews is not put upon
the stand, and Andrews cannot be procured to come unless the sheriff
should go after him; but Sheriff Irvin cannot of course spend a
couple of hundred dollars of his own money to vindicate the dignity of the
law, and the county will not give a cent. The consequence must be, that
Walker
will go free, and another life may be sacrificed. Here was a murder
committed in broad daylight, in one of the most public places of the city,
and the murderer cannot be punished because the public is penurious. Why
should we pay taxes for the protection of life and property, when the men
who outrage both are deliberately permitted to go at large because their
punishment would necessitate the expenditure of a little of the public
money?
The funeral services of Mrs. Col. Reardon, will be held at
the Presbyterian church this (Saturday) evening, at
1 o'clock, services by Rev. Mr. Thayer. The funeral train will
leave the foot of Eighth
Street at 2 o'clock. Friends and relatives of the family are respectfully
invited to be present.
Sunday, 18 Feb 1872: HER SAD DEATH. The Last Moments of Mrs. Barber—Out into the Darkness of Eternity Unwillingly—An O'er True Tale. A few days ago we announced the death of Mrs. Arnold Barber at St. Louis, and recur to the subject again to point a moral and hold up a mirror in which Transgression may see her features distorted by pain and bearing the imprint of hopeless agony. We shall speak no harsh word of the dead, who was as much sinned against as sinning, for although Pride with siren voice led her into unsafe paths where the strength of Virtue became as the feebleness of childhood, she is entitled to that charity which Christ threw like a shielding mantle about the weak woman of old. One who sinned like Magdalen like her should be forgiven. Several years ago Mrs. Arnold separated from her husband, and obtained a divorce. For a time her "walk and conversation" was unexceptionable; but finally the whispers of scandal began to blacken her good name, and at last the evidences of her shame became too plain for longer concealment. Consulting not only her judgment but the advice of friends, she concluded to leave the city and remain absent until after the birth of the child. She accordingly visited St. Louis, provided with a splendid wardrobe and plenty of money, furnished doubtless by the man who was her partner in sin, over whose shortcomings let the mantle of silence also fall, for he, like other men, is not beyond the power of temptation or possessed of that flinty virtue, read of and preached about but never seen, which is cold while it scatters at the touch of passion sparks of fire on every side. She was prodical of her means, and spent her money with a most lavish hand. She engaged rooms at one of the best hotels, and had in waiting upon her two servants. She bought gewgaws and luxuries and treated herself like a spoiled child. Then came pinching Want and drove from her servants; drove her to a less expensive hotel; then to a boarding house of the second class; and then to seek refuge under the questionable protection of two women. While with them her child was born and the sickness which robbed her of life laid upon her a firm hand. She lingered penniless for a month, waited upon by the women who expected to obtain pay for their care after her death in the riches of the contents of her two large trunks. One day she received a letter postmarked "Cairo." It contained $40—nothing else—not a word of writing. She sat up in bed and consulted with herself how she should spend the money, and at last sent one of the women to a jewelry store and bought a gold chain and locket for the child—the product of her weakness. This was near the hour of her death, which the women who waited upon her saw fast approaching. At last they told her the solemn truth and asked her if they should send for a gentleman who had befriended her and for a minister. The truth frenzied her and she cried and shrieked and swore she would not die—that she wanted to live—that she would live. But Death is a stalwart enemy. The giants of the olden day fell under his hand, and the powerful of the earth—kings with armies at their back, and the monarchs of intellect who overthrow thrones and level mountains and bridge the ocean, all are as infants in the fell destroyer's hand. How then could this weak woman, with her cries and prayers and curses, drive him away? She fell into his arms railing, and shouting for the life she could not retain. And there she lay, stark and cold—God pity her poor soul!—with no friend to compose her useless limbs or drop upon her coffin the tear of regret! The women, who had watched her in her dying moments, began to quarrel over her trunks before the echo of her dying shriek had passed away. Their voices became so loud that policemen entered the room of death to ascertain the cause of the disturbance. A tableau this! Where is the man of the cloth with his moral blue lights now, to throw upon this scene a ghastly glare that would make it hideously attractive and turn it into a sermon the burden on which would be—the wages of win are death? And such a death! Well, the corpse was hustled into a rude coffin and into an unmarked grave. The trunks were opened and contained nothing but pawn tickets for her clothing and jewelry! This is the end—finis! We have but few words to add, and no blame to lay at the door of the man who shared the dead woman's crimes. He lives in our midst, and is a man of family. No doubt he finds in his conscience lashes that inflict punishment more severe than the slave receives from a cruel task master; and to believe he will fail to provide for the little being of whose existence he is the author would be to believe him a monster, or of hideous mien, but possessed of a heart of stone and inflexible meanness of the devil. But he is not such a man. So let the curtain drop upon his crime, and let all good people pray for the soul of this woman who flung a pearl away richer than all the gold of Ind, and in a path, along which bloomed the flowers of sin, met her fate, and, friendless and alone—desolate and despairing—died and was buried.
On Friday last an accident occurred in the pump factory which resulted in the death of Martin Walsh. He was working at a buzz saw, and a piece of wood became fast in it, which, when he tried to loosen it, was thrown from the saw with great force and struck him on the bridge of the nose. He was carried to his home by his fellow workmen, who thought he was not seriously injured, but he was, and died on Saturday night. Mrs. Walsh, who was in child bed, was so seriously shocked that her life is despaired of.
(His name was actually Samuel Welsh, according to the 23
Feb 1872, issue.—Darrel Dexter)
At the
residence of her mother, Mrs. Smith, widow of the late Patrick
Smith, corner Thirty-Fourth Street
and Ohio Levee, on Tuesday morning, at 10 o'clock, Miss Anna Smith,
aged eleven years and five months. The funeral will take place from the
residence of Mrs. Smith, at
1 o'clock today. A special train will leave the passenger depot at
2 1/2 o'clock precisely.
Friends of the family are invited. A Mysterious Couple. (From the Quincy Herald) The man killed in the railroad yards Saturday night was not Henry Rigby, of Augusta, Indiana, as James and Charles Liferts of this city, and Rigby’s cousin, at West Quincy supposed. Monday afternoon Coroner Brown notified Rigby’s family of his death, and desired to know what should be done with the remains. Yesterday morning he received a dispatch from Mr. Rigby himself, who thought that the Liferts and his cousin were mistaken. In fact, he was certain that he had not been the subject of an inquest, had not been run over by the cars, had not been to Quincy, but had been at home and well all the time. The substance of the dispatch was that as it was none of his funeral he had no use for the remains. The coroner not being able to obtain any information concerning the deceased, caused the remains to be buried yesterday afternoon.
The case is a little singular from the fact that three different
persons were recognized in the remains, and that all the parties identifying
were mistaken. The Liferts are second cousins to Rigsby (sic?)
and were positive that he was the victim. A cousin of Rigby’s
confirmed them in the opinion and was certain that there could be no mistake
about it. Another recognized in the remains a well known citizen of the
county, but meeting the said citizen on the streets a few hours afterward
concluded that he was at fault. Three gentlemen identified the body as that
of a man named Smith, living in the south part of town, and were so
certain about it that they went over to his residence to break the news to
his wife, and found said Smith himself sound and whole. Employees in
the railroad yard think they have seen deceased often passing through the
yards. Others who saw the body were satisfied they had seen deceased often,
but could not tell where. The questions, who he was, what he was doing in
the yards, are unsolved. No information has been obtained that throws any
light on the matter.
On Sunday afternoon between two and
three o'clock, a stabbing
affray took place between two negroes, living on
Twenty-seventh street,
which may result in the death of one of the participants. The quarrel grew
out of the desire of one of the negroes to prevent the other from marrying
his wife's sister. The stabbed man is reported to be in a very critical
condition, and may die at any moment. The wound is in the throat, and was
inflicted with a large pocket knife.
Another of those deeds of blood which disgrace the annals of our
portion of the state occurred yesterday morning at Eight Mile Prairie,
Williamson County, five
miles east of the city. Mr. James Myers, a wealthy farmer, about
fifty years of age, was engaged hauling rails with which to repair fence.
He had made several trips to his rail pile and about 10 o’clock his team
walked to his house and stopped near the front door. Some of the family
thinking something amiss went to the wagon and found Myers lying on
the hounds weltering in his own blood. He was in full possession of his
senses when taken into the house and informed his wife that while passing
through the lane near the house a gun was fired from behind a thicket, the
charge of buckshot entering his right side and breast. The wound is very
severe, and believed to be fatal. Dr. Lawrence, of this city, was at
once sent for and went to the assistance of the sufferer. Mr. Owen Dormody, aged about twenty-two years, died at the residence of Mr. Murphy on Division Street, at about five o'clock yesterday morning. Notice of time and place of burial will be given.
(A marker in Calvary Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: Owen
Darmody Died Feb. 27, 1872, Aged 22 Years.—Darrel Dexter)
Two funeral corteges passed down
Washington Avenue yesterday.
One was that of Thomas Darmody, aged twenty-two years, a resident of
Division Street.
Of the other we know nothing.
Friday, 1 Mar 1872: In making mention of the death of Mr. Darmody in yesterday's issue, we said that Thomas Darmody had died, when we should have said Owen Darmody.
Saturday, 2 Mar 1872: DIED. At eleven o'clock yesterday, Alla Bird, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Stratton, aged one month. At eight o'clock this morning the remains will be conveyed to Charleston, Mo., where they will be interred.
Sunday, 3 Mar 1872: Col. Cutler, of Cobden, died of dropsy last Monday.
The wife of A. Wright, one of the proprietors of the Vienna Artery, died of typhoid pneumonia on the 20th ult.
A young man by the name of Tyner suspected of the assassination of Mr. James Myers has been arrested in Williamson County and bound over in the sum of $1,500.
Tuesday, 5 Mar 1872: Mr. John Q. Harman left yesterday for Dayton, Ohio, where his mother, now nearly ninety years of age, resides. Mrs. Harman is lying at her home very ill.
Friday, 8 Mar 1872: REWARD. Gov. Palmer has offered a reward of $200 for the apprehension of John Dixon, a colored man, who it will be remembered killed another negro man by the name of John Hopegood, at one of the negro cabins on Cedar, between Tenth and Eleventh streets on the night of December 25th, last. Dixon left the country immediately after committing the deed, and so far as we are able to find out, has never been heard from since.
Sunday, 10 Mar 1872: KILLED BY THE CARS. We learn from Conductor Joe Cormick that a deaf and dumb man was killed by the cars, near Centralia a day or two since. It seems that the unfortunate man was traveling along the track and was overtaken by the passenger train. He of course did not hear it approaching him, although all the usual signals were given by the engineer. He was run over and fearfully mutilated and died in a very short time.
Wednesday, 13 Mar 1872: William Patterson, an old and respected citizen of Cambridge, Illinois, died suddenly on Sunday last. It is said that Mr. Patterson's father and brother died the same way.
Thursday, 14 Mar 1872: DROWNED. Attention is called to the advertisement in another column offering a reward for the recovery of the body of Mr. Edward Hughes, who was drowned from the steamer Argonaut, near Mound City on Saturday, the second inst.
DROWNED. Ten Dollars Reward Drowned from the steamer Argonaut at Mound City, Illinois, on Saturday, March 2d, 1872, Edward Hughes. Ten dollars will be paid for the recovery of the body, if the finder will telegraph to the undersigned at 1, 515 Biddle St., St. Louis, Mo. Hugh Hughes. Cairo, March 13, 1872
A man named Lee was killed last Sunday while loading logs at Morris' Camp near Hickman, Ky.
Friday, 15 Mar 1872: DIED. Mr. Martin Smyth, brother of Barnard and Robert, of the firm of R. Smyth & Co. died suddenly in this city, on Wednesday night, at about 12 o'clock. We understand Mr. Smyth was taken sick on Saturday last, but that his condition was not considered dangerous until the day before he died. Everything that his friends could do for him was done, but all to no purpose, for his disease had passed beyond the aid of human assistance. He had been in this country about four months and it was his intention to start on his return home in a short time. In his death his relatives and friends have lost a whole-souled and generous friend, and the church to which he belonged one of its most devoted and ardent adherents.
Saturday, 16 Mar 1872: BURNED TO DEATH. It is reported that a woman was burned to death at Villa Ridge on Thursday. We were unable to learn the name of the unfortunate creature, or the particulars of the sad occurrence.
OBITUARY. Death of Martin Smyth. Martin Smyth, whose death has been announced previously in The Bulletin, was 48 years old, and a native of Galway, Ireland. He was a merchant, engaged in the produce or grocery business. He has a wife and eight children, one of whom, William Smyth, attending school at Cape Girardeau, is now lying on a sick bed, unable to attend the funeral ceremonies of his deceased father. Mr. Smyth came to America some four months ago, on a visit to his relations, and was expecting to return to his native country in a short time. But death intervened and instead of a glad and happy reunion with his wife and children in the land of his birth, the said tidings of his unexpected death will fall, with terrible weight, upon their shocked hearts. During the short time Mr. Smyth sojourned in this city, he made many warm and sincere friends, to whom his sudden death is a source of unfeigned sorrow and regret. He was a member of the Catholic Church and tomorrow at twelve o'clock, Solemn Requiem Mass, with the remains present, will be said for the repose of his soul, at the Catholic church in this city. The train carrying the funeral cortege will leave the foot of Eighth Street for Villa Ridge at 2 o'clock 2 p.m. Friends of family are invited to attend the funeral.
An accident with loss of life occurred at the Tradewater coal mines on last Monday. The track which runs to the river where the coal is dumped on the coal barges suddenly gave way and an old man named James Cardwell who happened to be on the coal barge was instantly killed. Work was suspended for a couple of days until the damages were repaired.
Sunday, 17 Mar 1872: Martin Smyth. The funeral of the late Martin Smyth, which took place from the Catholic church yesterday afternoon, was attended by a large number of the friends and acquaintances of the family.
DIED. At the residence of John Reese, on Twentieth Street, between Washington Avenue and Poplar Street, at 7 1/2 o'clock, Saturday evening, March 16th, Mr. Godfrid Reeman, in the 65th year of his age. The funeral will take place from Mr. Reese's residence at 1 o'clock today. Friends of the family are invited to attend.
BROKE JAIL. Sheriff Kennedy, of Pulaski County, offers $150 reward for the capture of William Boker and Isaac Smith, both colored men, who broke out of the Pulaski County jail, at Mound City, on Tuesday night last. Boker is described as being of dark mulatto color, medium height and well proportioned, and apparently about thirty-five years of age. Smith is a full-blooded African, about forty years old, rather under medium height and heavy set. The escaped prisoners were charged with the crime of murder, and are said to be dangerous characters. The above reward will be paid for the capture of both the characters, or seventy-five dollars for either of them.
OBITUARY. Death of John E. Naill, of Jonesboro. DIED.—On Thursday last at 5 o'clock p.m. of bilious pneumonia, Mr. John E. Naill, in the 61st year of his age. Mr. Naill attended the late meeting of the directors of the Cairo & St. Louis railroad, held at Carbondale, and went from there to New York City. It was while on this journey that he contracted the cold that resulted in his death. Mr. Naill was well-known to the people of southern Illinois, and by his death this portion of the state has lost one of its most enterprising and substantial citizens. The following sketch of his life is taken from the Jonesboro Gazette of Saturday: Mr. Naill was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, and educated at Gettysburg College in that state. After receiving a thorough classical and mathematical course, he graduated, receiving the degree of A. M. with honor. Mr. Naill afterwards read law in the office of James Cooper, afterwards member of Congress. He was admitted to the Maryland bar, and in 1843 came to Jonesboro where he taught school, and read law also with Gov. Dougherty. He has resided in this county ever since, except for one year. In '44 or '45 he went to Evansville, Ind., and formed a law partnership with Governor Conrad Baker. He again returned to this place, where he practiced his profession successfully for some years, and finally went into the mercantile business under the firm and style of Davie, Naill & Wilcox. In a few months he retired from the firm and set up for himself. He was many years actively engaged in the retail dry goods business, from which he amassed what he deemed a sufficiency and retired. He leaves a wife and a daughter, an only child, and numerous friends to mourn his demise. John E. Naill was a man of strict morals, never swore an oath, or indulged in drinking, strictly temperate and abstemious in his habits. A man of a high sense of honor, of strict integrity, or probity, and a thorough Democrat. Although somewhat of a retiring disposition, yet he was true in his friendship and sociable in his manners. We sincerely sympathize with his bereaved friends. They have lost a fond husband, an indulgent and affectionate father, and the community one of its brightest ornaments and Jonesboro one of her best citizens, whose memory will long be cherished for his many virtues. The funeral will take place at the late residence of the deceased, Sunday, at 10 o'clock a.m.
Friday, 22 Mar 1872: Mr. Joseph S. Anderson, an old-time Cairoite, died last week at St. Joseph, Mo., which has been his home for some years.
Saturday, 23 Mar 1872: A woman named Eliza Ann Williams, who left this city for Evansville two months ago, while under the influence of liquor a few days ago, in that city, fell down a flight of stairs and died in a few minutes after.
Wednesday, 27 Mar 1872: BRUTAL MURDER No Trace of the Assassin—A Capital Horror. In Springfield—at half past 11 Sunday night, a young man by the name of Henry Stay, whose parents live in LaSalle, was shot and instantly killed by a man by the name of Edward Duffy. It seems that Stay and Duffy, while in a saloon on Monroe Street last night, got into a good-natured scuffle, in which Duffy was thrown rather to a great degree, and he pulled out a revolver, and after a few words with Stay, fired upon and instantly killed him. He then turned to the proprietor of the saloon, Edwin Slater, and fired upon him, inflicting a severe flesh wound. Not content with what he had done, Duffy again aimed his revolver at Slater, who cried: "For God's sake don't shoot again; I am already crippled." Duffy said, very cooly: "All right, I won't," and put is revolver in his pocket, walked up to the dead body of young Stay, straightened it out, and then left the saloon apparently as cool as though he had killed a dog. The police were immediately notified, but up to tonight, no trace of the murderer has been obtained. Both Stay and Duffy were firemen employed upon the Toledo and Wabash railroad. Young Stay bore an excellent reputation, while Duffy was known as a rather rough customer. The body of Stay will be sent home tonight.
SUPPOSED MURDER. Last Saturday morning two men started in company to walk from Ullin to Wetaug on the Illinois Central Railroad. One of the men had collected at Ullin $100 and had the amount on his person. Only one of the men reached Wetaug where he got on the Cairo-bound train. When about halfway to Ullin, the engineer saw an object on the track, and stopped the engine just as it struck the body of a man lying across the rails. When the train stopped a man jumped off the rear platform and ran across a field and disappeared in the woods. Investigation developed the fact that the man who was stuck by the engine had been the companion of the man who had jumped off the train, and that they were the men who had left Ullin for Wetaug in company in the morning. The conclusion is that the fugitive murdered his companion for the money he had on his person and then threw the body on the track in the hope that a train would mangle it and conceal the marks which had been inflicted on the head of the murdered man by a club or stone.
DEATH OF YOUNG CLARK. The young man, Clark, who was lately crushed between a steam tug and a barge, died last Saturday, and was buried on Monday. His father, who was absent, was so terribly shocked by the fearful news of his son's death, that his nervous system has been seriously impaired. He seems to feel all the pain his unfortunate son endured and sets as if he were in the greatest agony. Young Clark was a quiet, industrious, and exemplary boy, and will be deplored by a large number of warm friends. After the accident he was not conscious, except for a moment a short time before his death.
The injures sustained by Joshua Clark terminated fatally last Saturday evening, and his remains were taken to Villa Ridge on Monday, accompanied by a large number of friends. The sad and sudden death of poor Joshua has nearly crazed his parents who idolized him, he being the only child.
Thursday, 28 Mar 1872: THE WETAUG MURDER. Particulars of the Cold-Blooded Affair. A Life Taken for Twelve Dollars and a Half. Arrest and Confession of the Murderers. Since writing the brief notice of the murder which was committed near Wetaug lately we have received from Chief Myers the particulars of the affair. On the morning of the day on which the murder was committed, four men got into a wagon at Ullin with the intention of passing over the country to Pope County. The names of the three who took part in the tragedy were Dodd, the victim, a resident of McCracken County, Kentucky, and Bagley and Shuffleberry, residents of Pope County, in this state. The name of the other members of the party, and who was the river of the team, we did not learn. After the wagon had proceeded a few miles, Bagley and Shuffleberry, who evidently believed Dodd had money on his person, induced their victim to get out with them and walk. Before the travelers reached Wetaug, Bagley and Shuffleberry managed to quarrel with Dodd and assaulted him, when he ran away from them. Arriving at Wetaug he made inquiries for an officer, saying, that he needed protection. While he was making this statement to a citizen, Bagley and Shuffleberry approached, when he ran as fast as he could up the track of the railroad. Just then the wagon came up and one of the murderers got into it, while the other pursued Dodd up the track. Seeing one of his pursuers in a wagon, and fearing that he might be "headed off," Dodd, after running about a mile turned and sought to retrace his steps; but was met by one of his pursuers, and while he was seeking to elude him, the other assassin attacked him. He was then disposed of. The murderers then placed the body on the track, and decamped; but curiosity brought one of them to the scene of the murder, where he witnessed the locomotive run over the body of his victim. He then coolly boarded the train, where he was arrested, and gave information which led to the arrest of his companion in guilt. The miscreants are now in the jail of Union County, but will doubtless escape unwhipped justice. Murderers always do in Egypt. The lawyers have a peculiar gift which enables them by a twist of the wrist to postpone trials, change the venue, convince juries, and in other ways that are dark and by tricks that are vain bringing every blood-stained wretch from under the gallows, and send him on his way rejoicing to slay again. And, as a matter of course, Bagley and Shuffleberry will not be the exception to this rule. A mild dose of penitentiary is all we can in our wildest expectations predict for them. (The 30 Mar 1872, Jonesboro Gazette reported that William Dodd was murdered by Charles Shuffleberger and one Bagley on 16 Mar 1872.—Darrel Dexter)
Friday, 29 Mar 1872: The funeral of Mr. Gus Beland, was attended by the Casino and Rough and Ready Fire Company, both in full uniform. A special train conveyed the remains to Villa Ridge.
Thursday, 4 Apr 1872: ANOTHER DASTARDLY MURDER. J. C. Clymore, of Johnson County, the Victim. Vienna, March 30. Editor Bulletin: Our village was horrified this morning by the report that J. C. Clymore, Esq., of our county had been murdered some six miles south of town near what is known as "Indian Point." Proceeding to the spot, there were presented evidences sufficient to confirm the report. Two huge hickory clubs were found stained with blood, and the trail was followed to the creek some thirty feet from the road, where it was discovered the body had been thrown over the bank into the water some eight or ten feet below. The cap and some papers of the deceased, together with his saddle bags were found near at hand. No clue to the murderers as yet, and the greatest excitement prevails. The body had not been recovered up to this evening. You will remember that Mr. Clymore, (being a claim agent) was before the U.S. district court in your city on a charge of obtaining money for persons not in this county, from which he was exonerated. The general opinion is that he was murdered for money. He was on his return from the southern part of the county, where he had been to pay off a claim held against him. As near as can be ascertained the deed was committed between seven and eight o'clock last evening. Bourgeoise.
SAD ACCIDENT. Little Girl Drowned in a Cistern. Yesterday about noon a little daughter of John Cummings, named Mary Ellen, went to the cistern at her parents’ residence, near Ullin, where Mr. Cummings, formerly of Cairo, is now working for Mr. James Morris, and while attempting to draw water with a bucket fell in and was drowned. No person saw the accident. The little girl, aged eight years, only a few minutes before her lifeless body was discovered in the cistern, had been with her mother in the house. She laid her doll on a sofa and told her mother she was going out into the yard to play "visiting." While Mr. Cummings was at dinner, the servant girl told him she could not find the cistern bucket or Mary Ellen, and she was afraid the little girl had tumbled into the cistern. Mr. Cummings became alarmed and soon had his worst fears confirmed. He found his daughter in the cistern; life extinct—dead. She will be buried today at Villa Ridge in the Catholic Cemetery.
MURDER IN UNION COUNTY. A Man Shoots His Brother in Cold Blood. Escape the Assassin. On last Sunday, William Hicks, who has lived for many years about one mile west of Jonesboro, called at the house of his brother James, who was his neighbor. There had been a dispute between the two brothers about an old plow, and William renewed it shortly after he entered the house. James stoutly maintained his position in regard to the plow, but with no warmth or passion. William soon became a raging maniac, and in a paroxysm of rage drew a revolver and fired three balls into his brother's breast, killing him instantly. This was done in the presence of his wife and four children, who fled in fear of their own lives. The murderer, after he had assured himself that the balls had not failed to do the duty he wished them to perform, mounted his horse and succeeded in escaping from the neighborhood of the bloody deed. It is feared the murderer will be handed over to the mercies of Judge Lynch if he should be captured by the excited men who are in pursuit of him.
Friday, 5 Apr 1872: The little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cummings, whose sad death was reported in The Bulletin yesterday morning, was interred at Villa Ridge yesterday.
ANOTHER DEATH. A Little Boy Falls from a Lumber Wagon and Receives Injuries from which He Dies in a Few Hours. We yesterday told the story of the said death of little Mary Ellen Cummings, who was drowned near Ullin yesterday, at about noon; and now we hear of the death of a little son of Mr. Moses Hughes, who lives within a few hundred yards of the scene of the first mentioned sad occurrence.
Yesterday after dinner while a load of lumber was
being taken from the mill to the Illinois Central for shipment, a little son
of Mr. Hughes, aged six years, was riding on the wagon. The little
fellow in climbing about over the lumber fell off and in falling, got his
right hand caught either in the timber, some of which was very heavy or some
where in the machinery of the wagon, by which it was crushed so severely
that it was thought the two middle fingers would have to be amputated. The
child was taken home, where he soon recovered from his fright, and it was
thought that beyond the loss of two fingers, he had sustained no other
injury. Toward evening, however, the little fellow showed symptoms of
growing worse. About
eight o'clock he did not speak, and died between twelve and
one o'clock. It is supposed that he sustained internal injures which, at
first, were not noticeable.
Friday, 12 Apr 1872:
CHARLIE WALKER
Between seven and eight o'clock
last night the jury in the Walker murder case, returned a verdict of
guilty, and fixing the term of the prisoner in the penitentiary at nine-nine
years—or for life.
At about nine o'clock last night the report was that Mrs. Mat Burns had poisoned herself was being told about the streets. A reporter of The Bulletin was sent out to ascertain the truth or falsity of the story, and gained the following particulars. Sometime during yesterday afternoon Mrs. B. gave her little girl, a child about eight years of age—a quarter of a dollar, and sent her out to buy morphine. The child refused at first to go for the poison, but the mother threatened to whip her if she did not obtain it for her. The child finally consented and went out and obtained the worth of the money in morphine. Between eight and nine o'clock Marshal Cain was sent for, and arriving at Mr. Burns' residence, found Mrs. B. under a shed in the back yard in an insensible condition. She was removed to the house and placed on a bed.
At ten o'clock when our
reporter left, she was still alive, but it was the opinion of all those who
saw her that she was beyond human assistance, and would surely die.
Yesterday morning, a few minutes before nine o’clock, one of the boilers of the Cairo City Mills, at the corner of Twentieth Street and Ohio Levee, owned by Mr. Charles Galigher, exploded with such force as to completely demolish the boiler house and engine room. At the time the explosion took place there were but two persons in the engine house; one was Mr. Harrison Stump and the other a Mexican, who up to within a few days has been employed as a laborer on the Cairo and Vincennes Railroad. From what we can learn, the engineer, Mr. Stump, had tested the gages but a few minutes before the explosion, and found that there was plenty water in the boiler. Mr. Stump was standing in front of the boiler, near the door of the engine house, facing Twentieth Street, and the Mexican was in the act of shoveling in coal, when the explosion occurred. The engine was thrown out to the edge of the sidewalk, and almost covered out of sight with boards and timbers. The Mexican was thrown some thirty feet from the building and came down in a vacant lot. Both men were severely scalded about the face, arms, and hands. The engineer, Mr. Stump, received several cuts and bruises about the head and face, while the Mexican received a very bad cut on the forehead. They were immediately removed to McGauley’s drug store where everything that could be done for them was done. Dr. Wardner was called and did all in his power to relieve the sufferers. As said above the engine house was completely demolished, not even so much as a post left standing. The force of the explosion will be better understood when it is known that the boiler that exploded was forced through the frame house in the rear of the mill, and carried a distance of one hundred and seventy-five yards, where it struck a stable in the yard in the rear of the Williams sawmill, which it completely demolished. In its course, it passed through several trees, and one of them, a tree, about ten inches through was broken as if it were a pipe stem. Several men who were at work in the Egyptian Mill, on the opposite side of the street, were standing near the door opening out on Twentieth Street, when the explosion took place. The steam, hot water, ashes, etc., was hurled across the street with such force as to blow open the doors, and then men believing that the whole end of the building would fall, ran into the street. However, no damage, beyond a few broken panes of glass, was sustained by the Egyptian Mills. It is said by competent judges that the boiler in this mill has been in a dangerous condition for some time, and that it is only to be wondered at that they stood it as long as they did. Indeed, we were informed yesterday, that only two or three weeks since, an engineer who was at that time filling the position of engineer at the mill, threw up his position because he considered the boiler to be in such a condition as to render them liable to blow up at any time; another gentleman tells us that the boiler head was defective, and that that was the cause of the explosion. New boilers and a new engine, now at the mill, were to have been put up as soon as the business of the mill would allow it to be shut down. Several teams of horses in the vicinity of the mill at the time of the disaster, became frightened and ran away, but we failed to hear of any damage done by them.
The funeral of Joseph Swoboda will take place today at 1 o'clock from his late residence. A special train will leave the foot of Eighth Street at half past 1 o'clock for Villa Ridge. The friends and acquaintances of the deceased are respectfully invited to attend.
The funeral of Harrison
Stump will take place today at Villa Ridge. Services at the Catholic
church. Train leaves foot of Eighth Street at half past 10 o’clock p.m.,
stopping at Cairo City Mills,
Twentieth Street,
for those wishing to get one at that point. Mr. Stump died at 8
o'clock yesterday morning. He was sixty years old 8th of January last, and
had been engineer of the Cairo City Mills many years. The murderer of Joe Swoboda, William Harrison, is well known in Cairo. He has for a long time been bar tender in the Delmonico Saloon, Commercial Avenue, and has the reputation of a quarrelsome and dangerous person. He is small of stature, eyes of light gray, light hair and complexion, with a doubtful kind of expression altogether indescribable. Although a married man, with one child, he has been for a long time a constant frequenter of bawdy houses, and of late has been infatuated by the wiles of Grace Windsor’s not very prepossessing sister. His friends have concluded to rest his defense on the plea of insanity, but cannot, probably, make it good, since he has never been suspected of any lack of good sense. Yesterday morning the representative of The Bulletin visited the county jail where Harrison is confined, and was allowed by Jailer Fitzgerald to interview the prisoner. Our reporter found him in a cell on the west side with two other prisoners. He was calm, and guarded in his conversation, having doubtlessly profited by the advice of his counsel, Mr. D. T. Linegar, and his friend Mr. Henry Winter, who had just left him. After hand shaking the following conversation ensued: Reporter—Good morning, Billy. Harrison—(coming to the door)—Good morning. Reporter—Am sorry to see you in this fix, Billy, but suppose it can’t be helped now. Harrison—I am sorry the thing happened, but I can’t help it now, it’s done and I’ll have to do the best I can. Reporter—When will your preliminary examination take place.
Harrison—I
don’t know, but I suppose in two or three days. Harrison—It is that, but Mr. Fitzgerald treats me mighty well, and you bet he won’t lose anything by it. Reporter—How many are there in the cell with you. Harrison—There are three of us, it is pretty close for three persons. Say, don’t you fellows do anything against me. You can favor me if you will. This was all. He was as close as a corked bottle.
THE SWOBODA HOMICIDE. Inquest Held by Esquire William M. Hale—Evidence of the Demireps—A Cold-Blooded Murder. Yesterday morning Esquire McHale, (the coroner being unwell), held an inquest on the body of Joseph Swoboda, having summoned the following jury: James Garland, foreman; John Q. Robinson, M. J. McGauley, Thomas J. Kerth, William Shick, W. C. Mehner, Theodore Vervees, William Docker, J. Wagley Hill, Lyman James, Henry Shick, and Henry Margge. The first witness called was Eliza, an inmate of the Windsor bawdy house, who testified, the first she knew of any difficulty Swoboda, who was in a room on the first floor of the house with Harrison, Ida Windsor, and others, said to Harrison: “Billy, I am going to stay with Ida tonight.” Harrison replied: “I’ll be G-d d----d if you do. This is my girl.” Harrison then continued to abuse Swoboda, calling him several times a d----d s-n of a b---h. Swoboda tired to pacify his assailant, but could not do so. Both then rose to their feet, and passed into the hall, Harrison following Swoboda still abusing him, and Swoboda telling him that he did not want to quarrel. Ida Windsor, the cause of the tragedy, then ran out of the opposite door, and hid in alarm. When the brawlers got into the hall, Harrison caught Swoboda by the coat collar, and saying, “You d----d s-n of a b---h, I’ll shoot you,” drew his pistol, and fired. Swoboda then caught Harrison by the neck and knocked him down. Ida Windsor and the other woman who was present testified substantially the same as Eliza. Robert Rheutan testified that he was standing on the sidewalk below the post office, in front of Henry Letner’s saloon, and was told by a Negro that a man had been shot at Windsor’s. HE ran down and into the hall; saw Harrison and Swoboda scuffling. Harrison was in the floor and Swoboda on top of him. Harrison turned Swoboda and got up. He ran for a chair and attempted to strike Swoboda with it, saying, “You G-d d----d s-n of a b----h I’ll kill you.” Rheutan caught Harrison and said, “Did you shoot him?” Harrison replied: “I did, but I want you to swear that I did not—that he shot himself.” The jury after consultation returned the following verdict: We the undersigned jurors, sworn to inquire of the death of Joseph Swoboda, on oath, do find that he came to his death by a wound inflicted by a pistol shot, willfully fired from a pistol by William Harrison, at No. 82 Commercial Avenue, corner of Fifth Street, in the City of Cairo, Alexander County, State of Illinois, on the 17th day of April, 1872.
THE BOILER EXPLOSION Harrison Stump, late engineer of the Cairo City Mills, died yesterday of the injuries inflicted upon him by the boiler explosion of Wednesday morning. An inquest was held on the body by Esquire McHale, and the following evidence elicited:
J. O. Smith, a merchant doing business at the corner of Nineteenth Street and Commercial Avenue, testified: Was between New York store and his place when he saw the explosion; ran up to the mill; when he got there the deceased was the first man he saw; took hold of him and asked him how he felt; he said “all right,” only that he was badly scalded;” assisted him out of the debris, and took him to McGauley’s drug store; the explosion occurred in this city. Smith Torrence, a boiler maker, testified: Heard the explosion of the boiler; was near by at the time of the occurrences; the explosion was a few minutes after nine o’clock; the boilers were not very good; boiler was leaking and steam was coming out of it; Stump never called my attention to the leaking places; do not know that Galigher was ever notified of any defect in the boilers; the explosion occurred in the city of Cairo, County of Alexander, Illinois. E. G. Hoppe, by occupation a miller, testified: I am employed at the Cairo City Mills; was in the engine room thirty or forty minutes before the explosion; saw a leak in the boiler; supposed the boiler was cracked or the steam would not come out; do not know whether Mr. Galigher was ever informed of any defect in the boiler; boiler carried on an average one hundred and thirty pounds of steam; thought the boiler was capable of carrying that amount of steam; have put one hundred and fifty pounds pressure on; this pressure was not put on intentionally, but when the mill was stopped the steam would rise. M. J. McCauley, druggist, doing business between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, on Commercial Avenue, testified: Mr. Stump was brought into my store; he was badly scalded; he called for a mixture to relieve the pain; had a bruise on his right side; the worst scalds were about his limbs. This being the last of the evidence the jury retired to the store of Mr. James Carroll, where, after deliberation, the following verdict was rendered:
State or Illinois, Alexander
County, s.s. Harrison Stump, engineer of the Cairo City Mills, who was so badly scalded by the explosion, died yesterday morning at nine o’clock.
DEATHS
In this city at half past 12
o'clock, a.m., April 19th, Horace Nicholas, son of Samuel M. and Maryette
Orr, aged eight months and nine days. Services at the residence of the
parents today at 12 o'clock prompt. Train will leave the foot of 26th
Street for Villa Ridge at exactly
1 1/2 o'clock p.m. Friends
invited.
(A marker in Cairo City
Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: Joseph Swoboda born July 8, 1848 Died
April 17, 1872.—Darrel Dexter)
Fifty dollars will be paid for
the recovery of the body of Benjamin Rolack, supposed to have been
drowned on the morning of the 16th inst., at the foot of Eighth Street; or
25 dollars will be paid for any information which may lead to the recovery
of the same. He was a dark mulatto, about five feet eight inches in height;
wore a moustache and goatee; had a large figure three of silver sewed on the
inside of his lapel of his vest. Information will be gladly received at
Beerwart, Orth & Co.'s,
No. 1365 Commercial Avenue,
or at H. Meyers' tobacco store, Ohio Levee.
Mr. Clempson, of
Caledonia, Pulaski County, had occasion to visit Cairo last week, and left
his store in charge of a lady, whether his wife or daughter we did not
learn. The day after Mr. Clempson’s departure, a drunken Negro
entered the store, and demanded money with which to purchase liquor. The
lady in charge refused, when the Negro attempted to go behind the counter,
and take the money from the drawer. The lady resisted, and was thrown
violently to the floor by the Negro who fell upon her. At this moment a
neighbor, who had been hunting, entered having heard the shrieks of the
woman, and seeing the Negro holding her upon the floor, he fired the
contents of the gun into the negro’s body killing him instantly.
An Old Resident of Williamson County Hanged to a Tree Till Dead Williamson County has earned an unenviable reputation lately as having been the scene of several cowardly and brutal murders within the last half dozen years. The latest outrage of this kind was perpetrated on last Monday night, the victim being an old resident of the county and a half-brother of Gov. Dougherty, of Jonesboro. We copy the following account of the affair from the last issue of the Williamson County Progress. Williamson County has been again disgraced by a foul murder. On Monday night last, a mob took Mr. Isaac Vancil, an old citizen of the country, from his bed and hung him till he was dead. As to the cause of this outrageous act, we hear contradictory reports. One is to the effect that the old man had driven his family from home and was keeping lewd women in his house, and so flagrant had become his acts that his neighbors had warned him before that if he did not desist or leave the neighborhood, they would most certainly punish him. Whether these were the facts or not, we do not know, suffice it to say, another foul murder has been committed for which the guilty parties ought to be made to suffer the penalty of an outraged law.
Mr. Vancil was half-brother to Lieut. Gov.
John Dougherty, of
Jonesboro. Aside from his
domestic difficulties, he had the reputation of being an honorable and
upright citizen. The section of our country in which this horrible deed
occurred, has been the scene of several murders within half a dozen years,
and it is high time that the parties engaged in them were being made
examples of. If our local authorities cannot ferret out the guilty ones, we
are in favor of petitioning the Governor of our state to offer such reward
as will induce detectives to go to the bottom of this dastardly business.
In the last issue of the Mound City Patriot, we find the following: In Caledonia on Friday last some unknown coward and assassin shot one Henry Anderson, colored, in open daylight within a few steps of Mr. Clemson’s store. We did not learn the full particulars of the case, but it seems that Anderson was approaching the store when he received the contents of the gun in his face and side of his head, from some ambushed coward and would be murderer. The perpetrator of the deed has not been discovered as yet though he should be found and punished. This statement is incorrect. The particulars of the killing of the Negro are as follows. The negro, Henry Anderson, went into the store of Mr. Clemson, Caledonia, during the absence of that gentleman, and being drunk, became troublesome. Mr. Clemson’s mother-in-law, Mrs. McDonald, an old lady of some fifty-eight years old was in the store at the time alone. He demanded of her a dollar. She refused to give it to him, telling him she had no money to lend. He declared that he would compel her to lend the money. She still refused, when he said he would be d----d if she would not. Mrs. McDonald then ran out to call for assistance, the negro following her. After he was in the street the woman succeeded in locking and bolting the door. The negro thereupon turned on Mr. G. W. Boyne, an old man, and began abusing him, shaking his fist under Boyne’s nose, calling him a d----d liar and other opprobrious names. Boyne retreated across the street the Negro attempting to strike him, and continued his assaults to Boyne’s door, attempting to enter. Boyne, in the meantime, had got his gun and warned the infuriated negro to desist, but to no effect. The negro continued the attack and sought to wrest the fun from Boyne’s hands. Boyne, at last, broke away, and taking aim he shot his assailant dead. He was alone, with a family of three daughters, and in his own and their defense he could have done nothing less than he did.
Wednesday, 1 May 1872: The Lives and Property of the People at the Mercy of a Mob Holden, Mo., April 28.—The reign of terror in Cass County, instead of abating is on the increase and the civil authorities are powerless to enforce the law, and the lives and property of the people are at the mercy of the mob. Twelve men, old and respectable citizens of Cline, together with the minister who performed the last rites at his funeral, were ordered to leave within twenty-four hours or be shot. They accordingly left, and are now exiles from their homes.
The mob is furious and have
decreed to slay all the principals in the bond matter, their bondsmen, and
all who sympathize or attempt to defend them. Nothing but the strong arm of
the law will preserve the peace and bring the murderers to justice. A
company of militia arrived here this evening, from Kansas City, in command
of Captain Phelan. Our citizens feel somewhat relieved, but hope
Governor Brown will feel that one company is a small force to contend
against one or two thousands desperadoes.
“The tragedy at Ashley, Mo., (on Sunday, June 13, 1870,) news of which filled our city with rumors of every conceivable description, was even more terrible in its deliberate enactment than the imagination of anyone here had thought to portray it. From what we have been able to obtain from those who returned yesterday with the body of Miss Summers, it appears that AMBROSE COE, the perpetrator of this great crime, premeditated the death of his victim, and only awaited a favorable moment to accomplish his fiendish design. After remaining in the town of Ashley several days, where he arrived on Thursday from a trip to Kansas, he finally, on Saturday morning, went to one of the churches of that place, expecting to find Miss Summers there, failing in which, he then repaired to the Presbyterian church, where he saw her quietly sitting in one of the pews. (It is alleged that during the service he was seen to draw a large knife from his pocket and examine it, but this is not authentic.) At the conclusion of the services, he is said to have preceded his victim some little distance but finally disappeared. Soon after, however, at the hour of noon, while Miss Summers was sitting in her music room, at the residence of Mr. M. F. Griggs, Coe passed the window and approached the door of the house. Professor Watkins, of the Seminary, chanced to be in the room with Miss Summers, and mentioned to her that Mr. Coe was coming, at the same time asking her if he should be admitted. Miss Summers answered certainly whereupon the Professor opened the door and Coe entered. Miss Summers was sitting near the door, so that when it was opened she was partially concealed from view. Coe stepped across the room and seated himself, but as soon as the door was closed he arose and approached Miss Summers, extending his hand in a friendly manner. She did not shake hands with him, but barely said “good morning.” Coe then exclaimed, “Abbie, I want a few minutes private conversation with you,” ad Prof. Watkins was requested to leave the room, which he did at the suggestion of Miss Summers, who followed him to the door. When going out the professor said: “If you need me, call; I’ll not be far away,” evidently feeling some presentiment of coming danger. In less than two minutes after Professor Watkins left the he heard Miss Summers scream, and although he was only across the hall, in a room opposite that occupied by Miss Summers, before he could reach the scene of the tragedy she was a corpse. Coe made no attempt to escape, but stood quietly looking upon the prostrate form of his victim. He was instantly arrested and handed over to the authorities, who at once took him to Bowling Green, and placed him in jail. THE WOUNDS Inflicted by a large-sized common butcher’s knife, were of such a character as to cause instant death, only one of the four being a slight one. It is surmised that she was cut across the arm and breast slightly while facing her murderer, and that the other three wounds, which were in the back (one under each shoulder blade and the other directly through the middle of the spinal column) were inflicted while she was attempting to make her escape. When found upon the floor the blade was impacted in the bones of the spine, the point of the knife having passed through the vertebrae and penetrated the cavity of the heart. It was withdrawn by Prof. Watkins with difficulty. THE BODY was taken charge of by the friends of the unfortunate girl at Ashley and brought to Louisiana, where those who went down from this city found it upon their arrival.
Mrs. Juliet C. Raum died at her residence in Golconda, on Friday, April 26th, at 10:05 p.m. The deceased was the wife of the late Major John Raum, and mother of Gen. G. B. and Major John M. Raum. She was a woman of marked ability and was a leading spirit in the community in which she had resided for a long period of years. She was a dutiful wife, an exemplary mother, and, to the community a benefactor. During the war she took a very active part in the cause of the Union, and woman as she was did more to mold public opinion in the right direction in Pope County and to encourage enlistments in the army than any other one person in the county. Her time and her money were always at the disposal of her country, which she loved as dearly as life itself. She never turned a solder away without food and shelter.
(John Raum married Mrs.
Juliet C. Field on 22 Mar 1827, in Pope Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
On last Saturday Mrs.
Hegwood and Rueh, both recently of Paducah, Ky., secured a horse
and buggy at Peter’s livery stable, and started out to visit the mother of
the former, Mrs. Rails, living about nine miles from Metropolis.
When in the neighborhood of what is known as the Secesh school house, the
horse became frightened, and springing forward, threw Mrs. Rueh out
of the buggy and precipitated Mrs. Hegwood forward between the front
fore wheel and the bed of the buggy, where her clothing became fastened in
the wheel, axletree, and shafts, in his position, with her head near the
horse’s heels and her body upon the axletree, she was hurried along at a
fearful rate for the distance of three quarters of a mile, the horse keeping
the road until the reins became entangled in the wheel, which forced him off
the road, and was finally stopped by a sapling, which struck the buggy just
where the body of Mrs. Hegwood had fallen, and it is supposed this
really occasioned her death. Several persons saw the frightful termination
of the accident, but on reaching the scene, found Mrs. Hegwood quite
dead, her clothing torn almost to shreds, the buggy spattered with blood and
the body horribly mutilated. The body was taken to Mr. William Boyles,
residence and the body dispatched to the coroner, who, summoning a jury,
held the inquest, rendering a verdict in accordance with the above facts.
Mrs. Rueh escaped with several slight bruises. The horse, if we are
correctly informed, has never been known to run away before, but is quick of
action and it is probable that in the application of the whip, sprang
forward so suddenly as to throw Mrs. Hegwood forward out of the
buggy, and from which he became frightened. Certainly no more horrible
death could be devised by human ingenuity, and the particulars are so
sickening, it is painful to dwell upon them, and we hope never to be
required to chronicle such another. Since our last publication William Sansom, Marion Gray, Marion Diall, Pleasant Veitch, and Samuel Gossette, living in the vicinity of Herrin’s Prairie, Williamson County, and Jesse Cavin, of Six Mile Prairie, Franklin County, have been arrested on accusation of being concerned in the murder of Isaac Vancil, and lodged in the Marion jail. The evidence implicating all the accused, except Diall, in the hanging of Vancil, is said to be overwhelming; but the nature of such evidence has not been made public. Diall and his release upon a writ of habeas corpus is expected. The prisoners are mostly young men, of about the average natural intelligence. Of course, they stoutly affirm their innocence and deny all knowledge, not only of the particular crime of which they are accused, but also of any Ku Klux Klan; they profess never to have heard of any such organization until after the lynching of Vancil, and laugh at the supposition that they would belong to the order. No efforts will be left untried to ferret out this majority and bring the offenders to justice. Captain Corder has taken the case in hand and renders Coroner Young valuable assistance in working up the case. The coroner’s jury impaneled the day after the murder have not yet concluded their labors, but are called together whenever any new evidence is found bearing upon the case in any manner whatever. The jury consists of James Scott, foreman; Vincent Hinchcliff, William Chitley, John Kerk, A. J. Herrin, J. W. Alexander, J. D. Harrison, John H. Chitley, F. M. James, D. A. Tittsworth, and John G. Williams. It will e seen that the jury comprises some of the best men of Williamson County, whom no threats can deter from doing their duty. They are confident that they will be able to unravel the whole affair and to bring the perpetrators of this heinous outrage to punishment. For fear that the ends of justice may be defeated if the evidence they have thus far secured by made public, the jury have concluded not to divulge anything that comes before them; consequently it is impossible to say what the testimony implicating the prisoner with the murder is. However, it is well known that several of the accused have been recognized as being of the party that took Vancil from his house, and also that they belonged to an acknowledged band of so-called “regulators.” We have been at considerable pains to trace out the operations of this Ku-Klux organization, and learn that it has been in existence several months. Within a few years a large number of murders have been committed in the neighborhood of Six Mile, Herrin’s and Eight Mile prairies, houses, barns and grain stacks burned, men taken from their homes and whipped and other outrages perpetrated. If a man became obnoxious, no matter what was the accusation against him, he was liable to be visited by this gang and summarily dealt with. One man had a different times bought considerable land at tax sales, and the owners failing to redeem their property the purchaser obtained title to it. He was notified, some time since, to relinquish his claims to all these lands or a “stout rope and a short shrift” would be his doom; and to save his neck he complied with the order of his mysterious mentors. On the night of the 14th of last December, a body of men, about forty in number, went to the house of John Baker, on the edge of Williamson and Franklin counties, and ordered him to open the door. Mr. Baker was absent from his home, a fact which his family made known to the crowd. Finding their prey had escaped them, they burst open the door, ordered the inmates out of the house, removed the furniture and set fire to the house. These men were regularly organized under command of a captain and two lieutenants; they wore no disguise at that time, but called themselves the “Ku-Klux Company;” subsequently they adopted what they term their “uniform,” which consists of a long white coat trimmed with black, a white cape, also a white cap with a cape reaching below the shoulders—all trimmed with black. After the burning of Baker’s house, William Clark’s and William Head’s dwellings were also burned and their families driven off. Other outrages, such as whippings, followed in quick succession, until the whole neighborhood, infested by these fellows was completely under their control, not a man daring to take any steps for the arrest of the villains. In fact, so bold had they become, that soon after the affair at Baker’s place the captain of the gang said his company “never had been headed, and never aimed to be.” One reason supposed for the hanging of Vancil is that he was in some manner connected with this band and they became fearful lest he would divulge their secrets, hence the necessity of putting him out of the way. This, however, is not credited by those who are well acquainted with Vancil, who think family troubles had much to do with his murder. The number of this gang is variably stated at from forty to ninety-five. One man says that on one occasion he counted eight of them, disguised and mounted, but it is quite probable that his vision was befogged. On one or two occasions forty have made their appearance, and about the time of the Vancil murder twenty-three were met in the vicinity of the tragedy. When the first call was made at Vancil’s house, a young man named Morgan was staying there, and he was ordered to leave without ceremony. Morgan took the hint and left, thus saving himself much trouble. Vancil had a tenant named Wadkins on a remote part of his farm. The morning after the murder he was ordered to leave the place instanter, or he, too, would grace a tree. Wadkins had no team and was so lame that it was with difficulty he could walk; however, the journey must be made, and the poor fellow abandoning all his worldly goods, at once started. The nearest place where he could obtain assistance was three miles off and this long distance this poor cripple traveled accompanied by his wife and three young children. Soon after the murder of Vancil, a farmer named Adams, living a few miles distant, in Franklin County, was seized by this gang, taken to the woods and severely whipped. After this operation was performed he was cautioned about saying anything concerning the matter; if he did, death would be his portion. As might be expected, Adams was terribly frightened, and although he recognized some of his tormentors he kept such knowledge to himself. After the arrest of the parties in the Marion jail, he proceeded to Benton and laid his case before the authorities. Warrants for the arrest of several men were at once issued and ere this they are doubtless in custody. This prompt action of the authorities has completely demoralized the Ku-Klux, and finding public opinion turning against them so suddenly and so fiercely they have lost confidence, and it is feared some of the most guilty may escape punishment by fleeing the country. Governor Palmer offers $1,000 for the arrest of the murderers, and also a reward of $100 for the arrest of every man who can be proven a member of the Ku-Klux organization.
(James T. Allen married
Heuldah James on 17 Dec 1866, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter) The Marion Friend of Thursday gives an account of another murderous affray in Williamson County on Monday last:
“Another shooting affray took
place at Crab Orchard, in this county, on Monday last between the Normans
and McHaneys, in which Henry McHaney was shot three times,
once through the lungs and twice in one of his legs, from the effects of
which he will probably die. There had been some trouble in the family for
several days and it was thus ended on Monday last. From what we are able to
learn, Henry McHaney was in the act of whipping Parker, a
son-in-law of Norman's
when several shots were fired, and it is impossible to ascertain whose
pistol did the deed.
Mr. Heller was a brother
of Mrs. John Sackberger, and half brother to Mr. Aunselman.
He formerly resided at
Grand Tower, Illinois,
where he was engaged, during last winter, in putting up ice. From cold
contracted by exposure, consumption set in, and finding that that terrible
disease had a fatal hold on his constitution he came to this city about two
months ago in order to avail himself of the tender care of his sister.
Everything in the power of human skill was done to alleviate his sufferings,
but all to no purpose. After an illness of four months, he passed away
leaving a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his loss.
In our Belleville items of yesterday, we alluded to the fact that John Kaesbach, convicted, together with Charles Habermann, for the murder of Adam Wirshing, had been released on bail on Thursday evening. Soon after regaining his freedom, Kaesbach repaired to his home in O’Fallon, St. Clair County, about seven miles north of Belleville, where he had been engaged for some time in keeping a saloon and boarding house. It was at this saloon that Wirshing was killed, and it was here, at about the hour of 9 o’clock on Friday night, that another bloody scene was enacted, the particulars of which, as near as they can be ascertained are as follows: At the hour mentioned Kaesbach with two others, was in the saloon when a stranger entered and called for some refreshments. Kaesbach waited upon him, when the stranger, while in the act of drinking, proposed the health of Kaesbach, and swallowing the drought immediately started for the door closely followed by Kaesbach; but whether he did this by invitation of the stranger, or of his own volition, no one can tell. As soon as the two had reached the sidewalk, and without giving the least warning, the stranger drew a pistol from his pocket, two balls from which were discharged, one of them entering the head and the other the body of Kaesbach in the region of the heart, producing death instantly. After having accomplished this bloody deed, the stranger in a very cool and deliberate manner, proceeded to unite and mount his horse which had been hitched to a post in front of the saloon, and rode off at a not very rapid pace, meanwhile addressing a gentleman who was standing by and calling him by name. It is further said that the stranger or supposed stranger was speedily joined by other mounted men who had been stationed in various portions of the town when they all rode off together. Kaesbach was killed within two feet of the spot where poor Wirshing was murdered last December, and for which he and Habermann were indicted and convicted as has been previously indicated. Prosecuting Attorney K. A. Halbert and Coroner Theodore Joerge of Belleville went over to O’Fallon yesterday morning for the purpose of investigating the affair.
The citizens of O’Fallon, while
they do not approve of such acts of violence in defiance of the law,
nevertheless, breathe free since this man has been removed from their midst,
who was regarded by many persons as a desperado. It is rumored that on
Friday, the day after Kaesbach had been released from incarceration
in the county jail he hired a horse and buggy, and drove through the streets
of O’Fallon with a pistol girdled around his waist, and that his
denunciation and threats toward the people of that town were of very violent
and dangerous character. Up to a late hour last evening no additional
particulars had been received.
Young Daniel Stanley,
about 16 years of age, son of Mr. Nathan Stanley, living nine miles
west of town, met the most terrible death last Saturday, it was ever our
duty to record. He had been plowing in the field until dinner time, when he
unhitched the horse from the plow and stopped on the trace chain for the
purpose of mounting, when his foot slipped and became entangled in the
harness. The horse commenced running and kicking, and before he could be
checked the young man's leg was pulled entirely off at the thigh, and he
otherwise too terribly mangled for us to give the shocking details. His
parents have the sympathy of their entire community in this sudden death of
an industrious and promising young man.
(Lawrence J. Bryne
married Mary Ann Bradey on 2 Jun 1863, in Alexander Co., Ill. A
marker in Calvary Cemetery at
Villa Ridge reads: Patrick P. Byrne 1869-1872, Brother.—Darrel
Dexter)
(They are listed in the 1870 census of Cairo,
Alexander Co., Ill.
John Cooper was 7 and Josephine Cooper was 5. They were
children of Charles Cooper, born in Baden, and Kate Cooper
born in Bayern.—Darrel Dexter) Sunday, 7 Jul 1872: Attempted Assassination (From the Golconda Herald of the Fourth) We have just learned from Mr. N. D. Fox, who lives in Massac County, of the attempted assassination of Mr. Alex Stewart by his wife, on last Saturday night. It is said that she had threatened on several occasions to kill him, and on the night above mentioned she went to his room, and, finding him asleep, struck him on the breast, shoulder, and elbow with an axe, which she carried, cutting him so severely that it is feared he will not recover. There is a great deal of excitement prevailing in the neighborhood on account of the unfortunate affair. (There is an Alexander Stewart listed in the 1870 census of Township 15, range 6, Massac Co., Ill. He was born 1813 in South Carolina and was married to Elizie, born about 1823 in Illinois. He also had a 22-year-old son who was also named Alexander. Alex Stewart married Eliza Kincade on 27 Sep 1840, in Pope Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Yesterday noon, Circuit Court adjourned over till Monday. Billy Harrison, who shot and killed Joseph Swoboda last April, was arraigned in Circuit court yesterday morning, with murder in the first degree and pled not guilty. The case will come up again on Tuesday next.
It is our painful duty to record the death of another boy by drowning. Yesterday morning, while three boys were playing in a canoe some distance from the shore, the bark upset and a boy named Carl was drowned. Up to this time the body still remains in its watery grave, though men are diligently fishing for its recovery. Our readers will remember that we predicted an occurrence of this kind a few days since, and may we again be allowed to admonish parents to keep a close watch upon their little ones.
Tuesday, 9 Jul 1872: Jackson County is earning an unenviable notoriety. We publish in today's issue, an account of a heartless and unprovoked murder committed there last week. Another one also took place near Murphysboro on the morning of the fourth, one man shooting and killing another one, the cause of the deed being a long-standing quarrel. If Jackson County continues on this way, Williamson will have to yield to it the palm for ruffianism and outlawry.
CARELESS HANDLING OF FIREARMS On the afternoon of the 1st, Miss Lizzie Voorhees, only daughter of Stephen Voorhees, of Jacksonville, Illinois, was accidentally shot and it is believed mortally wounded, by Thomas W. Dunn, at her father's residence. Dunn is a relative of the Voorhees family and boarded with them. At the time of the said accident he was handling a pistol in the room where Miss Voorhees was sitting, and, believing it was unloaded, playfully pointed the weapon at her and pulled the trigger, when it was discharged, and the ball entered the young lady's head, near the base of the nose, and penetrated to such a depth that the attending surgeons have been unable to discover its location. It is said the wound will almost certainly result fatally.
COWARDLY ASSASSINATION An Old Man in Jackson County Murdered by his Step-Son. (From the Carbondale New Era of Saturday.) One of the most unprovoked and cowardly assassinations it has ever been our lot to chronicle occurred on Wednesday last in Bradley Precinct, near what is known as headquarters, twelve miles northwest of Murphysboro. Several years ago Dr. Henson, one of the oldest residents of Jackson County, married a widow Brown, who had a family of children, several of them fully grown. Henson, it is said, was not a very kind husband, and about six weeks since his wife separated from him. Henry Brown, a son of Mrs. Henson’s, a reckless, dissipated and bad heated man, about thirty years of age, had several quarrels with his stepfather, but the old doctor never supposed that Henry bore him any special hostility, regarding their frequent misunderstandings as mere family disputes. It appears, however, that Brown’s animosity was deeper seated and he determined upon revenge. On the morning of the 26th ult., he invited a friend—son of Dr. Dodson—to accompany him to Mr. Henson’s house. Not anticipating any trouble, young Dodson went with Brown, and approaching Henson’s farm they saw the old man plowing in a field. Brown accused Henson of threatening to “clean out the whole ridge.” This imputation Henson denied, saying he was too old a man to think of such a thing. Brown reiterated the charge and declared his intention of settling the matter. Henson again denied it, and said he had but a few more years to live and he had no intention of endangering even those few years by getting up fusses and talking in such a manner. Finally, after Brown had cursed him soundly, Henson said, “Henry, I never said so, and whoever says I did tell a lie.” No sooner had the words been spoken than Brown drew a revolver and commenced deliberately firing upon the old unarmed man. In vain did the grey haired victim beseech the fiend to spare his life and his appeals to Dodson to interfere were heart rending in the extreme. Dodson was unarmed, and could only beg Brown to quit firing. Five shots were fired, two of them only taking effect; one of them entering under the right arm and coming out through the breast, and the other piercing the groin. As the second ball struck him Henson fell, and Brown, clubbing his pistol, sprang upon his prostrate foe, dealing him several heavy lows upon the head, fracturing his skull. Henson lingered until Saturday morning, when death put an end to his sufferings. A warrant was issued for Brown’s arrest, but he managed to elude pursuit. It is said, however, that no determined or “organized effort was made to arrest him, and that his escape is altogether due to the inefficiency of our officers. It is also said that a dispatch was sent to an officer at DuQuoin requesting Brown’s arrest.. The officer it is alleged, was a friend of Brown’s and notified him of his danger, declining to make the arrest. We hope no efforts will be left untried to bring Brown to justice. The murder of his stepfather—a man of nearly seventy years of age—was without the least palliation; it was one of the most fiendish crimes ever committed in this state. The parties who secreted him after he had committed the murder, and who connived at his escape, also deserve severest punishment, and we call upon the next grand jury to see that they, too, be called before the bar of justice. It is terrible to know how cheaply human life is held in some portions of southern Illinois, and how easy blood-stained criminals escape the penalty of their crimes. Is justice a farce in Jackson County, or has the law become powerless to punish the guilty?
DIED—July 7th, 1872, James William, son of Huldah and J. T. Allen, aged 2 years, ten months, and 27 days. Shawneetown papers please copy.
The body of the lad who was drowned, an account of which appeared in our local columns on Saturday, was found on the same evening, of which we were not aware, about twenty yards from where he was drowned, near Halliday & Co.'s wharf boat.
Mr. Hiram Hill, the submarine diver, searched the river three hours Saturday afternoon for the body of Mike Carroll, and when he was offered pay he refused to take it. We deem it but justice to Mr. Hill that the above should be known. It was a noble act and attended by many dangers.
Thursday, 11 Jul 1872: From a private letter to a friend in this city, dated Charleston, Mo., Wednesday 6 a.m., we were sorry to learn that Mr. Whitecomb, so long joint proprietor of the Charleston Courier, is no more. The letter says: "He commenced sinking about supper time last evening, and immediately became unconscious. All night the death struggle showed itself plainly. Since then he has breathed his last. His remains are to be interred at St. Louis according to his expressed desire.”
Tuesday, 16 Jul 1872: OBITUARY NOTICES "What shall we add now? He is dead." A brother of Mr. W. T. Burnett, hide merchant of this city, was killed at St. Louis Saturday morning. The particulars of the accident we have not learned. Mr. Burnett and family are now absent paying the last tribute of respect to the unfortunate man's remains. On the 12th instant, in this city, Mr. Nelson Vandeventer departed this life, in the 63d year of his age. The funeral took place at half-past 12 o'clock Sunday last.
Saturday, 20 Jul 1872: It is our sad duty to announce the death of Mr. R. J. Mumford, engineer on the Illinois C. R. R. living on Poplar, near Twenty-first Street. He left Cairo about two weeks ago on a visit to a brother living about twenty miles above Champaign, and on Monday last Mrs. M. received a dispatch informing her of his dangerous state, and requesting her immediate presence. Mrs. M. immediately responded to the call, and yesterday a dispatch was sent to a relative here stating that he died that morning. Mr. M. was a stout young man, in good health when he left, expecting an enjoyable time. Deceased was a quiet, industrious man and a good neighbor, and will be missed by his friends. His disease was chronic diarrhea. He leaves no children.
Sunday,
28 Jul 1872: About a year and a half ago, a negro rascal named James Jackson, living about a mile and a half from Villa Ridge, who cohabited with a negro woman, became enraged when she cast him off and would have nothing more to do with him. In revenge therefore, the savage brute cut off the ears of her infant child and escaped before he could be caught. Last Tuesday the bold villain came back, and word being sent to Sheriff Irvin, he stood not on the order of his going, but went for him and arresting the unhung wolf sent him to Pulaski County hail, where he is now safely housed to take his turn at the next term of the criminal court.
About ten days ago information was sent to Sheriff Irvin
of a negro named
Lawrence Bird, who murdered a man by the name of Richard O'Barwon,
on the farm of Joseph Clark in Missouri, and was floating around the
Misery Mills in Centralia. The sheriff was off in a jiffy, bagged the
murderer and returned here with him on Friday. Sheriff Swank, of
Mississippi County, Missouri, came after him and took him over to
Charleston, Mo., to be held for trial. Sheriff Irvin deserves great
credit for his promptness and skill in nabbing the above named desperate
ruffians.
In Hazlewood Precinct, a man named Tufts, while entering the door of his own house, towards evening, on Friday last, was shot in the back by a man supposed to be named Hoffman. The latter was arrested and examined before Squire Putnam. The ball which entered the body of Tufts, being extracted, it was found when compared with those which were used in Hoffman's gun to be exactly the same size and weight. A gun patch was also found used in firing, which corresponded with those which had been cut from a piece of cloth by Hoffman. Strong circumstantial evidence in addition to the foregoing was produced; and it was proven that the suspected man Hoffman had quarreled in a saloon a few hours previous to the shooting. Hoffman, however, was released, and is not at large. Comment is needless, and we can only inquire, have we all the particulars and is this the finality, or will it be terminated in a hanging?
(The name of the dead man was identified as Tubbs in later
issues. The Jonesboro Gazette of
Saturday, 3 Aug 1872, reported
that Henry W. Tubbs, of Jordan Settlement, was shot by Alfred
Huffman on Friday, 2 Aug 1872. Henry W. Tubbs married Malinda Hazlewood
on 9 Sep 1870, in Union
Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Yesterday afternoon about
4 p.m. a rumor reached town
that the railroad bridge in process of construction across the Cache River
had fallen, but a few minutes previous to the news reaching us. Hastening
to the telegraph office (Col. Wood having been absent for some time
on the road) we were kindly furnished by Mr. F. S. Kent, telegraph
operator, with what little he had ascertained. The intelligence given us
was to the effect that the bridge suddenly fell, from what cause he had not
learned, and with it several men who were working on it, one of whom was
instantly killed by the falling timbers, and five others more or less
injured. Mrs. Lovisa Rockwood (mother-in-law of Dr. Wardner of this city) whose death was recorded in the columns of The Bulletin on Tuesday last, at the ripe age of 80 years, was born at Middlebury, Vermont, May _________ her father, Mr. Chancy Foote, removed his family while the subject of this brief memoir was still in her childhood, to Canton, New York. Mr. Foote was a prominent and energetic man in his time and generation, and was esteemed sand trusted by his neighbors during those trying days. Miss Foote, at the age of 22 years, married Captain Cephas Rockwood, the adopted son of Governor Leland, of Vermont, in which state and the northern part of New York, he resided for several years. About the year 1839 Mr. Rockwood removed to Waukesha, Wisconsin, and lived there until the time of his death in 1844, leaving a family of five daughters and one son. Mrs. Rockwood, with industrious integrity, struggling with the cares of a large family, and the hardships attendant upon frontier life as long as circumstances permitted, thought it advisable to remove to Milwaukee, where better educational advantages offered for her growing family; an object which she ever held in view as one of primary importance. After a few years she removed from thence to Sheboygan, in which town she resided until she took up her home with her son-in-law, Dr. Wardner, in 1853 (or 1858?), with whom she remained until the time of her death. The deceased lady numbered among her intimate friends, many of the leading citizens of New York and the then west. Among those whose friendship continued throughout a long lifetime were Silas Wright, of New York, the late eminent Mrs. Willard, of the Troy Female Academy, Mrs. A. M. Redfield, of Syracuse, and many others. Mrs. Rockwood was a member of the Congregational Presbyterian Church, at the time of her death, holding membership in the First Congregational Church of Chicago, of which Rev. Dr. Patton is pastor. She was much beloved by a large circle of warm friends, and almost adored with filial reverence by her affectionate children. Her Christian deportment had a far-reaching influence on those who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. She departed this life on the 30th of July 1872, as a sheaf of corn fully ripe for the sickle of death, and entered into her rest full of years and good works. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors, and their works do fully follow them.” The Rev. Mr. Thayer being absent, the funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Thompson, of the M. E. Church of this city.
DIED.—In this city on Thursday, August 1st, 1872, at half past twelve o’clock, Mrs. Rachel Ashmore, in the 49th year of her age. The funeral service will be held in the M. E. church, cor. Eighth and Walnut streets, this day (Friday) at ____ in which friends and acquaintances are invited. After services her remains will be taken to Smithland, Ky., for interment.
Michael Mahoney, a member of the Hibernian Fire Company, died Sunday evening last, about 7 o'clock. The funeral attended by the members of the several fire companies of this city, took place yesterday afternoon. The remains were buried at Villa Ridge Cemetery. At a meeting of the Hibernian Company, held yesterday forenoon, Messrs. M. J. Howley, James Kennedy, and T. M. Lovett, were appointed a committee on memorial resolutions and reported the following: Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God in his infinite mercy to deprive us of one of our most active and zealous members, therefore be it Resolved, by the officers and members of the company, that, in the death of our beloved brother, Michael Mahoney, the Hibernian Fire Company has suffered an irreparable loss and the community at large model and upright citizen. Resolved, That we bury our departed brother with all the honors of a fireman and in a manner worthy of his past services toward the bereaved company.
Resolved,
that the foregoing resolutions be spread upon a page of the journal set
apart for that purpose, and be also published in the city papers. (Before Justices Bross and Robinson) The prisoner, a young man of about 20 or 22 years we should think, was brought up under the care of the sheriff for preliminary examination yesterday afternoon about 3 o’clock. He appeared to be somewhat indifferent, and though by no means of a cruel physiognomy, his features, especially his eyes, appeared to betray a hasty, passionate temper. To the courtesy of Messrs. Green and Webb we are indebted for permission to extract from their notes the most important points of the examination. It need not to be stated that Alfred Huffman, the prisoner, is the supposed murderer of poor Tubbs. The first witness called was Dr. A. P. Greer, the attending physician, who testified as follows: Saw Tubbs about fifteen minutes after he was shot, and was with him until about two hours before he died, at his own (Tubbs’) house. Found the ball entered two and one-half or three inches below the inferior scapula, one and one-half inches from center of spine on the left side. Deceased was suffering considerable pain; gave him a dose of morphine after which he became more quiet; threw up blood and contents of stomach; was there about 5 or 6 hours and until about 2 hours before he died. Next morning called and found him dead; made a post mortem examination; made incision in abdomen and found ball had passed through his stomach; ball struck one of the processes of spinal vertebra and flattened. I introduced two fingers into hole which the ball had made in the stomach; I took the ball out; came through middle of left side about middle of abdomen; made further examination; saw here ball entered day before; introduced probe; cause of death, internal hemorrhage caused by shot; found blood infiltrated into bowels; lower lobe of left lung affected; ball cut several blood vessels, caused hemorrhage and death. Think ball ranged slightly downward; very little chance for any many to live such injury; soon after I got to the house I looked at my watch and found it was 11:15 o’clock; had not been there long when he was shot; suppose it was not far from ten minutes after I was notified until I looked at my watch. When I got there R. Heater, Cliff Hazlewood, Levi Gordon and Tubbs’ wife were present. I have the ball—(ball here exhibited, and a round ball likewise—the ball that was fired was completely flattened one and being a trifle thicker than the other.) The round ball and the flattened ball weighed exactly the same, two drachms and eleven grain each. C. Hazlewood gave him me the round ball; he gave me the cartridge, and it was from a pistol Tubbs had at the time. Met Tubbs about one hour before he was shot; met him about one-half or one-quarter of a mile from Gordon’s. The place where he lived and where he died was about a half a quarter of a mile from Gordon’s; didn’t see defendant that day at all. Passed Huffman’s house about 5 o’clock; after leaving Tubbs saw defendant there then. It was probably 5 o’clock when I left Tubbs and Huffman’s was a mile and a half there by the road. Called away after that; not more than 15 minutes after he was shot till I was there; did not tell me how it happened; several asked him that question; I expressed opinion that his pistol had fired; he bowed his head and said that’d about the way it happened; if he got well he would explain it. He said nothing inculpating any one. Didn’t know where pistol was found. About one hour before he was shot met him coming from Rush’s grocery. One of Cliff Hazlewood’s boys riding with him. Cliff and Jordan arrived about a quarter past ten as near as I can say. James Morris was next examined and stated as follows: Acquainted with defendant and knew Tubbs before his death. I and Mr. Heater and Mr. Thompson were in a meadow 150 yards from where he was shot. I allowed it was Tubbs shooting just to be doing. Heard screaming; went down to where his wife lived; Tubbs said he had been shot himself accidentally; it was not long till Dr. Greer came; was there until he died; about sundown; was there when ball was taken out next morning; didn’t think he said anything more to amount to anything; think it was nearer 11 than 10 o’clock; was there with the parties who made the examination at the place next morning; Tubbs’ pistol was lying on the ground something near where he was lying when they came to him, about ten steps from the house; when I came to the house Tubbs was in bed. 73 or 75 steps from where he was shot; found a patch; there trees but not much brush; a man could have been seen if looked for close; the marks behind a tree looked like toes and had been dug into the ground; grass looked like he had ___ mashed down under the tree right there; could have shot very easy from side of tree. He died Friday evening and we found this place Sunday afternoon; found patching wood where man was killed, 15 feet. It was gun patching that had been used; it was gun patching that had been used; it was checked stuff—only common stuff such as used for aprons; picked it up and gave it to Cauble, and he gave it to Heater; put it in his care; heard Huffman say if Tubbs treated or abused him like Ruffin Smulting one or other would die; ‘twas a man there hired before he was killed; Huffman had a rifle at home. Didn’t say Tubbs had treated Smithy; didn’t recollect what I did say as to time at former trial; may have said it was 3 or 4 months; found marks about tree Sunday morning. Person could have been seen from where Tubbs was shot; it was not more than 5 minutes after the shot till we got there; persons named who were present at house heard Tubbs say he had shot himself accidentally; it was a couple of hours after that; was pretty well acquainted with Tubbs; think he had just come to neighborhood the night before; he and his wife was not living together; the marks looked like somebody had been down on knees and toes and lying down; the person had on shoes or boots, not barefooted; could have been seen from house; it was 73 or 74 steps; the place was higher ______________ tree south east from house where he was killed; Jordans’ house northwest from the house where he was _______ on after we heard screaming; then we though we would go. Re-examination Heard report plainly; didn’t think I ever heard a report of a pistol or revolver like that; supposed it to be a rifle; tree where tracks were seen ten inches through not enough underbrush to hide the house. Levi Jordan Sworn and Examined Knew Tubbs; me and Tubbs went up to wagon shop with wheel and then went to Rash’s grocery; Tubbs drinking, and first thing I knew quarreling with Huffman; slapped him in his face a time or two, told Huffman to leave; Huffman took him at his word and left; Tubbs followed him toward the dump on railroad. Huffman crossed dump and Tubbs came back into grocery, and in a short time Rash shut his shop. Rash went up and shot his gun four times; Tubbs and Hazlewood sat near house. Tubbs sent Scott Hazlewood up to Rash to come down and let him have some oysters; Rash wouldn’t come; Tubbs then went on horseback after him; Rash came down, and Tubbs had three boxes oysters; I and Cliff eat one each and Tubbs one; got on our horses and went towards my house; Rash was about 200 yards from grocery when firing; Tubbs lay on bed at my house for some time. Tubbs got his hat and started out; presently he came down road in a lope going east from my house; and directly we heard report of gun or pistol or whatever it was; it was in a couple or three minutes; we sat there and heard a screaming and hollowing, and his wife came running and said Tubbs had got shot or shot himself; when we got to Tubbs we saw his back was bloody; he was sitting ten or fifteen steps from house; Hazlewood laid his hands on him an asked him what was the matter? He said, “I’m shot; did it myself; take me in the house as soon as you can;” we took him in the house and sent for doctor; his horse was standing with bridle over paling hitched; was there when doctor came; it was not more than fifteen or twenty minutes, or may be not that long; was there nearly whole evening, till he died; it was between 10 and 11 o’clock when we heard shot about a mile from Rash’s to where Tubbs was shot, by straight line, road varies a little; didn’t see Huffman have a gun at grocery; this was last Friday week; as we went off he carried no gun; Tubbs cursed Huffman and slapped him told him to leave there; Huffman left; it might have been somewhere about 9 or 10; didn’t think we were 20 minutes going from Rash’s to my house; we were in the house 15 minutes before Tubbs left; Tubbs had sent one of my little girls over to tell his wife to come over; she had gone when we got there; she came after I got there; child said wife was sick; Tubbs then got up and told some of them to hand him his hat; in a minute or two we heard report of a gun; it was between 10 and 11—nearer 11 then 10; in 10 or 15 minutes after we got there Dr. Greer come; Huffman lived about ½ mile from Rash’s and a little over a mile from where Tubbs was shot by a straight line; by main road a more than 1 mile. James Hightower was next put on the witness stand and stated as follows: Acquainted with defendant and with Tubbs; sometime previous to Tubbs’ death was with defendant at grocery; he said if Tubbs treated him as he had Smithy he would kill him; on another occasion he said, if he treated him as he had Smithy he would kill him if he had to way lay him; don’t remember whether he mentioned how Tubbs had treated Smithy; Tubbs had cursed Smithy and abused him, and caused him to go into the grocery and spend his money to get out of it; it might have been a month and it might not have been so long; I cannot be particular about the time; there was either slapping or striking or pushing by Tubbs of Smithy; think Price was keeping the grocery when threat was made. Cliff Hazlewood sworn and examined; knew defendant and Tubbs. I was at the grocery when Huffman came; sat on fence with Price; he wanted to get Price’s cattle; Price said he was going to thresh wheat; me and Huffman still sat on the fence; he said let’s go in; I said we have not business there and we still sat on the fence last I thought to get Tubbs to go about our business and we went in; Tubbs and him commences quarreling; Tubbs threatened to fight him and to whip him; I took hold of Tubbs’ arms and told him not to strike or fight the boy; Tubbs said to Huffman “Damn you get out of here;” Huffman; Huffman started over the dump and Tubbs followed him; guess Huffman went on home; saw him down by the bridge and Tubbs came back to the grocery; (here testimony same as given above by other witnesses.) Was present when ball was taken from Tubbs’ body. This patching (here exhibited) was obtained from J. P. Putnam; I obtained the larger piece from the house where the young man lives, right out of the shirt; did not get it anywhere else; I mean Hoffman’s; I got the round ball from Wesley Hillman; I never compared or fitted ball to gun; Hoffman left grocery between eight and nine o’clock; it was an hour after Hoffman left until we left; little girl came in and said, “Tubbs, your wife is not coming over;” Tubbs got up and next I saw of him he was galloping over towards his wife’s house; directly heard crack of pistol; wife screamed and came running over; it was twenty minutes from time we left saloon until gun fired; should judge it was about 11 o’clock; heard it distinctly. Reason Heater sworn and examined. Was cutting grass 26 July near Jordans’; heard gun; remarked Tubbs has shot his wife; they were in trouble; heard a woman about; we went over to house; Tubbs was on bed; said I’m mortally wounded; Dr. Greer came in; Tubbs asked four chloroform; Dr. had none, but gave him morphine; was with him until he died. It lacked 10 or 15 minutes of 10 o’clock when I was at house after fork; had come back and stirred grass—nearer 11 than 10 when gun fired; think it was a rifle; examined grounds on Saturday and again on Sunday; Sunday we found near tree looked like someone had stood on ___ or knee, and pennyroyal which had grown there was dead; it was up on a hill; underbrush away; door not in range with place where man was shot. James Morris picked up patching 14 or 15 feet from three (exhibited) that’s the very identical patching; I had it in m possession and gave it to justice; it looked like patching that had been fired from a gun; saw a revolver lying on the ground; examined revolver at Tubbs request; he said if there were three shots somebody had shot him; if two he had shot himself; I found two; no powder marks on white shirt. Cliff Hazlewood.—Re-cross, etc. Tubbs supposed to be my son-in-law; saw him evening before; he said stayed with his wife; I left him there. We started to go to Jordans’ to get dinner and from there we were going to Caubles’ to pay a note. He lived a mile or a mile and a half from Jordans’ north. Hoffman and Tubbs were quarreling maybe 5 minutes. I heard Tubbs say when he left Jordans’ that we’ll all die tonight. It was when we were in Jordans’ house. Tubbs was drinking. William Price examined: Knew Tubbs and defendant. I passed Rash’s grocery morning of occurrence, and stopped. Huffman asked for steers to haul ties. Tubbs came in and asked me in; I tried to excuse myself, but had to go and treat him; left there about ten; no difficulty while I was there took place. Wesley Dilemon ex.—Know round ball (here exhibited); gave it to Mr. Hazlewood; it belongs to Mr. Huffman’s gun; it was run in his mould; got it last winter; got the ball at the grocery; we were shooting around there and it got mixed with mine; knew it to be one of Huffman’s by shape; never run any in his mold; Thompson used to own the gun. A.H. Irvin—arrested Huffman a few days ago at the residence of his mother; tried to get rifle; Huffman said it was at the gun shop getting fixed. Betsy Pool examined—Knew defendant; know the day Tubbs was killed; live ½ a mile from Huffman’s; was at Mrs. Huffman’s about 9 o’clock that day. Alfred Huffman came home with a gun and put it up, and went out again; went down to Rash’s grocery the other way; he came about ½ hour before I left; didn’t see which way he went; he didn’t take the gun the last time he left. William Hill was at Huffman’s the morning Tubbs was killed; stayed there the night before; him and me were shooting at a mark about 8 o’clock; we went down the road and Huffman went toward the house; did not see him again until about 12 o’clock; he told me of his trouble with Tubbs; made no threats. Remember meeting the girl Betsy Pool at the gate; think Huffman was barefooted; it was not much before or after 12; said he would go home and get some teams to haul tie. Adjourned until 10 o’clock tomorrow.
Of consumption, at her residence on
Ninth Street, between Walnut
and Cedar streets at half past twelve o'clock Thursday morning, Martha A.
Cundiff, wife of Mr. R. J. Cundiff, of this city, aged 42 years.
The funeral will take place today at
12:30. Friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the
funeral. The train will leave
Eighth Street at 2 p.m. sharp
for Villa Ridge, and friends will be taken free. Funeral services at the M.
E. Church. Mrs. Cundiff was a member of the Christian Church; she
was sick about one year, and bore her affliction with patience and
fortitude. She died in full exercise of faith and hope, and is deeply
lamented by a large circle of relatives and acquaintances.
The arrest of Huffman for the murder of Tubbs, in
Hazelwood Precinct, in this county, created considerable excitement. There
were many circumstances pointing to Huffman and denouncing him as the
murderer, but the chain of circumstantial evidence was incomplete. He had
quarreled with the murdered man and had been grossly insulted by him; had
threatened; the wad out of the gun from which the fatal ball had been fired
was cut in a peculiar way, in the same way the wad out of Huffman's
gun was always cut by its ball; the ball found in the murdered man was a
peculiar ball; and one witness testified that Huffman's mould made
such a ball. On the other hand an alibi was established, and on the whole,
the justices, Messrs. Bross and Robinson did not feel
justified in holding the prisoner for trial. Mr. Taylor was born May 4th, 1839, and was the last surviving son of Col. S. Staats Taylor, of this city. He leaves a wife and four children, for whom and his parents and sister, the deepest sympathy of the community is felt. (Joseph B. Taylor married Julia Sloo on 16 Aug 1860, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Mr. John Sackberger, while marching in the funeral procession yesterday, became suddenly sick from intense heat and was obliged to go home. Here he grew rapidly worse and at this writing his recovery is considered doubtful. John Scheel, also in the funeral procession, was so affected by the heat of the sun, that it was found necessary to take him home in a wagon. We are informed his condition is serious.
Marcus Silverburg found the heat unendurable and was
compelled to leave the procession. At a meeting of Alexander Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which the late Joseph Bainbridge Taylor was a member, the following resolutions were passed: WHEREAS Our brother, Joseph Bainbridge Taylor, has been stricken down by the blighting hand of Death in the flower of his youth, Resolved, That we bow in acquiescence to the ruling of the Grand Master of the Universe, who rules with beneficent way, and for the good of all. Resolved, That, in the loss of our brother, we are deprived of the fellowship of a member who lived in accordance with the principles of our order, was true to the demands of Friendship, possessed a heart in which welled the fountains of love and a hand open as the day to the demands of charity. Resolved, That, in our grief, we scatter upon his fresh grave the flowers of a kindly remembrance. Resolved, That we sympathize with his family in their sad bereavement, which has deprived them of a faithful husband, a kind father, and a dutiful son. Resolved, That a page of the records of this lodge be set apart sacred to the memory of our late brother, and that copies of these resolutions be furnished to the grief stricken family and disconsolate parents.
Resolved,
That the publishers of the several papers of the city be requested to
publish the foregoing resolutions. The funeral services of the late Joseph Bainbridge Taylor took place yesterday morning, the remains being attended to the grave by a large concourse of friends and acquaintances. The deceased was a member of the order of Odd Fellows, Alexander Lodge, of this city, of the Rough and Ready Fire Company, and the Bismarck Bund, and being city treasurer, was also a member of the city government. According to previous arrangement, the societies above named, and by invitation the Hibernian and Arab fire companies were present at the last sad rite over the body of their late friend and brother, having proceeded to his late residence in the following order: The Odd Fellows formed in procession at their hall, and marching to the Arab engine house, where the Rough and Ready and Arab fire companies were formed in open order, marched through the two companies, the first named closing next the Odd Fellows and the Arabs in the rear. The procession as formed then proceeded to the Hibernian engine house and marched through the Hibernian company (formed in open order), which then closed up, and the four societies marched to Washington Avenue and passed through the Bismarck Bund, also formed in open order on Washington Avenue. The procession then joined the members of the city government in open order on Eighth Street, and passed through, the latter forming the rear of the whole.
The Rev. F. L. Thompson conducted the funeral services, at
the conclusion of which the body of the deceased was carried by the pall
bearers through the entire procession, separated, to
Fourth Street,
where it was placed in the hearse. The family and friends followed the
hearse in carriages, and the various societies, closing up, formed the
funeral cortege, which wound slowly from South Street to Commercial Avenue,
from Commercial to Sixth Street, and from Sixth Street to the cars. At the
cemetery of Beech Grove, the burial rites of the Odd Fellows were performed
over the body of their much lamented brother, and at the conclusion of
these, the Rev. Mr. Thomson accompanied a final prayer with a few
words of consolation—alas, how poor it seems—to the sorrowing friends and
the body was lowered into its last home. Resolutions on the Death of Mr. Taylor At a meeting of the Rough and Ready Fire Company of which Mr. Taylor was a member, the following resolutions were passed: WHEREAS, It has pleased Him who rules the world with mysterious sway, to deprive of life our fellow member the late Joseph B. Taylor, Resolved, That in his deceased we have lost a valuable member, one who always promptly responded to the calls of duty, and never failed when occasion offered to practice toward his fellow members and all mankind the lesson of the golden rule, doing unto others as he would have had them do unto him. Resolved, That we shall ever remember the deceased as a true friend—one whose loss cannot be easily compensated for—one in whose energy and enthusiasm this company has found strength and that organization which has placed it in the front rank of the fire department of the city. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be furnished by the secretary to the family of the deceased and to his parents, and that they be published in the papers of the city of Cairo.
On Monday, August 19, 1872, J. Bainbridge Taylor was the victim of sun stroke which caused his death between the hours of five and six o’clock in the afternoon of that day. His illness was of very short duration—having only grown serious at about five o’clock, his death occurring before six. Mr. Taylor was born in the city of Philadelphia, May 4th, 1839, and came to this city in the year 1854, with his father, Col. S. Staats Taylor, who at that time became the agent of the Cairo City Property Company. The deceased lived in Cairo more than half his life and was well known to nearly every man, woman and child in it, and deservedly popular with all. He was possessed of as warm heart, kind manners, and those genial qualities which endear a man to his own family and attach to him the hearts of all with whom he comes in contact. At his decease Mr. Taylor was serving his third term as city treasurer. At his first election, he had a majority of several hundred over his competitor—at the second his majority was larger than any candidate ever received at any previous election in the city, and when he ran the third and last time, he had no competition and was elected by the entire vote of the city. The fact is a speaking evidence of his popularity as a citizen and his efficiency as an officer. He was a member of the order of Odd Fellows, of the Rough and Ready Fire Company and of the Bismarck Bund. These societies and the city government passed resolutions of respect to his memory. Mr. Taylor was buried at Beech Grove Cemetery on Wednesday the 21st inst. his funeral took place from his late residence on Washington Avenue, and was the largest ever known in this city. The societies to which he belonged attended the funeral of their late fellow member, in full uniform and wearing the usual badges of mourning, and were accompanied, by invitation, by the Hibernian and Arab fire companies, also in uniform. The funeral procession embraced, first the hearse, followed by the carriages of the family and friends, of the deceased and after them the various societies in the following order: The Odd Fellows, Rough and Ready Fire Company, Hibernians, Arabs, Bismarck Bund, City Government, citizens. The funeral cortege arrived at the grave as 12 m. The face-plate was removed from the coffin and the friends of the deceased permitted to take a last look at his features before the body was lowered into its final resting place. Many eyes were moistened with the teas of regret. The impressive lecture and prayer of the Odd Fellows burial services were then read by Brother C. Lame of that order. He was followed by the Rev. F. L. Thomson of the Methodist church.
The coffin was lowered into the grave and the “clods of the
valley” heaped upon it, their hollow sound finding a sorrowful and dreary
echo in the hearts of the many friends gathered around—friends with whom the
memory of “Bain” will linger as long as life lasts. Of the so suddenly and
so deeply bereaved wife and family we will not speak. Their grief is
sacred, and its depths and genuineness attest the irreparable loss which the
death of the husband, father, son, and brother is to them.
Sometime ago a very old Frenchman, who was unable to speak
English, put up at the Central House, kept by Mrs. Gaffney. That
night he was robbed of $60 by Lizzie Norman, colored, who had hired
there in the capacity of chambermaid. The day after, she gave the money to
her man, Tom Harris, colored, a
Paducah rough and thief. He
deposited most of the money with a white man who keeps a negro den and
shipped on the steamer Howard. In the meantime Lizzie was committed
to the jail to await her trial at the next term of the circuit court.
Harris returned to the city last week. On Sunday morning Officer
Arnold spotted him. Being aware of Tom's desperate character,
Arnold
procured the services of John Cain to help make the arrest. They
came upon Tom at the corner of Third Street and Commercial Avenue.
Arnold
caught him by the arm and he was told he was under arrest. Suddenly the
negro made a lunge backward leaving a portion of his shirt in the officer’s
hands and made 2:40 time towards Bird's Point. When he reached the
Mississippi
he ran up it about one mile and then jumped into the water, making for the
Missouri shore. He was told by Mr. Foster, of Huse, Loomis
& Co., to come back and deliver himself up. Harris answered with an
oath, "he'd be d----d if he would." Swimming a few yards farther he sunk
and rose three times, and then sunk to the bottom. This ended the chase,
and was the last of earth of Tom Harris. Harris has the
reputation of a highway robber at St. Louis and Vicksburg.
During the past few months the store room of the St. Charles
Hotel has been frequently robbed by unknown thieves. Mr. Rexford,
ascertaining this fact, came to the determination to catch the thieves in
the act, and employed Constable John Cain to sleep in the store room
and watch the goods. On Saturday night Henry Johnson, a colored man,
and a confederate, entered the room and loaded themselves with sugar, wine,
&c, and were in the act of leaving with their booty, when Cain opened
a dark lantern on them, and ordered them to halt and surrender. They
refused and attempted to escape. While pursuing them Cain shot at
them and three balls took effect in Johnson's person; his wounds, it
is believed will be fatal, but he was alive last night. Johnson is a
prominent member of the colored Grant and Wilson club of this
city, and is one of the men who advocated the policy of hanging or shooting
Rev. Mr. Shores for being a Greeleyman.
(She is listed in the 1870 census of Cairo, Alexander Co.,
Ill., as Dora Drestman,
age 23, born in Prussia. She was living with her husband, L.
Drestman, a 40-year-old native of Prussia. A marker in Cairo
City Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: Dorothea Driestmann Died Aug.
26, 1872 Aged 25 Jahre and 10 Mo.—Darrel Dexter)
The small pox has not yet entirely left our city. We understand that a little girl, named Anderson, three years old, died of small pox last Saturday and was buried on Sunday.
A body supposed to be that of a German, about twenty-five or thirty years of age came to the surface, at the stern of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad wharfboat this a.m. A jury was impaneled and it is their belief that he fell overboard from the Kyle or Dexter. There was found upon his person $95 in greenbacks.
Saturday, 21 Sep 1872: Thursday night about 9 o’clock while the City of Quincy was lying at Edward’s Landing taking on wood, her carpenter, Henry Ulrich, went into her wheel to put on a new arm, when he slipped and fell into the river. The yawl was instantly sent out, but he sank before it could reach him. He leaves a family who reside in St. Louis. His body was not recovered. What sad news this will be for the dearly loved ones at home.
Sunday, 22 Sep 1872: Mosser, the man who killed Briback, lately committed suicide by taking poison at Belleville.
Tuesday, 24 Sep 1872: The body of Ed. Wheeler, colored, was buried in the Cemetery of the Lotus, yesterday, about thirty wagons and carriages forming the funeral procession. Wheeler was a member of the A. M. E. Church and of the organization among negroes known as the Sons of Liberty. From the latter the widow of the deceased will receive such aid as will, with proper industry and frugality on her part, enable her to support and educate her children.
While the funeral process of Ed. Wheeler was approaching Washington Avenue yesterday, a horse attached to a buggy in which two colored women were seated became fractious, causing one of the sable damsels to tumble out of the carriage. She fortunately lit squarely on her head and thus escaped injury. The animal was soon pacified and the procession moved on.
Died, at Villa Ridge on Friday, the 20th inst., of typhoid fever, George Brigham, father of Dr. R. S. Brigham of this city. Had he lived till October, Mr. Brigham would have been sixty-three years of age. He was buried on Sunday afternoon in the cemetery at Villa Ridge, leaving an afflicted family who has the sympathy of a large circle of friends.
Wednesday, 25 Sep 1872: Houston Hunter, a boy aged 6 years, son of Mr. Bruce Hunter of Metropolis, disappeared from his home on Saturday evening last and one yesterday had not been found. His mother is nearly crazed with anxiety over the loss of her child, as fears are entertained that he may have been drowned, and all day Sunday parties were employed dragging the river in search for the body. Mr. Bruce Hunter, the father, is clerk of the Evansville packet John Lumsden, and as the boat passed Metropolis going up the river, the boy may have concealed himself on board of her until after she passed Paducah, in which case he would be sent back by return packet until today, and may therefore be safe.
Friday,
27 Sep 1872:
One of the most important witnesses for the prosecution died not
long since, and another left the State, which makes it rather uncertain how
the case will terminate. One witness, the Negro woman Amelia testified
yesterday that on Sunday evening before the murder she saw Mr. Jenkins
and remarked to him that Mrs. Johnston was dead. Jenkins
said, “Yes, she died today,” and said he, “I intend to put Henry Johnston
where the dogs won’t bite him.” Witness said, “Henry Johnston don’t
you take what you can’t give.” Another Negro woman testified that she heard
the report of a gun in the direction of the murder on the morning in
question.
After learning the story of the parties in search of the missing
sheriff, the Captain accompanied Christian, who has intimately known
Rhoman for twenty years, to the hospital. The description of the
deceased, as given by the sisters who attended him on Wednesday was noted
and corresponded with that of the missing man, with the one exception that
when he left home, Rhoman wore whiskers and the stranger was, when
first seen here, clean shaven. The boots the stranger wore were produced
and Christian was positive they were the pair Rhoman wore away
from home. The clothing he had never seen before. The captain and
Christian then proceeded to the cemetery and
Today will doubtless settle the uncertainty. Should the
Rhomans recognize their brother in the deceased, then the case becomes
enveloped in mystery.
Late last evening we gained the following particulars of the
accident on the Elizabethtown
and Paducah railroad, which occurred at Laughton Bluff, eight miles from
Paducah,
night before last. From some cause unknown, one car containing twenty
people, broke loose from the train and was precipitated down an embankment,
a distance of forty feet, alighting bottom side upward, smashed to pieces.
Of the passengers, two were killed on the spot, one of them a little girl
ten years of age, named Georgia Gordon. The other an Italian
gentleman who has been canvassing Kentucky as a tobacco agent, named
Malidfassi. When found after the accident, he was standing up leaning
against the car, dead, with a frightful gash cut in his head. The wounded
were as follows: Mrs. Camera Thompson of Cincinnati; Mrs. Seymore
Perkins of Elktown, Ky., A. S.
Harrington, Henry Burnett, Mrs. Thornsbury, Mrs. J. R.
Cobb, Mrs. Livingstone, J. Levy, Col. Baker and
Miss Mattie Ross, all of Paducah. Mrs. Cook, of Clarksville,
Tenn., Mrs. Baker, of Louisville and Mr. Dudley Cash of
Christian County, Kentucky. Mrs. James M. Bronley and child escaped
without any injury, but Mrs. Bowlby had to cut her hair off which had
caught in the wreck and was holding her fast. The people of Paducah hearing
of the accident, rushed en masse to the scene, accompanied by
physicians and all things, necessary to relieve the sufferers, and the
officers of the road did all in their power to aid them. The dead and
wounded were brought to
Paducah as soon as possible and were kindly cared for.
The Omaha Tribune has the following in reference to a woman who ____ a notorious Chicago character, who ended her career by shooting her husband George Trussel, a gambler, was sentenced to the penitentiary, pardoned out, and left for parts unknown.
Some weeks ago we knew that this remarkable and unhappy woman was
in our city, but withheld all mention of the fact upon the ground of
humanity. We should just as soon think of snatching a plank from a drowning
man, as we should of hindering the return of any penitent by turning the
full blaze of publicity upon their name and history. But since she is not
denied the privacy she coveted, we present the redeeming features of her
case, and ask, in the name of all that is sacred, that no hindrance be
placed in the way of a soul whose sorrows only the infinite can fathom, and
whose life is a perpetual penance.
We sincerely think this a case in which Christian women might
find scope for their sympathy, charity and influence, and it would be a
matter for great regret if the knowledge so unfortunately acquired should
render her sufferings greater in the future than they have been in the
past. However guilty any of us may become, there ought to be for the
repenting some hiding place, some shelter on earth, as there are pardon and
welcome from the Father in heaven.
Robert
Pettis, the desperado who stabbed Clem Nolte, made the assertion
just before the City of Chester reached St. Louis that when he
attacked Nolte he intended to kill him or be killed in trying to do
so. It is lamentable that the shot fired at him by Nolte missed him.
(The man Peters was identified as Pettus and
Pettis in earlier issues.—Darrel Dexter)
A colored boy named Green yesterday afternoon was amusing
himself by playing on the switch engine as it was backing in front of the
Clark
block on the levee. The engine made a sudden stop which caused the boy to
lose his balance and he was thrown forward on the track. The engine passed
over him, crushing his legs in a fearful manner. The boy lived about twenty
minutes after the accident. The coroner's jury gave a verdict in accordance
with the facts. No blame was attached to the engineer.
Yesterday afternoon abut 6 o'clock, a large cast iron cog wheel in the Cairo stave factory owned by Parsons, Davis & Co. burst and a portion of its struck Mr. Davis, of the firm, on the head, crushing it into fragments and causing instant death. At the time of the accident, Mr. Davis was standing near the wheel holding the stop lever and superintending the work of hauling timber from the river.
The blow was so sudden, so unexpected, and so fearful in its
force that it is probable the deceased was instantaneously launched into
eternity. If a cannon ball had struck him, the effect would not have been
more terrible. The remains were taken in charge by Mr. Casey,
undertaker, who prepared the body to be coffined and taken to
Evansville tomorrow, where it
will be buried. Mr. Davis was one of our most respected citizens,
and his lamentable death has cast a pall upon the entire community. He
leaves a wife and three children, whose bereavement is as sad as lamentable.
People in the vicinity of
Tenth Street were horrified to
learn last evening about
eight o'clock that a woman had been burned to death. Our reporter was quickly
on the ground and gathered the few terrible facts. Mrs. Farran, a
widow lady aged about 40 years, while attending to her usual household
duties, had her dress accidentally take fire at the stove, and before it was
possible for anyone to render her any assistance, the fatal accident had
done its work. She died about twenty minutes after the occurrence. Mrs.
Farran was a hard-working woman, the mother of three children—two girls
and a boy. The girls are nearly grown.
Cairo Weekly Bulletin 13 Jun
1872: |
