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Obituaries and Death Notices
Cairo Daily Bulletin
6 Jan 1874-29 Dec 1874
Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois
Transcribed by Darrel Dexter
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Tuesday, 6 Jan 1874:
(The Saturday,
17 Jan 1874, Jonesboro
Gazette reported that Nancy Willard died
12 Jan 1874, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. Davie, in
Jonesboro, aged 99 years, 10 months, and 5 days.—Darrel Dexter)
(The alleged murderer’s name was Alex Wyatt, instead of
Twite as reported in this story.—Darrel Dexter)
Mount Carbon, February 5—A mob
numbering about five hundred men tonight took the negro Wyatt out of
the county jail and brought him over to Mount Carbon. At first From Sheriff Irvin, who returned home by the 2:30 train this morning, we learn the following of his trip from Cairo to Murphysboro: On Wednesday afternoon Sheriff Irvin took the prisoner, Alex. Wyatt, and taking the 3 o’clock train, started for Carbondale. When the train arrived at Villa Ridge, Ryan, the husband of the murdered woman, who had just returned from the funeral, was met by the sheriff. Ryan went into the car and seeing Wyatt, remarked that he was the murderer of his (Ryan’s) wife, and at the same time kicked him in the face, causing blood to flow from his nose. The sheriff interfered and Ryan was removed to another car, and the train proceeded on its way. Before reaching Jonesboro, however, Ryan re-entered the car, carrying in his hand a large knife, and attempted to kill the prisoner, but was prevented from doing so by Sheriff Irvin. The conduct of Ryan and other parties on the train convinced Sheriff Irvin that it would be as good as the prisoner’s life to attempt to take him through Carbondale, and he concluded to leave the train at Jonesboro and place the prisoner in jail there until something definite could be ascertained with regard to the true condition of affairs at Carbondale. Accordingly, when the train reached Anna, Wyatt was put into a hack and taken to Jonesboro, where he was placed in jail.
When at Jonesboro Sheriff Irvin laid his plans, concluding
to take the first up freight, and have the train stop a short distance south
of Carbondale, where he
would leave the cars and go across the country, and thus avoid Carbondale at
all. According to arrangement the train was stopped just below the college
(if the reader knows where that is) or about half a mile below the station,
and Sheriff Irvin and his prisoner accompanied by Marshal
McCullough of Carbondale
got off. McCullough suggested that they could go into town without
fear of molestation from the mob, but Sheriff Irvin determined to run
no risks; and then McCullough started to town for a buggy in which to
convey the prisoner to Murphysboro. In the meantime this train went on up
to the station, and some one, probably one of the brakemen, told someone
that the sheriff had got off below town. The train had not been at the
station but a very few minutes when the sheriff could hear the yelling of
men, and the cracking of pistols and in a few minutes the hurried tread of
men, indicating that the mob was coming. The sheriff was not long in making
up his mind that it was time to leave his hiding place, and though
McCullough had not yet arrived with the buggy, he told the negro to jump
a fence nearby and they would take to the woods. When they got to Big Muddy Bridge the sheriff found that it was guarded, but after waiting a while the guards left and they crossed over. On the way up town though, it was after one o’clock, Sheriff Irvin met a well known doctor who was known to be strongly in favor of lynching the prisoner, but he did not recognize them. When they arrived at the jail and Jailor Cully was aroused, he could hardly believe it possible that Sheriff Irvin could have succeeded in traveling the distance and escape being caught and his prisoner taken from him. Sheriff Irvin slept in the jail last night, and says that all night he could hear men prowling about the premises.
The lynching of Wyatt was done about
five o’clock yesterday afternoon. He was hung on a tree on the bank
of Muddy River, near
the bridge. Saturday, 10 Feb 1874: LYNCH LAW More about the Lynching of the Murderer Wyatt The Hanging of Wyatt Claimed to Be the Result of the Action of Governor Beveridge in the Case of the Perry County Murderers Carbondale, Ills. Feb. 6, 1874 Editors Bulletin:—We have just passed through another great excitement. Yesterday at about five o’clock A LARGE CROWD assembled around the jail in Murphysboro and demanded the negro murderer Wyatt but the sheriff of the county refused to surrender him. A number of men then entered the jail. SEIZED THE JAILER and all the sheriff ‘s deputies present and then broke open the cell where the prisoner was confined. He was taken outside and from thence to Mount Carbon, where he was hanged. He maintained his innocence until but a few minutes before he was strung up, when he confessed the murder of Mrs. Ryan. On the way from the jail he was recognized by the girl upon whom he tried to commit an outrage the day before he murdered Mrs. Ryan. Wyatt’s body was left dangling in the air until a late hour in the night, when it was cut down. The crowd was highly excited, but seemed to desire no other blood than that of the negro Wyatt. The recent action of Governor Beveridge in commuting the sentence of the Perry County negro murderers led to this affair. In this case an innocent and good woman was brutally murdered. The people were frenzied, and rather than wait the slow process and law’s delays, put the prisoner to death. I am credibly informed that not a drunken man was in the crowd that did the hanging. Want of time prevents a more extended account. Will write again. B.
Sunday 8 Feb 1874: FROM THE OTHER WORLD The Spirit of a Hanged Murderer and his Victim Appear to the Friends in Muhlenberg County (From the Louisville Courier Journal) About three weeks ago an account of a murder near Rockport, Muhlenberg County, appeared in the Courier Journal. Dudley White, colored, killed a white man on the road near Richmond mines, opposite the house of Mr. Theo. Youts. The negro was promptly arrested and imprisoned. A few nights after the murder, White was taken from the Greenville jail by a band of men and hanged. A correspondent writes with a great deal of earnestness, accompanied with evident alarm that the spirits of both the executed murderer and his victim make regular and oft-repeated visits to the scene of the bloody tragedy. A few nights ago, according to the writer, a couple of young men living in the neighborhood rode by the house of the murderer, and they relate that just as they were passing the place Dudley came out from his yard, looking “as natural as life” and walked between their horses keeping company with them for some distance, frequently changing his position, sometimes walking around and under their horses. On their return by the same road, they again saw the apparition, and it acted as before. When the negro was found hanging to a limb the next day after the execution, he was taken down and “laid out” in an old house nearby. It is said that he is now often seen at this house passing up and down stairs and moving about in a restless and mysterious manner. Mr. Youts, who is said to be one of the most reliable and respectable gentlemen in the neighborhood, has often seen the murdered man near his house. The ghostly visitor is generally seen walking about in the road near Mr. Youts’ house, passing at intervals of every few minutes the spot of ground on which he was murdered. Mr. Youts has become greatly annoyed by those ghostly visits, and it is said is talking of moving from the neighborhood. The affair has created a great sensation in that section of the country, and especially amongst the blacks, who are quite numerous in the neighborhood of the murder.
A young girl by the name of Elmira Merrifield committed suicide by taking poison on Saturday at Sparland, about ten miles above Chillicothe. The cause of her rash act was that she had been deceived by promise of marriage from one John Dixon, and also seduced by him. She was an industrious and hitherto virtuous young woman, worked out for her living, and divided the proceeds of her earnings with her aged mother.
R. C. Campbell, formerly marshal of Shelbyville, was killed in that city a few days since by a man named Reynolds. It is thought the deed was done in self-defense.
A man named Matthew Jay committed suicide at Joliet on Wednesday by hanging. Domestic trouble is assigned as the cause.
James Moore, of Galesburg, committed suicide last week on account of general depression of spirits.
Tuesday, 10 Feb 1874: Henry alias Charles Smith, a colored man, who killed another colored man named Tom Morris, in Mound City, on the 10th of October last, and made his escape was arrested a few days ago in this county somewhere near Unity or Dog Tooth. Smith is now in the Pulaski County jail at Mound City.
The funeral services of the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Winston, who died on Saturday night took place at the Church of the Redeemer yesterday afternoon, Rector Gilbert officiating. The attendance was large.
Wednesday, 11 Feb 1874: Augustus Knufloe, a citizen of Madison, Indiana, and a tailor’s cutter by occupation, took passage on the General Lyttle for his home on Thursday last, and it was supposed when the boat landed at Madison he had got off with other passengers. When the Lyttle resumed her trip, his coat, vest, hat, and boots were discovered in his stateroom, and it was quite evident that he had jumped into the river and was drowned. As soon as the boat reached Louisville, a dispatch was sent to Madison informing his friends of the facts. When the boat came back on her return trip, a large crowd was assembled at the Madison wharf to learn if possible more of his case, but nothing further was elicited only that the last seen of him on the boat was at Florence, thirty miles above Madison.
Saturday, 14 Feb 1874: Elder R. B. Trimbel will preach the funeral sermon on the death of the late Mrs. Spiller, at one o’clock tomorrow in the Christian church, Eighteenth Street, between Washington Avenue and Walnut Street. The public is invited to attend. (A marker in Cairo City Cemetery reads: Elizabeth Spiller, 1812-1874, Grandma. This may be the Mrs. Spiller referred to in this funeral notice.—Darrel Dexter)
We regret to heart of the death of the only child of Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Pope, which died in Springfield, a day or two ago.
Wednesday, 18 Feb 1874: SUICIDE—John H. Bennett, late engineer of engine No. 6 on the Cairo and Vincennes railroad, committed suicide yesterday by taking laudanum. Bennett had been drinking for some time and was either about to be or had been discharged from the services of the railroad company. On Monday afternoon he went to McCauley’s drug store and purchased two ounces of laudanum. He went to his boarding house, and after loitering about the barroom for some time, was induced to go to bed. Nothing more was heard of him until yesterday morning when Mr. Clonan, proprietor of the house, went to Bennett’s room to tell him to get up for breakfast. When Mr. Clonan entered the room, he found Bennett in a stupor, and believing that there was something besides the effects of whiskey the matter with him, sent for Dr. Sullivan. The doctor went to the house but found Bennett beyond the aid of medicine or medical skill. He died in less than an hour after. Coroner Gossman was notified and selecting a jury, an inquest was held on the remains. The verdict of the jury was that Bennett “came to his death from the effects of poison administered by his own hands.” Bennett’s home was in Nashville, Illinois, whither his remains were forwarded per the Illinois Central railroad this morning. Bennett was about forty-five years of age, and has been an engineer on the Vincennes road ever since its completion, previous to which time he was on the Illinois Central. He was well liked by those who were acquainted with him. It is said that his greatest fault was his love of strong drink.
Thursday, 19 Feb 1874: State’s Attorney A. R. Pugh of Jackson County, gives notice through the Jackson County Era that he “will do all in his power, in a legal way, without fear or favor, to punish as they deserve” the persons who took part in the lynching of White. (The man who was lynched was in earlier issues called Twite, but his correct name is thought to have been Alex Wyatt.—Darrel Dexter)
The first of the Williamson County Ku-Klux cases are now being heard in the United States court at Springfield. We take the recapitulation of the facts in the case, which many of our readers no doubt remember, from the St. Louis Globe, of yesterday: In the spring of 1872, Isaac Vancil, an old man of seventy, was taken from his house at night by a party of masked men and hanged to a plum tree. A coroner’s jury found that Pleasant Veach, Marion Gray, Samuel Gossett, and others had committed the offense and Veach and a man named Jones G. Elliott were apprehended, indicted and tried in the circuit court, where the jury failed to convict. Thereupon the cases were moved to the United States court under the provisions of the Ku-Klux Act, a course which has caused much discussion in legal, political and journalistic circles. The evidence against the prisoners is very complete and shows that they contravened the Ku-Klux Act in every essential, having a secret organization and going masked upon their felonious errands. They whipped many men and compelled others to leave the county; unroofed houses and destroyed crops, and used many other violent means to induce persons obnoxious to them to submit to their behests concerning land boundaries, etc. and to relinquish the rights which had been proclaimed theirs by legal process.
Friday, 20 Feb 1874: On last Saturday evening a gang of masked men made a raid on the county jail of Jackson County at Murphysboro, and attempted to rescue the murderer McDonald in jail there for the murder of George M. Brush at Carbondale in the early part of last month. But the jail being well guarded and the guards anticipating an attack, were prepared for the mob and when they made their appearance gave them such a deal as to send them away in utter confusion. One man is known to have been wounded, but how badly or who he was is not known, as his friends helped get him away and he has not since been heard of. The mob did not renew the attack. Is it not about time the law abiding citizens of Murphysboro and vicinity should do something that will put a stop to such outrages as have recently been occurring there? The impression is that they should. If they do not, it will not be long until their thriving little city will be accounted the hardest and worst town in the state.
Saturday, 21 Feb 1874: The funeral of John H. Bennett, the engineer who committed suicide in this city a few days ago, took place at Centralia on Wednesday afternoon, and was very largely attended. We learn that the deceased was up to the time of his coming to Cairo, a strictly temperate man, and a consistent member of the Baptist church in the town where he lived. He leaves a wife and several small children.
Sunday, 22 Feb 1874: A very serious accident occurred to the north bound train on the Mississippi Central railroad on Friday evening. The cause of the accident as near as we could ascertain appears to be this: On Friday evening owing to the large number of people returning from the carnival, it was found necessary to divide the train into two sections. Both sections left New Orleans on time, and the train passed Canton, a place a short distance this side of New Orleans, all right, but the switchman there did not notice that the train had a flag out, indicating that a second train was coming, and opened the switch to let out a freight train, which had been placed on a side track. In a few minutes after, and before the freight train had got under way, the second section of the passenger train came along and collided with the freight train. The result of the collision was the killing of a negro boy, who was in the baggage car, and slightly wounding two or three other persons. This report comes from a reliable source.
DIED—On the 16th inst., of pneumonia, James Hogan, of Charleston, Missouri. Mr. Hogan was an old and highly esteemed citizen of Mississippi County. His death is much regretted by the people of the city and county in which he lived.
DIED.—In this city on Friday night, the 20th inst., Josephine, daughter of Patrick and Catherine O’Callahan, age five months. The funeral will take place from the residence of the parents at one o’clock this afternoon.
Mr. David Brown, who was born in Union County sixty-two years ago, died at his home five miles east of Anna on last Tuesday. Mr. Brown had been a member of the Baptist church for twenty-four years. (The Saturday, 21 Feb 1874, Jonesboro Gazette reported that Abram Brown died five miles east of Anna on Tuesday, 17 Feb 1874, aged 62 years.—Darrel Dexter)
Tuesday, 24 Feb 1874: “The funeral of the late William H. Stokes,” says the Mound City Journal, “took place in Louisville on Thursday, 12th last. The expressions of sorrow were general throughout the city, where the deceased was looked upon as one of the most enterprising and public spirited of citizens. He has been eminently successful in business there, and was largely interested in various corporations. He was one of the directors and for a long time president of the Louisville Mutual Insurance Company, a tribute of respect from the board of directors of which will be found in this paper. In this city Mr. Stokes was years president of the Emporium Real Estate and Manufacturing Co., and at the time of his death was president of the Mound City Marine Ways Company, also the Mound City Hub, Spoke and Felloe Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Isaac J. Barber, an old and highly esteemed citizen of Pulaski County, died at his home near Caledonia a short time ago. Mr. Barber was at one time an Associate Justice of the Pulaski County Court.
DIED—Sunday morning, February 22d, Corinne M., infant daughter of W. W. and M. M. Thornton.
Thursday, 26 Feb 1874: On Friday last the sad intelligence of the death of Mr. Lewis Howes, formerly a distinguished and highly esteemed citizen of Evansville, and father-in-law of Mr. James L. Orr, of this city, was received. The sad event occurred at this residence near Memphis, Tennessee, on last Friday morning. Mr. Howes was for nearly thirty years the business partner of our well known fellow citizen, Mr. H. D. Allis, and was a high-toned honorable gentleman. Towards the close of the war he removed to Memphis, where he carried on business for several years and subsequently purchased a small farm a few miles within the country, where he resided at the time of his death. His death will be sincerely regretted by a host of friends in this city. His remains were expected to arrive by rail at one o’clock this morning and will probably be interred today. He was about sixty years of age. The above we find in the Evansville Journal of Monday last. Mr. Louis Howes was the father of Mrs. C. P. Parsons of this city. Mrs. Parsons, who accompanied the remains from this city to Evansville returned yesterday. Mr. Parsons and family have the sympathy of all who know them, in this the hour of their bereavement.
Friday, 27 Feb 1874: DIED—of scarlet fever, Joseph Felix, infant son of Felix and Susanna Malinski, aged two years and five months. Time of funeral will be made known tomorrow.
Saturday, 28 Feb 1874: Mose Hill, a colored man, a resident of this city, who, to use the phrase “followed the river” for a living, was drowned at Cincinnati, on the 13th of this month. Hill was a mulatto and was once indicted by the grand jury for stealing meat from Messrs. Stratton & Bird. We mention this latter fact that our readers may the more readily remember who Mose Hill was.
Mr. Lee, an old citizen of Wolf Island, died at Greenfield’s Landing on Thursday evening. Yesterday the ferry boat Selmas was draped in mourning and conveyed the remains of the deceased to his late house on the island.
Last night a report came to the ears of the local of The Bulletin that a woman living somewhere in the upper part of the city had been “burned to death.” It was twelve o’clock when the report reached us, and we at once began the search to find out who the unfortunate being was and where she lived. It was not long until we ascertained that the name of the poor woman was Madden and that she was the wife of the well known carpenter of this city of that name. At half past one o’clock this morning we went to Mr. Madden’s residence which is on Locust between Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth streets and from a sister of Mrs. Madden’s, who was at her side when the accident occurred, learned the following particulars: Mrs. Madden and her sister had been to church and did not reach home until about ten o’clock. Mr. Madden was in the garden working, and after talking with him for a few minutes, Mrs. Madden and her sister went into the house, and the former took down a lamp, but finding that it was empty, she brought out an oil can from which to fill it. It being dark, Mrs. Madden told the girl to light a match and hold it while she poured the oil into the lamp. The girl did as directed, but the match burned out, nothing but the fiery ember remaining, before the lamp was quite full, and she remarked to Mrs. M. that she would get another. To this Mrs. Madden said “hold on,” and just as she uttered the words, with an awful flash and loud report the lamp and can both exploded, scattering the oil all around and saturating Mrs. Madden’s dress, which immediately took the fire. The room was one sheet of flame, and for a moment it seemed that every one in the house would be burned to death. Mrs. Madden ran to the back door and fell with her face to the ground. By this time her husband had reached her, and running into the house, he took from one of the beds a heavy blanket, and wrapping it about her, with much difficulty he succeeded in smothering the flames. In the meantime, the girl had got another blanket, and after the utmost exertion finally subdued the fire in the house. Mrs. Madden was removed into the house, and when her charred clothing was removed it was found that both her arms and right side were terribly burned, and by another person, not Mrs. Madden’s sister, we were told that the flesh was dropping from her arms. Dr. Gorden was sent for, and upon arriving at the house did everything he could to relieve the suffering of the unfortunate lady, but stated that he could not then say what would be the result of her injuries. It is strange, but the girl, who was standing at Mrs. Madden’s side when the explosion occurred, did not get any of the oil on her clothing and escaped unharmed. It was Aurora oil that was in the can. At the time of the explosion there were several children asleep in an adjoining room, and had the house taken fire in all probability they would have perished in the flames. Mr. Madden, who is an old resident of Cairo and one of our best citizens, will have the sympathy of all who hear of this fearful accident to his wife.
Sunday, 1 Mar 1874: Mrs. Madden, the lady who was so severely burned by the Aurora oil explosion night before last, is still alive, and some hopes of her recovery are entertained. Dr. Gordon, her attending physician, believes that if she did not inhale any of the fire she will recover, but she was very low last night, and the doctor has been unable, so far to determine whether she inhaled any of the flames. Her face, arms and body were terribly burned.
On Friday afternoon the incoming train on the Illinois Central railroad, when a short distance above Mounds Junction, ran over and instantly killed a man. An inquest was yesterday held on the remains, but the jury, of which Mr. Walbridge of Cairo was a member, though a number of witnesses were examined, were unable to give any information as to who the unfortunate man was, or anything about him further than that he had a short time ago come from Kentucky.
The funeral of Joseph Felix, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Malinski, will take place at 2 o’clock by special train from the foot of Sixth Street. We sympathize with the stricken parents in their sorrow, and hope that the goodwill of their friends will be expressed by their turning out to the funeral. Mr. Malinski has been a resident of Cairo for twenty years, and all who know him will bear testimony to his worth as a neighbor and citizen. Let there by a large attendance at the funeral.
Saturday, 7 Mar 1874: Natt Drew, an old time pilot, died at Smithland, Kentucky, on the 4th of this month.
From parties living in Hazlewood Precinct we learn that considerable sickness has prevailed in that neighborhood for some time past, and within the past two or three weeks a number of well known citizens have died. The prevailing sickness seems to be principally pneumonia.
DIED—Yesterday morning, March 6th, 1874, at 8 o’clock at the residence of his parents, of pneumonia, Michael J. Marnel, aged 20 years, 10 months, and 24 days. As is well known to a large portion of the readers of The Bulletin, the deceased was from the day The Bulletin made its first appearance an attaché of the establishment; first as one of the carrier boys, then as an apprentice in the job office, and finally about two years ago he was promoted to the foremanship of that department. Michael Marnel was a young man of exemplary character—sober, honest, and industrious; and in him the proprietors of The Bulletin found a servant whom they could ever trust and rely upon. In his intercourse with his fellow workmen and associates he was always kind and affable, and was held in the highest esteem by them all. He was a great favorite, not only with his employers, but with everybody with whom his business brought him in contact. He was a great help to his aged parents, for whom he always evinced the strongest affection. In his death his parents have lost a dutiful and affectionate son, his employers a faithful servant and the community at large a noble-hearted and promising young man. Full particulars of the time and place of the funeral will be made known in tomorrow’s Bulletin.
Sunday, 8 Mar 1874: FUNERAL NOTICE The funeral of the late Michael J. Marnel will take place from the residence of his parents this afternoon at fifteen minutes past one o’clock. After the services at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, corner Ninth Street and Washington Avenue, the funeral cortege will proceed to the cemetery at Villa Ridge by special train to leave the foot of Eighth Street at 3 o’clock p.m. Friends of the deceased are invited to attend.
HIBERNIANS TAKE NOTICE The members of the Hibernian Fire Company, are hereby notified to assemble at their engine house today at one o’clock, sharp, in uniform, for the purpose of attending the funeral of our deceased brother, Michael J. Marnel. By order of the company, M. J. Howley, Sec’y
Tuesday, 10 Mar 1874:
The funeral of the late Michael Marnel, which occurred on
Sunday afternoon, was one of the largest we ever saw in
Cairo. The funeral train consisted of five cars, all of which
were closely crowded with friends of the deceased.
At Hackensack, New Jersey, yesterday (Monday) morning, Mr. John R. Paulison. The
deceased was the father of Mrs. W. F. Pitcher of this city, who left
for New Jersey on Sunday
afternoon, hoping to arrive in time to see her father alive. Yesterday
morning the family received a telegram announcing his death. Mrs.
Pitcher will probably arrive in time for the funeral. WHEREAS, It hath pleased Almighty God in His infinite mercy, to call from our midst in the bloom of youth, one of our most zealous and creditable members, Michael J. Marnel, therefore be it Resolved, by the officers and members of this company, that in the death of our beloved brother, Michael J. Marnel, the Hibernian Fire Company has suffered an irreparable loss, the community at large an honorable and upright citizen, and his parents a kind and dutiful son. Resolved, That to the stricken and bereaved family we tender our earnest and deepest sympathy. Resolved, That we bury our departed brother with all the honors of a fireman, and in a manner worthy his past services towards this company.
Resolved,
That the foregoing resolutions be spread upon the journal and published in
the city papers, and also that a copy of the same be sent to the family of
the deceased. Friday, 13 Mar 1874: We are pained to learn of the death of little Harry Partee, son of Henry Partee, pilot on the Capital City. Harry died at St. Louis yesterday, but from what disease is not stated. The Capital City was due at Memphis from Vicksburg last evening, when the sad intelligence will first reach Mr. Partee.
Saturday, 14 Mar 1874: A painter named Cal. Boaz, a resident of Mound City, was killed at Memphis, yesterday. Boaz and another painter were at work on the fourth story of J. B. Semmes & Co.’s store, when the rope broke and the ladder on which they were standing turned over. Boaz fell to the pavement and had his brains dashed out, his partner hung to the ladder and was rescued by being taken into the building through a window. See Memphis telegram on second page.
KILLED Memphis, March 13—About 10 o’clock this morning while two painters were at work on the front of the 4th story of B. J. Simmes & Co.’s store on Main Street, the rope broke and the ladder turned, and one of them named Cal. Boaz, of Mound City, Illinois, fell to the pavement, striking on his head and dashing his brains. The other man clung to the ladder, looking down upon the mangled remains of his partner until some parties ran upstairs and pulled him in the window, when he almost fainted, having hung there for five minutes.
The last issue of the Mound City Patriot says: Mrs. Dyer, daughter of Hon. N. R. Casey, is very low and not expected to live. A few weeks ago she went to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for her health, but it seems that the change did not benefit her, and it is feared she will not recover.
We understand the colored children of Cairo contemplate holding a mass meeting for the purpose of expressing regret on the death of Charles Sumner.
Tuesday, 17 Mar 1874: MURDERED Another Cold-Blooded Murder near this City The Murderer Arrested and Is Now in Jail On Sunday morning last a party of four colored men called at the residence of Coroner Gossman, and informed the coroner that on the night previous while on his way home, a colored man named Gillman Jones, had fallen from his wagon and received such injuries as caused his death in a few hours. They stated that Jones’ body was at the cabin of Jerry McKinny a colored man, who lives on the line of the Cairo and St. Louis railroad, about four miles from the city, and wished the coroner to hold an inquest on it. THE INQUEST Coroner Gossman at once repaired to McKinney’s cabin and finding a number of colored men present, formed a jury and commenced to hear evidence as to the manner in which Jones came to his death. A colored man named DANIEL LASCHAE was the first witness called. Laschae stated, in substance, that himself, Jeff Tillman and the deceased had come to town on Saturday afternoon with a load of cord wood. Disposing of the wood they had started on their_____ (line missing) a short distance above the residence of Mr. Smallenburg, Jones got his feet entangled in one of the wheels of the wagon and fell off, the hind wheel passing over his head, inflicting the injuries which caused his death. Laschae gave this testimony in an open and frank manner and Coroner Gossman nor any of the jury suspected that there had been foul play. But the reader will readily understand their surprise when the second witness JEFF TILLMAN told them “the truth” about how Jones had been murdered. Being sworn “to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” Tillman hesitated a moment and then said, “Well, I am sworn to tell the truth about this matter and I’m going to do it.” Tillman then gave his evidence, which was substantially as follows: Laschae, Jones and himself (Tillman) had started on their way home, and when a short distance from the courthouse met a white man named Hunter, (Hunter is in the employ of Mr. Smallenburg, the gardener) who wanted to ride. Hunter had a bottle of medicine in his pocket, and before the wagon had proceeded far, Laschae succeeded in stealing it from him, doubtless believing the bottle contained whiskey. As the wagon passed Mr. Smallenburg’s Hunter got off and went into the house. The three colored men continued on their way, and when out of hearing of the house, Jones said to Laschae that he “did not think he (Laschae) would steal.” Without anything further being said, Laschae SEIZED A STANCHION out of the wagon frame and struck Jones a heavy blow on the head. Jones fell off the wagon and begged Laschae not to hit him again. But the wretch paid no attention to his pleadings and dealt him a second terrible blow, which knocked him insensible. Tillman and Laschae put Jones on the wagon and took him to Jerry McKinny’s cabin, where they left him. Jones lingered until twelve o’clock Saturday night, when he died. A MADE UP STORY When Laschae found that his victim was dead, he prevailed on Tillman to say that Jones had been killed by being run over by the wagon; but when asked to swear to a lie, he backed out. LASCHAE ARRESTED Coroner Gossman at once arrested Laschae, brought him to the city and turned him over to Jailer Dick Fitzgerald, who locked him up in the county jail. He admits the killing of Jones, and says that he was neither drunk nor angry when he did it. Jones was about 20 years and leaves a wife and one child. Laschae is supposed to be between thirty-five and forty yeas old and is a single man. On Wednesday (tomorrow) morning a preliminary hearing of the case will be heard before Judge Bross.
RESPECT TO SUMNER Meeting of the Colored Citizens Last Night Resolutions of Respect to the Memory of the Late Senator Sumner Speeches, Songs, etc. The colored citizens of Cairo, to the number of several hundred, assembled at Scheel’s Hall last night for the purpose of giving appropriate expression of their feelings in relation to the DEATH OF SENATOR SUMNER. Rev. Charles Caldwell of the Fourteenth Street Baptist Church was called to preside, and Messrs. Taylor, Britton, and Green were appointed vice presidents and R. H. O’Bryan secretary. SPEECHES Were made by W. T. Scott, J. W. Williams, J. Gladney, and J. J. Bird. After the speeches the teachers of the colored school provided the assemblage with songs appropriate for the occasion. Messrs. J. J. Bird, J. W. Williams and W. T. Scott were appointed a COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. The committee retired and after an absence of a few minutes reported the following, which were unanimously adopted: PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS WHEREAS, By an act of Divine Providence Honorable Charles Sumner, late United States Senator, has been summoned from a life of eminent public duty therefore Resolved, That, in common with the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, whose honored representative he was, we deeply deplore the loss of him whose life, character, and public services were for a quarter of a century interwoven with the peace, progress and perpetuity of our “Free American Institution.” Resolved, That his untiring devotion to and unexampled advocacy of “liberty and justice” for the “colored American” for which he was inhumanly treated, and brutally assaulted in the Senate chamber, have won for him the unfeigned regard and lasting gratitude of the true lovers of liberty everywhere. Resolved, That his almost expiring words, “Take care of my Civil Rights Bill,” are unimpeachable evidence of the purity of motive and fidelity of purpose (line missing) __vocate the passage of that, to us, intrinsic measure. Resolved, That language is inadequate to express even an approximate estimate of his matchless worth; we therefore commit that imposing duty to the future historian, and remote posterity, who, perchance, after having reaped the benefit of his legal attainment, scholarly ability and unbounded knowledge, may rise in the majesty of unselfish patriotism, and call him great, and WHEREAS, It has been recommended by the Civil Rights League that steps be immediately taken to raise funds to erect a monument in honor of Charles Sumner, therefore Resolved, That we heartily concur in said recommendation and will use every endeavor by means and measures to consummate that noble purpose, and be it further Resolved, That in order to show a still further appreciation of his public services, we recommend that the private residences of families and our houses of worship be draped in mourning for a period of thirty days. After the adoption of the above resolutions the meeting adjourned.
Wednesday, 18 Mar 1874: At a meeting of the lady members of the German Lutheran church, of which the deceased was a member, held last evening, the following resolutions were adopted: WHEREAS, It has pleased Almighty God in his infinite wisdom to remove from our midst and the church, by death, our beloved sister, Mrs. Carl Peters, therefore Resolved, That while we bow with humble submission to the will of the Master, we shall ever feel the great loss we have sustained in the death of our loved and loving sister; that in the councils of the church especially will we miss her valuable advice; and further Resolved, That to the bereaved husband, who in the death of his wife, has lost his best and truest friend, our most heartfelt sympathy, and pray God to make his burden as light as possible; and be it further Resolved, That we, as members of the German Lutheran Church, tender to him our assistance in bringing up his motherless children that they may be taught to follow the path of rectitude and lead an honest, Christian life. Resolved, That these resolutions be spread on the records of the church, that a copy be furnished the bereaved husband, and that they be published in the city papers.
A messenger has just come in for Judge T. Younger, cousin
to John and James Younger, to attend the funeral of John, who was
killed in a fight with detectives near Monegaw Springs, on Tuesday evening.
The messenger states that three detectives, belonging to Pinkerton’s
famous Chicago force, met the two Youngers near Monegaw Springs and
attempted to arrest them, when the Younger brothers, who were fully
prepared and determined not to be entrapped, instantly drew their revolvers
and the firing commenced. The daring bandits proved too much for their
would-be captors. The first shot killed one of the detectives. John
Younger was next to fall, and immediately afterwards Jim succeeded in
unhorsing another of the detectives. It is said that at this juncture the
third detective fled to the woods, and has not been heard of since. There
is no doubt that John Younger and two of the detectives were killed.
Parties left Appleton
City at 4:30 p.m. yesterday to learn further particulars.
Only two of the parties who went out to Monegaw Springs have
returned to the city. They state that the detective is wounded with three
bullet wounds and one charge of buckshot. A guide named Donovan was
killed. John Younger is killed and it is believed that his brother
is wounded. The detective who fled to the woods has not been heard from.
There were five of the Younger party it is said.
Additional telegrams from the scene of Monegaw Springs affray
state that three detectives were killed outright, in the attempt to capture
the Younger brothers. The name of one of the attacking party killed
is Edwin V. Daniels, a former deputy sheriff of St. Clair County, of
which he was long a resident. The names of the detectives killed are merely
surmised by the gentleman receiving the telegrams, and are withheld until
more direct information is received. The nearest telegraph station to the
scene of the tragedy is at
Appleton City, over twenty miles distant, which fact will account for
the delay in forwarding authentic and fair particulars. Daniels it
is believed, was at Rolla at the time of the Gad’s Hill robbery, and
probably furnished information that led the detectives in pursuit of the
Younger brothers. John Younger, the only one of the brigands
killed, was buried yesterday, a messenger having been sent the day before to
T. J. Younger, one of the judges of St. Clair County, and a cousin of
the murdered man, requesting him to attend the funeral. There are four
brothers of the Younger boys, who have made their headquarters in the
vicinity of Monegaw Springs since 1865, and have exercised a sort of
terrorism over the people of the region, and though their desperate
character was well-known, they were shielded from arrest by an indisposition
and a dread among their neighbors to inform against them. The worst one of
the gang is Cole Younger, who formerly hailed from
Independence,
Jackson County. Those who profess to be best acquainted with them,
disbelieve that they were concerned in the Iowa train robbery. Monegaw
Springs, the headquarters of the desperadoes, are located in a mountainous
country, heavily wooded, and are somewhat secluded, although but five or six
miles from Osceola.
A gentleman from
Belleville, Illinois, reports
that Sheriff Hughes, of St. Clair County, has returned from the scene
of the murder of the Stiltzenreiter family, near Centreville. He
obtained no clue to the assassins, but says the murder was evidently
committed for plunder, as the house was thoroughly ransacked, and the
contents of the bureaus and closets strewn all around. The elder
Stiltzenreiter had considerable money in the house, which the murderers
are supposed to have got. The house is situated some distance from another
dwelling in the vicinity of the settlement called Saxton. The neighbors are
in a state of great excitement, but suspicion is attached to no one. It is
believed the murder was committed Thursday night, as the bodies of Mrs.
Stiltzenreiter and the children were in bed when found. That of her
husband on the floor beside a lounge on which he slept, and that of the old
man in the passageway leading room his own to his son’s room. The heads of
the men were nearly severed from their bodies, while those of the mother and
children were crushed with some blunt instrument. The county court of St.
Clair County offers $1,000 reward for the murderers.
The terrible tragedy enacted near Centreville, St. Clair County,
Illinois, a brief account of which appeared in the Globe of
yesterday, created intense excitement among the citizens of Belleville,
where the murdered family had numerous friends and acquaintances. Everybody
was anxious for details, and in order to satisfy this desire, your reporters
managed to gather as full particulars as it was possible to obtain
The murdered family numbered five souls, and consisted of Fritz
Steltzereide, aged seventy-five years, his son Carl Franz
Steltzereide, aged about twenty-eight, and his son’s wife and two
children, one of them an infant eight months old, and the other a little
girl aged three years. They resided on a farm about four miles south of the
town of Centreville,
which is distant from Belleville eight miles, in a southwesterly direction.
The house is a one-story frame, facing the east, and is set back from the
road. It contains three rooms, one of which was occupied by the young man
and his wife as a sleeping apartment, the adjoining room being occupied by
the old gentleman. It was in these two rooms that
The children were both killed by blows upon the head.
Schneider had seen enough to satisfy him that a dreadful crime had been
committed, and, with cheeks blanched with terror, he posted with all speed
to the nearest magistrate and gave the information. It was not until after
the arrival of the authorities that the discovery was made that the old
grandfather was also a victim to the knife of the human butchers. He was
found upon the floor in his room, the hairs silvered by the frosts of
seventy-five winters, dabbled with blood which flowed from a ghastly wound
in his throat. BELLEVILLE, ILL., March 23.—The wholesale butchery of the Steltzereide family, near Saxetown, Illinois, on Thursday night under such mysterious circumstances, continues to be the exciting topic of conversation here, and much speculation is indulged in as to who the perpetrators were, their motives, and manner of doing their bloody work. Every bit of information received concerning it is eagerly sought for, and the one wish of all is that the demons who did this quintuple murder may be speedily discovered and as speedily receive the punishment which their awful crime merits. Several detectives from St. Louis arrived at Belleville Sunday night, and immediately commenced to “work up” the case. Messrs. Frederick Eckert and Charles Kemper yesterday took out papers of administration in the St. Clair County, Illinois, probate court on the estate of the deceased Steltzereides, which is valued at about $15,000. They offer a reward of $1,000 for the arrest and conviction of the murderers, which with the $1,000 offered by the St. Clair commissioners, make the amount $2,000, which it is thought Gov. Beveridge will increase to $3,000. The two men, John Afkhen and Frederick Boelz arrested by Deputy Sheriff J. R. Hughes on Sunday and lodged in the county jail at Belleville on suspicion of being connected with the murder still remain there. Boeltz, who is a brother-in-law to the young man Steltzereide, they having married sisters, came to this country about six years ago, and is about thirty-five years of age. He is small of stature and slender built. He seems to be a very religious man and is said to have been a teacher in the Sunday school near his home. On being brought into the jail he requested the matron, Mrs. Dawson, to get him a Bible. In answer to a question by a reporter, as to how he felt, (meaning physically), he replied, “My heart is all right.” He seems to be in very little concern about the awful position in which he is placed. His wife, too, on parting with him Sunday when the officer arrested him at his residence, showed but very little uneasiness or alarm. His farm is about two miles from the scene of the tragedy. John Afkhen, the other man under arrest, is a German of powerful build, and of about 180 pounds weight. He has blue eyes and light hair and complexion. He is a farm laborer, and on the night that the murder was committed he was at the house, and was particularly noticed as saying but little to anyone but seeming to pay much attention to all that was said concerning the murder by the men who assembled there.
There is one circumstance connected with the discovery of the
murder by Mr. Ben Schneider, on Friday evening, which may help to
determine whether a stranger or not committed the dreadful deed, and that is
that a large Newfoundland dog belonging to the murdered family was found by
Mr. Schneider in the room with the dead bodies, and as soon as he
opened the door the animal came out. The supposition is that the murderer
was either acquainted with the dog and he with him or else the assassin had
been concealed in the house and did not have to encounter the dog outside,
but, after committing the murder, he had induced the dog to enter the house,
when he closed him in there to prevent his following him or otherwise
interfering with his flight. If this brute could tell his story of how his
master’s family were murdered, and how the assassin, with more savageness
than any brute, attacked and killed innocent babes and a sleeping mother,
the murderer’s doom would speedily be sealed—to such a height of excitement
has public feeling been stirred.
Memphis, March 24—A special to the Appeal from Helena,
Arkansas, received this evening, says the
So afar as is known the following is a list of the killed and
wounded:
James Dawson, captain; Henry Gessler, mate; John
Ostrander, pilot; Mrs. John Ostrander; William Munday,
pilot; Dan Weddle, watchman; and cabin boy, name unknown.
Three colored firemen, names not given, were severely injured;
George Vanhouton, leg dislocated; Patrick Bacon, second
engineer, badly bruised; William Dunn, second cook, scalded; Peter
Holt, owner of the trading boat was badly bruised.
The family of the last mentioned were all saved, and are on the
steamer Phil Allen bound for
Memphis, as are also all the
wounded, who are under the treatment of physicians from Frier’s Point. The
remainder of the crew are with them and rendering all the assistance
possible.
Captain Good, agent of the line here, is making every
arrangement possible for the care of the wounded when they arrive here.
John Ostrander and wife, who are among the lost, leave six
children, who are in St.
Louis. Mrs. Ostrander had accompanied her husband on a pleasure
trip. Memphis, March 25.—From survivors of the Crescent City who arrived this morning on the steamer Phil Allen, the following particulars of the disaster are obtained: William Briggs, first engineer, who was on watch at the time, states that at the time of the explosion he was aft mending a fire hook—that he was suddenly knocked down by the concussion, though he heard no unusual noise. On springing to his feet, he started forward, but was stopped by steam; a moment afterwards he found himself standing in water, and realizing his danger he ran upstairs close followed by water. Within three minutes after the explosion the boat sunk, leaving only the after part of the roof above the water, on this the survivors huddled until released by the Phil Allen’s timely arrival. The engineer states that at the moment of the explosion the boat was carrying 140 pounds of steam, and five minutes before he had tried the water and found it flush. He can give no theory as to the cause of the explosion. The boat had five barges in tow, containing 500 tons of coal, 600 tons of sugar, and about 200 tons of queensware, all of which was lost. In addition to the lists of deaths reported are: Frank Kelly, St. Louis, day watchman; William Dunn, 2d clerk, Wheeling, died on the Phil Allen; Clarence Adsit, cabin boy, Cairo; John Davis and Ki Adkins, Cincinnati; Ben Johnson, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, colored fireman, lost. The following were wounded: James Brewster, cabin boy, Madison, Indiana, cut on head; Arthur Welsh, rouster, St. Louis, cut on head; Thomas McLean, rouster, Memphis, shoulder badly bruised; Lizzie Ross, chambermaid, Cairo, skull fractured; George and Albert Hall, sons of the proprietor of the trading boat at Davenport, Iowa, were considerably bruised; their father was also badly scalded about the chest. The following are unhurt: James O’Connor, Pittsburg; Frank Miller, Peoria; Gus Sauer, Jake Lichti, Joseph Miller, Morris Dhner, Henry Ealenstein, Charles Harrison, Henry Murphy, Allen Cooper, and George Tilley, St. Louis; Attress Ross, Cairo; Mrs. Hall and four children, Davenport, Iowa. Also the following colored firemen: James Hughes, Moundsville, Va., Jerry Thomas, Brownsville; James Robinson, Dave Archer, Dick Harris, and Alfred Jones, St. Louis.
All the wounded with those unhurt, and George Van Hauton,
whose left leg is dislocated, left for St. Louis on the City of Vicksburg.
All the survivors speak in the highest terms of the treatment received from
the officers of the Phil Allen. No bodies of the killed were
recovered. Friday,
27 Mar 1874:
Though the grandson of a minister of the gospel, the deceased had
been an unbeliever all his life. His wife has been a member of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church for many years, and ever since her union with
this church, had made the conversion of her husband the subject of her
earnest and most constant prayers. After long years it pleased God to grant
her request. During the sickness which proved fatal, Mr. Schmallenberg
saw the error of his ways, experienced a change of heart and became a
childlike believer in the gospel of Christ. Though satisfied with the will
of God to remove him, he expressed earnest wish to live to prove to the
world that his conversion was real and that he had truly accepted the
religion of the Christian’s God. It is the knowledge which consoles his
widow. Young
Bulliner and Mrs. D. P. Stansel the Victims Editor Bulletin: Again open your ledger of crime and enter another bloody page. Another waylaying and shooting has taken place, the details of which are not less mysterious and heart-sickening than those which have recently preceded it. In a former letter giving the particulars of the killing of George W. Bulliner, I gave the opinion that an old family feud and grudge were at the bottom of it. Others thought that parties from a distant section of the country had committed the murder. The crime which I now record, and the developments now coming to light, strengthen my belief that the murderers being hereabouts, and the end is not yet. On last Saturday night service was held in what is known as the “Russel meeting house” on the Carbondale and Marion Road, some six miles east of this place. Among those present were the whole Bulliner family and Mrs. Stansell, wife of D. P. Stansell. After the services the congregation broke up and were returning home. When the Bulliners were passing a point where a lane intersects the road, about one-fourth of a mile west of the church, two of the boys, Dave and Monroe, who were a few rods in the rear of the rest of the company, were fired on by two men concealed behind the fence. The Bulliner’s drew their pistols and returned the fire. The assailants also drew revolvers, and twenty shots in all were fired. The Bulliner’s exhausted their pistols and commenced to run, upon which two shots took effect upon Dave, bringing him to the ground after running a short distance. The attacking party ordered the other one to halt, saying with an oath that they intended to kill him. The firing having attracted the attention of the crowd, Mrs. Stansell had turned back when she was struck by a pistol ball. Bulliner was shot in the back, one ball entering the chest, and passing through the body, came out near the region of the heart. The other ball remaining in the body. He was carried to his home, and is at latest accounts still alive, but with little hope of recovery. Mrs. Stansell, it is hoped, will recover, but her case is critical. The ball took effect in the abdomen, but it is thought the intestines are not materially injured. Suspicion is directed at two young men, Thomas Russell and Dave Pleasants, as the perpetrators. If what I learn proves true, the evidence will be quite strong against them, not only in this case, but in the murder of the old man. It would be injudicious to publish this evidence for the reason that Russell is under arrest and the capture of Pleasants is hourly looked for. The most wonderful part of the affair is that both the Bulliner boys were not killed at the first fire, as the murderers were within fifteen or twenty yards of their victims when they opened fire. The Bulliners declare they recognized the men, as the night was clear and moonlit.
These are about the particulars of the affray as I have been able
to cull them from the thousand rumors in circulation. If further
developments are made I will inform you.
(A marker in Cairo City Cemetery reads: Clarence Adist
Died March 24, 1874, Aged 20 years.—Darrel Dexter) Editor Bulletin:—Young Bulliner, one of the young men engaged in the affray of which I wrote you yesterday, died last night of his wounds. Mrs. Stansell is still living, and thought to be slowly recovering. Pleasants, spoken of as one of the supposed murderers, was arrested. Both he and Russell are now in the Williamson County jail. It is feared that more blood will flow, for both the Bulliners and the parties suspected belong to gangs of the most desperate men.
I learn that a preliminary examination of the men under arrest
will take place tomorrow.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL., April 3.—Hon. James R. Loomis, of
Shawneetown, member of the lower house of the Twenty-eighth General
Assembly, representing the Forty-ninth District, died here today very
suddenly, of typhoid pneumonia. He was not able to leave for home, when the
Legislature adjourned last week, but was not considered very sick. He was
out day before yesterday, feeling much better, but yesterday was taken
worse, and this afternoon, about
4 o’clock, suddenly died. His
body is in charge of the Odd Fellows of this city, who will send the remains
to Shawneetown tomorrow morning. His wife was telegraphed for this morning,
but that telegram has been recalled since his death. Mr. Loomis was
circuit clerk of Gallatin County and was of good standing with his people.
He leaves a wife and five children, who will be shocked to learn of his
sudden decease. He was a clerk in the office of Governor Yates
during the early part of the war, at which time his brother, John Loomis,
was assistant adjutant general. The most unexpected death of Hon. J. R. Loomis, member of the house of the General Assembly, has been announced. He died at Springfield last Friday. Mr. Loomis has been in ill health ever since he took his seat in the house. About three weeks since he had a severe nervous attack, and his life was despaired of by his friends. On Friday he had another attack of the disease and died.
Mr. Loomis had many warm friends and an interesting family
who will be thrown upon the world almost penniless. The remains were taken
in charge by the Odd Fellows of Springfield and forwarded to Shawneetown,
where they will be buried.
Mr. M. Z. Glass, one of the oldest citizens of Massac County, died recently.
Mr.
Norton, for sixteen years proprietor of the Shawnee House, Shawneetown,
died in that town on the 30th ult.
(Thomas W. Littleton married Nancy E. Bean on 1
Aug 1861, in Union Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter) Sunday,
19 Apr 1874:
Editor Bulletin—Yesterday (Monday) Alfred Cotner
and Henry L. Gazelle were drowned in the Mississippi River, opposite
Hamburg Landing, in this (Union) county. They went to the
Mississippi shore in a skiff
for a load of stone. On the return the wind was blowing a gale, and the
boat sunk in the middle of the river. One of the parties swam two miles and
a half and was within a quarter of a mile of there when he went down. Mr.
Cotner was about sixty-five years of age. He was raised in this
county and was a good citizen. Mr. Gazelle was a young man and not
so well known. At our last advices the body was not found.
Tuesday, 28 Apr 1874:
(The story in the 3 May 1874, issue of the paper, see below,
suggests that the murderer’s name was Isaacs and that the crime
occurred in Saline County.—Darrel Dexter) Louisville, Ky., April 30—George Weler Alfred, (colored) convicted of the murder of Dr. Granville, will be hanged tomorrow in Washington County. A Courier Journal letter says the condemned man is preparing a full confession, implicating the wife of the murdered man, who is now out on bail on the same charge, as a party criminal in the murder.
Various attempts at the rescue of the prisoner, said to be
preceded from Mrs. Alfred’s friends, have all been frustrated and
preparations for the execution are being perfected. The condemned man has
professed faith in the Catholic church and expressed a willingness to die.
(The 13 May 1874, issue of the paper, see below, stated the
murder happened at Stonefort in Saline County.—Darrel Dexter)
(An obituary in the Saturday, 2 May 1874, Jonesboro Gazette
states that George W. Erwin, of Anna, was born in Little York, Pa.,
and died 25 Apr 1874, aged 53 years.—Darrel Dexter)
We published a day or two ago the announcement of the killing of
Reed by Davis
near Ullin, Davis, the murderer, is ungainly in his person, with long awkward legs, which have fastened upon him the nickname of “Shanks.” The use of this nickname by his acquaintances always angered him.
On the evening of the murder,
Davis
was visiting at his aunt’s about one mile and a half from Ullin and about
three miles from his father’s house. He was standing or sitting before the
house, when Reed drove up in a wagon. The two men were acquainted,
and Reed in a jocular tone addressed
Davis,
saying: “D--n you,” said Davis, “you must not call me that name. I’ll whip h--l out of you if you get out of that wagon.” “That’s just to my hand,” responded Reed; “I don’t care if I do take a little of that in mine.” Reed accordingly got out of the wagon and faced Davis. The two were soon engaged in a battle, which resulted in a victory for Reed, Davis crying, “Enough!” Reed at once desisted, as the rules of a knockdown fight require, and allowed Davis to get up. “I presume you are satisfied now,” said Reed, and turned his back and started to walk away. “Look out, Reed,” shouted a cousin of Davis who was present at the fight, “He’s after you with a knife.” Reed turned around to face his antagonist, and as he did so Davis plunged the blade of the knife into his heart. “You d----d coward!” was all that Reed said and then fell dead.
Davis
was arrested, but made his escape. While his guards were consulting
together, he walked out of the house in which he was being detained, mounted
a horse his father had provided for him and went off at a breakneck pace.
He was last seen at Grand Chain, and it is believed he is in Kentucky. The
report that he was seen in Cairo is not true.
Pinckneyville, Ills., May 6.—The trial of Wesley Wilmore
for the murder of Ed Jones, in Jackson County, July 4th, over a year
ago, commenced here today. The prosecution is conducted by A. Pugh
and D. W. Fountain. F. E. Albright, J. Blackburn Jones,
R. W. S. Wheatley, and E. H. Lemen for defendant. The
prosecution closed their case this evening and the defense opens in the
morning. The case has excited much feeling among the parties, and there is
a lively interest manifested in it. Public sympathy is running generally in
the interest of the defendant, especially since the hearing of the evidence
on behalf of the prosecution. The case will probably close tomorrow. For not a few years back Williamson County has been the scene of many deeds of outrage, violence and murder, many of them bloody and nearly all of them dark and mysterious. Men have been waylaid and murdered on the public highways; they have been cruelly assassinated in their own yards and on their own thresholds; they have been dragged from their beds at night, hung upon trees and their lifeless and ghastly forms left suspended in the air to startle the traveler and drive terror and apprehensions to the hearts of their friends and neighbors. In nearly every case, the perpetrators have managed to conceal themselves from the knowledge of the public; surrounded by a veil of mystery which neither the officers of the law nor the just revenge of the surviving friends of the murdered victims have been able to penetrate; they have managed to elude justice and escape altogether the penalty their crimes so justly deserve. The Farmer’s Advocate published in Marion, Williamson County, dated May 4th, contains a communication which throws an air of wild romance around the desperadoes who have so long been the terror of Williamson County. The correspondent of the Advocate tells a story the substance of which is as follows:
Not long since a party of hunters were out at night. During
their rambles they met another party, who they were horrified to see, were
carrying a dead man. The hunters, who had escaped the observation of the
others, concealed themselves until the party with the dead man had passed
on, when they followed, keeping at a safe distance behind from the
(distance) of perhaps a mile, when the whole party, dead man and all,
suddenly disappeared. The pursuers searched but could find no trace or sign
of the party. The next day the hunters returned to the search and were
rewarded by discovering a cave, the opening of which, large enough to admit
the body of a man, appeared in a cliff of rocks overhanging a small stream
of water. The explorers procured lights and a reinforcement of three or
four other residents of the vicinity and returned to the cave. Just before
they reached it, three men were observed running away from it in haste. Two
of the party entered the cave and found themselves in a large room, carpeted
and furnished and showing evidences of recent occupation. The sides of the
room showed openings which they felt assured led to other rooms. The
possibility that they might be occupied made the searchers feel
uncomfortable and they quickly vacated the place. The party concluded they
had come upon the rendezvous of a band of desperadoes and on their way home,
stopped at the house of an old farmer and told their story. The farmer
became excited—left the room and soon returned with four men, masked and
armed, who made the party of explorers kneel and take a solemn oath never to
reveal what they had that day discovered. The writer of the communication
says the families of them men who made the discovery were leaving the
country—that others are preparing to follow, and that great excitement
exists on the borders of Jackson and Williamson counties in the vicinity of
the cave. FROM
VIENNA Editor of Bulletin:—Circuit court was called here on last Monday morning. Judge Baker presiding. There were 27 criminal, 47 common law and 81 chancery cases on the docket. Of the criminal cases the most important are—the People vs. Peter Herren, People vs. Dilts and People vs. Dazy Breese, each indicted for murder. The court has been engaged for the last three days in the trial of Peter Herron. It is a very interesting trial and is largely attended by spectators. As many of your readers know, Herren killed Cyrus Heith in Cobden, in the year 1871, while attempting to arrest him as town marshal of Cobden, for the violation of ordinances. It seems that Heith, while sober, was a quiet and law-abiding and industrious citizen. But when under the influence of liquor was very boisterous, quarrelsome and annoying to the citizens of the place. On the occasion of his killing he had come to town, got drunk and was defying the town and its ordinances, and with the attempt to arrest him in a saloon he was by Herron shot and killed him. Herron is ably defended by Judge Allen and S. P. Wheeler of your place and Gov. Dougherty of Jonesboro. He is backed up by the entire population of Cobden and quite a number of citizens of the place are in attendance. The case of the People vs. Breese is set down for Monday.
(His name is recorded as Cyrus Keith in the
13 Aug 1871, issue of the
Cairo Bulletin and in several issues of the Jonesboro Gazette.
His marker in Collins Cemetery in
Union County reads: Cyrus S. Keith Died Aug. 3, 1871, Aged 33 Yrs.,
8 Ms., 23 Days.—Darrel Dexter)
Thursday, 14 May 1874:
(John Clancy married Mary Barry on 15 Mar 1858, in
Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Henry Runner, the murderer of Fred Hancamp, was
arrested by Deputy Sheriff John Cain between three and
four o’clock yesterday morning on the Illinois Central railroad track near
Schultz & Morelock’s distillery. It seems that after committing
the murder Runner went up the railroad track as far as the incline
plain, and onto the transfer boat, but was told by Captain McKinny
that he could not cross the river unless he got into a car. He left the boat
and went up the track a short distance to wait for the train, and while
waiting Deputy Cain, who was guarding the track, succeeded in
arresting him. Runner was brought back and locked in the county jail
where he now is. As stated in the extra which accompanied The Bulletin of yesterday morning, the inquest on the body of Hancamp, the murdered man, was held until yesterday morning at 9 o’clock. At that hour Coroner Gossman empanelled a jury and proceeded to the residence of the deceased’s mother where the body lay, and the inquest was held. From the evidence given before the coroner’s jury, it seems that the murder occurred in about this manner. Hancamp was very drunk, and some time between 11 and 12 o’clock, Wednesday night, went to see a girl by the name of Devon who lives in one of the small houses on Fifteenth Street opposite the custom house. Miss Devon it appears refused to have anything to do with Hancamp, and ordered him to go away. He refused to go, and she then started after a policeman to take him away. Hancamp followed her down Poplar Street to near the gate leading into the custom house yard. At this point Runner came up, when angry words passed between him and Hancamp, and they came to blows. It was sworn to that Runner struck Hancamp two or three times before stabbing him but that he (Hancamp) was too drunk to make much of an effort at resistance. Runner had a large knife in his hand, with which he stabbed Hancamp, the blade entering the left breast a short distance below the collar bone, cutting one rib entirely in two and severing the main artery leading to the heart. Hancamp fell to the ground and Runner ran down Poplar Street to Fourteenth, where he was lost sight of. Hancamp died in a very few minutes. The balance of the story is as related in the extra published yesterday morning.
With this evidence before them the jury returned the following
We, the undersigned jurors, sworn to inquire into the death of
Fred Hancamp on oath, do find that he came to his death by a wound
inflicted with a knife in the hand of Henry Runner. During yesterday forenoon several parties visited the jail and were shown the cell where Runner was incarcerated, but he was in no humor to converse. However, it seems that he was not aware until then that Hancamp was dead. When the party was ready to leave he came to the door of his cell and inquired of Jailer Fitzgerald “how Fred was.” Mr. Fitzgerald hesitated a moment and then said that he had “heard that he was dead.” When Runner heard this he became very pale and much agitated. To another gentleman standing near he said, “Is it so that he is dead?” He was told that Hancamp was dead and that an inquest was then being held on the body. Runner said no more, but pale and apparently scarcely able to stand up, crept away from the door and laid down on one of the bunks in the cell. The unfortunate man evidently feels the enormity of his crime, and dreads the punishment that is almost sure to follow it.
(The Saturday, 23 May 1874, Jonesboro Gazette reported
that a man named Runner stabbed a man named Henkains at a
house of ill fame in Cairo on Wednesday, 20 May 1874.—Darrel Dexter) EDITOR BULLETIN:—If I were disposed to be facetious, I should apologize for my long delay in writing to you, and give as my excuse that no more people had been killed. The monotony, however, was broken on yesterday. About four o’clock in the afternoon James Henderson, a man about forty-five years old, living in Williamson County, six or seven miles from this place, was shot down in his own dooryard. Three loads of buckshot lodged in his body, inflicting mortal wounds. He professes to know his murderers, and has made a written statement, which, however, has not yet been made public. Henderson is one of the party at enmity with the Bulliners. Thus, it seems, the work of death is commenced on both sides.
I will write again as soon as I learn further particulars.
(The 20 May 1874, Cairo Bulletin identified the man as
Jason Dittmore and reported that he was not dead.—Darrel Dexter) EDITOR BULLETIN:—Since writing to you last Saturday, I have taken some pains to ascertain the facts in regard to the shooting of James Henderson. Mr. Henderson was at work in his field when the parties quietly approached him and simultaneously fired. The shots took effect, lodging seven buckshots in the body of the victim. Three other shots were fired from guns and one from a pistol, seven in all. I have talked with parties who have conversed with the wounded man. He asserts positively that the assassins were John and Monroe Bulliner, and one James Norris. Although badly wounded, it is now thought Henderson will recover. He is a powerfully robust man, over six feet in height, weighing some two hundred and thirty pounds and possessing the strength and endurance of a Hercules. The opinion of the surgeon is that his powerful constitution will carry him through. James Dittmore was shot while working in his field last Saturday. The villains approached him as they did Henderson, firing a load of buckshot at him. The shot did not take effect. Upon turning around he received two other shots taking effect in his right side. He ran for his house and got his gun, but was not further molested. Mr. Dittmore is a quiet, inoffensive man. He is not identified with any of the various parties who are constantly quarreling, fighting, cutting and shooting, and his attempted assassination is only accounted for in the belief that he had seen the parties as they were firing on Henderson the day previous. His wounds are severe, but are not considered fatal.
There is a perfect reign of terror in that neighborhood. I have
it from pretty good authority that a paper was found containing the names of
nineteen persons to be killed in revenge for the murder of the Bulliners.
Among these are six of the
Hendersons,
three or four of the Russels, and four of the Sisneys.
And thus matters stand at this writing. God help the poor people
of that neighborhood. Yours,
The grand jury having returned an indictment for the murder in
the first degree against Henry Runner for the killing of Fred.
Hancamp in this city on the night of the 14th of the present month, he
was brought into court, and when asked if he had counsel, or the means to
employ counsel to conduct his defense, replied that his friends had promised
to procure counsel for him, and requested that his sister be sent for. His
request was complied with, and in a short time Mrs. Windrum, sister
of the prisoner, arrived. After consultation, Judge W. J. Allen was
retained to defend the prisoner. It is not probable that the trial will take
place at this term of the court. The desperadoes who have made Williamson County a name and a disgrace throughout the state, keep to their line of conduct. They fear neither the laws of God nor men and outrage both persistently and with a high hand. A few nights ago, says Carbondale Observer of Saturday last, Mr. J. S. Barret, living on Eight Mile Prairie, Williamson County, had a threatening notice posted on his barn, warning him of the vengeance of the writers, if found on his farm, or in Williamson County, in ten days after the date of the notice. This proceeding is in thorough keeping with the manner of doing things in Williamson County: if a man expresses the opinion that to shoot a man down in his yard or doorway is wrong, he is warned that such opinions are not tolerated by certain residents of Williamson and that if he would avoid the assassin’s bullet himself, he will have to get beyond its range that is, outside of Williamson County.
It is time the people of that county, those who believe there is
something else to live for beside the brutal gratification of personal or
political spite, should take some steps to assert their power. For years
past, Williamson County
has been virtually under the heel of a band of cutthroats and murderers who
lack even the virtue even of Italian banditti or highway robbers. Their
incentive to murder is not the hope of gain—but is the offspring of the
worst passion of the human heart—that of a deep, deadly and unforgiving
malice towards a fellow creature. They have kept the whole community about
the scene of their operations in fear and trembling for years, until at
last, man who value freedom of speech and a quiet life, have determined to
procure them outside of Williamson County. Farmers and mechanics are leaving
it, persons in quest of homes do not seek them within its borders, its real
estate is depreciating in value, and this state of things will continue and
grow worse until a change for the better in its moral condition takes place.
It behooves the people of the county who would not see their material
interests suffer to an almost irreparable extent, to bestir themselves
before it is too late.
(John Clancy married Mary Barry on 15 Mar 1858, in
Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter) Last Tuesday evening Downey was arraigned before a justice of the peace in this place for examination, and acquitted. A report has gained credit here to the effect that Belford’s wife attempted to poison the family of Downey by dropping a quantity of arsenic into a bucket of drinking water, and has been considerably strengthened by the fact that Belford, rather than stand trial, sold out his crop and escaped to Kentucky Tuesday morning. His wounds are not considered dangerous.
(Commodore O. H. Downey married Susan C. Cowgill on
30 Dec 1869, in Pope
Co., Ill. Andrew J. Belford married Louisa Tolley on
7 Sep 1869, in Pope Co.,
Ill.—Darrel Dexter) Sequel
to the Halbirt Murder. CARROLLTON, ILL.—June 22—At last we have the sad sequel to the horrifying details of the recent Halbirt murder in this county, which have been given in your columns, together with the particulars of the arrest of one Clark Evans, and his subsequent confession of the murder and other crimes of which he had been guilty in the course of the past few years. At about 2 o’clock this morning the jail in this city was visited by a large number of men in wagons and buggies. The jailer was aroused by an alarm at the door, and the statement that the party on the outside were in possession of a party arrested for murder, whom they desired to imprison. When the door of the anteroom was opened some nine or ten men rushed in, pushing one of their number before them, under pretense that he was the culprit. Getting fairly in, the jailer discovered that they were all in disguise, either by wearing masks or with blackened faces, and at once suspected the object of their visit; but as quick as thought he was pinioned by several of the party, pointing cocked revolvers at his head, and demanding the keys of the main door and cells. Simultaneously some of the party discovered the keys hanging near the barred entrance, and took possession of them. While one half of the party held the jailer at bay, the other half proceeded to unlock the doors, going immediately to the cell where Clark Evans was chained down, and they released him by means of a hatchet and cold chisel. In a few moments they rushed back to the entrance, with Evans in charge, and hurried him into one of the wagons. On looking out into the streets the jailor saw a large number of persons afoot as well as in the buggies and wagons, and they hurried away in various directions. He gave the alarm at once, but could not get enough persons together at the hour to pursue. The sheriff and deputies started out, but could not get on the track of the fleeing party. About 7 o’clock this morning ex Sheriff Bell, who resides at Providence came in, bringing the news that a man was found by some passers by hanging to a tree by the road side, near the south approach to the Apple Creek bridge. Hurrying thither the officers ascertained that it was Clark Evans, the prisoner, who had been taken from the jail a few hours before. The culprit was suspended in such a way that his feet nearly touched the ground by the bending of the limb, but was dead and cold. A coroner inquest was held in the presence of a vast crowd of people, who had gathered from all quarters. The corpse was taken down and placed in a rough box made at the saw mill nearby, and the deposited in the Providence Graveyard.
Of course, the authorities have not the remotest idea as to who
composed the lynching party, but the whole affair was well planned and
adroitly executed. One of the buggies, evidently used by some of the
midnight visitors, broke down
within a block from the jail, by running off a small bridge. Doubtless as
quick as the horses could be removed from it the parties accompanying it
fled, as in the buggy was found an old felt hat, the sleeve of an old coat,
two plugs of tobacco neatly wrapped in a portion of the county papers, a
quart bottle with about a half pint of whisky in it, and a small leather
valise containing some heavy twine, a cold chisel and a hatchet. This buggy
has not been identified or claimed, but a rumor prevails that it belongs to
a party residing near Whitehall. The whole affair has created a profound
sensation and so outrageous was the murder committed by Evans that
but a few disposed to blame the parties who have taken the law in their own
hands. The broken buggy is in the hands of the sheriff and will probably
never be claimed.
(Two markers in
Cairo City Cemetery at Villa
Ridge read: Willie Schmetystorff Born May 17, 1873, Died June 18,
1874 and Herman Schmetystorff Born Nov. 17, 1873, Died June 21,
1874. Herman Schmetzstoff married Elizabeth Resch on 10 Jul
1870, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
(A marker in
Calvary Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: Margaret Bloms 1873-1874.
Herman Bloms married Margaret Maloney on
5 Jan 1873, in Alexander Co.,
Ill.—Darrel Dexter) Sunday last was a day of unusual excitement and commotion in Cairo, and such scenes as occurred during that day and night were never before witnessed in the city, and it is to be sincerely hoped never will be again.
Two men, both good citizens and highly esteemed by their
neighbors, were hustled into eternity without warning or admonition. Two
homes were made desolate, two wives made widows, and in the one case one,
and in the other four little children are robbed of a father’s care and
protection. The murder of Andy Eshback, which occurred at about half past seven in the evening, was one of the most deliberate and cold-blooded that ever occurred in this part of the state, and naturally enough created intense excitement among his friends and acquaintances.
Mr. Eschback had been to Villa Ridge to As soon as Eschback was dead, Coroner Gossman summoned a jury and proceeded to hold an inquest, and Drs. Wardner and Parker were called to make the post mortem examination. The following witnesses were sworn and examined: Joseph Saurs, James K. Lane, Henry Lattner, Albert Heightman, Robert Levy, James Cassiday, John W. Cornell, John Hogan, Thomas Coyne, A. Botto, John Joyce, and John McNulty. The following is the substance of the evidence elicited: Mr. Botto testified: I was sitting on the Sixth Street front of my saloon; heard a shot in door of Eschback’s barber shop; turned towards the place from which the sound of the shooting came; saw Eschback run to the left behind the door that don’t open; Gupton, the man they have in jail, shot him again, standing within two steps of him; Eschback then ran back through his shop, and as he passed the first chair Gupton shot him again, when Gupton was standing outside right against the door, but was looking into the barber shop; then I saw Joyce come out of Lattner’s door; Lattner after him and Eschback following Lattner; I don’t know whether Eschback came out of Lattner’s or his own shop; when Eschback got out he said, pointing to Gupton: “There is the man who shot me; catch him; catch him;” then Gupton was pointing the pistol towards Joyce, Lattner and Eschback, trying to cock the revolver; Eschback went down as far as Chris Anther’s butcher shop, saying “Catch him; catch him; there is the man who shot me;” saw Heightman come out of Lane’s saloon about the time Eschback was crying “Catch him” and caught the revolver, and pulled it around; saw Gupton fall and Heightman beside him; Sauers got in about the same time; and there was wrestling; a big crowd of people got around and Hogan took Gupton to jail. Mr. Cassiday testified—Was setting in front of Lane’s saloon this evening; was looking down the street towards Eschback’s barber shop; heard two shots in the shop; a man backed out of the shop just after the shots were fired; just as he got outside the door he stood up against the frame of the door and fired another shot into the shop; think Eschback was trying to shut the door just before the third shot was fired; I think so because I saw the door come to after the man had backed out saw Gupton shove the door open and shoot into the barber shop; saw him then step back from the door two or three steps, with the revolver in his hand cocked. John McNulty testified:—Helped take Gupton from the city jail to the county jail; he wanted to know of me how Eschback was getting along; wanted to know if I thought he would die; I told him he (Eschback) would be all right in a few days; he said: “I wish the G-d d----d fellow wouldn’t die; because I wouldn’t like my mother to know anything about the scrape;” I asked him how it came that Andy and him got into a fuss; he said he was sitting in Andy’s shop fanning himself with his hat; and Andy caught hold of him and commenced shoving him out of the shop; said Andy kicked him; then he said he shot him; he remarked to me, “You know G-d d---d well I wouldn’t allow a man to kick me if I had anything to defend myself with;” kept remarking, “I wish he would get all right;” was acquainted with Gupton two or three years; he is a pilot. Henry Lattner testified:—I saw William Gupton come out of Lane’s saloon and go into the barber shop where Eschback was, who had just come from the funeral; I heard a noise in the shop as if there was scuffling; I heard three shots. Albert Heightman testified—I approached William Gupton, who was pointing a pistol at Joyce, and caught the revolver with my right hand in the center; I tried to bend his arm back and throw the muzzle up but could not do so; he then turned on me with the pistol and pointed it at me, when I placed my other hand on the revolver, and threw my cylinder out into my hand; I then caught the muzzle of the revolver in my left hand; I put my right foot between his knees and tripped him and he fell and I with him; Andy was standing at the door when my attention was attracted to Gupton; Andy spoke to me, saying he was “shot by that man;” meaning Gupton. The cylinder was hot and smelt of powder, and smoke as it came into my hand, as if recently discharged. I examined the cylinder after Gupton was arrested, and there was three chambers empty. I heard them discharged. Robert Levy testified:—Had just left Korsmeyer’s store on Sixth; had got near Hartman’s store; heard one shot; when I got near the crossing of the Vincennes track I heard another shot as if in Eschback’s shop; Gupton, after I heard second shot, was standing at door of shop with a revolver in his hand; pointing it at two or three men on sidewalk; got close to him; Al. Heightman and Saurs had Gupton down on sidewalk; in the meantime John Hogan came; saw Hogan have frame of revolver in his hand, and Heightman had cylinder in his; saw Eschback at front door; he said to me: “I’m shot, I guess I’ll die; that man shot me,” pointing to Gupton; know Gupton; he is a pilot. A number of other witnesses were examined, but their testimony was only a repetition of that given above. The evidence having all been heard and Drs. Wardner and Parker having concluded the post mortem examination, the jury returned the following verdict:
We, the undersigned jurors, sworn to inquire into the death of
Anthony Eschback, on oath, do find that he came to his death from
three shots fired from a pistol in the hand of William Gupton, and
that the shooting was done without provocation.
Drs. Wardner and Parker submitted their report of
the post mortem examination, but we failed to get a copy of the
report.
While the post mortem examination was being made, a large
crowd gathered about the front doors of the barber shop, and the lynching of
the murderer was freely discussed, and it was evident that a storm was
brewing, and unless steps were promptly taken to check it,
Sheriff Irvin knew this fact, and, although doing it
quietly, was active in making preparations to meet any emergency that might
arise. When the post mortem was over and the doctors had made their
report, the verdict of the coroner’s jury was made up and the jury
dismissed. Then the crowd began to scatter, but not for the purpose of
going to their homes. Knots of men were gathered on every street corner, at
all the public houses, and more especially about the fire engine houses.
Their very actions told that there was something more than usual on the
taps—that there was mischief ahead. A little after
eleven o’clock
This was the signal, and a rush was made for the engine houses.
The engines were quickly on the streets, and all going in the direction of
the courthouse. At the courthouse the engines were halted; and in ten
minutes from the time the bells first rang, not less than four hundred men
had congregated in the street and on the sidewalks in front of the
courthouse. The purpose of the mob was no longer a secret. The object was
to
The gate was guarded by four or five men—Judge D. J. Baker,
M. B. Harrell, John H. Oberly, Constable John McNulty,
and several of the police officers being there. Judge Baker, seeing
that the crowd were advancing, and that the time for action had come,
commanded in the name of the people of the state that the mob disperse, and
admonished them to desist from an act that would bring disgrace upon
themselves and the city. Mr. Oberly and Mr. Harrell also
admonished the crowd to disperse and go to their homes; not to carry out
their design and thereby bring disgrace and reproach upon the name of the
city. But the louder they talked the more boisterous the crowd became, and
cries of About this time Mayor Wood and a number of other persons arrived at the scene, and took up their position at the gate, thus strengthening the force there, and the mob was held back. Thus matters continued for at least an hour, save the crowd on the sidewalks became less boisterous, and began to reason the matter over among themselves. Judge Baker called upon the captains of the several fire companies to call their companies together and return to their engine houses. The order was complied with and the mob soon after was broke up and everything became quiet about the courthouse.
And thus, through the efforts of a few determined men the object
of a mob was balked, and the city saved the disgrace and shame of having it
go abroad that we were compelled to take the law in our own hands in order
to secure justice. Gupton undoubtedly is a very bad man, and must be punished for the crime he has committed, but it would be just as criminal for a mob to take him from the officers and hang him, as it was for him to kill Eschback. Let the law take its course, and no one will have reason to complain that justice has not been done. This is our advice—let the law take its course; aid the officers in the discharge of their duties, and when his trial comes up make it a point to see that the witnesses are all on hand. This done and no one will have cause for complaint. Gupton will be punished, and that through the law, and not by mob violence. Let the law do the work. Do not break it, but help enforce it.
It has been said that the firemen of the city are in a measure to
blame for calling the mob together. This is wrong. The firemen are in no
way responsible for it, and it was not a fireman’s affair. Some time early in the afternoon John Kennedy, an Irishman—and a good citizen, was drowned in the Ohio River, near Brown’s coal fleet. Kennedy had divested himself of his clothing for the purpose of taking a bath, and descended into the water. Some men who were nearby noticed that he had hardly got out into deep water before he went down, and failing to come up in time, believed there was something wrong, and went toward him, but before reaching the place where they had last seen him, he disappeared and did not come up again. Pike poles were procured and a search for the body commenced. After twenty minutes hunting the body was recovered and taken out of the water. Kennedy was about twenty-eight years of age and an honest, hard working man. He leaves a wife and four small children, whole were entirely dependent on their father’s labor for a living. Kennedy’s remains were buried yesterday.
Wednesday, 1 Jul 1874: WHEREAS, It hath pleased Almighty God in His infinite mercy, to call from our midst in the vigor of manhood one of our most zealous and creditable members, Anthony Eschbach, therefore be it Resolved, By the officers and members of this company, that in the death of our beloved brother, Anthony Eschbach, the Arab Fire Company has suffered an irreparable loss, the community at large an honorable and upright citizen, his wife an affectionate and loving husband, and his children an indulgent and kind father.
Resolved,
That the foregoing resolutions be spread upon the journal, and published in
the city papers, and also that a copy of the same be sent to the family of
the deceased.
(A marker in
Calvary Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: Sacred to the Memory of Kate
Crowley, Died June 30, 1874, Aged 25 Years.—Darrel Dexter) Dear Sun—I noticed an article in The Bulletin yesterday advocating that the citizens subscribe money in order to help prosecute the man that murdered Eschbach. I would like to ask, why should it be necessary to hire extra counsel to prosecute a man indicted for murder? Is the law so tame that it requires two or three lawyers to prosecute, in order to give a criminal his just deserts? If it is, the sooner a change is made in the law the better, as I am sure the citizens of Cairo would not care to spend their money to help do that which should be done without. The writer of the above paragraph is evidently ignorant of many things he ought to know; and that he may be enlightened, if he wishes to be, we will inform him why it is necessary to hire additional counsel to prosecute a man indicted of murder.
We have a state’s attorney, Mr. P. H. Pope. He is a
gentleman of sound sense, of considerable knowledge of the law and he will
do all he can to convict Gupton of the murder of Eschbach; but
Mr. Pope is not as good a lawyer as Judge Mulkey and does not
claim to be. He is not a jury lawyer, possessed of the ability to capture a
jury by his oratory, and in forcible speech to present the facts of the
case. He can prepare the papers and get the evidence well in hand; but it
is impossible that he would do all the work in such a case, besides the
other work of his office—the prosecution of fifteen or twenty other
criminals, one of them, also indicted for murder—and do it as well as it
should be done. Who believes that Pope alone can conduct this case
against Mulkey and one or two others of our ablest lawyers—get the
witnesses together and pen and close in the argument—as it should be
conducted? Nobody, who does not believe Pope to be a miracle of a
lawyerly learning, industry and eloquence. He can and will do his best; but
no one man can prosecute so important a case in a satisfactory manner. He
should have aid, and since Anthony Eschbach has not rich relations to
fee lawyers to prosecute his murderer, his friends must step forward; and
certainly the friends of the law who so highly regard it that they wished to
do violence to it by hanging Gupton, will not hesitate to contribute
to the law vindicating fund we proposed. Laws will not execute themselves. They kill one man per week in Cairo, Ill. The last one murdered was an inoffensive barber, who was shot by a steamboat pilot last Sunday morning. The people of Cairo like to kill their man on Sunday, as it affords something for them to talk about during the day, Sunday usually being dull.—(Springfield Register
The Register slanders
Cairo. Within the last few
years several citizens of this place have been killed, but in only one
instance was the killing done by a resident of the city. We believe we are
correct in saying that in every other case the deed has been committed by
strangers passing through the city, strangers who belong to the class who
are either ruffians by nature or are made rowdies by liquor. No city or
town in the state is inhabited by a more quiet, well-behaved resident
population than this same much-abused city of
Cairo.
On Friday evening last, the
village of McLeansboro, Ill.,
was the scene of a desperate encounter between Green W. Burton and
Jefferson E. Ellis during which the latter was shot and instantly
killed by the former. The contending parties had heretofore engaged in
difficulties, but not of a serious character, and the remembrance of these
enmities was kept alive by constant quarrels. On the night in question, the
deceased visited McLeansboro and a renewal of their former disputes was
engaged in. The parties from words proceeded to blows, and before they
could be separated or their crime prevented,
Burton
drew a pistol and discharged it at his adversary, with the unfortunately
fatal result. He was immediately arrested and lodged in a jail, pending the
action of the coroner’s jury in the premises. Yesterday that body was
convened; who, after hearing the testimony, rendered a verdict that death
ensued from a ball fired from a weapon in the hands of
Burton,
and charging the latter with the crime of murder. He was committed to jail
but later in the day sued out a writ of habeas corpus, for the
purpose of procuring a judicial examination into the merits of the case and
being admitted to bail, but no decision had been rendered at a late hour
last night of the question involved. Both men were old residents of
McLeansboro, Green being engaged there as a merchant, and his victims
residing in the vicinity, where he carried on a farm. The sad tragedy has
filled the community with gloom. RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT.—At a meeting of Alexander Lodge, No. 224, I.O.O.F., held on Thursday evening, July 2d, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted: WHEREAS, Our brother, Anthony Eschbach, has been removed from the fellowship of this lodge by death, therefore; Resolved, That, in the untimely death of Brother Eschbach, struck down without warning by the hand of an assassin, we recognize an impressive illustration of the warning that in the midst of life, we are in death—that the living of today become the dead of tomorrow. Resolved, That in our lamented brother’s death, this lodge has lost a consistent member in whose character was reflected the elevating principles of our beloved order; society a good man, and his family a kind husband and considerate father. Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the disconsolate widow and son of our lamented brother, in their great sorrow, and will do all that we are instructed to do by the tenets of Odd Fellowship to make smooth before them the path of life. Resolved, That a page of the records of this lodge be dedicated and made sacred to the memory of our late brother, Anthony Eschbach.
Resolved,
That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family of the deceased, and
that they be published in the papers of the city.
SERIOUS
ACCIDENT.—On Sunday
evening a little daughter of Mr. F. S. Kent, superintendent of the
telegraph in this city, fell from a porch fifteen feet and was seriously
injured. Her injuries are internal and her life is despaired of. A little girl of a Mr. Botte, who lives on the Levee between Fourth and Sixth streets, was so severely injured by fire yesterday morning that at this writing, she is not expected to live.
It seems that Mr. Botto, desiring to do some marketing,
and having no “help” in the house, locked the little girl and her little
brother in their bed room, so that they would be where he left them on his
return from the butcher’s and baker’s. He was afraid that if he left them
alone and not locked in a room, they would wander out of the house and get
hurt. The father had been gone but a short time, when the little brother,
in a spirit of playfulness, took a match, ignited it and laughingly set fire
to the bed on which his little sister was sleeping. Bewildered, and unable
to get away from the flames, the unfortunate girl was burned in a horrible
manner. Dr. Dunning says there is no chance for her to recover. The
feelings of the parent, when he became aware of the calamity that had
overtaken him, can better be imagined than described. The little sufferer
is now receiving the attention of the kind sisters at the hospital.
(A grave marker in Calvary Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: Katie
Fitzgerald born July 6, 1873, died July 19, 1874.—Darrel Dexter) Samuel Hazel of Pope County, who was insane for a number of years, came to his death in a mysterious and horrible manner. He had been an inmate of the insane asylum at Anna for some months past. A few weeks ago, his brother, also living in Pope County, was notified that his removal from the asylum had become necessary and accordingly went after him. When within a few miles of their home in Pope County, the two stopped at a farm house to stay over night. Before morning the unfortunate escaped the vigilant eye of his brother, and no trace of him could be found until last week when his body was found in the bushes near the Johnson County line. His death was evidently the result of foul work. His body, which had been partly devoured by swine, was minus the head and right arm. The head was found about fifteen feet from the body and from its appearance must have been cut off with some instrument. The arm could not be found.
The inducement for the vile deed is supposed to have been money,
as the murdered man is said to have had some about his person, and report
points to a relative as the perpetrator; but this is probably more
conjecture. The affair is sufficiently horrible whoever may have committed
the deed or whatever may have been the motive.
(The Saturday, 1 Aug 1874, Jonesboro Gazette reported that
John Carlyle hit Richard Flannigan on the head with a stake
and killed him at Walpole, Hamilton County.—Darrel Dexter)
(Frederick Whitcamp married Maggie Krutzer on 15
Oct 1872, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
Tuesday, 11 Aug 1874:
(The Saturday, 15 Aug 1874, Jonesboro Gazette reported
that Alexander Hanson, William Taylor, Presely Smith,
Andrew Mayer, and George Henry Weighman were killed on 11 Aug
1874, in a boiler explosion at a coal mine at St. John’s near
DuQuoin.—Darrel Dexter)
(The notice in the Cairo Bulletin of 15 Aug 1874, reports
his name as Mr. Neal.—Darrel Dexter)
(The notice in the Thursday newspaper gives his name as Mr.
McNeill.—Darrel Dexter) A quarrel
between rival ferry owners at New Madrid, last Sunday, resulted in the
killing of Gen. Darmills and two others whose name we did not learn.
POISONED—George
Sturgis, who lives between Ullin and Pulaski station on the Illinois
Central railroad, went into
Bell’s
Store at Ullin a day or two since and got some quinine for a sick child.
The medicine was taken home and administered to the child, which soon after
died. Upon investigation it was found that the clerk had put up morphine
instead of quinine and that the child had been poisoned. We understand that
the clerk who sold the medicine claims that he purchased the article in St.
Louis, and if it was not quinine it was not his fault.
(A marker in
Calvary Cemetery at Villa Ridge reads: Nellie Cummings Age 8 Yrs.,
Emma Cummings, Age 13 days, Ida Cummings, Age 11 months,
Children of John and Mary Cummings.—Darrel Dexter)
PITTSFIELD, Ill., August 19—At
an early hour this morning an aged and feeble-minded man, named William
Mantz, attempted to climb from a window on the first floor of his
dwelling during the absence of the rest of the family, when he slipped and
fell forward. The window falling on his legs, held them tight while his
body hung down on the outside within a few inches of the ground. He was
unable to extricate himself, and no person being within sound of his voice,
he hung there until suffocated to death. He was discovered shortly
afterwards, but was past recovery. He was a native of Hesse-Cassel, over
eighty years of age, and had served under Blucher at Waterloo.’’
(Jeff Houston or Huston was a pastor of a Baptist
church in Cairo until
1874.—Darrel Dexter)
(On one side of the grave marker for Patrick C. and Hanorah
Burke in Calvary Cemetery at Villa Ridge, it reads: Ella Burke,
Dannie Burke, Georgie Burke, Children of P. C. & H. Burke.—Darrel
Dexter) Resolved, That in the death of our loved bishop, the late Rt. Rev. Henry J. Whitehouse, the church of God has suffered a loss that seems irreparable; and that we, in common with the whole diocese of Illinois, realizing the greatness of this loss, and sharing its sorrows, will keep our church draped in mourning until his successor is elected, as a tribute to the memory of our dead bishop, that great man, eloquent, profound theologian, accomplished prelate and eminent divine whose untimely loss we deplore. Resolved, That our deepest feelings of sympathy are hereby extended to the Bishop’s family in their most sad bereavement.
Resolved,
That these resolutions be spread upon the records of the parish, and copies
thereof sent to the standing committee of the diocese and to the family of
the deceased.
Our community is again thrown into excitement by a sudden and
unnatural death. Sam Hunter, son of Dr. Hunter, committed
suicide at 8 o’clock last night by shooting himself through the head.
Mrs. Hunter has been lying quite low with fever for
several weeks and it is feared will not recover from the shock caused by the
death of her son. The deceased was a young man 21 years of age, possessing
the health and buoyancy of youth, surrounded by kind and loving friends, and
the influence of a mother’s never-ceasing, true and Christian love, who
continually in humble prayer invoked the blessings of God on the head of her
beloved and only son.
Editor Bulletin:—Yesterday evening the body of a man
floated to shore near this place. Esquire Thomas Martin was notified
and summoning a jury proceeded to hold an inquest. The body was so terribly
swollen that it was impossible to recognize it, but the following letter
found in one of his pockets, may throw some light on the subject. After
carefully drying the letter, I have been able to decipher most of it and the
question in my mind is Dear Sir:—I submit the enclosed to you at the request of my daughter Amanda, and would be glad if my duty here ended, but your letter to her and your remarks generally have made it necessary that I should say something more. She informs me that you charge that I have influenced her to apply for a divorce from you. This is untrue and you know it. I have never in my whole life, as a lawyer or in a social capacity, advised a separation between man and wife, and particularly have I been guarded in this case. I have said to Amanda that she married you without my consent, and she must abide the consequence of her act; that of course, she being my daughter when she left you I would provide a home for her, and if she applied for a divorce would sustain her as far as I could in her application. If a father can do less, I cannot see it. I understand that you may say many vile things about me. While you can not possibly injure me, I am sorry to know that you are so ungrateful. You know you have never had a relative, excepting your parents, who has been as kind, generous, forgiving and patient with out as I have been. With all your faults, have not I borne with you as a son, forgiving you time and again—relying on your promises violated within an hour? Have you ever asked me a favor, pecuniary or otherwise that I did not grant? Have not I supported you and Amanda for over two years? Have not I plead with you as a father to a son? Have not I used every means to reform you and make a useful and honorable man of you? Have you not repeatedly said that no one had ever been so kind a friend to you as I have been? But now you abuse me. I truly thank God, Albert, that you are powerless to injure me. I truly thank God that my conscience approves of my course toward you. God knows I earnestly hoped to reform you, and that I labored to do so, and would have made any reasonable sacrifice to do so. No, Albert, you have done me all the injury you can. You took my daughter away from me and nearly made a wreck of her physically and morally. You have caused me all the misery and shame I ever had; you have caused me more tears of anguish than any other living being, and your own heart ought to feel remorse instead of revenge. Then let us alone. Be satisfied with the wrong you have done, the misery you have caused her and me and let us go hence without further molestation from you. If (line missing) want you have it, neither Amanda nor I can recover from the misery and disgrace with which you have covered us. You may con____ application to get a divorce, but I would advice you not to asperse her character. If you have not sufficient manhood to avoid the shame of trying to injure her whom you took from her home an innocent, guileless and confiding child as your wife, bring your charges as you threaten. We have no fears, but woe be unto you, young man if you do not sustain them. I am told that you wrote that you are working to pay a debt she owes to Mr. Lence. This is laughable and contemptible. Pay your own debts and I will pay all of hers. I have written to Mr. Lence that I will pay them. I told him when I was down the last time that I would pay all the debts of her contracting and so I will.
I sincerely trust I will never again hear from you in the manner
which I have recently heard, and I again assure you that no one will be
better pleased with your reformation and success in life than I would be.
Respectfully yours,
The enclosed letter spoken of was written with purple ink but
cannot be read. Mr. Davis appeared to be a member of the law firm of
Davis & Wilson, southeast corner of Fifth and Olive streets,
St. Louis.
After the inquest it was found impossible to remove the body, therefore the
jury buried it near the water’s edge.
(William Stratton married Julia Jones on 29 Aug
1872, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter)
“Mr. Brevard was engaged on the ferry boat of Willard
& Lence which was conveying wheat from the sunken steamer Grand
Tower to Cape Girardeau on Friday, the 21st inst. The boat
grounded when Mr. Brevard and two other men proposed to swim ashore.
Before starting to the shore Mr. Brevard asked his friends to drink
with him, saying it would be his last. The three drank and set out, two
reaching the land in safety, but when Mr. Brevard got within about
thirty-five feet of the bank he suddenly sank without saying a word. He
only rose once, and then the top of his head only was visible. He was
intoxicated at the time. His friends think the drowning was premeditated to
rid himself of trouble, life having become a burden.”
Softly on the quiet breast;
For your darling is at rest.
She will need them never more;
Worn and loved in days of yore.
Greet your longing ears again;
Wake and call her but in vain,
Rocks her on her loving breast;
To that home forever blest.
Back unto your arms again,
Where so oft her head has lain.
No more pain, no wild despair
Of a life most pure and fair.
When you lay the little head
For the baby is not DEAD.
Emblem of the spirit flower,
Claims your baby for his own.
Tuesday, 1 Sep 1874:
On the night of the 4th an interesting little daughter of Oliver Alden, at Jonesboro, aged 4 years, died quite suddenly.
On the 9th,
Jaell, daughter of John Inscore of Anna, aged 3 years, died very
suddenly. One complained of headache, was put to bed by her mother, and
found dead before the afflicted parents were aware of danger.
(On one side of the grave marker for Patrick C. and Hanorah
Burke in Calvary Cemetery at Villa Ridge, it reads: Ella Burke,
Dannie Burke, Georgie Burke, Children of P. C. & H. Burke.—Darrel
Dexter) Anna, Ill., September 12, 1874 The circuit court is grinding out justice at Jonesboro, but like the mills of the gods, grinds slowly. The case of The People vs. W. Norris, for shooting one Miller—the seducer of his wife, elicited considerable interest, and the court room was crowed with auditors. A large number of witnesses were examined and able counsel defended the prisoner. The jury returned a verdict of guilty and fixed the penalty at one year in the penitentiary. Motion for new trial. The People vs. Runner, for killing Hencamp (change of venue from Alexander County). The trial came off on Friday. He was found guilty, and sentenced to five years in the State’s prison.
The St.
Louis Democrat says that “James McFaddin, third clerk on the
Belle Memphis, was drowned at the elevator at
Memphis, and that James McMeen has taken his place.” This
is a hoax. McMeen, the elevator clerk, and Mr. McFadden only
changed places for a trip, to give Mr. McMeen an opportunity to visit
the future great city. Dongola, Sept. 16—Fire is a rare occurrence in our little village, but we had one last Tuesday night. Widow Fisher’s residence, on the outskirts of town, near the section house, was burned down, and the greater part of the household goods were lost. The house was occupied by Mrs. Fisher, her daughter, and son-in-law, John Davalt. It is supposed that the fire caught in the early part of the evening from the kitchen stovepipe and smouldered in an obscure place till the family had retired for the night. When first discovered it was blazing out through the roof. The wife of Mr. Alexander Walker died very suddenly during the fire, of nervous prostration, induced by the excitement, although the fire was distant a quarter of a mile. She had been in poor health for some time, but walked out of doors with her husband to view the fire, and when she saw it she uttered an exclamation and sank into her husband’s arms. He carried her into the house, placed her upon the bed, and applied the usual restoratives, but all to no avail, for death had claimed his victim within fifteen minutes. The family and friends have the heart-felt sympathy of the public.
(John W. Davault married
Louisiana Fisher on
21 Sep 1873, in Union Co.,
Ill. The Saturday, 26 Sep
1874, Jonesboro Gazette reported that Mrs. Alexander Walker
died at Dongola on Sept. 10, 1874.—Darrel Dexter) (This murder was reported in the 25 Apr 1873, issue of The Cairo Bulletin.—Darrel Dexter)
Later—Coroner Gossman empanelled a jury and went to the house known as the “Flat Top” and held an inquest on the body of Mrs. Katie Knox, who committed suicide as above stated. The physicians all agreed that the dose taken would not have caused death, but gave it their opinion that it was large enough, combined with nervous excitement, to carry the woman to her long home. The jury, after hearing the evidence, gave and signed the following document: We, the jury, find that Katie Knox (colored), aged thirty-four years, came to her death from an overdose of morphine by her own hand, free will and consent to depart from this earth.
(Signed)—Henry Winter, B. F. Whitaker, C. Lancaster, W.
G. Casey, Lewis Lamontague, John Murphy, James K.
Lane, Stephen Patterson, Charles Gillhofer, T. B. Ellis,
William Wetzell. The jury gave in and signed the following verdict:
We, the undersigned jurors, sworn to inquire into the death of
(unknown) on oath do find that he came to his death by causes unknown to the
jurors. Signed James Law, Robert A. Cunningham, William
White, William Campbell, Sam Ullman, James Ryan,
Robert West, P. Richey, Isaac Walder, W. D. Phillips,
Alfred Comings, Thomas Ent. For some time past a gentleman by the name of T. P. Cunningham has been seen at intervals upon our streets. He was popularly believed to be a doctor of some kind, and was reputed a broken down gentleman. The knowing ones said he had owned a plantation and he himself vowed he was a gentleman, and gave as evidence the fact that he was a citizen of Louisiana.
Those who noticed him were sure he was saddest when he sang, and
the same way when he was not singing. Alderman Walderman knew from
his own experience in the council, that Cunningham was predisposed to
suicide; and when it was reported yesterday morning that Cunningham
had drowned himself in the
Ohio River, near Halliday’s
Mill, the alderman remarked to a friend: “I told you so.” As Alderman Walder was going to dinner he passed a saloon, and looking in, saw Dr. Cunningham gazing through the bottom of a tumbler at him—gazing with ghostly eyes. Walder had been at the theatre the night before, and the tragical impulse was strong upon him. So he threw himself into an attitude, and exclaimed: “Be thou a minister of grace or goblin damned, bringing with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, I’ll speak to thee, and call thee Cunningham, doctor of corns!” Cunningham indicated in a few brief words that in his opinion Walder was crazy, and stalked with ghostly step out upon the street. The news flew that the dead had come to life—that a ghost was abroad. The police were in trepidation, and the mayor immediately called a special meeting of the council. The two scandals were forgotten, and the devil was to pay. After a while a spiritualist caught Cunningham, and proposed to have a séance with him, but C. denied the soft impeachment of death and cussed a little.
And then it came out that the jury had convicted the drowned man
of being Cunningham when he was not guilty. A broad smile passed
over the public features, and the members of the jury are shipping citizens
who ask them why they don’t drown men in better style. Gossman says
the next jury he has must kill its man or he will ________ the jurors.
Sunday, 4 Oct 1874: At a communication of Cairo Lodge, No. 237, A. F. and A. M., September 18, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted: Whereas, Our Grand Master above has taken from our midst a worthy brother, J. W. Storment, who died at his residence in Cairo on the eighteenth day of September last, and while we would hereby submit to the dispensation of an all wise Creator, yet under a deep sense of that afflicting and mournful visitation of providence, we fell it a debt we owe to the memory of our deceased brother to give some expression of our feelings in view of the occasion, and pay that tribute due to his memory, therefore, Resolved, That in the death of brother T. A. Storment, this lodge has lost a worthy brother master mason, and the community in which he lived a useful citizen, his bereaved wife and child an affectionate husband and fond parent. Resolved, That the members of this lodge tender to the bereaved family of our deceased brother, our most sincere and heartfelt sympathies and condolences. Resolved, That the members of this lodge wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days, and that the furniture of the lodge be clothed in mourning. Resolved, That a copy of this preamble and resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the lodge, and a copy forwarded to the Cairo Bulletin for publication, and a copy presented to the widow of our deceased brother. Louis Jorgensen, B. F. Blake, H. K. Manwaring, Committee
Tuesday, 6 Oct 1874:
(A marker in Calvary Cemetery in Villa Ridge reads: “Charles
Kavanagh Died Oct. 4, 1874, Cairo, in the 23rd year of
life.—Darrel Dexter) The attention of Governor Beveridge and the Republican party of this state is urgently called to the deplorable condition of affairs in southern Illinois. A few days ago, citizens of Anna, Union County, received notice that they must discharge all the negroes in their employ and send the negroes out of the county or suffer the consequences. These Ku-Klux demonstrations created not a little uneasiness in Anna, and fears are entertained that the threats were not made for an idle purpose. A few days ago in Randolph County, masked men took out of his house in the night time, a negro man who had refused to obey a notice to leave the county, and tied him to a tree and flogged him. In Williamson County lawlessness is running riot. Almost every day a citizen is assassinated—shot down without warning on the public highway by concealed assassins. Eight or ten persons have been murdered in cold blood, and no person has been punished.
If these events had happened in the South, all the people of the
North would have been excited, and the Administration would have been urged
to send troops to the lawless districts. If these events had happened in
Tennessee, and Gov.
Brown had remained as passive as Gov. Beveridge has, he would
have been denounced as the friend of the assassins. But these outrages have
been perpetrated in Radical Illinois—most of them in Radical counties—and
nothing is said, nothing is done. The press is silent and Gov. Beveridge
continues to doze undisturbed in his official easy chair at Springfield.
Sat5urday, 10 Oct 1874: Some weeks ago a woman calling herself Bridget Malhoney applied to Dr. Jackson of Columbus, Kentucky, a few miles below this place, for the place of cook. Employment was given her, and for a short while she gave satisfaction. A few days ago the doctor noticed some irregularities in her life, and notified her that she must look out for another home. This appeared to infuriate her beyond control—the pent up devil in her nature burst forth in a fury of passion that sent the doctor scampering for the police, and the family of an asylum of safety. When he returned, Bridget had departed, leaving his mirrors and furniture a wreck. It appears that from a mistaken kindness, she was not prosecuted, but allowed to depart unmolested. From his residence she went to the hotel or boarding house kept by an estimable German Catholic named Switzher, near the M. & O. railroad. She easily imposed herself upon the good nature of this lady, and was permitted to stop with her, paying her board in work. She behaved badly again and Mrs. S. discharged her. Instead of going off, however, she went up into Mrs. S.’s room (immediately after breakfast) and sent for this lady from the dining room. When she got into her presence she commenced to abuse her in a most shameful manner. Mrs. Switzher tried to quiet her and expressed sympathy for her. Bridget told her that she had better sympathize with herself and made at her. Mrs. S. rushed down stairs, leaving her three children, consisting of a little boy four years old, two daughters aged respectively six and ten in the room. The oldest says that the two children were in bed with the mosquito bar fastened down around it and that Bridget deliberately took the lamp and saturated the bed and children with coal oil and fired it.
Before assistance could reach them the passage was a solid sheet
of flame, and the two children were burned with the house and most of the
furniture. The fiend is in prison and the poor mother nearly distracted
with grief at her terrible loss.
The fact that George W. Smith, of Massac County, had been
kidnapped and taken into Tennessee, to answer to a charge of murder, was
duly reported in the Republican also that Gov. Beveridge had
demanded of Gov. Brown, of Tennessee, the release of Smith and
the arrest of the kidnappers, R. K. Ward, and M. L. Williams.
A letter from Gov. Brown was received at the executive office today.
He recites the fact that Smith committed murder, and being arraigned
before a rebel court-martial, was discharged because that court could not
take jurisdiction of the case. He admits that the arrest was in violation
of law, but hopes, as there was no intention of disrespect, Gov.
Beveridge will overlook the matter. Gov. Beveridge replied,
insisting that Smith be released and the kidnappers be arrested and
sent to this state for trial.
(Matthew Joyner married Nancy Parker on 27 Jan
1850, in Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter) Of the recent accident on the Cairo & St. Louis railroad the Murphysboro New Era says:
The 5:20
train on the C. & St. L. railroad left this station on time last Thursday
morning. This train meets a coal train on the Lewis switch, about three
miles from this city. This coal train, as usual, had run on the side track,
but the brakeman who was handling the switch, left the switch open and as
the passenger came up it ran off the track, ditching the engine and mail
car. The fireman, Mr. Mitchell Morgan, was on the outside rubbing
the brass work on the boiler when the accident occurred, and when the engine
turned over it fell upon Mr. Mitchell, crushing his head and killing
him instantly. The engineer jumped and came off with little injury. The
conductor, who happened to be on the tender when the accident occurred, was
dumped with the coal into the ditch, but was not seriously injured. As soon
as the accident occurred, the recreant brakeman broke for the woods, and has
not been heard from since. The sheriff, Mr. Hanks, offers $25 for
his capture. A week or ten days ago we noted in these columns the fact that one George W. Smith, of Massac County, this state, had been kidnapped and taken to Henry County, Tennessee, where, it is alleged an indictment for murder is pending against him. Also the fact that the attention of Gov. Beveridge had been called to the matter, and that he had demanded of Gov. Brown of Tennessee, the return of Smith and the arrest and delivery to the state authorities of the kidnappers, E. K. Ward and M. L. Williams. On Saturday last, Gov. Beveridge received a reply to these demands. Gov. Brown responds by relating the fact of the alleged murder, the arraignment of Smith to be tried by court, the dismissal of the case because it was not one of a character that could properly be tried by that kind of a tribunal and his subsequent flight, arrest and abduction. He admits that he was arrested and taken beyond the limits of the state without authority of law, but hopes that inasmuch as there can be no doubt about the murder, and as there was “no intentional violation of the laws of Illinois,” that Governor Beveridge can find it compatible with his sense of official duty to blink the matter, as he (Brown) has “frequently done in such cases.”
To this remarkable effusion Gov. Beveridge very properly
replies, in substance, that he “can’t see it in that light” that a citizen
of Illinois is
unlawfully deprived of his liberty by the action of these Tennesseans, and
that a law of this state has been set at defiance by them. He closes by
renewing his demand for the return of Smith to the state and for the
arrest and delivery to the state authorities of Ward and Williams,
the kidnappers. Friday,
23 Oct 1874:
Ernest Grindler, a German plasterer, committed suicide on
Wednesday evening and was buried yesterday. The unfortunate man was
addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors. His appetite had gained
complete mastery of his will and all his efforts to discontinue the use of
strong drink had failed. He had become a burden to himself and family, and
no doubts concluded that it was his duty to shuffle off the mortal coil. On
Wednesday afternoon he called at the grocery store of his son and bade him
good bye. When asked where he was going, he said, “I am going away.” The
son believing he had no intention to do himself any injury or leave the
city, did not pay much attention to him. Mr. Grindler then went to
his house, above the convent, and bade his wife good bye, telling her he was
going away. He then went under a shed in the yard and laid down. Mrs.
Grindler happened to pass by him in about an hour after he laid down,
and noticed that he was breathing in an unusual manner. She tried to arouse
him, but unsuccessfully. In alarm she summoned her son, and called in Dr.
Blau, who at once discovered that Mr. Grindler had taken an
overdose of opium. All efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he died
about seven o’clock.
Coroner Gossman was notified and summoned a jury at midnight. The
verdict was that the deceased came to his death from an overdose of poison
administered by himself. A piece of paper was found in his pocket on which
was written the words: “Opium, 1 ounce.” The father of the deceased was an iron master in Pennsylvania, of large and extended reputation. He was accidentally killed at Winchester, in Virginia.
Mr. Patton has been long and favorably known to the
greater part of our citizens, having settled in
Cairo in the year 1854, since
which time till his death he was intimately identified with our city’s
welfare and interest. During his lifetime, Mr. Patton held various
positions of trust and responsibility in our midst, in all of which he
acquitted himself with honor and uprightness. He was employed as Deputy
Surveyor of the port under Col. John S. Hacker. Also as clerk in the
post office with Bryan Shannessy, as postmaster; was for some years a
member of the firm of Dan Able & Co., and, at the time of his death
and for several years previous, was connected with the well-known house of
G. D. Williamson & Co.
He was also a sincere Christian, and departed this life
surrounded by the loving care and attention of a devoted wife and
affectionate and kind friends, in the full hope of a life where
His wife and sisters have, in this trying moment, the sympathies
of a large circle of friends and acquaintances, by whom his loss is
regretted and his death deeply mourned.
Sunday,
1 Nov 1874:
Saturday, 7 Nov 1874:
(The Saturday, 7 Nov 1874, Jonesboro Gazette reported
that a 4-year-old son of William Bradley died of burns on Saturday,
31 Oct 1874.—Darrel Dexter) (The Saturday, 7 Nov 1874, Jonesboro Gazette reported that Mrs. I. C. Taylor was killed by a falling limb on 29 Oct 1874.—Darrel Dexter)
The train was stopped as soon as possible, the wounded man was placed on board and brought to the city, and sent without delay to the St. Mary's infirmary. In the absence of Dr. Wardner, infirmary physician, Dr. H. J. Stalker, was called to attend to Coyne. The doctor found the patient too weak to undergo the ordeal of an amputation, and gave him morphine and other quieting potions to ease his sufferings. Father Hoppe, pastor of the German Catholic church, administered the last rites of the church to Coyne. Dr. Wardner, who returned to the city yesterday afternoon, believes he cannot survive.
The sisters are unremitting in their attention to the sufferer.
Mrs. Helen Meehan, mother of James and Thomas Meehan,
died at the residence of the former early Saturday morning, on
Washington Avenue, between
Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. The funeral will take place from the house
of the same at half past
1 o'clock p.m. today. The train leaves the foot of
Eighth Street at 2:30 p.m. for
Villa Ridge. The friends of the family are invited to attend. Some time ago Gov. Beveridge received a communication from Henry D. Carter, an old gentleman living in Williamson County, asking gubernatorial protection of the persons and property of certain citizens of that county against Ku Klux lawlessness. The communication sets forth, that on the night of the 23d October, last, the house of the said Henry D. Carter was visited by a party of fifteen or twenty men in disguise who ordered him and his family to leave the county within forty days, or suffer the penalty of having his and their necks broken. A fight thereupon took place, says Mr. Carter, and "twenty-two balls were lodged in the side of his house." This demonstration and threats to burn the house of the Carters failing to make the family abscond, a convention of the Ku Klux was held in County Line Church, and Henry D. Carter, Henry E. Carter, James M. Carter and sons of James Carter were formally ordered to wind up their business within thirty days and leave the county. Mr. Carter gives the names of the Ku Klux who held this convention, fifty-two in number. The governor has referred this communication to the State's Attorney of Williamson and suggests to him that he shall investigate the matter. The governor promises to aid the sheriff in enforcing the law and protecting life, person and property. "The spirit of our government," says Governor Beveridge, "is that the people of a county, through the officers of the law and the courts, shall protect themselves; and when this cannot be done, it becomes the duty of the sheriff to call upon the executive, and it is his constitutional duty to aid the sheriff with the power of the state. I shall gladly aid the authorities of your county in suppressing any kind of lawlessness and disorder, and bringing guilty parties to punishment." It is high time that something were being done in the interest of the law and order in Williamson. There is no part of the South that has been disgraced by lawlessness more outrageous. Ku-kluxism has been rampant in that county for years and assassinations have been almost weekly occurrence.
Notwithstanding this fact, the guilty parties have been permitted
to escape punishment. The officers of the law have acted as if they were
afraid to do their duty, and the press has condemned with bated breath the
murderous villains who have brought disgrace upon not only
Williamson County but all of
southern Illinois. We hope and pray the proper authorities will now proceed
to do their duty and suppress the rascals who have for so long a time in
security and without fear of the penalties of the law scourged and murdered
their neighbors.
Coroner Gossman sat on a floater yesterday morning at the
ferry landing. The body was that of a man apparently forty-five years of
age and had been in the water ten days or two weeks. There was nothing on
the person by which the unfortunate man's name could be determined. It is
believed he fell off a steamboat, but this is only a surmise. He was well
dressed. A bunch of keys and twenty-six dollars and eighty-five cents were
found in his pocket. Feith buried him. Rest his soul.
This venerable lady, wife of Col. Henry L. Webb, and
mother of Hon. H. Watson Webb, of this city, died at Makanda,
Union County, yesterday, in the
seventy-eighth year of her age. Mrs. Webb was a sister of Judge
Edmonds, of New York, and was born at Columbia County, in that State.
Fifty-five years ago, before
Alexander County was
established, Col. Webb and his wife removed from New York to America
in this State. Here they lived for many years, Mrs. Webb being
respected by all who knew her and loved by the hundred upon whom her
kindness showered blessings. During forty years she was a consistent member
of a Christian church, and on her deathbed admonished her children and
grandchildren who were gathered around her, to so live that they might meet
her in heaven. She will be buried at Jonesboro, on Saturday next, at 10
o'clock.
Mrs. Roberts, wife of Mr. T. J. Roberts, president
of the Labor Reform Party, died very suddenly Sunday morning. A coroner's
jury was summoned and rendered a verdict to the effect that the deceased
came to her death from an unknown cause. The funeral services were held at
the Catholic church, and the remains were then conveyed to Villa Ridge,
where they were interred yesterday afternoon.
Mrs. R. W. Dugan, who for the past year has been afflicted
with consumption, died at
Covington, Kentucky, yesterday
afternoon. CHESTER, ILL., December 2.—At Irvington, Washington County, Ill., a small town on the Illinois Central Railroad, a few days since occurred a frightful tragedy. The conductor of the northward-bound freight train put off a man who appeared to be laboring under temporary insanity, with the request that he be closely looked after, as he was not in the condition to take care of himself. The man was taken to the railroad station by A. L. Marsh and C. Rohman, but sometime after midnight the lunatic made his escape, and made a terrible effort to break into the residence of Mrs. Barton. Again he was taken back to the station house by Marsh, Rohman, John M. Driver and J. L. Womack, who bolted the doors of the station house, remaining on the inside with the madman. The madman seemed not to be satisfied with this kind of procedure, and drew a pocket knife and advanced toward Driver, saying, "I will kill you, or you must kill me." Driver attempted to pacify the madman, when he struck at him with the knife, but Driver evaded the blow. The madman next turned to Marsh, who was sitting near the door and stabbed him in the throat, the blade entering to the right of the windpipe, and passing out on the left side of the neck behind the jugular vein. Marsh sank to the floor, saying, "Boys, he has killed me." Leaving Marsh, with fiend-like ferocity the madman sprang toward Womack, who dodged his first blow, and cinched the terrible fiend closely around the wrist, but he was a large, powerful man and much more than a match for his intended victim, and soon succeeded in getting his right arm free, and commenced to stab Womack in the back and head, who cried to Driver to "knock him down, he is killing me." Driver procured a crowbar, and made an attempt to strike the madman, but he, with wonderful presence of mind, managed to keep Womack between himself and Driver. Driver still made for Womack's antagonist, but the blow intended for the madman fell with terrible force on Womack's right hand, crushing it completely, rendering Womack helpless, who let go his adversary, who then sprang at Driver and was received with a blow from the crowbar across the left side of his head, which brought him senseless to the floor.
After this juncture of affairs, Driver and Rohman
started out for help, leaving Marsh, Womack and the maniac
lying upon the floor. But scarcely had they left when the madman recovered
himself, and seeing his knife upon the floor started for it, and Womack,
anticipating his intentions, secured an iron poker and again commenced the
combat for life. Womack this time had equal chances and fought with
the knowledge that his life was at stake. Six times the demon advanced
toward Womack, and six times he was brought to the floor. Help soon
came, and the insane man made his escape and the next morning was found near
the Baptist church, almost frozen to death, having stripped himself of
nearly all of his clothing. His wounds were dressed, after which a warrant
was issued, and the unfortunate wretch was committed to jail. Young
Marsh received every attention at the hands of his friends, but died the
next day, Wednesday, November 25, and at
5 o'clock, Thursday morning,
his murderer breathed his last. Womack's injuries were not serious,
and he will soon recover. What a fearful night was that at
Irvington railroad station, and, no doubt, it will long be
remembered by the people of that place.
Died, on Thursday, 3rd inst., Willie, son of John and Mary
Cannon, aged 4 months and 2 weeks. Funeral services today, at the
residence of the parents,
Tenth Street between Washington
Avenue and Walnut Street. Funeral will leave the house at half past 2 p.m.
Remains will be buried at Villa Ridge. Friends of the family are
respectfully invited to attend.
Gupton,
the man who murdered Eschbach in this city in the early past of last
summer and who got a change of venue to Johnson County, will have his trial
sometime during the session of the circuit court of that county, which is
now in progress at Vienna. This is looked upon as the most important trial
that will take place, and will attract a good deal of attention.
The trial of Gupton, the man who killed Eschbach,
which was to have taken place at the session of the
Johnson County circuit court
now in progress at Vienna, has been postponed, for some reason which we
could not learn, until the next term of court. This looks as if Gupton's
counsel were fishing for something which they should not have. The murder
committed by Gupton was one of the most atrocious ever known in this
county, and he should suffer for it.
The funeral services of
Captain
Falls
will take place at the Church of the Redeemer at half past one o'clock this
afternoon, after which the remains will be taken to a special train at the
foot of Tenth Street, that will leave for Beech Grove Cemetery at half past
two.
John F. Hower, the man who murdered
Keene,
in Kentucky, and then made his escape last spring, was arrested by Deputy
Sheriff Cain at Decatur, Illinois, last Thursday, brought back to
this city yesterday morning and lodged in the county jail. From the time
the murder was committed until very lately Sheriff Irvin has been
making inquiries as to the whereabouts of Hower, but was unable to
learn anything about him, until a few days ago, when he received information
to the effect that a man answering the description of Hower was
working on a farm fifteen miles from Decatur. Cain was seen at
Decatur immediately, and on Thursday succeeded in caging his man.
Capt. Walter Falls, whose death occurred in this city
Friday morning, was born in Tempo,
Fermanaugh County, Ireland, in
1814, and came to Cairo in 1835. For years after he kept a hotel on the
wharfboat Ellen Kirkman, we think. In 1841 or '42 he went up the
Arkansas on a trading expedition in a keel boat, and it proved successful.
Returning in '44 or ‘45, he moved his wharfboat to Ohio City, on the
Missouri shore, where he afterwards owned a store, which he held until
1861. At the breaking out of the war he abandoned that enterprise and
bought a little farm above Bird's Point, on which he resided until 1872,
when he moved to this city, as the farm had all washed into the river. He
owned considerable property in this city, and still owns a valuable farm in
his native county in Ireland, near the Loch Erne. Everybody who ever had
anything to do with Cairo knew Capt. Falls, and he had not a single
known enemy in the world. Mr. J. C. Clark is a gentleman who lives in Williamson County. Not long since, Mr. Clark lost five ax handles and concluding that they had been stolen, made a remark to that effect the probably added something about administering punishment to the thief if he could catch him. The editor of the Marion Democrat, on the lookout for an item, chronicled the loss of Mr. Clark's ax handles in the following playful style: "Mr. J. C. Clark, residing a mile of town, lost six ax handles on last Tuesday morning. The chap who borrowed them had better fotch them back, or he will get whipped for we heard Clark say so. Clark takes the Democrat and means business." The Democrat man didn't know it but when he wrote that item he threw a fire brand which inflamed Mr. Clark with passion. Mr. Clark is a true blue resident of Williamson County, who doesn't propose to be trifled with. He immediately rushed into print in "the other paper." He wrote: "The article seems to me to be a slur. He says "residing a mile of town,"—certainly definite—and seems to throw something at our grammar. Well, I made use of no such expression as "fotch;" and as to me making a threat of any kind whatever, about the ax handles is a lie. I am not 'on the muscle,' but if Brown thinks to ridicule me through his dirty sheet, I will try to give him as good as he sends. I have received two copies of his highly interesting (?) sheet, and find my name used in one of them in connection with a downright, mean, malicious lie."
In conclusion, Mr. Clark says again he is not "on the
muscle" but intimates it will not take much to put him on. The trouble with
Mr. Clark is that he can't appreciate humor. The editor of the
Marion Democrat, if he wishes to save his neck, will have to adopt the
plan of an illustrious humorist who has gone before him, and label his funny
articles, "this is sarkasm." (Special Correspondence to The Bulletin.) CARBONDALE, December 15, 1874. Ed. Bulletin:—People had supposed that a reformation had taken place to Williamson County, as there had been no murders committed for the past seven weeks, and but few shots fired from ambush for nearly a fortnight. Occasionally one of our citizens would venture to Marion without first making his will and appointing his administrator. The long period that elapsed since the last murder gave us great hopes that an armistice had been entered into, which would last until after the holidays. But amidst our rejoicing over the prospects of speedy civilization, our joy was brought suddenly to an end on Saturday night last. A large armed force entered our city about 12 o’clock at night in search of a doctor to go at once to the residence of George Sisney, ex-sheriff of Williamson County. About 9 o’clock in the evening he, his wife and a son of William Hindman, were seated at the table playing dominoes, when some one upon the war path approached the house and fired a double barreled shotgun loaded with buckshot through the window. The shot took effect in the muscles of Mr. Sisney’s right arm above the elbow, carrying away nearly all the flesh and leaving the bare bone. Several shot entered his body, but a large portion of them passed through his vest and shirt bosom, completely riddling his garments. Young Hindman received some of the shot in his side and neck, and rumor says that he died yesterday evening about 4 o’clock. He was spending the evening with Sisney. He is only thirteen years of age. Mr. Sisney’s recovery is considered doubtful. Sisney was a strong sympathizer with the Russells and bitterly opposed to the Bulliner family. Where this will end God only knows. Parties have visited Carbondale and ordered directly from St. Louis double barrel shotguns—swearing vengeance and boldly declaring that fun has only begun. I will keep your readers posted—will report all battles and the number of killed and wounded.
Reporter The funeral of Capt. Walter Falls was postponed from Sunday afternoon until yesterday afternoon, his brother-in-law, Mr. Thomas Robinson, and wife, of Philadelphia, having telegraphed that they would arrive in Cairo on Monday morning. The funeral services were performed at the Church of the Redeemer, Rector Gilbert officiating. At the conclusion of the services, the body was placed in the hearse by the pall bearers, who were all prominent citizens, and taken to the express office, followed by many friends. The remains will be taken to Philadelphia and buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
Capt. Falls was a resident of
Cairo from 1834 until the day of his death, and had among our
citizens many warm personal friends, who regret his sudden and unexpected
death. The captain was a gentleman of quiet manners and kind heart. He had
retired from active life, and had a competency to make comfortable his
declining years.
In this city at
10 o'clock, a.m., December
16th, 1874, Kate Riley, infant daughter of William B. and Kate Barry
Gilbert.
In robes as white as snow,
That waited her below;
We went with saddest moan—
Our little one had flown.
At Mound City, Ill.,
December 17, 1874, at 9:30 a.m., D. H. Carter. Funeral from
residence of George W. Carter, Esq., December 18th, at 1 o'clock,
p.m. C. & V. railroad train will leave Cairo for Mound City at 12:15 noon. It is our sorrowful task to record the death of Louis H. Jorgenson of this city, which occurred at his residence corner of Nineteenth Street and Washington Avenue, yesterday morning a few minutes before eight o'clock. The disease which terminated in his death was hemorrhage of the bowels, and was contracted during the late excursion of the Knights Templar to New Orleans, in which Mr. Jorgenson, who was a prominent Mason, took an active part. He was somewhat indisposed prior to going on that trip, but the excitement and requirements of the occasion no doubt stimulated him to undue exertion. On Friday after his return to Cairo, he succumbed to his disease and took his bed, which he did not leave again in life. To the citizens of Cairo, most of whom had a long and familiar acquaintance with Louis H. Jorgenson, we need not recall his many excellent traits of character, the genial disposition and charms of manner, which made him popular among acquaintances and friends, nor his devotion to his family, which makes his death a terrible bereavement to his stricken wife and two young daughters. Mr. Jorgenson was a man of fine business qualifications, and at different periods during his life in Cairo occupied positions of trust and profit. He was born in the city of Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1832. His father, aged 88 years, is an attaché of the Queen of Denmark. Mr. Jorgenson emigrated to America in 1850. In 1852, he went to La Salle, in this state, where he married the lady who now mourns his loss. He shortly afterward came to this city, where he resided the balance of his life.
Mr. Jorgenson had reached the thirty-third degree in
the order of Masonry, and at the time of his death was High Priest of Cairo
Chapter and Grand Generalissimo of the Grand Commandry of the State.
The people of this city sympathize deeply with the bereaved widow
and family of the deceased. The condition of affairs in Williamson County is well described by a correspondent of the Chicago Times in the issue of 21st inst. "Six years ago," says the correspondent, "there was a petty quarrel between two families living in the western part of Williamson County. It was followed by others, in which the circle of the combatants was enlarged. The chief leaders of the fights were fined, and one fled the country. Two years later there was another conflict, for which the parties again escaped with a fine, although three days were occupied in vain attempt to get a jury to try one part of the mob on a charge of attempted murder. Then appeared the inevitable woman. Promising to marry a Montague, she allowed herself to be seduced by a Capulet." From these circumstances grew the feud which has resulted in the killing of five persons, the serious wounding of four more and a state of fear, suspicion and uncertainty which pervades the entire community of that section of Williamson County where the feud exists. No man dare take sides nor advocate the attempt to bring to justice the outlaws who have outraged alike the laws of God and man. If he does, he stands in danger of meeting the terrible fate of Dr. Hinchliffe, who was "in no way related to the parties involved in the fight, but was fearless in his expressions of indignation at the murder of the two Bulliners. He was speedily marked for prey. Riddled with bullets, his horse killed under him, he died in sight of his own homestead." The authorities are powerless, and if they are suspected of harboring intentions of doing their duty, are threatened through anonymous letters with the vengeance of the assassins. For all the murders that have been committed, not one offender has felt the majesty of the law. One only has been arrested, and he is out on bail. Warrants are held for eight others, but these are "all in the woods,” and apparently safe from the pursuit of justice.
The late attempt to murder Sisney in his own house is the
latest act of the bloody drama, and has re-awakened fear and apprehension on
all sides. The
Southern Illinoisan
advises an appeal to the Governor for protection and to this it will
ultimately come. Williamson County has
become a reproach to the whole of Southern Illinois, and her local
authorities cannot subdue the savages who have blighted her name and set
back her material prosperity a decade years.
The Sir Knights of Cairo Commandery No. 13, K. T. will assemble
at the Asylum Thursday at
9:30 a.m. sharp, in full
uniform, for the purpose of attending the funeral of our late worthy
brother, Eminent Sir Louis H. Jorgensen.
A special communication of Cairo Lodge No. 237 A. F. and A.M.
will be held this morning at 9 ½ o'clock to attend the funeral of our late
brother Louis Jorgensen. All visiting brethren are requested to
attend.
A very large number of the friends of the late Mr. Louis
Jorgensen paid the last tribute of respect to his memory yesterday. At
half past ten o'clock in the morning the Blue Lodge of Masons escorted by
the Knights Templar, under command of Sir Knight Dunning and led by
the Silver Cornet Band, marched up Washington Avenue, to the late residence
of the deceased and received the remains, which they conveyed to the Church
of the Redeemer, where Rector Gilbert read the service of his church
for the burial of the dead. The church was crowned and the scene one of
great solemnity and deep sadness. After the services the remains were taken
to Beech Grove Cemetery
and there deposited in a vault that had been built for the occasion. This
is the last of earth. A Paducah paper boldly asserts that Williamson County, in this State, is a portion of the moral vineyard that needs the attention of congressional investigation committees. It does not. It needs officers—particularly a sheriff—who are not afraid to do their duty. If Ham Irvin, sheriff of Alexander County, were sheriff of Williamson, he would go with those who have gone before or else he would bring some of the Williamson County assassins to justice. We need not be told that the murderers are not known. They are, and if the officers in Williamson were skillful and courageous, they could prevent future assassinations and bring to the gallows the brutal wretches who have brought disgrace upon southern Illinois by wanton and cold-blooded murder. This condition of affairs has prevailed in Williamson for years, and Governor Beveridge has been aware of the fact; but he has done nothing to suppress the lawlessness that has been rampant all this time. He has listened to recitals of the horrors, held up his hands, groaned in deprecation of the facts, and –done nothing. His party papers have been all this time denouncing the governor of Missouri because he has neglected or been unable to suppress lawlessness in that State, but they have not said a word of denunciation of the governor who has permitted the assassin of Williamson County to ply their bloody business unmolested.
To the Masons, that noble band of brotherhood—especially to the
Sir Knights, I desire to return my heartfelt thanks for the untiring
kindness, the thoughtfulness and tender friendship which they have showered
upon me and mine in my terrible bereavement. Words seem too weak to express
my gratitude to those who have upheld me in this dark day of affliction, and
I earnestly pray that the God of the widow and the fatherless may bless and
repay them, not only for their kindness to the living, but their respect and
faithfulness to the memory of the beloved dead. |
