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Cairo Index Page |
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Obituaries and Death Notices
Cairo Evening Bulletin and
Cairo Weekly Bulletin
5 Jan 1871-30 Dec 1871
Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois
Transcribed by Darrel Dexter
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Thursday, 5 Jan 1871:
On Friday last, at
Hinckleville, Ballard County, Kentucky, about twenty miles from this city,
two men named Ladd and Overby became involved in a rencounter.
The fight was conducted after the manner of rough and tumble bruisers, and
Ladd came out victorious. Overby, much chagrined, immediately
left the scene of action for his home, and on arriving informed his son, a
young man about twenty-four years of age, of his discomfiture. The son, in a
paroxysm of rage, mounted his horse, armed with a pocket pistol, and started
in pursuit of Ladd, who, in the meantime, was on his way home
unconscious of danger. Coming up with his victim, Overby’s son
immediately attacked Ladd, and sent a ball into his body that
occasioned instant death. The young Overby then fled, and has not
been arrested. It is said that he passed through Cairo in his flight. This
is the story of the tragedy as it was told to us yesterday by a reliable
gentleman.
William Carter, a
colored fireman on the Mary Alice, a quarrelsome, bad nigger, and
William Spencer, a colored fireman on the
Great Republic,
became involved in a difficulty Wednesday afternoon. Carter struck
Spencer a violent blow with a hatchet, inflicting an ugly wound on the
back of his neck. At night, about half past nine o’clock, they met again in
Mose Mason’s barbershop on Fourth Street, when the difficulty was
renewed, Spencer attacking Carter with a razor. He inflicted
three wounds upon Carter—one on the shoulder, one on the back, and
one across the abdomen. The surgeons think the wounded man may survive his
injuries, although they are of a most serious character. The wound across
the abdomen is frightful—exposes the entrails, which, however, were not
wounded. Across the back the razor made a gash not as wide as a church door
or as deep as a well, but both wide and deep. If Carter, recovering,
shall profit by this experience, this community will owe no grudge to the
razor of Spencer, who has left for parts unknown.
In Dutch Ridge Precinct, Jackson County, live two families—the Lindseys and the Atkinses. In the Lindsey family is a daughter, passing fair, and upon her one of the young Atkinses cast glances that spoke a sentiment more intense than friendly regard. The father of the lady, John Lindsey, and the brother, Luke, a young man who has the name of a desperado, objected to the attentions of young Atkins, and forbade the twain to meet together; but love that laughs at opposition prompted the lovers to disobey the injunction, and “they met by chance, the usual way.” On last Wednesday evening Miss Lindsey attended church held in the neighborhood, and at the conclusion of the services accepted, as usual, the escort of young Atkins. They had not proceeded far from the church building, when they were met by Lindsey and his son Luke. When the old man got within striking distance, he began to belabor young Atkins over the head with his cane. Atkins, not liking the application, attempted to defend himself, and while struggling with his assailant received a ball from Luke Lindsey’s revolver, under his left arm, which ranged towards his heart and inflicted what is thought to be a mortal wound. At this juncture, a brother of young Atkins entered into the affray, and struck Luke with a club. Luke immediately fired two shots, both missing his assailant, who then turned and ran; but before he got more than thirty feet in his attempt to escape, Luke fired again and the ball entered his back in the region of the spine. His injuries, it is thought, will also prove fatal.
The Lindseys made
good their escape towards the Mississippi River. It is believed they crossed
into Missouri, but nothing has been heard of either since the night of the
fatal affray.
The steamer T. L. McGill, from St. Louis to New Orleans, burned at Shoo Fly Bar at 9 o’clock last night (14 Jan). It was thought that Captain Tompkins and William McFarland, first clerk, were saved, but the arrival of the St. Francis, tonight, leaves little hope of either.
So confused are the reports
that is impossible to form an accurate estimate of the number lost, but it
will probably reach thirty, including four women and three children.
Captain William Tompkins,
first clerk William McFarland, German and wife; carpenter from St. Louis,
the latter bound for Greenville, Miss.; two women, three children; colored
chambermaid; Phillip Leck, Philadelphia; Thomas F. Evans,
barber, St. Louis. The latter died on the St. Francis.
Nelson Brown, second
engineer; John S. Shoicky carpenter; John Snyder, decksweep;
second steward and porter; Cooney Cavagah, nephew of Captain D. H.
Siver. Out of 36 rousters, 13 were saved. There were five cabin passengers lost. Among them were a young German and his wife, who got aboard at Belmont, and were seen to jump overboard locked in each others’ arms; also a gentleman and wife who were asleep at the time the fire broke out, and are supposed to have perished in the flames, and a man name unknown, who got aboard at New Madrid. The books and papers being lost, it is impossible to ascertain the names of the lost. Among the deck passengers lost were a family of seven persons, including four children, who came aboard at Belmont, and thirteen Mexicans. Of the Officers lost, were Capt. Tompkins, commander, first clerk McFarland, second engineer Nelson Brown, two deck hands, the chambermaid, decksweeper, second steward, porter, and pantryman. The barber, Thomas Evans, died after being picked up.
Capt. Tompkins was
last seen on a cotton bale, a few rods from shore, apparently exhausted.
Mr. Cooney, formerly of this city and a writer in the Cairo Democrat is now the actual managing editor of the New York Herald. The principal part of the editorial work is done by him. He was formerly dramatic critic for that journal, and is the translator of Victor Lardon’s play, “Fernande.” Mr. Cooney’s late wife, was the daughter of Mr. Shelley, of this place.
(Michael A. Coony
married Mary A. Shelley on 22 Jul 1860, in Alexander Co., Ill.)
(Green B. Parker
married Nancy M. Martin on 5 Dec 1858, in Alexander Co., Ill.)
CIRCUIT COURT At 9 o’clock, the case of Elizabeth Hutchinson, administratrix of Alexander Hutchinson vs. the Illinois Central Railroad Company, was called for trial. The case was tried at the July term of the Alexander County Circuit Court, 1868, and the plaintiff recovered a verdict for $5,000. The case was taken to the Supreme Court, where the judgment was reversed and cause remanded. The facts of the case are as follows: Alexander Hutchinson was run over by an engine upon the railroad track, on Ohio Levee, about three years ago and killed, and the wife of the deceased brought suit to recover damages for causing his death. No witnesses were sworn upon trial yesterday. The attorneys, Judge Allen for Mrs. Hutchinson and Green & Gilbert for the road, agreed to submit the evidence taken at the former trial. There are many points presented by the Supreme Court worthy of being produced in the columns of The Bulletin. On the trial of this case, it was shown that Hutchinson had been drinking. When run over he was sitting on the rail of the track, or, according to one witness, was sitting on the end of a tie and leaning over the side of the track. It was dark when the accident occurred. It was in evidence that there was no headlight on the engine, and that the whistle was not sounded. Witnesses differed as to whether the bell was ringing. In delivering the opinion of the Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Walker said: “Where a person, while intoxicated, placed himself about dark or in the dusk of evening on a railroad track—running along a public street in a city, where the company’s train were constantly passing and repassing, and so remained there until he was run over and killed by a passing engine of the company, the deceased will be held to haven guilty of such gross negligence that no recovery could be had against the company for the injury, unless it appear that the agents of the company willfully caused the death of the party, or were guilty of such gross negligence on their part as amounts in law to a willful neglect of duty.” The case was being argued before the jury when the court adjourned by judges Green and Allen and William B. Gilbert, Esq. Court will commence this morning at 8 ½ o’clock.
(William
A. Winston married Ellen Barber on 6 Jan 1867, in Alexander
Co., Ill.)
(The funeral sermon was
published in this issue of the Cairo Daily Bulletin.)
Additional news from the Memphis papers in relation to the explosion of the Arthur, show the disaster to be much worse than was first reported. The loss of life is now estimated by the Memphis Avalanche at 87. Many persons perished from cold, while floating down the river on rafts or supported by life preservers. One lady has been found death in the river, supported in this manner.
Friday, 3 Feb 1871:
James
J. Pearce.
(James John Pierce is
in the 1870 census of Courtland, Lawrence Co., Ala. He was 58 and a
native of England.—Darrel Dexter)
Monday, 14 Feb 1871:
The
boilers of the steamer Judge Wheeler exploded on Sunday last, when
the boat was 45 miles above Vicksburg. Only three persons, deck hands,
are reported killed and three wounded. No other particulars have yet
been received. “When young Barefield took his place on the floor,” says the Metropolis Times, “Covington drew a pistol and commenced firing at him, hitting him once in the breast; in the meanwhile some one handed Barefield a pistol and he commenced firing also, one of his balls inflicting a flesh wound on Covington, who immediately turned exclaiming, that he was shot, on which a brother of his ran up behind Barefield and shot him twice in the back; but this time Barefield was too weak to hold his pistol and the Covingtons made their escape. Young Barefield was brought home on the packet Wednesday and is lying in critical condition, but hopes of his recovery are held by the physicians. Since writing the above we learn that one of the Covingtons has been secured.
This week’s Anna Advertiser has a Retrospective view of Union County, which is very good except that it is in some parts ambiguous and frequently partisan in tone. He says: “During the rebellion she was flooded with those claiming to be refugees from the South and we lived in almost a reign of terror.” There is no logical connection between the two parts of this sentence. The refugees had nothing to do with the excitement and lawlessness that prevailed. They came here, fleeing from ruined homes and starvation, many of them sent north by the military authorities, a majority of them women and children and nearly all of them friendless, penniless wanderers, broken in spirit and in health. I have never heard of a murder, or robbery, or outrage traced to a refugee. For the “reign of terror,” the poor refugees were not to blame. The real cause is revealed by the next paragraph. “Things went on this way until Union County was looked upon as a secession hole, and all its inhabitants’ traitors. Soldiers were sent to keep down any demonstration of war, the inhabitants were subjected to insults and imprisonment until every man suspected his neighbor of being the cause of all this difficulty.” Public opinion in the north part of the State was manufactured by the Chicago Tribune and its confreres until Egypt came to be “looked upon as a secession hole.” Radical misrepresentation and sensation lies brought the public mind to that conclusion. As for instance one spring morning in 1863 an old man, Neely (Copperhead) and a young man, Nash (Radical), quarreled about a piece of meat at the butchers. Blows ensued—Nash boldly ran home and arrayed himself with an old, rusty, single-barreled pistol, came down the street swaggering and threatening like ancient Pistol himself—and with heroic fortitude advanced and shot old man Neely. The ball struck a rib, glanced around and lodged near the spine from whence it was removed without trouble. The old man was out in a few days and the young man went immediately—into the army. The Tribune announced “another dastardly outrage in Egypt. An old man shot to death in the town of Jonesboro and dragged through the streets, for no other offense than that he was a Union man!” That was how “things went on” until “soldiers were sent to keep down any demonstrations of war.” Every drunken row or fight that occurred was magnified into a rebellion. Quoteth the Advertiser: “Especially did Republicans feel the full weight of the terrors that then spread their black wings as a pall over our beautiful land.” I cannot remember that a single Republican was ever deprived of life or liberty during those times when terrors were weighty. A number of deserters from the army (men who had entered with full faith in the promise of the leaders “that the war was prosecuted not for the purpose of conquest nor for the abolition of slavery, but to restore the Union”—and feeling that they had been deceived—deserted) came into our county. Several persons lost their lives in trying to arrest these deserters. One man who had discovered their place of rendezvous and betrayed it to the soldiers, was waylaid and killed by these hunted and desperate men near “Dug Hill.” Another, a Mr. Spence, while guarding some captured deserters, was overpowered by them and murdered. These victims may have been Republicans, but they were not killed for that reason, but for the same reasons that sheriffs, policemen, and detectives are sometimes slain while attempting to perform their duty. The following is unique: “Men who differed from each other in political matters were watched with a most searching eye and quite a number were shot down like wild beasts.” Who stood afar off and “watched with searching eye” those men who “differed with each other in political matters” and which class was shot down like wild beats? I saw one man, a wealthy and respectable merchant of Jonesboro and a Democrat shot to death in the streets of Anna by a half-drunken soldier. He was riding quietly in his own wagon and disturbing no one, when the soldier without even as much warning as a rattlesnake gives its victim commenced firing at him. The wagon, in which Mr. Provo, the murdered man was riding passed on until in front of Mr. Davie’s store when Provo got out not in the least excited, and went into the store. Meanwhile the soldier had fired three or four times at him and following him into the store, ran up close to Provo who was unarmed and defenseless and shot him through the brain, killing him instantly. The soldier was severely punished. After a long pursuit, some citizens arrested him and he was placed in jail at Jonesboro. Next morning a regiment of soldiers invaded our town. Mr. Soldier was taken from the jail and summarily sent back to his regiment. One of our citizens, who struck Mr. Soldier over the head for trying to shoot those who came to arrest him, was sent to a military prison “for striking a soldier,” and kept six months and then discharged without trial. The Advertiser says: “The juries appeared to be afraid to attempt to investigate such murders, especially if the victim was a Republican.” What murders? No Republicans were murdered. With all due respect to our town paper, I venture to make these criticisms. Let the dead past bury the dead and let us quit talking about old grievances.
Mr. Meyer was born at
Frankfort-the Main, and removed to this country fifteen years ago.
During the late war he was a captain in the 26th Missouri Regiment, and
served with great credit to himself through several of the most memorable
campaigns of that momentous strife. He leaves a widow and daughter to
mourn his loss.
At a regular meeting of the Arab Fire Company, held February 20th, 1871, the following preambles and resolutions were adopted: Whereas, Charles A. Meyer, late a member of the Arab Fire Company of Cairo, Illinois, departed this life on the 16th inst., and made vacant another seat in the council of our company; and Whereas, In his death we recognize the great uncertainty of life and the unerring hand of death, we should therefore feel admonished to be always ready to assure the call of our great chief and be prepared to begin the march to that land of the hereafter; and Whereas, We desire to perpetuate in our council the memory of him, as well as other Arabs; therefore Resolved That in the death of our late brother Arab, Charles A. Meyer, we recognize the greatness and power of God, our great chief ruler, and know that he doeth all things well. Revolved, That in this dispensation of divine providence, a vacancy is made in our council, and another home made desolate by the removal of a husband, and father. Resolved, That to the widow and orphan we extend the mournful sympathies of our company, assuring them that his virtues and goodness, while living, will be ever cherished, and his memory perpetuated among us. Revolved, That as a mark of regard for our departed brother, the jewels and furniture and our hall shall be draped in mourning for thirty days.
Resolved, That these
resolutions be published in the Cairo Bulletin, and that a certified
copy be furnished by the Secretary to the widow of our deceased brother.
Thursday, 2 Mar 1871:
(Joseph Griffith
married on 4 Dec 1859, in Union Co., Ill., Mrs. Mary Ann Treese.
Mary Ann (Ledgerwood) Treese was the widow of Caleb Treese,
whom she married on 6 Mar 1842, in Union Co., Ill. He died on 23 Jul
1859. David Treese was the son Caleb Treese.—Darrel
Dexter)
The following persons were sworn: Jerry Riley—Sleeps at Hibernian engine house. Saw man standing at the railing on the sidewalk about 4 o’clock. Thought he heard some one come to the door and walk away. Then looked out and saw the man. Johnny Jones—Sleeps at Hibernian engine house. Heard noise between 12 and 1, he thought, looked out of window and saw three men running North to next block when they turned west. Never saw deceased until he saw him dead on sidewalk. Heard no cries or anything. Samuel C. Moore—Saw deceased day before yesterday. Saw him night before last (Thursday) in door of McKinzie’s lumber office. Saw him again last night walking down the levee, towards depot, about 7 o’clock, thought had been drinking. When saw him first thought he was very drunk. Understand that he resided in Alabama. Learn that he was stopping at Mat Burn’s place. Thomas Murphy—Never saw the man until this morning. Edward Shea—Saw deceased between 9 and 10 o’clock last night. Came into Mockler’s boarding house. Never saw him before or since. Feith—Examined deceased’s pockets in presence of the coroner. Found no papers or anything indicating his name or residence.
Dr. Wardner—Examined
deceased, but cannot find upon his person marks of violence.
(Special to The Bulletin) CARBONDALE, March 20.—Yesterday about 12 m., a most terrible and heart-rending accident occurred at this place, resulting in the instant death of Edgar, son of Frank J. Chapman. Edgar was a little fellow of three and a half years—a bright, interesting child. Mr. Chapman for some time past has stored powder, for safe keeping, in the privy belonging to his residence. On yesterday but one keg remained, and that had been opened. Little Edgar procured matches, and, by some means getting the keg opened, dropped into it a lighted match, and in an instant the child was blown into eternity. His body was blown some twenty-five feet into the air, and was found some thirty yards from the place where the powder was stored, mangled and burned almost beyond recognition. The privy was blown to atoms, and the bricks and splinters scattered some distance around. So great was the force of the explosion that some of the larger stones in the basement of Mr. Chapman’s dwelling were perceptibly moved.
Our whole city mourns with
Mr. Chapman and his family, none are more highly respected and no
child was more loved or loveable than little Edgar. The funeral takes
places this afternoon at 4 o’clock.
John Putze is the name of a shoemaker who has been in the employ of Mr. William Ehlers several times during the year past. Some months since he left here for Vicksburg, and about two or three weeks ago returned, broken down in health, without money and without tools. Mr. Ehlers kindly re-employed him, gave him board, and assigned him to a room in his house partly occupied by a young man named Charles James Wood, also an employee in the establishment of Mr. Ehlers. It was Mr. Wood’s misfortune to possess long, flowing, light hair, and delicate, fair complexion, to have a soft, low voice, to be slight in stature, and so far as appearance went (save in dress) to look very much like a woman. Mr. Putze, the morning subsequent to his first night’s rest in the room with Mr. Wood, informed Mr. Ehlers that he would not sleep in the room with Wood again. That he “was a woman,” “one of those female Boston shoemakers” and he had no use for them, Mr. Ehlers laughed at this when first told of it, but soon saw that Putze was earnest, and in vain endeavored to convince him that he was wrong. Putze maintained that Woods was a woman and for two weeks preceding the tragedy, would not sleep in the room with him—preferring the hayloft of the stable and the halls of the house. The exposure soon brought on chills, and Mr. Ehlers approached him a few days since and gave him other quarters, telling him at the same time that he must remain indoors or go to the hospital. He declined to accede to either of these propositions, and said he would leave the city yesterday. The Shooting Early yesterday morning he entered Mr. Ehlers’ store, picked up a paper, and sat down, apparently with the intention of reading it. He was on the chair however but a few moments, when Mr. Ehlers was started by the report of a pistol shot, and turned around just in time to prevent Putze from firing a second shot. Wood instantly exclaimed, “Mr. Ehlers, I am killed,” at the same moment making a lunge at Putze with a knife, which he had picked up from the bench. The knife was caught in its passage, and prevented what would probably have resulted in a double tragedy. The ball entered Wood’s left breast, passing through the lungs and inflicting, so the attending surgeon states, a fatal wound.
Wood
was about twenty-one years old, unmarried, and a native of this country.
Putze was immediately arrested and lodged in jail. He will have a
preliminary examination in a few days. He is about eight or ten years
the senior of Wood, is also unmarried, and is a German by birth.
Those who knew him best assert that he is crazy. Can he be otherwise,
to attempt the murder of one whom he believed to be a woman, because it was
sought to make them room together?
Saturday, 1 Apr 1871:
Captain H. A. Oglesby,
commander of the steamer, John Kilgour, died this morning of
consumption, at his residence in Oldham County, Kentucky. He was on the
river for 20 years and was formerly clerk of the Peytona, and has
hosts of friends who will be grieved to hear of his death. He was 43 years
old. Flags of boats in port will be at half mast tomorrow in respect to his
memory.—Cincinnati Commercial, 7th inst.
The steamer S. J. Hale, on her downward trip from Cincinnati to Memphis, while nearing Golconda, yesterday morning, burst a steam pipe, killing six men and wounding one other. The latter died at Paducah when taken ashore. The force of the explosion seemed to go aft, tearing out some of the after bulkhead and doing great damage in the engine room generally. One account says that all the persons in the engine room at the time of the explosion were killed—three white men and four negroes—names not ascertained. The Hale was towed to Paducah by the Arkansas Belle.
For the above particulars we
are again placed under obligations to Mr.
Kent
manager of the Western Union Telegraph at this point.
Died at the residence of
James Johnson, in Cairo, at 5 o’clock p.m. Saturday, April 15th,
1871, Jesse Hundley, aged eighteen years. The remains will be taken
to Olney, Illinois, for interment, leaving Cairo by Monday morning’s train.
Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Mr. Thompson at Mr.
Johnson’s residence, corner Fourteenth Street and Commercial Avenue, at
4 o’clock Sunday afternoon. Friends and acquaintances of the family
are invited to attend.
Thursday, 20 Apr 1871: The funeral of Scott White, Esq., who died yesterday morning will take place at the family residence today, at 1 1/2 o’clock p.m. Rev. C. H. Foote, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will conduct the services. At the close of the services, the remains will be carried to the station of the Illinois Central R. R. from whence they will be taken on the 3:30 train to Pittsburg, Pa., for sepulture. Friends and acquaintances are invited. The deceased was born in Ireland in 1813; in 1832 he came to the United States and in 1835 located in Cairo. During the sixteen years of his residence in Cairo he acquired the reputation of a man of strict integrity. Those who knew him best esteemed him most. In his composition there was little of that diplomatic skill which refuses while seeming to assent, and repels while professing to embrace. He said, “No,” when his judgment dictated the word, regardless of the consequences, which might follow, and never compromised with truth in his intercourse with his fellow men. Stern and sometimes brusque in his deportment, he gave what he would and took what he was entitled to receive. He asked from no one what he was not willing to give, and in former years, while he was in the vigor of his business life, moved about the world as if it were a great dry goods store, in which were sellers and purchasers; but in late years the flush of business enthusiasm having given place to the more kindly influences of social life, he had laid aside many of the “cares of trade” and had given encouragement to efforts to create in Cairo a condition of society in which the “social races” as well as virtues might take root and under genial influences grow into vigorous strength.
But in the moment of his
greatest usefulness, after he had won the battle of success in life—just at
the moment when his hand endowed by fortune with ability to do good was
being stretched out in the noble work of helping to make the world better by
making it happier, he was attacked by mortal illness, and died. But he
met the King of Terrors without a tremor, and passed from life into the
mysteries of eternity satisfied with the verdict of fate and rallying with
confidence on the hope of a happy immortality. To Dr. Dunning,
his attending physician, he expressed in the early siege of his illness the
belief that he had reached “the end,” and surrendered at discretion before
the dreaded enemy was in sight, but in his surrender he exhibited so many of
the characteristics of noble manhood—was so kind to the woman who had been
his companion through life, so gentle in his intercourse with friends—so
confident of happiness in the lie to come—so thoroughly reconciled to the
fate which bade him enter the turbid and chilly eaters of the river of
death, the he turned defeat into victory, and relying on the goodness of
God, who is the Father of all, and saying, “Not my will, but Thine be done,”
took his chamber in the silent halls of death.
We have been informed that
Mr. Gray was the brother of a Cairo lady, the wife of Mr.
Cox, of the firm of Rockwell & Co. Whereas, it has pleased an All-wise Providence to remove from our midst, by the band of death, Scott White, one of our beloved Directors, therefore be it Resolved, That in his death, this bank has lost a director whose place can scarcely be filled; whilst we, as individuals, lament a friend whose memory will ever be warmly cherished in our hearts. Resolved, That we offer our sincere condolence to the family and relatives of the deceased, in whose bereavement we tenderly sympathize.
Resolved,
That these proceedings be entered in the minutes of this bank, and the
cashier be requested to furnish a copy thereof to the family of our lamented
brother, and that they be published in the papers of the city. WHEREAS, For the first time in the history of this Club death has entered into our circle and struck down one of our members in the person of Scott White, Resolved, That while recognizing in this dispensation of Providence an admonition which enforces with peculiar emphasis the old lesson of the uncertainty of life, The Delta Social Club, which was organized to develop in this community a spirit of neighborly kindness, and this community in which the deceased lived for many years occupying a place among the most upright of its businessmen; and his family, which received at his hands that care and affectionate kindness which grow out of the rich soil of a good heart; and society, which is beautified by integrity and that bold truthfulness which frowns upon falsehood, have all suffered a great loss in the death of our respected brother, the late Scott White. Resolved, That we hereby express heartfelt sorrow at the loss of so true a friend, and desire to offer with our words of regret sincere condolence to the family of the deceased, who have been deprived at once of a husband, a parent and a friend. Resolved, That this Club as a mark of respect for the memory of the deceased, attend his funeral this day in a body.
Resolved,
That the proceedings of the meeting be spread at length on the records of
the Club, and that a copy of these resolutions be furnished by the Secretary
to the family of the deceased, and to papers of the city for publication.
The Tragedy The tragedy was committed at the farm house of Christian Peter, six miles southwest of Belleville, and the victim was Mrs. Mary Peter, wife of Mr. Peter, and daughter of Mr. John Keck, an aged and highly respected citizen of the county. Between three and four o’clock on Saturday afternoon Mr. Peter left his house to go to the house of his father-in-law for a wagon load of corn, and it was during his absence that the terrible affair occurred. Subsequent revelations show that not long after his departure a stranger arrived at the house, and seeing no one but a defenseless woman present, proffered insults which rather than submit to the lady chose the less bitter alternative of death. The heartless intruder commenced a violent assault on Mrs. Peter, which she resisted with all her strength. How desperate the struggle was, was sufficiently evident by the wounds she received, and the slaughter house appearance of the room. Though, at the end of the struggle, the victim of the attempted outrage lay lifeless, the villain was discomfited in his base purpose. Before retiring from the scene of his atrocity, he sought to add a crowning feature by pillaging the house of articles which he could carry away without incommoding himself. Discovery of the Murder. Mr. Peter returned shortly before sundown, and was taken by surprise by missing his customary greeting on approaching his home. A loud crack of the whip failed to call his wife to the door, and leaving his wagon he raised the latch, rather perplexed about the silence. His wife lay as she was left—with her throat cut in three places, the jugular vein severed, her face hacked and bruised, hair torn in handfuls from her head, and her clothing rent. Blood stained the wall and furniture, and had trickled into pools. Mr. Peter, shocked scarcely as man had even been before, raised the alarm and astounded his neighbors by the intelligence of the crime. Pursuit Parties of men were organized to endeavor to capture the murderer, and the country was scoured in all directions, until darkness stopped further search. The good work was continued yesterday. The Murderer The following is a description of the man believed to have committed the murder: Height 5 feet 6 inches or 5 feet 7 inches, thin face, sharp nose, heavy set man, broad shoulders, hair cut short, dark complexion and dark eyes, large nostrils, beard of about three weeks growth, age about 30 years. His dress consisted of a slouched black wool hat, low crown, with brim about four inches wide, with black faded ribbon; wore a reddish colored jeans jacket, with pantaloons of same material, the latter considerably worse from wear; brogan shoes with double sole, with the right shoe torn at the toe. He stole from the house a dark brown beaver cloth frock coat, a pair of black and steel mixed pantaloons and a vest of the same material. This suit belonged to Mr. Peter and the murderer may have attired himself in it for the purpose of avoiding detection. The man suspected was in the town of Centreville at about 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, and while there stepped into a store and asked for a few matches. The proprietor showed him where to find them, and noticed that he placed them in his pocket, and immediately walked out of the store. At a later hour, five and six o’clock, the same man was again observed loitering about the farm where the murder was committed. A match was found laying on the floor, and it is surmised that it fell from the man’s pocket while he was in the act of murdering Mrs. Peter. The match corresponded exactly with those given the man at Centerville, and was different in shape from those used at the farm house.
The man described was a stranger in the locality, and had been
seen in the neighborhood during the day. It was ascertained that he
had inquired at different farm houses for work. It is also stated that
he had been observed by some of the nearest neighbors of deceased loitering
about the premises during the afternoon, and that he had been seen running
from the house in a northeastern direction, carrying a bundle in his arms.
It is stated that he was at Ogle’s station yesterday, stopped at a
house and begged for something to eat. The murderer stole in addition
to the clothing mentioned: Two finger rings, two breast pins, and two
sets of ear rings with the initials of the murdered woman engraved thereon.
Mrs. Mary Peter has been married a little over two months,
and she was living on a farm presented to her and her husband by her father
Mr. Keck. She was only 20 years of age, was handsome, and was
held in much respect and esteem. Her husband is an industrious,
respectable young man, brother of officer George Peter, of the
St. Louis police force.
Coroner Joerg of
Belleville held an inquest on
the body yesterday, and returned an open verdict.
As may be imagined, this cold-blooded murder has caused quite a
sensation among the people. It is hoped the murderer may be speedily
captured and dealt with by the officers of the law.
Mr. James W. Hughes, sheriff of St. Clair County, has sent
information to the chief of police of
St. Louis that he is authorized
to offer a reward of $200 for the arrest of the murderer.
(The Jonesboro Gazette
of 22 Apr 1871, reported that Levi Davis was killed by O. F.
Atkins on Thursday, 19 Apr 1871.)
John Singleton, in
August, 1870, murdered his little step-daughter, aged three years in Lyon
County, Kentucky. After committing the foul deed he secreted the body
of his victim in a fence corner on the premises his presence cursed, where
it was found, plainly showing evidence of brutal violence. It bore the
appearance of having been terribly beaten, so much so that death proved an
angel of mercy, to the frail sufferer, whom, it seems, was an invalid at the
time of her death. The circuit court of Lyon County found John
Singleton
guilty of murder of Clementine Singleton, and before the officers of
the law could secure his body he had deserted his home, which should have
appeared somber and dark to him, and went away to other parts. The
Governor of the State of Kentucky offered a reward of $500 for his
apprehension and delivery to the jailer of Lyon County.
Notwithstanding the untiring and faithful search made for Singleton,
stimulated by the reward, he evaded the men of law until he concluded
himself entirely safe, when in an evil hour for him, and a gain to justice,
he returned to Kentucky, and settled near Cairo. F. M. Hildreth
and B. F. Cochran, of Kentucky, during this month, by some strange
chance found clue to the trial that finally led to his whereabouts.
They traversed the country between Lyon County and Cairo, and came upon him
on the Kentucky side opposite this city, pursuing the avocation of a farmer,
apprehended him, placed him aboard the steamer Lumsden and took him
up the river, and on the 16h inst., delivered him to A. J. Ross,
jailer of Lyon County—then earning by their shrewdness and bravery, a
handsome reward, and bringing to justice a fiend who beat unto death an
innocent and defenseless child, an invalid, one to whom his heart should
have warmed, and upon whom he should have bestowed sympathy and filial
caresses.
Tuesday, 2 May 1871: Hon. Sharon Tyndale, ex Secretary of State, was foully murdered within a stone’s throw of his home in Springfield, on Saturday last. He left his home about one o’clock in the morning to take the train for St. Louis and had only reached the front of a building adjoining his own grounds, when he was assailed, struck by a bludgeon, as his appearance indicated, and then shot through the brain. The murder was not known until day break, when his body was found, stiff and dead. His pocket book, which had contained about fifty dollars, was found empty near the scene of the tragedy. A valuable gold watch was still upon his person. No clue to the murder has been discovered.
Mr. Tyndale was about
fifty-five years of age, universally liked and respected, and a man of
education and fine address. His eldest son, Julius Tyndale, is
now absent in Europe, having been engaged as surgeon in the Prussian Army
during the recent Franco-Prussian War. The State flag at the Capital
was raised at half-mast as a testimony of respect to the deceased. The
authorities of Springfield have offered one thousand dollars reward for the
arrest of the murderer. Mr. Tyndale’s remains were conveyed to
Belleville and interred in Harrison Cemetery yesterday.
Later.—Since writing the
above Mr. Leslie’s body was recovered from the river, opposite the
factory.
At a meeting of the German Dramatic Association, May 17th, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: Resolved, That we, the members of the German Dramatic Association, express our bitter regret for the sad accident that has befallen the beloved child of Worthy President Carl L. Thomas, Esq.; and, Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God to visit his beloved son with a premature and sudden death, thereby inflicting a deeper wound upon the feelings and affections of his father,
Be it further resolved, That
we, as one, cheerfully tender him all the consolation that the expression of
our sympathy may afford.
Saturday, 20 May 1871:
Tuesday, 30 May 1871:
We last evening received the following particulars of the killing
by the cars of Martin Bryan at Dongola, on Wednesday morning last. On last Tuesday, one of the railroad section hands at this place, named Martin Bryan, got on a spree, and when last seen at about ten o’clock at night he was endeavoring to find his way home, in a state of beastly intoxication. The next morning his body was found on the railroad track almost literally torn to pieces, the arms and legs cut off, the upper part of the head mashed to a jelly, the clothing torn to shreds and the trunk terribly mutilated. Blood, pieces of bones, scraps of flesh, etc., were scattered along the track for more than a hundred feet, the indications going to show that he had been run over by both the night trains.
At the inquest held over the remains, there was some
circumstantial evidence of foul play, but not enough to justify taking any
further steps to ferret out the mystery if there was any. His remains were
taken to Villa Ridge for interment.
The little life has gone out and left in its stead a lasting sorrow, which time, the comforter, though it may not remove, will surely soften. As months and years roll on, the little Ruth, whose presence brightened the home of her father and mother such a few short months, will be to them a blessed memory, whose mission can anyone doubt—will be gentle and lovely always.
The funeral of Mrs. J. H. Mulkey will be attended at the
Catholic Church this Sunday afternoon at half past
one o’clock. The friends and
family are invited to attend.
A frightful tragedy occurred upon the steamer Glencoe
about four o’clock on
last Friday morning, near Napoleon, Ark. It appears that a German got on
board at New Orleans to catch the Oceanus, on which boat he had
placed his baggage, intending to take passage, but had, through
carelessness, missed the boat. He had no money, but was allowed to take deck
passage. Early in the morning he went out upon the forecastle and took a
seat upon the stage-planks which were piled upon one another near the
capstan. After he had been there a considerable length of time he got up,
unfastened his clothes, and, drawing a large crooked-bladed knife, ripped
open his abdomen, and, with both hands, before anyone could interfere, tore
out his intestines and expired in a few moments. His body was left in the
hands of the coroner at Napoleon. The cause of the deed and the name of
victim are alike unknown. DEATH OF MR. VALLANDIGHAM. A dispatch received in this city last night announces the death of Mr. Vallandigham, at eighteen minutes before ten o’clock yesterday (Saturday) morning. He sunk very rapidly from three o’clock until the hour of his death.
While the greater part of the misery and ruin evolved from the late war will ever remain a mystery, it is not infrequently that we fall upon bits of individual history, which serve to illustrate with almost unerring certainty, the severity, misfortunes and hardships to which countless thousands were subjected during the struggle, and which the lapse of time has failed to eradicate. The story of Cora Stacy’s life is a case in point. Born in Obion County, Tennessee, a few miles distant from Union City, she attained womanhood and social position under circumstances denied to the many and less favored of her sex. She had received the superficial female education of the period; possessed a pleasing, if not beautiful face, a good figure, and an easy, dignified deportment; surrounded by money, doting parents, a pleasant home, and the admirers which ever follow in the wake of all these, it was indeed, a strange freak of fate which blasted the possessor of them as with a breath, and plunged her headlong in a career of dissipation and shame. During the fall and winter of 1864, and indeed for over two years previous, the federal troops occupied all the country along the line of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, between Humboldt, Tenn., and Columbus, Ky. Cora’s parents were staunch union people, and of course their home was a favorite resort for the officers of the troops stationed thereabouts. Between Cora and one of the frequent visitors of this class—one who wore the “eagles” of army upon his shoulders—an acquaintance was formed which soon ripened into intimacy. IT was the old, old story ever again. “Loving not wisely, but too well; confiding where there was no return; trusting only in him, who finally accomplished her ruin.” After a time the troops were assigned to another post, and the gay, Lothario left never, during her stay there, to return. Filled with rumors and shame; hoping against hope to again meet him whom she held above all things, she fled from home and after a fruitless search for him over the country, landed in Cairo in the spring of 1867, and entered the most fashionable as well as the most notorious bagnio in the city of that time. A few years of this life of dissipation and shame soon did its work. About three months ago she developed an incurable case of consumption—was driven from her abode for lack of money and of friends, and was compelled to seek a refuge in the very vilest sink of iniquity, kept by an old Negro wench, whose name is synonymous with all that is wicked in our midst. During her sickness, however, the facts of her condition and the circumstances of her life reached the ears of one of our ministers, whose efforts in alleviating the suffering of her dying days, proclaim him a worth exponent of genuine Christianity indeed. Out of his own pocket, and with the aid of some friends to whom he made the facts known, he daily supplied her wants, and gave such spiritual consolation as the occasion called for, rendering thus, the last remnant of her life, the one green sport she had known for years. On Thursday morning last she died, when her body was taken in charge of by a number of the demi-monde, for the purpose of midnight burial. Why this time was selected for the funeral we are not able to divine, but that is was is an undeniable fact. The remains were placed in a coffin, escorted to the 11:45 p.m. train by a body of demireps, and thence conveyed to Villa Ridge. It will be remembered that on Thursday night last the rain, about midnight, poured down in torrents. In the midst of this, the godless escort, with the remains, left the train and scrambled up the hills as best they might, to the burying ground. Into the grave the remains were hurriedly shuffled and covered with earth, without a Christian soul to utter a last prayer or say an omen for the unfortunate Cora.
(The 20 Jun 1871, issue identifies the girl as Margaret Ann
Jones, the daughter of Guy and Susan Caroline Jones.)
Tuesday, 20 Jun 1871:
We had supposed that the “rough and rugged” western justice which
decided the lives of prisoners by a game of “old sledge,” “tossing coppers,”
or “drawing straws,” had ceased to exist, or existed only in the mind of
those who would create a laugh at the expense of the truth. To believe that
the old spirit still, partially, survives, one has but to read the following
affidavit of a radical officer who had in charge the jury in the Haley-Harrington
case, tried in Mound
City last week:
This affidavit duly sworn, deposes and says: “That he is the
officer who had charge of the jury on the trial of John W. Haley,
under indictment for murder; that the said jury did go to the Ball Cahmetre
and did drink beer; but not very much; that they did go to the brewery and
drank beer in the back room; and went to Jogel’s saloon and drank
beer at the bar. And the affidavit further says: “That he carried whisky by
the bottle to the jury, but does not known how much; that the said jury got
whisky from Hallorberg’s by the pint, and had more than four gallons
of wine in their room, but it was sour wine, and not stronger than lemonade.
And affidavit says that the jury played cards in their room frequently
during the trial. This affidavit says that he furnished strong drink and
cards to the jury honestly believing they were entitled to reasonable
refreshment.
This was submitted in a new trial for Haley, and the court
granted it. It speaks volumes for jury duty under a gentleman whose views of
what constitutes “refreshments,” are broad enough to satisfy the jolliest
Dick Swiveller in the land. In him,
Pulaski County has a jewel and
jurors thereabouts a delightfully “soft thing.”
At a special meeting of the board of school directors, held at the office of W. B. Reed, June 22, 1871, district No. 1, the following resolutions were adopted, and ordered to be spread upon the records of the board. Hiram S. English, principal of Cairo public schools, having been cut down in the prime of his life and in the midst of his usefulness, we deem it fit that we pay such tribute to his memory as our knowledge of his many excellencies of heard and heart will warrant: Therefore, Resolved, That in the death of Mr. English, the cause of popular education has lost on of its ablest, most earnest and efficient supporters, the “field of letters” an ornament, society an upright, honorable and conscientious Christian man, and a devoted wife a most provident and affectionate husband. Resolved, That in common with the friend of the Cairo public schools, we deeply deplore the death of Mr. English as an affliction that involves the loss of an educator who possessed, in an eminent degree, those rare traits of character that fitted him for the position he held in our schools—that secured to him the affections and confidence of his pupils, the respect of his assistants, and the esteem of all who knew him. That we, as directors of schools may secure, in his successor, services so generally acceptable to our community we can scarcely hope, believing that in all that constitutes the successful teacher, he had few equals, and no superiors in the country.
Resolved,
That to the respected widow, father and relatives of the deceased, we extend
an expression of our heart-felt condolence, assuring them that our whole
community sympathize with them in their great bereavement and irreparable
loss.
Between the hours of two and three o’clock yesterday morning,
three Italians names respectively, Dominic Giovanni and Johannes and
Baptiste Bethestene supposed to be drunk, attacked the saloon of Pat
Clancy, on Ohio Levee, breaking in the window and transom lights. Mr.
Con Bryce, an inmate of Clancy’s, and in employee of the
Central Railroad Company, was awakened by the disturbance, and arming
himself, went down stairs to ascertain its cause. Reaching the pavement, in
night dress, he asked the business of the marauders, and was answered by
having a large dirk knife plunged into his back, almost under the right
shoulder blade. His pistol dropped from his grasp, and he fell instantly on
the ground. The assassins fired, but the brothers, Bethestene were
captured by the watchman of the railroad and lodged in jail. Giovanni
who is believed inflicted the stab, escaped, and up to the hour of going to
press had not been heard from. He was the owner of the saloon just above
Sackberger’s on the levee, and bears the reputation of a desperado.
Bryce is very dangerously if not fatally wounded. He is an old citizen
of Cairo and is esteemed as honest, hard-working man. One of the
Italian brothers, now in the county jail, had just arrived in
Cairo from Italy, on the
morning of the Fourth, and cannot speak a word of English. His brother is
the owner of a fruit stand just adjoining Korsmeyer’s on Sixth
Street.
The trial of John McElvoy for the murder of John M.
Price, has been set down for next Friday. Court call this morning at
8:30 o’clock.
Saturday, 8 Jul 1871:
Just as we go to press we learn that Mr. William Kendall,
who resides on corner of
Thirty-fourth Street and
Washington Avenue, was shot about one o’clock this morning by horse thieves.
We have no particulars of the affair, further than that Mr. K. was
aroused by hearing an unusual noise at his stable and upon going to the
stable saw two or three men in charge of his mules. He attempted to
stop them, when he was fired upon, the shot passing through his right arm
and into his right lung. He is in a critical condition and as we are
informed, it is thought he cannot recover.
The hours at which we received news of the attempted assassination of Mr. Kendall, the gardener, on Sunday morning last, was too late to do more than simply announce the fact. It appears that Mr. Kendall has been in the habit of turning his horses and mules into an out lot where he allowed them to remain until near midnight, when he would stable them; but on Saturday night, he fell into a sound slumber and allowed the usual hour for stabling to pass by unnoticed. Between one and two o’clock in the morning, Mrs. Kendall aroused her husband and reminded him that the stock had not been put under cover. Mr. Kendall immediately repaired to the out lot and missing the stock went out upon the road to look for them. In his search he unexpectedly confronted three men, one leading the mare, saddles, and the other two leading three mules. He instantly snatched the bridle of the mare, and leading her pursued the thieves who had the mules in charge. Steadily gaining upon them, and coming near he ordered them to let go the stock. At this moment one of the thieves discharged the contents of a shot gun at the pursuer, and wounded him in the breast and right arm. The thieves then released the mules and fled.
Neighbors of Mr. Kendall, who had heard the report of the
gun, came in, and ascertaining the facts came to the city and reported to
Chief Myers, who, with Sheriff Irvin, immediately went in
pursuit.
The men under arrest may be guiltless of the charges against
them, but if guilty they should be punished in a very summary manner.
The preliminary examination will be held before Esquire Bross.
In the same place, also on Monday night, infant child, of Mr. George Culver. Near Stonefort, in Saline County, on the night of the 7th inst., Mrs. Elizabeth Randolph, after a short illness. In Jonesboro, on Sunday morning, July 8th, 1871, after an affliction of many years, Isaac Newton Sitton, aged about 21 years, son of I. B. Sitton. In Cobden, on Thursday of last week, David Sumner, Esq., one of the most respected citizens. In Saline County, on the 9th last, Mrs. Mary Cain, wife of Capt. T. J. Cain, after a long illness.
If the trial of Jock Owens, Dick Owens, and
Harris on the charge of assassination of Mr. Kendall and the
attempted robbery of his stock, should result in their acquittal on this
specific charge, their arrest will still have been a clear public benefit,
for they bear the character of dangerous men—men who have lived a vagabond
life around Cairo for years, and whose means of support have always been a
mystery to our police authorities—city and county. Jock Owens,
brother of Dick, is commonly reported to be the leader of a gang of
disreputable characters, who have their headquarters in
Cairo, but who extend their operations to the adjacent counties
of Missouri and
Kentucky.
While in our county jail charged with participation in the
Kendall
assassination, a colored man named Marshall Bates turns up, and upon
his oath alleges that Jock made an assault upon him with intent to kill some
time since, that besides abusing him in various ways, Jock drew his pistol
and fired two shots at him. Upon this charge Jock was examined before
Judge
Bross on Saturday last, and held over for trial at the next term of
the court, in default of $300 bail.
Yesterday morning the bar tender in Mrs. Myers saloon at the corner of Washington Avenue and Twelfth Street, informed a number of his customers, who had “dropped in” after breakfast to read The Bulletin, that he was going to the cellar to dig a sink note for the reception of the waste water from the bar and ice chest. Procuring a candle and a spade he descended the stairs. When he had been absent from the saloon about five minutes he was heard to utter an exclamation of alarm and cry: “Come down; come down; I have found a funeral!” The persons in the saloon immediately responded to the young man’s invitation, and descended into the cellar, where they found him gazing in evident alarm at a human rib, which he had thrown up with his spade. A gentleman present took the spade and turned out of the hole, about a foot under the surface, a human skull, several ribs and pieces of cloth, which upon examination were pronounced to be parts of a soldier’s blouse. The skull contained perfect teeth, not one being even touched by decay, and was to all appearances that of a young man. Small fragments of flesh were found on the upper jaw. And now the question arises: Whose Bones Are These? We have no doubt they are those of a Union soldier, but who buried them in this cellar? It has been suggested that the body may have been buried before the house was built, but we are informed that all of the soldiers who died in the hospitals of the city were buried in the old burial ground, and that no soldier could have been buried under proper authority in this particular place. It has also been suggested that one of the doctors who occupied the building before Myers, who rented it about two years and six months ago, might have thus disposed of one of his subjects for dissection; but this is not probable. Doctors do not very carefully clothe dissected subjects for burial, or very often provide them with comfortable coffins to lie in, and “these bones” have about them the fragments of a soldier’s uniform and after life’s fitful fever sleep in a box or coffin. Then the question still remains: “Whose bones?” and who can answer? Mrs. Myers says that for a considerable time after her husband took the house she noticed and frequently called to Mr. Myer’s attention, a disagreeable odor as of decaying flesh, rising from the cellar into their bed room, which was immediately above the grave of the deceased unknown. This would indicate that the death of the owner of the bones occurred long after the close of the war; but Mrs. Myers’ imagination may have deceived her sense of smell, and the question: “Whose Bones?” remains unanswered.
The remains have not all be disinterred yet; and, it is probable
that a further investigation might throw some light upon this ghastly
subject. Whose duty is it to make the investigation? Where is
the coroner? On Monday last Dr. William R. Burke, at one time a distinguished physician of this city, but at the time of his unnatural death an inmate of the county poor house, committed suicide by swallowing sugar of lead. The deceased was a remarkable man, and the story of his life might furnish a text from which many homilies of the dangers of yielding to the temptations of the wine cup and the wiles of the siren might be drawn. At the time of his death he was about forty-five years of age, broken in health and a complete physical wreck. He was a native of Virginia, the child of wealthy parents, who denied to him nothing that money could furnish. His father at one time was the proprietor of the celebrated Walte Sulphur Springs. After leaving the University of Virginia, from which he graduated, he studied law at Richmond, and just after attaining his majority was admitted to the bar.
His first case was the defense of a criminal by appointment of
the court. He made all necessary preparations for his maiden effort
before a jury, and arose confident of his ability to pass through the ordeal
successfully; but being of a bashful disposition, he became embarrassed
before he had proceeded five minutes and fainted in the court room. He
was carried to his hotel, and could never afterwards (except on one
occasion) be induced to enter a court house. His father, after his
failure at the bar, sent him to a medical college where he speedily mastered
the physician’s profession, and graduated with the highest honors of his
class. Soon after commencing the practice of medicine he came to
Cairo, in 1845, we believe, and
soon obtained a lucrative practice. At one time he was considered the
most learned and successful physician in
Southern Illinois. For many years he was associated in the practice
of his profession with the well-known Dr. Dunning of this city.
His success in life now seemed to be assured. He was
respected by all who knew him, and at one time contest with Col. Taylor
for the mayoralty of the city, being defeated by that gentleman by only a
few votes, a fact which shows his great popularity with his neighbors.
But unfortunately he became involved in a liaison with a married
lady of indifferent reputation and of easy virtue. His infatuation
carried him into all kinds of excesses, and he became loose in business and
morals. At last he again sought and obtained admittance to the bar for
the sole purpose of prosecuting a divorce suit for his paramour. He
was successful; and after living in an open state of adultery with her for a
considerable time, finally married her. This was the fatal step of his
life. His married life was unhappy and contributed more to his
downfall than all other causes combined. He became dissipated, and
finally sank to the very lowest depths of degradation. At one time he
owned the residence now occupied by Judge
Allen, drove the fastest horses in the city and was in comfortable
financial circumstances, but he dissipated all his property, became
helpless—a pauper—and a few months ago was sent to the poor house, his wife
having been sent, a short time before, to the insane asylum at Jacksonville.
Feeling his degradation, and knowing how helpless was his condition, he
sought death by suicide.
On last Friday morning, Pat Kelley, formerly of this city,
and a party of friends started on a deer hunt from a rendezvous about six
miles from Greenfield’s
Landing in Missouri, opposite this city. Some of the party was on
foot, and others were riding. Kelley was on a mule. After
the party had gone a short distance the mule became unruly and threw
Kelley who had his gun before him resting before the saddle. The
gun was flung violently against a fence, and was discharged, sixteen
buckshot of the load it contained entering the groin of one of the party
inflicting a fatal wound. The sufferer, whose name we could not learn,
lingered in great agony until Sunday when he died.
Said administrator would report, that no claims have ever been allowed against said estate, that said Albert H. Christian died leaving no known heir at law or legal representative; that the graves wherein repose the ashes of the dead Albert, and of his father Samuel L. Christian, who devised the same to said William, remain unprotected or unmarked by stone or monument, with nothing to perpetuate the memory or make the resting place of father and son, the last of all the Christians, who lived and died and left money for the coffers of the county, but not a cent to protect their own hallowed dust or proclaim to Christianity in a Christian land the spot where these Christians sleep, except by permission of this honorable court. Oh! Sad Estate! Oh! Human wretchedness! So weak is man, So ignorant and blind, that did not God Sometimes withhold in mercy what we ask We should be ruined by our own ‘bequest.’” Said administrator, in consideration of the premises, and in order that these three Christians may not, while funds that were theirs remain, sink into their graves “unknolled, uncoffined and unknown,” would respectfully ask of this honorable court that he be permitted, as a part of the burial expenses and expenses of administration, to invest the said sum of money now in his hands, in inclosing the said graves and erecting over them a suitable marble slab “sacred to the memory” of these men; that “What we have seen our sons shall see, Remnant of things that have passed away, Fragments of stones reared by creatures of clay.” And also to the grave of the said Samuel’s wife and daughter, and that this cause may be continued until said administration can make a final report of his action in this premises. But if this honorable court shall not in its wisdom grant what seems to be meet and proper to said administrator, viz: that the funds of the dead, when unclaimed by justice and uncalled for by the living, should be appropriated towards giving honorable sepulture to its owners, then, and in that case, said administrator respectfully asks that this be approved as his final report, and that he be discharged as such administrator upon his paying into the county treasury the said sum now in his hands, and filing with the clerk of this court his receipt therefore. “Yet I beseech you, Wrench once the law to your authority, To do a great right, do a little wrong.” and give the money to the dead and not to the state. Thomas Martain, Administrator of Albert H. Christian, deceased. Need we say that Judge Bross, who is as adamant to prosaic eloquence, melted before this poetical assault and graciously permitted the graves of the last of the Christians to be marked by marble slabs?
A Well Known Farmer Shot in Sight of His Own House—No Clue to the Murderer. We briefly noticed the assassination of Mr. John Murray, of Johnson County, in a late number of the Bulletin. The particulars of the foul affair are thus stated in the Massac Journal of the 22d.— In connection with the paragraph on murder, in another column, comes the startling intelligence of the assassination of John Murray the well known Metropolis and Vienna teamster, who lived a few miles beyond New Columbia in Johnson County. Mr. John Murray, on last Wednesday, had been over to Col. J. L. Wymore’s threshing wheat and was returning home in company with three other gentlemen. They were driving slowly along in their wagon, and had entered Mr. Murray’s own lane, within about two hundred yards of his residence, when one of the gentlemen in the wagon remarked to Mr. Murray, that “some one had left his fence down again.” “Yes,” replied Mr. Murray, but I’ll catch up with the d----d rascal yet.” While these words were yet trembling on his lips, a flash was seen from the fence corner, just alongside; a report instantly followed, and John Murray fell over in the wagon, a bleeding and mangled corpse, pierced in the head, neck, and breast, by some seven or eight buckshot. The mules attached to the wagon took a fright, dashed off one hundred or more yards, ere they could be checked, and from this cause not a glimpse was seen of the murderer. On returning to the spot, an ambuscade was discovered in the fence corner, formed by breaking persimmon and other boughs to serve as a screen for the murderer, whilst he accomplished the hellish purpose, in which he was only too successful. Thus perished a man well known in this community, a useful citizen and a thrifty farmer. His beautiful home on the Vienna Road is left desolate, and an invalid wife left to buffet alone the tide of events, which full oft overwhelm the most hardy of life’s voyagers.
No clue has yet been found to the murderer, but in the interest
of civilization as against barbarism, we trust that his damning crime will
find him out, wherever he may flee, and a guilty conscience fix the real of
its power upon him until it shall be written upon his countenance in
language too plain to doubt thou art the murderer.
Although the murder of Dr. Lindsay, at Bloomfield, Mo., occurred nearly two years ago, no accurate history of it has ever been published and probably would never have been, but for the vigilance of Sheriff Irvin and his deputies in finally capturing the murderer, who since its committal has resided in Pulaski County, Ills., where he has successfully defied and eluded the officers of justice. David Victor, the murderer, is the son of Dr. Victor lately of Pulaski County. The doctor is well known throughout southern Illinois, and is now, or was under indictment in this circuit court for the alleged poisoning of his wife. Dave, like his father and two brothers, is strictly temperate, never swears, and eschews all the vices common to weak humanity; but is described the those who knew him best, to be as dangerous villain “as ever scuttled ship or cut a throat.” While living during the spring of 1869, at Bloomfield, in Stoddard County, Mo., about one hundred miles west of Cairo, he says he got into a trifling difficulty with a Dr. Lindsay, about a dozen eggs. It was evening and both were unarmed. “I proposed to him,” said Victor, “to postpone the quarrel until eight o’clock next morning, and shoot it out. To this proposition he agreed. About six o’clock next morning I got up, armed myself and went out to meet him. Before I had walked a block I came up with him, and fired two shots at him, neither of which took effect. He begged me to stop firing and give him a show, reminding me of the agreement we had made. He asked me to just let him load his pistol and he would fight me any way I wished. I agreed and he stepped behind a tree to load his pistol. While there my brother, Abe, now dead, came up and said, ‘Go and kick or shoot that s-n-of-a-b---h out from behind that tree.’
“Then I went for him, and put four balls into him. I put
the last in behind his ear, and settled him. I then mounted my horse
and went over to Pulaski County, in
Illinois, where I have been ever since, and where I dared any one to arrest
me.” This is his story as told to Sheriff Irvin, while making
the trip with that officer from
Cairo to
Bloomfield,
on Tuesday and Wednesday last. On the 27th of March of this year, the
Governor of Missouri, issued a proclamation, offering a reward of three
hundred dollars for Victor’s arrest. A requisition for him was
sent to the Sheriff of Pulaski County, who refused to have anything to do
with the matter on the ground that he knew the Victors and didn’t
care about giving up the ghost to secure a Missouri murderer. The
requisition was then given to Sheriff Irvin, who, since that time,
has been persistent in his efforts to arrest him. He sent ex-sheriff
Meyers
once; John Hogan three times, and Morse several times, besides
going as often himself, but without success. Last week Deputy Sheriff
Morse went to Ullin at midnight, and concealed himself near Victor’s
house until daylight. While there, Victor emerged from the
house, shotgun in hand, and went to the stable for the purpose of feeding
his stock. Morse followed carelessly (?) and was not discovered
by
Victor until within a few yards of him. Victor instantly
pulled and cocked a Derringer, but the officer was too quick for him, and
ordered him to “throw up his hands or stand the consequences.” He
dropped the Derringer and surrendered himself, remarking that he was a
“little too slow” that time. He had in his pockets two Derringers, in
his boots two revolvers, and standing by his side a shotgun. He was
brought to Cairo, and escorted to Bloomfield, as before mentioned by Sheriff
Irvin and his deputy, Mr. Morse. On the route to
Bloomfield, Dr. Victor, the father of David, was met, disarmed and
forced to ride in the conveyance with the prisoner. Further along,
George, his brother, was also met, and the same tactics was applied to him.
The Sheriff handcuffed Dave, and then shackled him to himself. The
authorities at Bloomfield were gratified at his arrest, while many of the
people asserted that Victor would not have to wait for trial, so
intense was the feeling against him.
Tuesday, 8 Aug 1871: $25
Reward.—The I. O. O.
F. of this city offer $25 reward for the recovery of the body of Charles
Clyde, drowned on Sunday night, by the disaster to the steamer
Odd-Fellow. On Sunday
evening about nine o’clock, as the steamer Odd Fellow, with a barge in tow, was
returning from Greenleaf, where she had been to assist the A.
Baker that was aground there. She flanked down on a snag in making
the crossing from the
Illinois shore to Greenfield’s Ferry Landing and knocked a hole in her hull
and sunk in five minutes, and as she sunk capsized. All the crew
succeeded in saving themselves except Charles Clyde, the clerk, and
the chamber maid. The last that was seen of
Clyde,
he was trying to launch the skiff, and before he done so the boat capsized,
taking him with it. The chamber maid was just getting our of her room
where she had been after her clothes when the boat sunk, and as that is the
last that was seen of her it is supposed that she went down with the wreck. He said that if Lindsay were a doctor, the knowledge of the fact had never come to him before; that Lindsay was a large, red-faced bully, while his son, David, was a small man, unable to cope with his opponent physically; that Lindsay had a loaded pistol on his person when the fight took place, and fired it twice at Davie before Davie fired the fatal shot; that his son Abe was not present at the fight as stated, since the only son Abe he ever had was born about the time of President Lincoln’s assassination, and was named after the martyr, whom he soon followed to the grave; that Dave had been a Union soldier and Lindsay a rebel guerilla, and that Davie had to kill or be killed, since society was so constituted in that part of Missouri, the refusal to fight with pistols was regarded as cowardice and cowardice resulted in death or exile; that all Dave and indeed all the Victors wished was the right to live peaceable in the South as in the north, but that, being among men of the pistol and the knife, pistols and knives had to be used; that after the difficulty Dave fled to Pennsylvania, where he lived until last winter or fall when he returned as far as Ullin, Pulaski County, and started a saloon; that he has frequently been in Cairo with the intention of giving himself up for trial, and would have done so long ago if it had not happened that whenever he was here to surrender himself, Sheriff Irvin was not in the city; that he (Dr. Victor) was not disarmed on the journey to Bloomfield by Sheriff Irvin, or compelled by that gentleman to ride with him, but that he offered his pistol to Irvin who refused to accept it at the time, and that he rode with Irvin because that gentleman kindly permitted him to do so; that Dave, his son, was compelled to do what he did, or act like a coward, and he (the Doctor) would sooner see him stretch hemp than be pointed at as a coward; that he (the Doctor) believes Dave will get justice at Bloomfield where he is well known and where no unjust prejudice against him exists.
The portion of the article which seemed to give the doctor the
most pain, was that portion in which, he says, the impression was conveyed
that he and his boys were ferocious men not amenable to the laws and setting
every person at defiance. The doctor is mistaken. The article
does not say this either directly or by inference. It is simply a
statement of what Sheriff Irvin and his deputy Morse say are
facts. The information for the article was derived from them; but, of
course, he knows his and his boys’ respect for the law better than anybody
else, and his word ought to out balance the words of idle rumor or unjust
malice.
Yesterday afternoon at half past 5 o’clock, a difficulty occurred between Walter Bird, a fisherman, well known to many citizens of Cairo, and Daniel Henry, of Mound City. In the fight Bird stabbed Henry in twelve places, inflicting fatal wounds. After committing the deed, Bird left Mound City and came to Cairo. Information of the affray was sent to the police of this city, at half past nine o’clock last night, Officers Sheehan and Holmes arrested Bird at Lattner’s saloon, near the post office. He had in his possession the knife with which he had stabbed Henry. It has the appearance of a large butcher knife ground down. The blade is about eight inches in length, and when taken from Bird was covered with blood. Bird says he cut Henry in self-defense, but, by those who are supposed to know, it is said he did it without cause or provocation.
Henry’s
wounds are dangerous, and it was believed last night that he would not
survive till morning.
Much praise is due Officers Sheehan and Holmes for
their promptness and vigilance in making the arrest.
In Mt. Carmel, August 3d, Ella H. Brower, aged 11 years, 11 months, and 4 days. On the same day, Miss Maggie Shafer, aged 17 years, 2 months and 21 days. On Thursday, July 26th, at 11:45, at the residence of her father, J. M. Hershey, in Wabash County, Belle Friend, wife of M. B. Friend, Esq., editor of the Fairfield Democrat, aged 27 years, 8 months, and 14 days. On Friday, the 4th instant, in Saline County, at the residence of her husband in Douglas Precinct, Mrs. F. D. Ballard.
WHEREAS, In the providence of the Grand Master of the universe, our late brother, Abner H. Clyde, has fallen a victim of the blighting power of death, which overtook him suddenly and unexpectedly in the enjoyment of health, and in the days of his greatest usefulness to society, Resolved, By Alexander Lodge, No. 224, I. O. O.F., of Cairo, Ill., that, in the death of our late brother, Abner H. Clyde, this lodge has lost an exemplary brother, true to all those principles which teach man to be social and humane—that he is a constituent of one universal brotherhood, and that Friendship should prompt the contest of life, the gentle influences of love supply the weapons, and truth to consecrate the effort that leads to victory. In his death society has lost an ornament, since he was, in all respects, an honest man, the noblest work of God. To his friends he was a man firm, tried and true, in whose character the exalting power of honesty and integrity was shown in every relation of lie in which he was called to act a part. Resolved, That this lodge room be clothed in mourning and the brothers wear the appropriate badge for thirty days. Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the journal of the lodge and published in the papers of the city.
In July last—on the 14th—a letter dated at
Cairo was written to the
postmaster at Vandalia, which has awakened a memory of the tragic affair in
the minds of many of the citizens of Vandalia. The letter contained
the information that the writer knows who murdered Perry and that
“there was a woman who done as much as the man.” The letter says:
“I would like to tell you all, but I can’t until I am assured that I will
come clear. I am sure that my days are few at the furtherest, but you
all know that life is sweet under almost any circumstances; but I think I
have suffered enough in my mind and conscience to atone for all.”
A White Man Shot and Fatally Wounded by a Negro at Mound City John W. Mullin, a white man, and Alfred Williams, colored, dwell in adjoining tenements in Mound City. For some time past they have quarreled about the water in Mullin’s cistern, Williams claiming an equal right to it with Mullin. Finally Mullin forbade him the use of the cistern at all. On Saturday evening last both reached their homes under the influences of liquor. Mullin in his dying declaration states that he left his home, and was standing near the door of the third house in the tenement row, when Williams seized his shotgun and fired twice—the first charge grazing his breast and tearing away the nipple; the second entering and passing through his right lung. Williams asserts that Mullin picked up an axe and was approaching him when he fired. Mullin, in his declaration, denies this, and says he picked up the axe after he had been shot. The wound was fatal, and although Mr. Mullin was alive yesterday evening, it was known he could not survive beyond midnight. Williams immediately fled, pursued by Deputy Sheriff Hogan and others. It was believed that he started for Cairo, and Mr. Hogan, accordingly informed our officers of his belief. A careful watch was instituted by our officers, but no trace of him could be found. Yesterday a thorough search was made for him by the officials of Pulaski County and Mound City. He heard their threats while passing by the spot where he was secreted; and as soon as a safe opportunity presented itself, left his hiding place and hastened back to Mound City, where he delivered himself up, begging at the same time to be locked in and saved from those who were pursuing him. The greatest excitement prevailed in Mound City all day, and fears were entertained that the populace would appeal to Judge Lynch, and dispose of him and other negro murderers in the jail, in the most summary manner.
Mullen
was employed as a turner in Kerr’s factory; was married, and of about
middle age. Williams is an idle fellow, of bad repute, who
prefers stealing to working, and who long since fell under the ban of the
officers of the law.
Friday,
1 Sep 1871: DEAD IN
THE CALABOOSE.—Morris
Clifford, an employee of the Illinois Central Railroad, came to the
city on Saturday last and got on a glorious spree. He dissipated all
day and all night and on Sunday until about the middle of the afternoon,
when he laid down on the sidewalk in the sun. He was discovered by
Chief Myers, who loaded him on a dray and took him to the calaboose
where he was locked up. About half past 7 o’clock, a prisoner who was
in the cell with him noticed that he was dying and called Jailer McHale
who immediately opened the cell door and carried the unfortunate man out
into the yard and sent for the doctor. But the trouble was useless.
He died in 7 minutes after McHale was called. Yesterday he was
taken to Villa Ridge and buried.
WHEREAS, The merciful God in His Providence has called from among us our beloved brother, A. H. VanKueren, who died in the City of Cairo, September 2, 1871, therefore, be it Resolved, That in the death of brother VanKueren, this lodge has lost a worthy member, and feels deeply his loss; that we sympathize with his bereaved family and tender to them our heartfelt sympathy. Resolved, That as a mark of respect, the members of the lodge wear the usual lodge of mourning 30 days. Resolved, That these resolutions be published in the DuQuoin Tribune, DuQuoin Republican and Cairo Bulletin, and also a copy of them be sent to the widow.
Resolved,
That one page of the Lodge Record be inscribed sacred to his memory.
On last Tuesday, an old man named Beebe, while on his way to this city from Unity, was attacked, beaten, and robbed by parties who have not yet been identified. He was severely injured and, for a time, he was supposed to be mortally wounded, but is now better and may recover. When Beebe came to consciousness after the assault upon him, he said that he had been riding on a wagon load of shingles, drawn by two mules, with two men, one a young man, aged about 18 or 20, and the other aged about 35. The people, living along the road, had observed an old Italian with a small boy, pass along the road about ten minutes ahead of Beebe, and their suspicions fastened upon him. His footprints and those of the boy were traced to the scene of the assault and then were not seen again for three-quarters of a mile. It was argued by those who suspected the Italian, that he attacked and robbed Beebe, and then had left the road so mislead those who would find Beebe’s body. In reply to Beebe’s assertion that two men in charge of a wagon were the would-be assassin, it was said that Beebe “was not himself”—did not know what he was talking about. On Thursday, Chief of Police Myers met the old Italian on the Levee, and taking him into Walder’s store, questioned and searched him, but could elicit no information of a suspicious kind. He then required the Italian to accompany him into the presence of Beebe, who was able to recognize the chief, and was talking to a lady acquaintance of his. Myers asked him: “Do you know this man?” He replied that he did not. “Did you ever see him before?” “No.” “Is he the man who struck you?” “No; it was a younger man.” Myers, after further investigation came to the conclusion that he had no right to hold the Italian, and did not arrest him. Yesterday morning, Sheriff Irvin, believing that he had good grounds for his action, placed the Italian under arrest, and he is now in the county jail. Blood stains were found on his clothing and fractional currency in his purse, he told conflicting stories and his little boy admitted that his father had had a fight on the road. There are strong circumstances pointing to guilt; but Beebe, who is now in a fair way to recover, last night again asserted the wagon story, and said that after paying forty cents for his ride, he got down and was followed by the young man, who had a club in his hand. “With this club,” says Beebe, “the young man struck me. After the first blow, I told him I didn’t have any money, but he struck me again, and that is all I know about it.” The blood is explained away by a bleeding nose, and the lies by the fact that the Italian is a professional beggar, who could not be expected to tell the truth when a lie might keep him out of trouble. And so, the affair is still wrapped in mystery. Who can solve the riddle?
Tuesday, 19 Sep 1871:
The deceased was known to almost every man, woman and child in Alexander County. During the past fifteen years and until failing health compelled him to seek rest and quiet, he took and active part in public affairs, and held many important offices. He was county judge, coroner, justice of the peace, and a member of the city council. About two years ago his health began to fail, and in despite of medical skill he sank slowly but surely until at last death relieved him from suffering.
The remains of the deceased will be buried in
Villa Ridge Cemetery today.
A special train will leave the depot at
2 o’clock. The funeral services will take place at the Catholic
church at
1 o’clock, p.m.
The death of Mr. McKee took place at his residence in this city on last Sunday morning. The deceased was a man well known to the community of Cairo, and his death, notwithstanding that he has been in precarious health for months before the vent, shocked and saddened his many friends and acquaintances. He has been affected with a troublesome throat disease for the last two or three years of his life. It finally affected his lungs and caused his death. Mr. McKee was born in the city of Pittburg, Pa., about the year 1827, and at the time of death was about forty-four years of age. While in his minority, he entered the office of the Pittsburg Gazette, then under the management of Mr. Biddle, who was one of the prominent newspapermen in his day. Mr. McKee here learned the art of typesetting, but never followed it to any extent. Removing to the State of Tennessee, he located in Nashville. He there turned his attention to engineering, and made practical use of his knowledge by following the river in the capacity of steamboat engineer. Some ten or eleven years ago he began to report river news for various newspapers, since which time he has been exclusively engaged as river correspondent for Cincinnati, St. Louis and other papers. He was river editor of The Bulletin since its establishment. Mr. McKee was married three times. The body of his first wife lies in Nashville, Tennessee, that of his second, who was a niece of Mrs. Captain Williamson, of this city, is buried at Smithland, Kentucky. She left one child, a daughter, now a resident of this city. His last wife and three little children are left to mourn the loss of a devoted husband and most affectionate father. Fourteen years ago, Mr. McKee united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Smithland, Ky. In all the relations of life, as husband, father, friend, and citizen, he showed by the purity of a Christian life that the profession was no idle one with him.
His body was conveyed to Smithland, Ky., by boat yesterday
afternoon, where followed by the grief of aged parents, brothers and sisters
and the sorrowing wife, all that is mortal of John McKee will be laid
to rest. May he rest in peace. Yesterday at about two o’clock, a negro by the name of Willis Green, who lives on Twentieth, between Poplar Street and Washington Avenue, attempted to kill his mistress, a negro woman named Martha Stanly.
As near as we could learn, our information being derived entirely
from the negro neighbors of the parties to this terrible tragedy, the facts
in the case are as follows:
It appears that Willis Green and Martha Stanly were
never married, but have lived together for a long time. Recently,
however, Martha has become dissatisfied and has more than once within the
last few weeks expressed a determination to leave Willis—his bed and board.
He has always prevailed upon her to give up the idea of leaving and to
consent to live with him. Yesterday, however, she bundled up her
worldly effects and told him she had this time made up her mind and that no
amount of coaxing could induce her to stay another day. She was about
to leave the house, when, after trying to persuade her to stay with him, and
share his lot—for good or for evil—and she refused, Willis seized an axe,
and in less time than it takes to tell it, dealt her three terrible blows,
with the sharp edge, on the head, and one blow on each arm with the butt end
of the same weapon. Martha fell to the floor bleeding and insensible. Medical attention was immediately procured, and the wounds of the injured woman dressed. It was found upon examination that the ax had penetrated to the skull in every instance; but it was the opinion of the doctor that with careful nursing and close attention she would recover. Willis Green is a medium-sized man, a full-blooded African, of rather a bad countenance. The woman, Martha Stanly, is not very tall, of slender form, and as black as night.
(There is a Willis Green, born about 1845 in Kentucky
listed in the 1870 census of Cairo, but an adult woman is not listed in his
household.—Darrel Dexter)
(This is likely Catharine Whitcamp born about 1825 in
Prussia, the wife of
Henry Whitcamp. She is in the 1850, 1860 and 1870 censuses of
Cairo, Alexander Co., Ill.—Darrel Dexter) Judge David J. Baker, presiding; J. F. McCartney, prosecuting attorney; John Q. Harman, clerk; A. H. Irvin, sheriff. Trial of John McElvoy for the Murder of John W. Price—Proceedings Yesterday—The Evidence This case was called on Monday, and the time until Tuesday night spent in getting a jury, as follows: Robert Rheutan, Fred C. Fulton, S. S. Foster, Thomas Moran, Samuel Williamson, P. H. Conant, John Barton, John Brown, R. J. Johnson, W. P. Moore, J. S. Lee, H. S. Kinnear. The State’s Attorney, Mr. McCartney, assisted by D. T. Linegar, Esq., appears for the People; William J. Allen, Esq., for the defendant. The first witness called was Jefferson Miller, whose evidence did not amount to much. He was cross-examined by Judge Allen, as follows. Q.—Do you know what McElvoy had in his hand—did he have anything? A.—I don’t think he had, but he might have had. Q.—Do you know the size or weight of the glass? A.—It weighs ten or eleven ounces. Tom Brown weighed it; saw someone pick it up; I saw it weighed. Testimony of John Hodges—Witness for the People Q.—If you saw Mr. McElvoy having any trouble in your house, what was it? A.—McElvoy wanted to have a little fuss; I didn’t pay much attention; can’t describe any particular trouble. The day of the trouble I think was Saturday; had been trying to get them out of the house; when ready to leave, McElvoy came for a drink; he picked up the glass and left; didn’t state any reason; never touched the bottle; took the glass and went to where the crowd was congregated, some sixty or seventy feet from the house back near the stable; didn’t notice anything about him; the glass was brought to me on Sunday morning. Q.—Describe to the jury what kind of a glass it was. A.—It was a heavy bar glass, with a thick bottom; it wouldn’t hold much—it was most all bottom. Q.—What kind of a weight did he try to get? A.—He got an ounce weight; at the time he got the weight they were fussing around generally; don’t know what was said; don’t think any one was trying to have a fuss with him; it was a pretty general sort of a fuss all round; all were drinking. Cross Examined by Judge Allen: Didn’t see what was done with the glass outside the house; it was brought to me in the morning; saw the party go off in the evening; Thomas Brown had a key to my house; don’t know whether he opened the house that evening after I left, but it is my impression that he did not. Statement of John Clark—Witness for the People Knew defendant; knew John Price for fifteen years; his business was one kind and another; he was helping Mr. McElvoy and working for him; was in the town of Thebes at time of difficulty; did not hear him make any statement in particular about Mr. Price; heard him make a threat three or four weeks before; said “Wess Price was sticking his bill into his business and some of these times he would come up missing;” I tied up Price’s wound; he was bleeding freely; wound was bound up with a handkerchief; it was on his forehead, but he seemed to be bleeding freely from the nose; can’t tell what kind of wound it was; I went home with him; he said he felt very bad and wanted to get home to his family; I went with him to the wagon; he said he felt weak and I wet my handkerchief and put it on his forehead; it was near dark when we got home; it is between 2 and 3 miles from Thebes to where we took him; did not see him after that; don’t know that he received any injuries after the time he left the lower grocery till he got home; I would have known it if any injury had befallen him. Cross-examined by Judge Allen. Mr. Price did not go to the doctor’s the evening he received the wound; I did all the dressing there was done—I just tied up my wound; my best recollection is there was no one went with us but we three, John Price, Fridle, and myself; don’t think it more than three miles; did not have a fight with York or any other man; York overtook me and wanted to fight; he attacked me first, and McElvoy came up behind and knocked me down; I have nothing against him; had no difficulty with York; don’t recollect whether I saw Price and McElvoy together after McElvoy had threatened Price; I have been living in this county for 15 years; excepting the time I was in the war; after I passed the mill a young man overtook me, and said, “You struck me.” I told him I hadn’t a word of difficulty with a man that day; McElvoy stepped up behind me and struck me with something, don’t know what; there is a scar there now; nobody was with me; I was going from John Price’s; I left Price at home and had gone on; McElvoy lived close to me; the blow I received disabled me for four weeks; I was up to John Price’s next morning. Statement of James L. Harris—Witness for the People. I was passing along the road when Price got hurt; know McElvoy; heard him say, “I didn’t hit the man I aimed to, but I don’t give a damn who I hit;” don’t know who else was there; heard McElvoy say that; don’t know who he said it to; I knew Price. Cross-Examined by Judge Allen It was nearer the grocery than any other house; think the grocery was open; don’t know whether anyone was round; couldn’t tell who he was talking to; Fridle and Price were there; Price was setting on the wagon and was closer to him than I was; didn’t see him after he was hit; I walked on; Price was still setting on the wagon; that is my distinct recollection; Fridle was with him. Statement of Monroe Stone—Witness for the People. My business in 1870 was saw milling; had charge of the engines and sometimes had charge of sawing and measuring boards; knew John Price; went to Thebes with him and seven or eight others, among them John W. Price, Fridle, McElvoy, Henderson, and I don’t know the names of the balance of them; we went to Thebes in the afternoon, on the Unity Road; it was early spring time—in April; saw McElvoy and some others with him; they were playing cards at a table; watched them a few minutes; I left them there; went to the grocery; Price’s condition was sober; went to Pool’s grocery again; went in Olin’s grocery; McElvoy came in and asked the price of one of these knives, in showcase—heavy pocketknife, blade three or four inches long; Hinsman said it would do; nothing said to bring out such a remark; I was on my way then out of town; Price did not ride on the wagon I was on; last time saw Price was standing by wagon; did not see any of the difficulty that occurred in saloon; last time I saw Price was between five and six; next time was after candlelight at my door; saw no differences in him; only had his head tied up; some one called him away; he did not come in; his house is just across the street from mine; the next time I saw him was at twelve o’clock at night, a delirious man in bed; didn’t know his friends; said once, if it hadn’t been for Charlie McFall I wouldn’t have been killed; these were the last words he said; McFall forbid him riding in his wagon; don’t know any difficulty between Price and McFall; staid with him from about eleven Friday night till Tuesday morning following, at four o’clock, when he died; staid with him most of the time; his condition was delirious; didn’t talk any; I never examined the wound in his head till after he was dead; two physicians called; Dr. Lynch began to treat him with medicine; if he had his reason he never showed it after I first saw him Friday night; never bled any of any account; don’t think he bled any; did not know if there was anything the matter with him; a post mortem examination was held, Drs. Gibbs and Renfrow; inquest was held Tuesday night. Cross-examination by Judge Allen. I saw McElvoy playing cards, saw him buy a knife; had bought one from some person; got home few minutes before dark; lived three miles from Thebes; afterwards Price was at my door; about 80 cents; saw no difference in him that night, only that his head was tied up; seemed natural; a female person came and hastened him away from my house; only suppose it was his wife from the voice; didn’t see; was busy setting a broken arm; heard him say, oh, if it hadn’t been for Charlie McFall I wouldn’t have been killed; Price and McFall seemed to get along well enough; did not know of any difficulty between them till after Price’s death; twelve months after his death Mrs. Price and McFall went off together; saw Dr. Lynch there from Commerce; he is a son-in-law of McPheeter’s; he left medicine for Price to take; saw him there but once; saw Renfrau there Monday evening; deceased was hard to keep in bed; as not rational; he wasn’t in his sense any of the time; did not call McElvoy’s name in my presence; did not see McFall again that night; was standing by when the post mortem examination was made; saw the gash in his head; saw a hole in his head; an indentation in his forehead; don’t know whether the skull was broken or not; am no surgeon; knew of no difficulty between McFall and Price; knew of no intimacy between McFall and Mrs. Price till a year after the death of Price; at the time of the death of Price, McFall had a wife. At 5:30 court adjourned.
Friday,
29 Sep 1871: Judge David J. Baker, presiding; J. F. McCartney, prosecuting attorney; John Q. Harman, clerk; A. H. Irvin, sheriff. Trial of John McElvoy for the Murder of John W. Price—Proceedings Yesterday—The Evidence Martin Fridle—Witness for the People. My name is Martin Fridle; was present at the time of the difficulty at Thebes; my business was hauling lumber with two teams; I drove one and Charles McFall the other; can’t say positively whether the time of year was March or April; think the day of the difficulty was Saturday; first I saw of any trouble, one called the other up to get his money back; it was in a grocery store and saloon; they had been playing cards; this person (can’t remember his name) and Joe Kinsman; Joe Kinsman and whole crowd took a drink; Joe had won $15.00 and wanted to treat the crowd; some three or four drinks passed between them; John got pretty full and got pretty hot; directly the weights were missing from the counter, and were found in John’s pocket; we took them out; West Price was on my wagon; heard the glass crack, and Price said, “I am killed;” Joe Kinsman, Henry Henderson and one other man went home with me; Price with me in my wagon; he complained of feeling sort of sick; we drove on as fast as our mules would walk; the wagon got uncoupled and we all got off; Price said he was too sick to ride any more; Henderson and Kinsman led him, with one other man; I boarded at that time with West Price; when we got home helped put Price to bed and then unhitched the mules; all I heard him say was that he was very sick; no one with him after he got home; I staid there the biggest portion of the time till he died; my team went to Thebes twice for the doctor; he died Tuesday morning; no one injured him up to the time of his death; Dr. Renfrow was there; went for another doctor, he wouldn’t come; there were two doctors there at the time of his death. Cross-examination by Judge Allen. Haven’t talked with any of the witnesses or any one else but the attorney; said nothing about what the other witnesses said; John and I never had any quarrel; I never said anything but that I was able to pay for his coat; I did not hear any coat crack, but am able to pay for it; John had a knife in his hand; it looked like a dirk; this was twenty minutes before the glass was thrown; am sure he had the knife then; I had started home and Price was on the wagon. I was not looking at McElvoy when he threw the glass; my face was towards the east and my back towards the river; my team was moving when the glass was thrown. Price was the only one in the wagon; was about in the center; his face was towards the west; I saw McElvoy run; he ran south and jumped a ditch; the hit didn’t knock Price off the wagon. Joe Kinsman and Henderson were present; couldn’t say whether Miller was there—did not see him. He (Price) sat in the wagon; he said, “I am killed.” McElvoy did not come up; he had a six footer that did come up, and say he “wouldn’t have hit him for $1,000, and told Price to go to the drug store and he would pay for it; I didn’t keep count of the drinks I took; after I take a few, never keep count; my mind is clear when there is anything of importance going on; don’t recollect when there is anything to pay. I had a knife; never had a knife in my hand when I was quarrelling with John; the wagon was going when glass was thrown; drove about one hundred yards and tied mules at corner by Pool’s store; don’t know James L. Harris by name; might know him, but don’t know; Price never got off the wagon till I got him off; I drove the mules; had two mules; me Joe Kinsman, Henderson and another man—can’t recall his name—were all that was on my wagon; McFall’s wagon went first; didn’t see anything of his wagon; Jeff Miller wasn’t on my wagon; didn’t see him; Price didn’t ride all the way; he got off between Miller’s and Wilson’s place; had gone two and three quarter miles; he didn’t complain; heard him grunt; Kinsman had his arm broke; Clark wasn’t on the wagon; know him, he lives at Thebes; am sure John Clark was on the wagon; left Price at his own house; did not complain much—only grunted right smart; left him at his house about 7 o’clock; his wife was in the house; did not pay any attention to whether anyone else was in the house; I did not see the glass strike him; heard it crack; never saw the glass. Cross-Examined by State’s Attorney: Didn’t pay much attention to who was in the wagon or about it; the broken arm and this other affair took up my attention; don’t know who the tall six-footer was that spoke for John McElvoy; I had West Price around the waist taking him to drug store; never saw McElvoy after I saw him then; the doctor and druggist together tied up his head; the doctor was a red-headed fellow—Dr. Gibbs I think; head was tied up under the doctor’s superintendence; know the doctor when I see him. Calvin Adams—Witness for the People Lives in Alexander Co., near Thebes, Ill.; recollect something about a difficulty that occurred a year ago last spring in Thebes; was passing when I saw a glass thrown at Price; saw McElvoy come out of Hodges’ grocery; he walked up pretty close to the crowd and threw a glass; he said after the glass was thrown that it was thrown at Fridle; was sorry if he had killed Price; I knew Price; didn’t know Fridel; McElvoy got pretty close and threw the glass pretty hard; saw the glass and went and picked up the glass after they were gone; it was a bar glass with a thick bottom. Cross-Examined by Judge Allen Was raised in Alexander County, 4 ½ miles from Thebes; this is my first appearance in court; never saw a grand jury; this difficulty occurred on Saturday evening; saw the glass thrown; Price was standing near the wagon; don’t suppose he was over ten feet from McElvoy; didn’t know any of the crowd by Price; knew McElvoy; it was the second time I had seen him; saw a man they told me was Fridle; wagon was standing when the glass was thrown; after it was thrown heard McElvoy say he was sorry he hurt Price, and if he had hit Fridle he would be glad of it; believe Price was standing; all had been standing a few minutes; didn’t see him to go for the doctor; all went together before I started; I went down the street a piece and laid the glass down in the road. Cross-examined by attorney. McElvoy said if he had hit Fridle he would have been glad of it. That is the best of my recollection. Henry Henderson, Witness for the People My name is
Henry Henderson; am slightly acquainted with McElvoy; saw
McElvoy throw the glass; think it was at Fridle; threw in the
direction of Fridle, Price was on the wagon near the front end
and was in the same range with Fridle; the glass hit Price; it
hit him in the head; on the forehead between the eyes; the cut place was not
there before the glass was thrown; noticed in a short time; went for a
doctor and carried him home; several went home with him to McPheeters’
boarding house; don’t recollect whether I went to the house or note;
Price complained some, don’t recollect what the complaints were; only
said he felt too sick to ride; complained a little all the way; saw him
bleeding from the nose; his head was tied up. I went home with him; he walked part of the way; he was able to walk; did not give him any assistance; am not sure whether I went to the door; I saw him next day; did not see him any more till night; there was nothing unnaturally strange in his appearance; Price was sitting under wagon; McElvoy was some six feet back from the wagon; wagon was coupled to haul sixteen foot lumber; do not know that his face was towards McElvoy; Fridle was facing McElvoy; I was el___ by at the time McElvoy threw; Fridle was staggering around; wagon was standing still when glass was thrown; am sure of it; saw Price get off the wagon after he was hit; he got off alone; don’t know who started with him to the drug store; McElvoy started off, I think ahead of him, Fridle, Jeff Miller, Kinsman and Price rode together; think Mr. Clark rode some; don’t recollect whether Clark rode all the way or not. Dr. Gibbs—Witness for the People My name is Gibbs; my full name is A. M. Gibbs. Judge Allen objected to witness testifying, the name of witness not being inscribed on the indictment. The name on indictment was “Dock Gibbs.” Are you called Dock as often as anything else? I am sometimes called “Doctor,” sometimes Gibbs and at other times “Dock.” The state’s attorney objected to Judge Allen questioning the right of Dr. Gibbs as a witness. Judge Allen’s objection was overruled and witness examined. I am a physician; am a graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago; have practiced since 1868; know John W. Price, examined his wound; Dr. Renfrow was present. We made an examination together; had no instruments to make thorough examination; did not examine the brain; we merely examined the external portion of the skull, and the location of the wound between the eyes or forehead, the fracture appeared to have been produced by a blow from some blunt instrument; it is my belief that the blow caused his death; did not see any other cause for his death; did not attend to him during his sickness; can’t tell what day of week it was; I dressed his wounds on day he was hurt; the wound we dressed was the same one we inspected at the post mortem examination; wound was a flesh wound; the instrument must have come oblique direction and wounded the head towards the right; he was bleeding some. Cross-examined by Judge Allen: Have not had much experience in surgery; saw Mr. Price and dress his wound; he walked in my office; Fridle was with him; no one else; the cut was about an inch in length up and down; used the probe and found no fracture; washed the wound; after his death held post mortem examination with Dr. Renfraw; Price was a large man, about 45 years old I should think; didn’t appear to be a very stout man; had a slight acquaintance with him; the wound was clean fracture, about an inch in length. Here followed a discussion on the anatomy of the head, after which testimony for defense was heard. Mr. Perry—Witness for the Defendant Lives at Santa Fe, about three miles from Thebes; lived there since ‘65; knows where McPheeter’s mill is; am acquainted with John Clark; heard of the difficulty where Price got struck; was not in Thebes that day; saw the wagon driven by Fridle pass my house that evening; John Clark was not on the wagon when it passed my house. I saw Clark a few minutes afterwards; he was drunk. York was with him. Gray Haney—Witness for Defendant I live four miles east of Thebes; have lived there three years; was not present when Price got hurt; heard of it on Sunday morning; was somewhat acquainted with John Price; saw him at his home near McPheeter’s mill on Sunday morning; said he did not feel much pain, only in the nose; he appeared to be himself; it was about ten o’clock Sunday morning; Jacob Light and Mrs. Price were there; Price was in the bed when I first went in; he got up. Cross-Examined by State’s Attorney I went in alone and staid about ten minutes; Price said the glass was thrown at Fridle and hit him. At 11:45 court adjourned to meet at 1:30 p.m. AFTERNOON SESSION At 2 o’clock court was called, when Judge Allen rose and stated that the defense would here rest their case.
Most of the day, yesterday, was consumed in the argument of the
case of the People v. McElvoy. At about
5 o’clock the case was given to the jury, who returned a verdict of
manslaughter, and fixed the term of confinement in the penitentiary at three
years. A motion for a new trial was made.
(The Southern Illinois Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church was meeting in
Cairo at the time of the murder.—Darrel Dexter)
Charley Walker, the colored porter of the St. Charles
Hotel, and George Taylor another colored man who was the drayman of
the superintendent of the Illinois Central baggage room in this city, had
been quarrelling for several weeks. Yesterday evening both the men got
angry and finally exchanged blows.
Walker
was seen to strike rapidly four or five times with a knife, when
Taylor
stabbed and fell. It was then ascertained that he had been stabbed.
Dr.
Dunning was called in and pronounced the wounds, four stabs in the
breast and abdomen fatal. Within half an hour after the fight
Taylor
was a dead man.
Walker ran down
Fourth Street towards Washington Avenue and at 11 o’clock last night had not
been arrested. Coroner Gossman held an inquest and the jury
returned a verdict in accordance with the above facts.
In The Bulletin of yesterday morning we stated that the
remains of a dead man had been found at the end of the avenue some eight or
nine miles from Cairo.
The item was read by Mrs. William Pitcher who at once recognized in
the description given of the clothing and the articles found in the pockets
of the clothes, the property of a young man by the name of Thomas Kennedy.
Young Kennedy was at the time of his arrival in Cairo agent for a
firm of photographers in Cleveland, Ohio, but shortly after his arrival in
this city, from some cause unknown lost his situation. He remained
here from some time doing nothing and finally ran out of money, and became
much depressed in spirits. He tried hard to obtain employment but all
his efforts were unavailing. He at length became so much out of heart
at his unsuccessful attempt to obtain a situation that, we understand, he
asserted that he felt like going out and throwing himself into the river.
After remaining at Mr. P.’s for two or three weeks, he one morning
left the home, telling the family that he was going to Mound City to get
money to go to his home in Pennsylvania. From that time up to
yesterday nothing was heard of him, and it was supposed by his friends and
acquaintances that he had gone away, but would some time come back or write
to someone in this city. Within the past few weeks Mr. Pitcher
has received a number of letters from F. A. Kennedy, Carlilse,
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, inquiring the whereabouts of his son.
From the tone of Mr.
Kennedy’s letters we are led to believe that he is a man of considerable
means and has twice started his son in business, but the young man, being of
a roving disposition, would not continue long in any one place. The
father seems much distressed at the ignorance of his son’s whereabouts, and
asks in a very feeling manner for the assistance of his acquaintances in
this community in ferreting him out. Young Kennedy was a
brother-in-law of C. W. Dunn, at one time paymaster at Mound City.
It will be a sad blow for his parents to learn of the death of their son,
and especially the manner in which he is supposed to have died. Mr.
Pitcher will, this morning, go to the country and gather up the remains
of the body, which were left just as they were found by Mr. Tomerlin. Resolved, That we recognize the loss of Mr. English as a severe blow to our institute and to the educational interests of the country, and as the translation from us of much nobleness and promise, and, with his friends, we wish to express our sincere sympathy in their bereavement. Resolved, That in the untimely and painful close of the life of Miss Emmons our hearts can but be affected by the recollection of her great personal worth, the purity of her mind, and the singleness of purpose as well as by painful regret for her loss and suffering, and we desire to mourn with other friends who mourn for her.
Revolved,
That a copy of these resolutions be furnished to the friends of the
deceased, and the press of Cairo for publication.
The citizens of our town were inexpressibly shocked on Monday evening last, in learning that Dr. Graham was lying at the point of death, his situation superinduced by a large dose of morphine, which he had taken, as he himself stated, and as he informed his friends in a note that he left on his table—for the purpose of ending his life. He had gone to his office with his brother, Col. Graham, the latter passing into the house to tea; as the Doctor failed to come to the table, his brother went into the office between five and six o’clock, where he was horrified by finding him under the influence of morphine. A note he had written stated his purpose, and gave directions as to the disposition of his body, and an intimation that the death of his beloved wife, several years since, had left him nothing further to live for. Everything that medical skill could do, aided by the unflagging attentions of a circle of friends, was unavailing; he quietly expired about half past twelve o’clock the following day. What the immediate cause of the committal of the act may have been is a subject of conjecture; the predisposing reason was doubtless as he himself stated. Few men in our community would be more greatly missed. His genial disposition attached to him many warm friends, while his foibles were not of that character which aroused enmity.—Of these latter a morbid sensibility was the greatest, and through it his feelings were at times sorely wounded; and what shock they received, which caused his dreadful resolution to cease to bear the ills he knew, but rather dare the others that he knew not of, may never be known. And, surely, we cannot wholly blame the act of him who can never more define its provocations. Each heart must to some extent measure its own limit of suffering; and “what Coto did and Addison approved” may not always be utterly blamed. Dr. Graham located and commenced the practice of his profession here in 1869, we believe. When the war broke out he went into the service as a surgeon, and remained in it until the close of the rebellion, when he returned here and married his wife, who died several years ago. He was about forty years of age at his death. He has constantly enjoyed a lucrative and successful practice here, and took peculiar pride in his profession, particularly in the surgical branch of it. He had also a refined love for the beautiful. His office was adorned with rare plants and specimens of natural history, all arranged with the nicest taste and surrounded by these objects of his solicitous care he breathed his last. He was of generous disposition; a genial, entertaining companion; a true friend. His causal associates of Monday say nothing unusual in his demeanor, so well he kept enfolded the miseries of his bursting heart. Let us consign his memory to that charity which “thinketh no evil.” The following is the note referred to: Oct. 9th, 1871 As it is necessary that I explain the cause of my action, I will do so. I do not wish to live longer; I prefer to die. I die by my own hand. I do not wish any post mortem examination of my body after death. I know that I will be considered as insane but if I am insane I have been so since the death of my wife, as I have meditated this suicide ever since, but it has never completely taken possession of my mind until today. I desire my remains to be placed in a metallic case, and placed by the side of my dear wife. I would like a box large enough to contain both cases. As we were one in life, let us sleep together in death, and together come forth in the resurrection. I desire that the Rev. G. W. Hughey should come here and preach my funeral, as he understood me better than any one else. I do not think that my life has been in vain. I have prolonged human life and relived human suffering, and I have perfect confidence in a just God rewarding me in the future.
I have taken 30 grains of morphia.
Tuesday, 17 Oct 1871:
DIED.—At Greencastle, Ind., after a lingering illness of many
weeks, Miss Alice Hough, niece of Mr. J. B. Fulton, of this
city. Death, with his sickle keen, has reaped another lovely victim. Neither
skill of physicians, nor the strong love which triumphs over our every human
obstacle, could stay the hand of the dread destroyer.
The steamer Octavia arrived in port yesterday from St. Louis. Just above Commerce, Missouri, one of her cooks raised a disturbance and the captain ordered the first mate to put him on the bank. The mate and cook were standing on the forecastle, and as the boat was nearing the shore, he said that before he got off he wanted to go upstairs and kill the clerk. He started, but was stopped by the mate, when he drew a large sheath knife and began cutting the mate before he could defend himself, and would have cut him into mince, but the engineer run out and knocked him down. As it was, he succeeded in inflicting four deep cuts which are likely to prove fatal. The mate was brought to this port and his wounds were dressed by Dr. Dunning, who think he will die. His family resides in Indianapolis, and his wife was telegraphed to come down at once. The cook was put into jail at Commerce.
WHEREAS, An all-wise Providence has called from our midst Brother Henry Harris, Resolved, That, in the death of Brother Harris, our company has lost a worthy member—one who was always ready when danger called—his family a kind and indulgent husband and father, and our city a good citizen. Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the family of the deceased in their bereavement. Resolved, That the engine house hall be draped in mourning for thirty days, and the members of this company wear the usual badge of mourning for the same period.
Resolved,
That these resolutions be published in the city and a copy of the same be
sent to the family of our deceased brother.
The city was startled last night by the report that Robert Bribach, a well-known citizen, had been killed in a personal rencontre, in the saloon of the city brewery, with a stranger by the name of George Moser. The particulars of the tragedy were substantially as follows:
Moser
was in the saloon when Bribach entered and was talking to some person
about playing cards. After listening for a few moments, Bribach
got into the conversation and challenged Moser to play for a wager.
Moser accepted the challenge, but after he was seated said he would not
play for money but would let the result of the game decide which should buy
the beer for the company. Bribach took offense at this conduct,
and began to use toward Moser decidedly uncomplimentary language, and
would have struck him if the bystanders had not interfered. After the
excitement had cooled down, Bribach invited Moser to drink a
glass of beer with him, and the invitation was accepted. While the
company were standing at the bar Moser said to Bribach:
“You can say what you please to me, but it would not have been well with you
if you had struck me; you would have been a dead man.” This remark
seemed to frenzy
Bribach, who immediately threw off his coat and struck Moser
three or four times. “If you strike me again I will stab you,” cried
Moser. Bribach did strike again, and sprang toward Moser,
who made good his threat by stabbing his assailant under the left arm,
severing an artery. As Moser was in the act of striking another
blow with his knife, Mr. Swanitz caught him around the arms.
Bribach
sank down on the floor, and feebly said, “I am stabbed; help me.”
Moser
immediately left the saloon and went in search of Dr. Wadgymar, and
finding him said: “Come quick, doctor; I have stabbed a man at the
brewery.” And he returned to the scene of the tragedy with the doctor,
where he was arrested by constable Weldon, who lodged him in the
county jail. Dr. Wadgymar could do nothing for the unfortunate
Bribach, who died within an hour after he was wounded. The affray
occurred at 10 minutes before
9 o’clock. Coroner Gossman summoned a jury and held an
inquisition on the body. The verdict was, we are informed, in
accordance with the above facts.
All other fire companies attending the funeral in a body are
requested to be ready at their engine house at
1 o’clock p.m. sharp! By
order of the president, H. Schuh, Sec.
The mortal remains of Robert Bribach were followed to their last resting place yesterday by a large concourse of citizens, the Odd Fellows and the Rough and Ready, Hibernian and Arab Fire companies turning out in full force. The procession, which was one of the largest that was ever seen in Cairo, moved from the late residence to the deceased at twenty minutes to 2 o’clock, headed by the Silver Cornet Band playing a funeral dirge. It passed along Washington Avenue to Eighth Street, up Eighth to Commercial, down Commercial to Sixth, up Sixth to the levee, where the funeral train was in waiting. At the Villa Ridge cemetery, Rev. Mr. Heldbig briefly and eloquently addressed the numerous mourners in the German language and the Odd Fellows paid the usual tokens of respect to their deceased brother. After the return of the funeral cortege to the city, the Odd Fellows met in their hall and adopted the following resolutions: WHEREAS, In the providence of God, suddenly, the hand of death has been laid upon a brother of this order, severing the golden links of that chain which binds us together in fraternal affection and by its mysterious power in drawing mankind into one great family, in the circle of which shall be no violence and brother shall not lift hand in anger against brother. Resolved, That, in the death of Brother Robert Bribach, rudely robbed of life and sent without warning into eternity, we recognize a lesson of warning and exhortation, and an additional reason for cherishing and profiting by—carrying into all the paths of society—the principles of our beloved order, which constantly remind us that time is short and should be improved in good words—that youth in its harmlessness and comparative innocence and manhood with its wonted vigor and pride of strength are not more exempt than decrepit and tottering age from the fixed law of being which dedicates all that is mortal to death. Resolved, That we mourn our deceased brother as a man of kind heart, whose hand was always open to the demands of Charity, and who was true to the obligations of friendship.
Resolved,
That with his bereaved family—the disconsolate widow and helpless
orphans—robbed, and so cruelly robbed, of a husband and father, we mourn in
this hour of their distress, and will offer to them that consolation which
our order teaches us to extend to the wife of a brother when the widow’s
home is hers, with its loneliness and gloom—to gather about her and hers,
with strong hands and warm hearts, protecting and cherishing them for the
sake of him to whom they pledged friendship. Resolved, That a page of the journal of the lodge be set apart sacred to the memory of the deceased, that the lodge room be draped, and the brothers wear the usual badge of sorrow for thirty days. Resolved, That the secretary of this lodge be and is hereby instructed to furnish to the widow of the deceased a copy of these resolutions.
Resolved,
That the several newspapers of this city be requested to publish these
resolutions, and that the secretary be instructed to furnish to each a copy
of them for publication. WHEREAS, Our brother member Robert Bribach, has, by a mysterious dispensation of Providence, been taken from our midst, and whereas it is meet and proper that we, his fellow members, lamenting his untimely taking off, should give expression to our sorrow and respect for his memory, be it therefore Resolved, by the Rough and Ready Fire Company, that in the death of Robert Bribach, this company has been deprived of one of its most efficient and public spirited members, who in the discharge of his duty hesitated at no danger and was deterred by no regard for his person comfort or convenience; that society has lost a member whose hand was “open as the duty,” always ready and ever willing to aid the needful—a man who was steadfast in his devotion to the obligations of friendship, truthful and upright. Resolved, That our heartfelt sympathies are hereby extended to the widow and orphans, and our hope expressed that He who watches over the fall of the sparrow may be their stay and comfort in this hour of deep sorrow and distress. Resolved, That the members of the company wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.
Resolved,
That the secretary of this company be instructed to furnish a copy of these
resolutions to the widow of the deceased, and also copies to the city papers
for publication, and that they be spread at length upon the journal of the
company.
John Haudly, deck sweeper on the Tom Jasper was
drowned while in the act of drawing a bucket of water. Moser, the slayer of the late Robert Bribach, had a preliminary examination yesterday before Esquires Bross and McHale. The examination took place in the room of the county court, which was well filled with spectators. D. T. Linegar, Esq., appeared for the accused. At about half past two o’clock the prisoner was brought into the room. He is heavy set, about five feet ten inches in height, full whiskers, blue eyes, a German cast of features, and anything but a dangerous looking man. During the examination he was visibly affected, and when the justices announced their determination to hold him over he shed tears. We heard him say, in an undertone to his lawyer, that he would rather be in Bribach’s coffin than in his own unfortunate position. Stephen Swanitz testified—Was in our saloon between 8 and 9. Bribach was in with us, and drank several glasses of beer. Then this man came in and took a glass of beer. The bar keeper proposed to play a game of sixty-six. Bribach said he would play the prisoner for $10. Prisoner agreed; but then said he would not—that he would play for the beer. Bribach would not do that, and began talking to him about the old country. Bribach asked him where he was from. Prisoner said he was from Baden. Bribach said he was a liar, that he must be from Saxony, and doubled up his fist to strike prisoner. Pruess caught Bribach and told him not to strike, that prisoner didn’t want to have any difficulty. Bribach then treated the crowd and prisoner. While prisoner was drinking, Swanitz introduced him to Bribach, saying he is a butcher and saloon keeper. Prisoner said in conversation that, now they were acquainted, Bribach might say what he pleased to him and he wouldn’t mind; but he added that he was glad Bribach had not struck, because if “you had jumped on me the way you intended you might have been a dead man.” Bribach threw off his coat and hat and struck prisoner with his hand right and left and then caught him and was trying to press him down. They got twisted around and prisoner shoved Bribach towards the corner, when witness caught prisoner around the arms. Saw blood then. First witness knew of the stabbing. Bribach staggered, and witness helped him to sit down; then got a cot and laid him in the hall. He died in about half an hour or so after he was stabbed. John Preuss testified—Was in the city brewery in Cairo night of the killing. Bribach came in and called the crowd up to drink. Prisoner came in afterwards, and spoke; passed his snuff box around; some took snuff. Prisoner then sat down at table on which cards were; asked some one to play with him; Bribach said he would for $10; prisoner did not say much; seemed to think Bribach bantering; said he would play for the beer. Bribach talked to him; told him he was a d----d liar; made a fist at him; witness told him he must not do so; that he (Bribach) had insulted the prisoner first. Bribach said they were all friends; asked all up to drink; asked prisoner; asked him three times. Prisoner accepted the invitation. While drinking Bribach and prisoner began talking about the old country. Bribach asked him about distances between places. Prisoner answered. Bribach told him he was a d----d liar. Prisoner told him if he knew so well himself he should not have asked the questions. Then they got to be friends again. Swanitz introduced the two. Bribach invited the prisoner to come to his house; prisoner said he would; that, now he knew Bribach, he would take almost anything from him—that he saw he liked a good deal of fun; but that if he (Bribach) had rushed on him before he might have been a dead man. This seemed to anger Bribach. He threw off his hat and coat, struck prisoner three or four times; caught him and was trying to crush him down. Saw prisoner put his hand in his pocket; prisoner though he might be drawing a pistol and got out the back door, but came in again; saw prisoner hold up his hand and heard him say several times: “Don’t strike me again or I’ll stick you.” Saw Swanitz catch him.
Henry Walbaum testified that he went into the brewery on
night of tragedy, and saw a party playing cards; they got up; the barkeeper
didn’t have time to play; asked Swanitz to play. Bribach
said he would play for ten dollars; prisoner said alright; Bribach
said “put up your money;” prisoner said he had not seen his money yet.
Bribach threw a roll of bills out on the table; prisoner said he could
not tell whether the money was ten dollars or not. The barkeeper told
them there could be no playing for money. The prisoner proposed to
play for the beer. Bribach said he didn’t have time and he
would rather treat the crowd. Prisoner said something I didn’t
understand; it seemed to arouse
Bribach and he wanted him to take it back, and shook his fist.
Preuss interfered. Bribach treated, and they got into
conversation about the old country. Bribach asked where he was
from; prisoner said
Baden.
Bribach asked the distance; prisoner answered; Bribach said he
was a liar. Preuss again interfered. They drank again,
and the prisoner said he might say anything he pleased to him. Don’t
know whether
Bribach was drunk or sober; can not say he was drunk, but he had been
drinking and was talkative and merry. George Weldon testified—Was sitting in at Gates’. A young man ran down street after an officer. Asked him what was the matter. Said a man was hurt at the brewery; went up to the brewery; met prisoner coming out of Schonemeyer’s and told him he was my prisoner. He asked what for. I told him for hurting a man at the brewery. He said all right. Wanted Bribach to identify him. Said: “No use; I did it, and here is the knife.” Mr. Linegar addressed the court at considerable length, arguing that the prisoner had acted in self defense. The court held the prisoner in the sum of $2,000 to answer at the next term of the circuit court.
The funeral services of Lily, daughter of William P. and Eliza W.
Halliday, will be performed at the Church of the Redeemer at
two o’clock today. At the
conclusion, the remains will be conveyed to the family residence in the
grounds of which they will be interred.
The funeral of Lily E. Halliday, on Sunday last, was well
attended. The remains were conveyed to the Church of the Redeemer,
where the funeral services according to that church were performed.
The coffin was opened at the church, and all who wished were permitted to
take a last look at the corpse. The address of Rector Coan was
appropriate and well timed, and will be long remembered by those who heard
it. After the services at the church, the remains were conveyed back
to the residence of the bereaved parents, near which they were interred.
On Thursday night, the jury in the case of the negro charged with
the murder of a citizen of Mound City, which has been in trial nearly a week
in the circuit court of Pulaski County, returned a verdict of murder in the
first degree.
Every person in
Cairo knows John Corcoran,
now a citizen of Friar’s Point, Mississippi. He was born in this city,
and is the son of the late Judge Corcoran. Some years ago, he
started out into the world in search of a fortune and settled at Friar’s
Point, where he soon ingratiated himself with the negro population and
became a prominent and very active radical politician. He became an
office-seeker, and at the Radical convention held in Coahoma County, just
previous to the late election in Mississippi, he and a Major Thomas
Meaney were both candidates for the office of sheriff. Both
gentlemen ran well, and it was found necessary to take up a third man, Mr.
Fred Alcorn, who received the nomination. Mr. Corcoran
then offered his name for the legislature, and, receiving the nomination,
was elected to that body. This action engendered ill feeling between
Corcoran and Major Meaney, the latter asserting that a compromise
had been effected between Corcoran
and Alcorn by which the former had been elected.
Saturday, 2 Dec 1871: On Sunday last, a 4 o’clock p.m., Mrs. Wilson, wife of ex-Mayor Thomas Wilson, died at her residence in this city after a long and very painful illness. The deceased was a lady possessed of an original and well-cultivated mind, and had for many years been a resident of Cairo. She will be mourned by a host of warm personal friends. She was, we believe, a cousin of Hon. S. S. Marshall. Her remains were yesterday taken to Shawneetown for interment.
(Thomas Wilson married Sarah Marshall on
18 Dec 1850, in Gallatin Co.,
Ill. She was the daughter of Samuel Marshall, of
Shawneetown—Darrel Dexter). On Saturday night at 12 o’clock Thomas D. Brennan, formerly yard master at Columbus, Ky., of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, and lately of Bismarck, Missouri, arrived in Cairo, on the steamer Illinois. He registered his name at the Southern Hotel and retired to bed. At about 3 o’clock he appeared in the office of the hotel and informed the clerk that he was not well and could not sleep. He then walked out of the house towards the river. When next seen he was lying on the sidewalk in front of Sackberger’s hotel. After lying there a few moments he got up and walked to Phillips’ restaurant, two doors north of Sackberger’s and fell into the door. To those who tried to compel him to get up and go away from the restaurant, he said, “I am sick; help me up.” He was raised and placed on a chair, but he fell again to the floor and died in a few minutes. On the person of the deceased was found $2.15 in money, a memorandum book, and several private letters.
Coroner Gossman, as soon as he was informed of the death
of Brennan, summoned a jury. The verdict was, “Death from causes
unknown.” At a meeting of the St. Patrick’s Benevolent society, held Sunday afternoon, December 3, 1871, the following resolutions on the death of Lawrence C. Burke were unanimously adopted: WHEREAS, It has pleased an all wise and omnipotent God to deprive us by death of our esteemed brother, Lawrence C. Burke, who was dear to every member of this city, not only as a member but as a model Christian, a real gentleman, a true friend; therefore be it Resolved, That while we lived in profound submission to the will of our Divine Redeemer, we cannot but express feelings of regret and sorrow at being thus early deprived of so dear a friend and promising young member. And be it further Resolved, That in the death of L. C. Burke, this society has lost a faithful member and society and amiable and Christian young man, and be it further Resolved, That we sincerely condole with his bereaved brother and sister in the affliction that it has pleased the ordainer of all things to visit upon them and tender them our heart felt sympathy in this, their sad bereavement.
Resolved,
That a copy of these resolutions be given to his bereaved brother and sister
in the name of the society, and that they be published in the
Cairo
papers.
Hon. John Bigler, ex-governor of the state of California, died in Sacramento on Thursday. He was 67 years of age. John Bigler, was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on the 8th of January, 1804, and was the oldest of twelve children, ten of whom were living some few years since. The father died in the fall of the year 1818, leaving his widow and twelve children, most of the children too young to be of material assistance to the older brothers, John and William, afterward governors of two great states—Pennsylvania and California. In the year 1821, John bound himself, with the consent of his brother, as apprentice to the printing business, closing his apprenticeship in the city of Pittsburgh, where he afterward became editor of the Daily Morning Post.
While engaged in editing he prosecuted his law studies, and was
admitted to the bar in the summer of 1864 (1846?). In the fall of that
year he removed to Brown
County, Ill., where he established a Democratic paper, and was soon elected
commissioner in chancery. In the spring of 1849, after well
authenticated statements had been received of the discovery of gold,
Governor Bigler
determined to remove with his family to
California.
He left his home in Illinois
in the month of April, 1849, crossed the Mississippi River at Warsaw, and
reached ST. Joseph, on the Missouri River, about the 1st of May.
On the 9th of May he passed the Missouri River, driving four yoke
of oxen, on his way for the land of gold. Governor Bigler’s career may be summed up thus: He closed his apprenticeship as a “printer boy” in 1827, edited a paper in Pennsylvania in 1828, ‘29, ‘31 and ‘32; was a resident of Illinois from 1846 to 1849; moved to California with his family in 1849, driving his own “ox team;” was twice a member and twice the Speaker of the California General Assembly, and was twice elected Governor of California and nominated for re-election the third term. Governor Bigler has enjoyed an easy and comparatively calm course of life during a number of years past.
Tuesday, 12 Dec 1871: OBITUARY John Creshaw (From the Shawneetown Mercury.)
Mr. John Creshaw, one of the pioneer settlers of the
county, is dead. He died at his residence on the evening of the 4th inst.,
after many months of suffering. He was aged seventy-five years. At one time
in his life he was a prominent Democratic politician, and wielded a greater
influence in the legislative halls of the State than any other many from
Southern Illinois. He was a man of great energy, and up to within a few
months of his death, there was still remaining much of the vitality and
power that enabled him in his younger days to overcome difficulties and to
amass a great fortune. He was a good citizen, generous to a fault. He leaves
an aged widow and a large number of children, grand and great-grandchildren,
to mourn his death. His demise leaves a few more names upon the roll of
oldest settlers. For the truthfulness of the statement below made we can vouch. The subject of this sad affair was a young man—a graduate of one of the famous Connecticut colleges, highly educated and possessed of all the accomplishments of a thorough gentleman. In giving the story to our readers we shall exclude names, as the occurrence has already caused the friends of the unfortunate man a world of sorrow. Some months ago, just how many it does not matter, there appeared in St. Louis a young man, who after a short sojourn in that city, secured employment in a certain life association. He worked faithfully, and soon won the good opinion of his employers, and was considered an excellent man for the position he filled. He was addicted to strong drink, however, and every now and then would go off on a spree. Notwithstanding his dissipated habits, he managed to accumulate a small amount of money, and wishing to free himself of an appetite for strong drink, of his own free will and accord entered a certain asylum for the cure of inebriates. In this institution he remained six months. At the expiration of that time, believing himself thoroughly cured, he went to his home in the far east. He told his parents of his experiences in the west, what he had gone through, and that he would never drink any more. The fatted calf was killed, and there was rejoicing in the household, for the prodigal son had returned and would sin no more. An uncle of the young man—a gentleman who is known, at least by reputation, to almost every citizen of Cairo—was informed of the reformation of his nephew. The uncle being heavy stockholder in a silver mine near the city of Mexico, secured his nephew the appointment of superintendent of the mine. The father set about getting his son ready to enter this new field of duty. He purchased for him everything that he believed would add to his comfort and happiness. The day for the departure came, and with it the father presented his beloved boy with something over three hundred dollars in money. The young man wished to see his uncle before leaving for Mexico, and determined to come by way of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago railway, en route to a certain southern city where that gentleman resides. At Crestline, Ohio, while en route west, he met a friend who induced him to remain over for the next train. This was the fatal step While at Crestline, in company with his friend, he was persuaded to take a drink of liquor. He became drunk, and remained in that condition until he reached St. Louis, to which city his Crestline friend accompanied him. At St. Louis, he fell into the hands of the police and was locked up in the station house. When he came to his right senses he found that he had, by some means, lost all his money except twelve dollars. The next heard of him was in this city. One night about three months ago, he was picked up on the levee, drunk and unable to tell who he was. The officer who made the arrest took him to the calaboose and locked him up. The next morning, he was taken before Squire Shannessy, who after listening to the unfortunate man’s story, and learning who he was, discharged him. He left the court. In the evening of the same day a watchman on one of the wharfboats at the landing noticed a strange man sitting on the edge of the boat with his feet handing down towards the water, and that he was nervous and trembling. His conduct attracted the watchman’s attention, who kept an eye on him. Presently he was noticed to take from his pocket a book, which at first was supposed to be a pocketbook. The watchman walked by him and in so doing observed that the book contained printed matter and was a treatise on civil engineering. The stranger inquired how long it would be before the steamer Illinois would arrive. He was told that it would be several hours before her arrival. He remarked that he had been on an awful spree, and wished to get to his friends, adding that he believed his relations would not like to see him in the condition he was there in. As the time was so long before the boat was due, he believed he would walk up town, but would be back presently. Before leaving, the watchman asked him to let him (the watchman) have the book until his return, to which he consented. But the poor fellow never came back. In looking over the book, by the writing on the fly leaf, it was found to be a present from father to the son. As the man never came back, the watchman made inquiries concerning him and ascertained the following facts: He had come up town, got to drinking and got drunk; he was taken in charge by the police and lodged in the calaboose. The next morning he was again taken before ‘Squire Shannessy, who sent him back to the city jail. In the meantime jailor McHale went to St. Louis and did not return until the day following, when he found the man in one of the cells in an almost helpless condition. He reported the case to the authorities, and the sick man was removed to the Sisters’ hospital. Here he lingered for several days and died. He was placed in a rough box, conveyed to the “Potter’s field,” and there buried, with no mark to tell who he was or from whence he came. On learning these facts, the watchman telegraphed them to the father of the dead man, and in return received a telegram requesting him to have the remains of his son exhumed and properly cared for and sent on to his friends in the east.
About the same time a telegram was received by one of our most
prominent citizens from the uncle of the young man, asking him to give the
matter his attention, and see that the remains were properly coffined and
forwarded to his father. He did as requested, and one day not many
weeks since the 2:45 train on the Illinois Central bore away all that
remained of one, who, had he made good use of the life and learning that had
been given him, might have reached a high and honorable station among his
fellow men.
We are informed that on Saturday night last, about
two o’clock, fifty or sixty
mounted men, completely disguised, entered the quiet town of Mayfield, and
“sashayed” around the place about an hour. They were asked by some of the
citizens what they wanted but given no definite reply. Some supposed that
their object was the release of Ryan, who is sentenced to be hung by
the 26th proximo, and others believe that they intended to lynch McNatt,
who is confined in the Mayfield jail for murder. They created consternation
among the villagers and went away without committing any depredations. Desperate Struggle between a Detective and His Prisoner on Board the Steamer Illinois—The Latter Thrown Overboard.
It will
be remembered by our readers that a short time since two of the Humboldt
express robbers, J. H. Clark and William Baxter, while being
transported across the country from Cape Girardeau to Humboldt, escaped from
the officers who had them in charge, and that they were subsequently
re-arrested near Allenville, Missouri. Yesterday morning, Detective
Pinkerton, of the Pinkerton detective force of Chicago, arrived
in this city in charge of the prisoners, and took passage on the steamer
Illinois for Columbus, en route to Humboldt. Shortly after the
boat left the landing and while yet in sight of
Cairo, William Baxter, one of the prisoners, requested
Detective Pinkerton to accompany him to the water closet.
Pinkerton complied with the wish of his prisoner, and while they were
walking side by side toward the rear of the boat, Baxter by some
means got hold of Pinkerton’s revolver, and in less time than it
takes to tell it, fired at him. Pinkerton grappled with him,
and in the desperate struggle that ensued, Baxter was thrown
overboard. The boat was stopped at once, but no trace of Baxter
could be found. When thrown overboard, Baxter had on handcuffs
and manacles.
One of the most terrible affrays that ever occurred in West Tennessee took place at Union City, during Monday night. The circumstances at detailed to us are about these: On the evening in question, (Monday) the watchman at the depot at Union City saw a man by the name of Tolly, trying to get into a freight car standing on the track of that city. The watchman asked Tolly what he wanted and was answered that it was “none of his d—n business.” The watchman endeavored to drive him away, but Tolly drew a revolver and fired at him, the ball taking effect in the shoulder. The report of the pistol attracted the attention of a policeman named Kline, who at once came to the assistance of the watchman. As soon as Tolly saw Kline, he commenced shooting at him, the first shot taking effect in his left breast near the heart. Kline turned and walked back to the hotel, and before he could finish telling those in the house of the affair sank on the floor and died. A crowd gathered and Tolly was taken in charge, and placed in one of the rooms of the hotel. Detective Pinkerton, who passed through Cairo on Monday with one of the Union City express robbers, the man Levi Farrington, had just a few minutes before arrived in that town, and with his prisoner was stopping at the hotel. Tolly was put in the same room with Farrington. The news of the shooting of Kline and the watchman spread through the city, and created great excitement. A mob gathered and declared their intention to put Tolly beyond the power of ever doing any more mischief in this world. They went to the hotel and to the room where the two men were confined. Farrington, who was lying on the bed, heavily ironed with handcuffs and shackles, was mistaken for Tolly. He was set upon and shot to death in his bed, while Tolly, up to this time had not been touched. When it was found out by the mob that they had killed the wrong man, the excitement grew more intense and the whole town seemed to be frenzied. It was determined that Tolly should pay the penalty, and a rush was made for the room in which he was confined. He was taken from the hotel and a short distance from town, where he was hung to the limb of a tree. Thus ended one of the most terrible tragedies it has ever been our lot to record. The above are the details of the fearful affray as told to us by a gentleman who saw and conversed, yesterday, with an eye witness of the whole transaction.
Last evening an altercation occurred at Wheeler’s school house, a mile north of Oakley, this county, where religious services were being held, between Benjamin Mussleman, of the Garver settlement, and a young man named Henry Forrest, which resulted in the latter dealing the former three strokes with a dirk knife, which produced death a few minutes afterwards. It seems that the parties had a few words before the religious services began, and they both entered the building and after services were over, in passing out of the house, in the crowd Forrest insultingly and tauntingly looked Mussleman in the face, when the latter told him that he did not want anything to do with him. As soon as the parties got out of doors, a young man named Walton, a comrade of Forrest, who lived with his father on Forrest’s mother’s farm, handed Forrest a dirk knife, when he struck at Mussleman with the knife. The latter threw up his arm, and received a severe cut on his right wrist, when the knife glanced off and struck him in the temple. Forrest followed the blow up in rapid succession until he had dealt Mussleman two stabs in the side, when the latter sunk down against the house supporting his head with one hand and remarked, “They have dealt foully with me—they have killed me,” and died a few minutes afterwards. Mussleman, the murdered man, was about 25 years old and married. Forrest is about 19 and Walton 20. The former is thought to have been under the influence of liquor when he committed the terrible deed.
A revolver and a pair of brass knuckles were found on Forrest,
and a revolver and a knife, that did the execution, on Walton.
They were both brought down in town and lodged in jail, the Marshal taking
charge of their horses. The body of a dead man was found a few days ago in the woods in Kentucky opposite Cairo. It is supposed he wither committed suicide or was killed by accidental discharge of his gun. He lays, or died on Tuesday, about four hundred yards back of Mr. Cox’s residence.
The shot that inflicted the fatal wound is described as having
entered under the chin, coming out at the top of the head—tearing away
nearly all of upper part of the skull. The body has the appearance of having
been dead for five or six days. All the description we could get is that he
was a medium-sized man, heavy set, full face with chin whiskers. He appears
to have been a stranger, as the parties who found him are well acquainted
with nearly all the citizens of this section, but do not remember of ever
having seen him before. On Wednesday night, Lizzie Walbridge, a noted courtesan of this city, died a horrible death, and under circumstances that are truly sickening. Lizzie Walbridge has lived in Cairo between three and four years. For the greater part of that time, she was, in common parlance, “a girl” in one or the other of the houses of ill-repute of the city. More recently, however, she has lived alone, moving from house to house until a short time since when she rented one of the huts on the south side of Sixth Street, between Washington and Commercial avenues. Here she has lived alone, receiving but few callers, and they were of a class little to be courted, even by a woman of her character. She was an ardent lover of strong drink, and to that, as much as anything else, her death may be attributed. About three weeks ago she took sick, and from that time until she died was confined to her bed. A well known physician of the city was summoned to prescribe for her, which he did. But it was evident that her case was a bad one, and beyond the reach of human aid. During her sickness, although warned time and again that she must not drink so much whisky, she was continually under its influence. Two days before her death her physicians forbid anyone to give her any more liquor; which injunction so far as is known was obeyed. On Wednesday night, however, it became evident that she must die. There was no one about her at the time save an old Negro woman who acted as waiter for her. Hour by hour she grew worse, and at about midnight, with no one near save the old Negro waiter, she breathed her last. And now comes the worst feature of this sickening tale. All that night, and until nearly night of the next day, the dead body of this miserable creature was allowed to lay in the bed, just as she had died. But there was design in keeping the fact that she was dead from the people of the neighborhood. Someone, we do not know who, entered the house and before the wretched woman’s corpse was cold, stole the covering off the bed, and even the pillows from under her head. Her trunk, containing some good clothing, was carried from the house, and even the tongs and fire shovel were stolen and carried off. Towards night on Thursday word came to several of Miss Walbridge’s friends that she was dead, and they lost no time in going to her house to ascertain the truth of the report. On entering the house, no light or sign of life was to be seen, everything was dark and still. A light was procured and brought into the room, when a sight presented itself that would make the stoutest heart tremble. On the bed in one corner of the room lay the dead body of Lizzie Walbridge just as she had died, with nothing save a single white sheet left to cover the corpse. A woman whose name we cannot learn, was found sitting on a chair near the door in a beastly state of drunkenness, with one arm handing down toward the floor, her tongue lolling out, and, altogether, presenting a most wretched sight. She was bundled up and sent away from the house. Two of the women friends of the deceased resolved themselves into a committee to collect money to defray the expenses of burying the body, and yesterday noon, had succeeded in collecting enough to pay for the coffin and shroud. The funeral will probably take place today.
Lizzie Walbridge was about 32 years of age, and is said to
be of a highly respected family. She was once the wife of a man who is
a clerk in a large wholesale house in
Chicago.
Mr. Pinkerton’s Narrative of the Tragic Events on the Steamboat. (From the Memphis Avalanche.) Yesterday afternoon an Avalanche representative had a conversation with W. A. Pinkerton in reference to the escape of Hilliard Farrington from him, mention of which has been made in the Avalanche. Pinkerton’s Story Mr. Pinkerton says that after leaving St. Louis with Barton and Farrington, he noticed that the latter was working continuously at his handcuffs. Farrington had nothing to say, and lay with his head against a window, as if in deep thought. Just before arriving at Cairo, Mr. Pinkerton fastened up Farrington’s cuffs so tight as to hurt him somewhat. Farrington told him that they hurt, and Mr. Pinkerton said, “I can’t help it if they do. I am going to Take No Chances on your getting away from me.” When about half way to Columbus on the boat, Farrington, who still had on his handcuffs and feet shackles, said that he wanted to talk with Mr. Pinkerton about the matter. They went out on the guards together and were standing near the barroom door. After talking for some time, Farrington said, “So you are going to trouble my mother, are you, after arresting both of us boys?” meaning himself and Levi. Pinkerton replied: “Yes, I am, if she don’t give up that money.” “You are, are you,” responded Farrington, and with a sudden movement he thrust both hands, manacled, into Mr. Pinkerton’s right hand overcoat pocket and Grasped a Pistol, which he drew out. With one hand Mr. Pinkerton grasped Farrington by the throat and with the other caught his hands. Detective Connell was at the time coming out of the washroom, a few feet distant, and Pinkerton seeing him hallooed for him to come to his aid. He did so, and grasped his pistol, which exploded at the time, the bullet carrying away some of Mr. Pinkerton’s hair. All this time Farrington and Pinkerton Were Struggling the former having his back to the guard railing and river. When the pistol fired, Farrington dropped it, and Pinkerton, half stunned by the report, loosened his grasp, and Farrington threw his hands above his head and Fell Backwards in the River, sinking directly in front of and not more than ten feet distant from the wheel, which must have struck him. As soon as he saw him falling, Connell drew his revolver and fired at Farrington. Certainly Dead. The boat did stop; a yawl was lowered and search made for the missing prisoner. At the time it was not yet fairly daylight, and there was a thin crust if ice on the river. Farrington’s hands and feet were manacled, and he wore a very heavy overcoat, of itself almost sufficient to prevent him from swimming ashore, had his hands and feet been free. They assert that the boat at the time was 150 yards from shore. In this connection it is due the detective to state that the officers of the express company here are satisfied that both Pinkerton and Connell did their duty and have full confidence in their statements.
About three o’clock in the afternoon of Christmas Day, John Hopegood, a negro went to the house of Laura Wright, who lives on Tenth Street, near the Mississippi River, as testified by Laura to give her children some Christmas presents. Hopegood met John Dixon, another negro, at the house, and a quarrel ensued. Dixon told Hopegood that he had an old grudge to settle with him, and that he (Hopegood) must steer clear of him. Hopegood, it appears from the evidence, endeavored to avert a quarrel with Dixon, until the latter applied to him some very harsh epithets. Dixon said—”You d—n son of a b---h, you must keep clear of me.” Hopegood retorted, using language of the same character, when Dixon drew a knife and stabbed him, the knife entering near the center of the breast. They were separated and Dixon left. Dr. Hultz was called to examine the wound and gave it as his opinion that it was in no way dangerous. On Thursday evening, however, Hopegood was standing in the door of a negro cabin on Twelfth Street near Cedar, when he was seen to reel and fall. He was picked up and taken into the cabin, and died in about five minutes after. Coroner Gossman was notified and a jury summoned. Dr. Hultz was called to make a post mortem examination, which he did in the presence of the jury. The following is the doctor’s statement of his opinion as to the death of Hopegood: “I examined the body of John Hopegood, and I find that he came to his death by a stab in the heart, inflicted with a small pen knife in the right lobe in the upper end.” Laura Wright, at whose house the stabbing was done, testified: “On Christmas Day, John Hopegood came to my house and said he had some presents for the children. John Dixon was there. Dixon said to Hopegood that he had an old grudge to settle with him. Hopegood said he had nothing against him and did not want any quarrel. Dixon called Hopegood a ‘d--n son of a b---h,’ and then they got to fighting and Dixon stabbed him in the breast. I then ran out of the room and saw no more of the fight.” After hearing the evidence before them, the jury rendered the following verdict: “We, the undersigned jurors, sworn to inquire of the death of John Hopegood, on oath do find that he came to his death by a stab from a knife in the hand of John Dixon: Isaac Walder, foreman; George Clark, C. H. Evans, M. J. Howley, J. W. Johnson, D. A. Rheutan, Henry Lattner, P. Rothchild, C. Gillhoper, G. M. Seymour, William Saxton.
The
officers were last night on the lookout for
Dixon,
but up to a late hour had not succeeded in capturing him.
Cairo Weekly Bulletin 18 May
1871:
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