by. Ta}iqia\
pS» !le [i4i9|
bb ‘ /p8/41q\
|
Gy. iaaliqa|
|
Pri sonar
Date ‘Age Comm én
£3 '/1afaal Daniel Francis | ~ Large block ran, 'said hed rath
hang than be Tha O. Roclefeliar.“
noel Suapped . ]
N\
&~
>2
a
ss
pond
32.
67.4 ¢|tqia
$8. 2ho| mia
| Thomas Schulte
Lo. hela}
SA. >fio (ata.
ol. */3has
62, AW /\a8\
43. Akfiale
Ri Chard Walton
An-new (A) H/itams
| Fak Show sl;
Ewalh Shiblews€i
Ph Nip Soman] tn
Thomas Tenn ings
Rel Cit: Smith
Edwant “Blabe” Wheed
harry Lindrum
Dennis Andorcen
Lio j Bo
Billa c
6% aha
64 afezo
lar! Dear
Themas Fitegerald
Rafaelo Dorrage
AC
34
Blacdkejsatd “+ deserve to hang,
Ble K} mock and well- be favad,
died withaut stfroqgle
Heaged with both; dead te 3 mia
Dead iw 4 Miw.
Hanged with Schulte,
S post last day mth parets and young ise
Bled; 6', dro Jeg, dead \« 3 min.
Yoong murderer, dead in & min,
Totered and yvivered on gallows
Fated before marth 0 gallows,
fold sheet" Be Sure, +o get it Tightens |
Dead WA J 2 Min . |
S')'"\(30 bs.) Shalen amd bor
Black was wefrsed nyutst of &
Miniders on gallous dead in /§ min
Told jailer They I ner Vrock me off
They did. Deed in nine minv¥t§
Dead in /¢ min,
Hanged ta the cell Her
| SO S00 pri2inbr$ could Seo, and her i
Priteond frge,
Command
rover Redd ing
Oscar McGavick
| fstenio ‘luoky “Lopez
Haar Ward
| Corl Wanderer
Fant Liqreqn
Teo it
sper Pastonc
nue US Hy ey,
Wil Sen
allie Sams
| Front Lanctane
Jwho commit eer 30 aymad robobees ,
Aint hanyel | (W hate, unaware, dead ja |Sm
Geis: Wash ingle
Cans pe MeCarth [4
I Neck bvolen,; hanged Wied vick
Strang led
lost te bravado an trap when hi
Lut ran out, asked Jobe chet /,steg
(leay-cut bl end ha ined choir Singer
killing two. Sm ‘ledas wets put on
Sang stholre p(nine too wel)’.
fied for Crimes, a SNging ya {[S min
Body dang led for (4 min pil
Tn téur- had wed coma 50d
befre execution} Carried to Like
a gulectson in 13 my,
Blac, tall and lant nick brolen- 13min to
Blac, ort and stock strangled i vn 12
Plate hanged witBovt maid art
APY 518 Ibs. hang? ‘nd W(t nse,
(Py a Wemen WW mas cloth:
NiO | |bS, nec broly heed | in Je ae
B lac; froqped 1a peer ©; to
WHINE Ses ps out, ba I i (A nate
% ph lela
Wi} Sen i
jal
Fasped while Strang Ng dead in |) min
LTRn- foot dcop 5 rock brofen: dead | ia "T yah
|
|
Date | Prisoner Age CommentS
10 Yeo/}929| Jt ohn O/ Brien R2 Quipped on ga | owes "Dont get that rope
| too tight: Lt will ho fight Grough iin a
| | : on | ite while. “Strang jed-fo deat J¢ mir
We / Ie azo Wil Liam Yancy Mills | 20 Purly black yout struggled On
| ‘ rope. dead im JA mins |
12.'*h4/1q20| Frank Campione | 22 Brought 1 gallows whimgCetag c feb ill
| ate “fre thoy “really going ~Fe hang me
| Theg really hanged him, Straugled, dead
| | in I2 min . | | ib
73.,' litfq20 —Tohn | “4 Reese| YO p lack, hangad with Camp one peel soapy
4. *lis/gol Frank, agar Al Cellar of fan shict ford n for noose
| | Said Thepe beak ry nok I
| don't Woe 70 chofe to detth." Chole
| to eats x \4 min . Goud Haned SAE pope
S Vialtazy | Arthur Haen se| WW Veteran » Slowly strangled fo
| IS min. duere badly fred noose,
Yo. Melero ! Ni cholas Via Aa | 3 Trembled on the traps dead jn [8 mi
77. %fiazt|, Edward Brislonet "TE you must hang yd 0 't dn Cra
ma Pcl and invite Pho. world"
7) ths| nay Salwelre Card nella. Hang ed ln Chalry ntele broken,
| head \n g Mins, planto. ke
| resus tated ater hangin failed.
79.Slislazh Joseph (Costanzo H| {Henged Joqet hn, > pis
Bo. “lis/izi) Sam Ferrara a |
declurtd dead in /2 min.
Se Se i ial ET ate ae Ta aS ad 2 aa oe
~ |
ls }
2 } |
1]
7. |
Date, Prigona. Ag ane lommonts
PT ito {yqsah Raymmend (costello
Ke, he Chaves Hobbs
qq, lptfaze Richud Evans | 14
1@0 . 7/3 (426 Jémes Cric! US AA
[O\. “ie Th nas MdVane | 2o
l02 “he 04Lar Quarles 2!
103 Yiskz7| John Winn | YO
DY.""tler] Elin Lyons | 48
}
|
a—
Pr mM ns A M
(\ a ie i
Wille
| Hea mam, neal, brolln; dead in yn
BI lack ‘sii ght bu’ | in; Strang fed
ROY lo fed Yo die
Dead } jn AG Mmni
|fungod bandteot jn dicty Vadeuhes
In sd neat iy he aml 6ricius
dtclured deat. jidtdaes } jn DO m
ae Hed ld dead in 18 mm
Im~ wit clod \ dro [0
feer, "s Ho = ate
Sn''led
last tottin op
Cosy fo dea ON a allie:
ALMANAC AND YEAR-BOOK FOR 1930.
863
liam E. Dever. The metering program was
interrupted after the election of Mayor
William Hale Thompson, who opposed a
compliance with the war department’s
stipulation and made it a political issue in
his campaign for office. Fulfillment of the
metering program has not been executed.
The sanitary district has completed some of
the units essential to artificial treatment of
sewage and is engaged on the construction
of other disposal stations. It also is build-
ing flood-control works in the Illinois river.
The amount of diversion from Lake Michi-
gan that ultimately will be allowed by the
federal government, will bear an important
relation to engineering phases of the pro-
jected waterway from the great lakes, to
the Gulf of Mexico, via the Chicago river,
the sanitary district's drainage channel, the
Illinois river and the Mississippi river.
EXECUTIONS IN COOK COUNTY.
MOTI GSUOHO). oho 8b os nese fee stele July 10, rae
William Jackson.............-... June 19, 1 857
PEARICRG UGA oo es 056'55, 5 0.c00.8 6's April 20, 1858
Michael McNamee................ May 6, 1859
WV RIGGI E LOMUR st u,5. kiec ss ee se Dec. 15, 1865
MIGUEY LOOUDEGU Som cleihics 6 cross cieiee oe’ Dec. 15, 1865
George Driver............eseee: March 14, 1873
WHris: Hamertyn, (eco se ce dieses Feb. 27, 1874
George Sherry. .......¢.08.ee85. June 21, 1878
Jeremiah Connolly.............. June 21, 1878
Dames LPACEY. 1.5 oe aoe Lele e dees. Sept. 15, 1882
TGaaC JACODSEN. «ccs tee ee ty Sept. 19, 1884
Ignazio Sylvestri............-+.. Nov. 14, 1885
Agostino Gilardo..........-..+.. Nov. 14, 1885
Giovanni ‘AZZaro... ..6.6 665.050. Nov. 14, 1885
Frank Mulkowshki............. March 26, 1886
Albert (ALANS ) och se cis\e o6 5-265 Nov. 11, 1887
AUSIStOSDICS. via. bo os cie's once'ce a cel Nov. 11, 1887
George Engel. ...6. cess .cce sen. Nov. 11, 1887
Adolph. Fischer... .......:.-00+ Nov. 11, 1887
Zephyr Davis (Col:) s...'s5.6 08.08% May 12, 1888
George H. Painter.............. Jan. 26, 1894
Thomas (‘‘Buff’’?) Higgins...March 23, 1894
Patrick E. J. Prendergast...... July 13, 1894
Harry (“Butch”) LAG OU desk sere Oct. 11, 1895
Henry Foster (col.).......,.... Jan. 24, 1896
Alfred C. Fields (col.)......... May 15, 1896
PORODD- SWIDOTAUR 5 os cae ot ces kok June 5, 1896
IB ENONOW. Cs. b+ oes Meee ees ngn Oct. 30, 1896
Daniels MCCArtny ¢ oi. 2 ie sc aati’ Feb. 19, 1897
John: Lattimore’ (col-).....0.5.. May 28, 1897
William T. Powers (col.)...... May 28, 1897
Drie WOrry.. ecokie ste cece See cae ane 22, 1898
John Druggan.).:........ .. Oct. 14, 1898
George H. Jacks........ | Oet. 14, 1898
Robert Howard (col.). Feb. 17, 1899
August A. Becker...... . Nov. 10, 1899
Michael E. Rollinger.. , Nov. 17, 1899
George Dolinski....... OG Lt, LOOL
Louis G. Toombs.. -Aug, 8, 1902
TeOU ABN G oe keine eo cieeae o's April 15, 1904
Peter Niedemeyer............... April 22, 1904
GHIBGAN: CMEAIS on Oost due ee eign April 22, 1904
Harvey Van Dine.......,....... April 22, 1904
Frank Lewandowski............ Sept. 30, 1904
TOM SOU MSOM ois bois tie waag ee eels eos Jan. 20, 1905
Robert E. Newcomb............. Feb. 16, 1906
MOP Ty MTIIOD Cone Sen's vee caateee _..-.-Feb. 16, 1906
OHO ELOCIY oi0hs Gerehoiee:d cieie 6 sine» oj Feb. 23, 1906
RMiGHardeG.CLvene, 6. ce ec. costes: June 22, 1906
Daniel Francis (col.). “Oct. 12,-1906
Richard Walton (col.).. Pak aire Feb. 16, 1912
William Johnson (col.)......... Feb. 16, 1912
Hwald) Shiblawski' ..vs.cs sc Feb. 16, 1912
Frank Shiblawski .............. Dec. 13, 1907
Philip Sommerling ............. Oct. 22, 1909
Mhomas | SCHuUuMZ i340. sess B Feb. 16, 1912
Thomas gen oee ECOL) ig feisse2 Feb. 16, 1912
Roswell C. F. Smith............ Feb. 13, 1915
Edward Wheed ...... -Feb. 15, 1918
Harry Lindrum .. Feb. 15, 1918
John Anderson . July 19, 1918
Lloyd Bopp .... Dec. _6, 1918
Albert Anderson Feb. 28, 1919
asl Deat ’.23 5.008 June 27, 1919
Thomas Fitzgerald Oct. 17, 1919
Raeffaelo Durage .. 2
vobn. OO’ Brisnis; 32.4 ..4e8
William Yancy Mills (col.)
Frank Campione
John H. Reese (col.)..
Brank -Zagar 2 s.c.5 s
Arthur Haensel.....
Nicholas Viana .
Edward Brislane
Sam Cardinella ...
Sam Ferrara ......
Joseph Costanzo
Grover C. Redding (col.)...... June 24, 1921
Oscar McGavick (coi.)........ June 24, 1921
ANTONIO: LODeZ ie cae ise ee July 8, 192
Larry Ward) «. ¥enuielellataiant shes July 15, 1921
Carl: OO: Wanderer... 606.5 vile Sept. 30, 1921
Prank Ligregni), 6... os8 fosescden Nov. 9, 1921
Harvey W. Church............ March 3, 1922
Casper: Pastoniins use Oe ous ee June 15, 1923
Lucius Dalton (col.)........ April 17, 1924
Henry Wilson, (Gdlo. <6 02 soar April 17, 1924
Lawrence Washington (col.)..May 15, 1925
Willie,. Samis (coli)... 05.03... une 19, 1925
Frank Lanciano .. ..Oct. 16, 1925
Campbell McCarthy ‘(eol.). .Jan. 29, 1926
Jack Woodan:: )\ vi Gs oe bales Feb. 13, 1926
Joseph: Holmes: vais wee vcs Feb. 18, 1926
Raymond Costello .......... April 16, 1926
Charles Hobbs (col.)......... April 16, 1926
Richard «EVvane: eas. ccs ie sa Oct. 29, 1926
James Grickus (569 6h cee Dec. 31, 1926
Thomas, McWane i656. 000. Dec. 31, 1926
Oscar Quarles (col.)............ Feb. 17, 1927
vohn. Walton.’ Winn’ *:)c swale. April 15, 1927
HDlin “Lyons, 24 ees bee June 24, 1927
Anthony Grecco* Feb. 20, 1929
Oberles. “Walger cos mos ewene Feb. 20, 1929
Napoleon Glover (col.).......June 20, 1929
Morgan Swan (col.).........June 20, 1929
*First electrocutions in Cook county,
John Stone was executed publicly on the
prairie on the south side. William Jackson
and Albert Staub were also executed pub-
licly, but on the west side. After that exe-
ecutions were private and took place in the
courthouse until 1878, after which time
they took place in the county jail. Raf-
ferty was hanged in Waukegan for murder
in Chicago.
CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEFS.
Alex. Lloyd::..3.+ «1837-38 (J. M. Donnelly. .-....'. 1854 | John McDonough.... 1906
Aus TC AIIOUIIS «6 ghee LSS9:K8. MeBride.ih <i es + 1855-57 | James Horan........ 1906-10
L. Nicholl............. 1840|/D. J. Swenie “1858 |C. F. Seyferlich...... 1910-14
A. Sherman..... ..-- 1841-43] U. P. Harris...:. ....1859-67 | Thomas O’Connor....1914-22
Sa Bea ales! cae .. .1844-46 |R. A. Williams..... .1867-73 | Arthur R. Seyferlich. 1922-23
CO.) BE. Peck..........1847-48 | Matt. Benner........ 1873-79 | Edward J. Buckley. ..1923-25
Bs GR DENG 5 25 os bine es 1849 D. J. Swenie...... matt 1901 | Arthur R. Seyferlich.1925-27
C27 Pie Bradley o8. ss 1850-51 | Wm. H. Musham....1901-04 | Michael J. Corrigan. .1927-
O.. P.. Harris... -1852-53 John Campion....... 1904-06 ‘
ry ; . 3
fit) RY
ea niente. aise Ai
»
OF
RAUFORD 2 CLARK COUNT
. oP an Tatas 3 “ art sete - "
Scape healt - Mg ee 40 Fo oe
Wie ase pu? Se a an Bs Ee Geigy 3
<r ER Ss ne SE ee eae ge geet
sp oe
Sage a aee are a
Dal Sy. WILLIAM ELEN Y PR RIN
‘ CHICAGO:
3 Fate
“BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS,
LAKESIDE BUILDING.
1888.
OMAPTER IV."
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY—ILLINOIS AS A PART OF VIRGINIA—DIVIDED INTO
COUN TIES—ACT OF THis LEGISLATURE FORMING CRAWFORD—NAME OF THE COUN-
TY—THE COURTS, ETC.—LOCATING THE SEAT OF JUSTICE—AN INDIAN
TRIAL—OTHER COURT PROCEEDINGS—LIST OF OFFICERS AND REP-
RESENTATIVES—COURT HOUSES AND JAILS
CIVIL DIVIS-
IONS OF THE COUNTY—REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY
SEAT—TOW NSHIP ORGANIZATIONS, ETC., HTC,
“The ultimate tendency of civilization is toward
barbarism.”’—/Hazee.
To General Assembly of Virginia, in Oc-
tober, 1778, passed an act for ‘ establish-
ing the County of Illinois, and for the more
effectual protection and defense thereof.”
This act declared: “That all the citizens
of this Commonwealth, who are already sct-
tled, or shali hereafter settle on the western
side of the Ohio, and east of the Mississippi,
shall be included in a distinct county, which
shall be called Illinois County.” The Gov-
ernor of Virginia was to appoint “a county
licutenant or commandant-in-chief,” who
should “appoint and commission so many
deputy commandants, militia officers and
commissaries,” as he should deem expedient,
for the enforcement of law and order. The
civil officers were to be chosen by a majority
of the people, and were to “exercize their
several jurisdictions, and conduct themselves
agreeable to the laws which the present set-
tlers are now accustomed to.” Patrick Henry,
the first Governor of the “Old Dominion,”
appointed as such county lieutenant Com-
mandant John Todd, and on December 12,
1778, issued to him his letter of appointment
and instructions,
* By W.H. Perrin.
From the record book of John Todd’s offi-
cial acts while he was exercising authority
over [ilinois, a book now in the Chieayxo His-
torical Society, some interesting facts are
gleaned of the early history of Illinois. We
extract the following from its pages:
Todd was not unknown on the frontier.
3orn in Pennsylvania and educated in Vir-
ginia, he had practiced law in the latter Col-
ony for several years, when, in 1775, he re-
inoved to Kentucky, then a county of Vir-
ginia, and became very prominent in the
councils of its House of Delegates or Repre-
sentatives, the first legislative body organ-
ized west of the Alleghany mountains. Early
in 1777, the first court in Kentucky opened
its sessions at Harrodsburg, and he was one of
the justices. Shortly after, he was chosen
one of the representatives of Kentucky in
the Legislature of Virginia and went to the
capital to fulfill this duty. The following
year he accompanied Gen. George Rogers
Clark. in his expedition to “ the Illinois,” and
was the first man to enter Fort Gage, at Kas-
kaskia, when it was taken from the British,
and was present at the final capture of Vin-
cennes,
The act creating the County of Tilinois had
been passed by the Legislature of Virginia,
and at Williamsburg, the capital then of the
ne ne Se OO I nA ABE
EE TENE ET
en
ok
‘4
864
ALMANAC AND YEAR-BOOK FOR 1930.
FOREIGN ORDERS CONFERRED ON CHICAGOANS.
Abrahamson, Rev, L. G.—Royal North Star,
Sweden. :
Abt, Isaac A.—Legion of Honor (chevalier),
France.» \
Adamkiewicz, Stanley—Cross of Polonia Res-
tituta, Poland.
Allais, Arthur L.—Legion of Honor, France.
Altroechi, Rudolph—Crown (chevalier), Italy.
Andersen, Rev. A: V.—Dannebrog (knight),
Denmark.
Anderson, 'G. Bernhard—Royal Order of Nord-
stjernan, Sweden.
Andreen, Rev. Gustav—Royal Order of Nord-
stjernan, Sweden.
Antonsen, Carl—Dannebrog (knight),
mark.
Axell, C. G.—Royal Order of Vasa, Sweden.
Ballard, George S.—Legion of Honor (cheva-
lier), France.
Barasa, Bernard P.—Crown (chevalier) , Italy.
Baur, Mrs. Jacob—Officier de l'Instruction
Publique, Persia.
Bendix, Vincent—Knight Order of North Star,
Den-
Sweden.
Bennett, Edward H.—Legion of Honor,
France.
Biankini, Anton—St. Sava, Jugoslavia.
Billings, Frank—Order of Leopold II., Bel-
gium; Legion of Honor (officer), France.
Birkhoff, George, Jr.—Orange-Nassau _ (offi-
cer), Holland.
Bjorn, Emil—St. Olaf, Norway. :
Berdonneau, Gaston—Chevalier of the Legion
of Honor, France.
Brazno, Frank—Crown_ (chevalier), Italy. |
Bremer, Mrs. Edith Terry—Order of White
Lion, Czechoslovakia.
Brentano, Theodore—Cross of Merit (first
class), Hungary.
Brewster, Mrs. Walter S.—Legion of Honor,
France. f
Brunner, John—Royal Order of Nordstjer-
nan, Sweden.
Burry, William—Legion of Honor, France.
Burton, Le Grand $.—Legion of Honor (chev-
alier), France.
Cameron, Edgar §.—Palmes Academiques,
France.
Campion, Alphonse—Legion of Honor, -France.
Carlson, C. E.—Royal Order of Vasa, Sweden.
Carry, Edward F.—Knight commander of the
Order of St. Gregory the Great, pope.
Causey, William B.—Great White Cross, Aus-
tria; Legion, of Honor, France; Order of
St. Sava, Jugoslavia.
Chatfield-Taylor, Hobart C.—Isabella the
Catholic, Spain; Garter, Spain; St. James,
Portugal; Legion of Honor, France; Crown
of Italy and Knighthood of SS. Maurice
and Lazarus, Italy.
Claverlie, Dr. Jean—Cross of the Legion of
Honor, France.
Clemensen, « Dr.
Denmark.
Corydon, S.'T.—Dannebrog (knight) , Denmark.
Craigie, William A.—Knight, Great Britain.
Cuneo, Frank—Crown (chevalier), Italy.
Cutting, Starr W.—Crown (class III.) Prussia.
Czarnecki, Anthony—Knight of the Order of
St. Gregory the Great, pope.
Dan, em Adam—Dannebrog (knight),
mar
Dawes, Charles G.—Legion of Honor (cheva-
lier), France: Order of Leopold, Belgium.
Deering, Charles—Legion of Honor, France;
Crown (class III.), Prussia.
Devries, Herman—Officer of Academy and
Officer of Public Instruction, France;
Nicham Iftikhar (officer), Tunis. :
Ditlefsen, Charles P.—Dannebrog (knight),
Peter—Dannebrog (knight),
Den-
Ericson, John—Royal Order of Vasa, Sweden.
Evald, ‘Mrs. Emmy—Royal Order of Vasa,
Sweden.
Ferrari, Antonio—Crown_ (chevalier), Italy.
Fischer, Gustave F.—Red Eagle (class IV.),
Prussia.
Foreman, Milton J.—Legion of Honor (offi-
cer), France.
Forschner, Thomas J.—St. Sylvester (knight),
Franklin, Capt. F. J.—Order (officer) of the
British Empire.
Frick, Dr. Anders—Knight of Northern Star,
Sweden.
Furber, Harry J.—Legion of Honor, France.
Gualano, Albert—Crown (chevalier), Italy. .
Guenzel, Louis—Crown (class IV.), Prussia.
Gass, Martin—Lion of Zaeringen, Baden.
Giaver, Joachim G.—St. Olaf, Norway.
Green, Thomas E.—Medal of Honor, France.
Grevstad, Nicolay—St. Olaf, Norway.
Hachmeister, Henry—Red Eagle (class IV.),
Prussia.
Halle, Edward G.—Crown (class II.), Prussia.
Handley, John M.—Crown (chevalier), Italy.
grey Andrew—Dannebrog (knight), Den-
mark,
Hanson, James C. M.—St. Olaf, Norway.
Hemmere) S. J.—Dannebrog (knight), Den-
mark.
Henius, Dr. Max—Dannebrog (commander),
medal of merit in gold, Denmark.
Hektoen, Dr. Ludwig—St. Olaf, Norway.
Henrotin, Mrs. Ellen M.—Leopold, Belgium:
Palmes Academiques, France; Officer of
Publie Instruction, France; Chefakat (Or-
der of Mercy), Turkey.
Henschen, Henry S.—Royal Order of Vasa,
Sweden, and Royal Order of North Star,
Sweden.
Hermant, Leon—Legion of Honor, France.
Hillberg, J. E.—Royal Order of Vasa, Sweden.
Hines, Edward—Knight of the Order of. St.
Gregory the Great (civil class), pope.
Hummeland, Andrew—St. Olaf, Norway.
are Edward N., Sr.—Order of Chioho,
ina.
Insull, Samuel—Crown (grand commander),
Italy.
Jensen, Claus—Dannebrog (knight), Denmark.
Johnson, Alex, A.—Knight of Northern Star,
Sweden.
be Pea Herbert M.—Crown (chevalier),
tal
‘Suna, Mrs. Noble B.—Legion of Honor,
France.
Kelly, Dennis F.—Knight Commander of the
Order of St. Gregory the Great, pope.
Klein, Dr. S. R.—Goldenes Verdienst Kreuz
mit der Krone, Militaer Kreuz and Ju-
bilaeum’s Medallie, Austria; Takova Orden
(class IV.), Serbia.
Klenze, Prof. Camillo von—Red Eagle (class
IV.), Prussia.
ae he Dr. Antonio—Crown (grand knight),
taly.
Lewis, Francis J.—Knight of the Order of
St. Sylvester, pope; Knight of the Order of
St. Gregory the Great, pope.
Lewis, James Hamilton—Crown (officer) , Bel-
gium (declined).
Laverde, Giuseppe—Crown (chevalier), Italy.
bear Peter H.—Dannebrog (knight), Den-
mark.
Malato, Stephen A.—Crown (chevalier) , Italy.
beg it og Arturo—Crown (cheyalier),
Italy
Matre, Anthony—Knight of the Order of St.
Gregory the Great, pope.
Merando, Salvatore—Crown (cheval.er) , Italy.
Denmark. Merriam, Charles E.—Crown | (chevalier),
Dorf, A. T.—Dannebrog (knight), Denmark. Italy.
D’Urso, Luigi—Crown (chevalier), Italy. Miller, Harry I,—Order of the Sacred Treas-
Eckstein, Louis—Crown (chevalier), Italy. ure, Japan.
a ‘20 awe." we mh vee”: > of ee .
530 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
three times without effect, and then fired, the
ball taking off two fingers of Kendall’s cousin
and entered the left side of Kendall near the
spine, and lodging in the abdomen. The shot
had the desired effect, and the whole party was
arrested. Kendall died a few days afterward
from the effect of the wound.
Dr. Burch was arrested, waived an examin-
ation, and gave bail in the sum of $5,000 for his
appearance at the next term of the Circuit Court,
at which time he was tried and acquitted.
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
On Saturday, June 14, 1873, Milburn Suther-
land Tayleur,a man of mixed blood (negro ant
Indian), shot and instantly killed a colored man,
named William Brown, with whom he had a
uarrel. Coroner Bierce was at once notified,
and started to arrest Tayleur, accompanied by:
several men, whom he summoned for the occa-
sion. Seeing Tayleur in a field, he called upon
him to surrender, when Tayleur placed his gun
against his own breast, aud leaning over it,
pulled the trigger, the shot penetrating his body
near the heart. He instantly fell, but survived
long enough to make a statement acknowledging
that he had killed Brown.
UXORCIDE AND SUICIDE.
The Illinois State Journal, of October 27,
1881, contained the following:
“ A couple who were married in Loami town-
ship about a year ago, under circumstances not
wholly devoid of romance, were irrevocably
divorced Tuesday night. A year ago John H.
Hudson, an old bachelor farmer, was married to
Mrs. Gilpin, widow of Enoch Gilpin, in Loami
township. Both of them were well known and
well liked. Mrs. Hudson was possessed of con-
siderable property, but her husband was com-
paratively a poor man. While gossips have for
gome time whispered the story that they were
having some misunderstanding about property,
it was generally believed they were living agree-
ably together. Under these circnmstances the
neighbors were unprepared to hear the news of
the shocking tragedy which occurred at the
Hudson house Tuesday night, the details of
which show that while Hudson was generally
recognized as a peaceable and quiet man, he was
a perfect devil when aroused. The first horri-
fying rumor that came with shocking signifi-
cance was that John Hudson had killed his wife
with a spade, and then hung himself. The news
reached this city about noon yesterday, and
many people who knew both Mr. and Mrs. Hud-
mee
son refused at first to believe it. The scene of
the tragedy was an out of the way place, bein
seven or eight miles from a railway station, a
it was difficult to get a connected history of the
affair. After long and tedious search by the
Journal reporters, the following story was ob-
tained:
Hudson and his wife had retired to their room
about 10 o’clock, Tuesday night. Whether the
had any difficulty before retiring was not aad.
but a few minutes afterward the sharp crack of
a revolver was heard by Hudson’s sister and the
hired girl. They ran to Mrs. Hudson’s assist-
ance and succeeded in disarming the infuriated
husband, who had vainly attempted to shoot his
wife. Summoning all of his strength, Hudson
released himself from the ladies, and clutching
his wife, dragged her out of the house some dis-
tance, where he struck her several times with a
spade, which happened to be within his reach.
Leaving his wife lying upon the ground, her
battered and scarred face looking up in the
moonlight, while the warm blood spurted out of
three ghastly skull wounds, Hudson fled to the
home of his brother, where he related the story
of his hideous crime. Horrified beyond expres-
sion, the brother hurried to the scene of the
ghastly deed, and found the story he was loth
to believe was only too true. After attending
to the wants of the almost lifeless woman, the
brother returned to find the murderer, but he
had disappeared. Early yesterday morning his
lifeless body was found hanging to an apple tree
in the orchard, where, probably overcome by the
enormity of his crime, he had ended the tragic
story by taking his own life. The real cause of
this horrible butchery could not be definitely
learned. It was thought by some people that it
arose out of some difficulties in regard to the
property, while others seemed to think Hudson
was jealous of his wife, though no foundation
was given for the latter story. It is not known
clearly whether the crime was premeditated, or
the result of a sudden and insane passion. There
are some circumstances that point toward the
former theory. Mr. Flowers, who resides at the
village of Loami, several miles from the Hudson
place, stated that he had not heard of the
tragedy, but said that he had loaned a revolver
to Hudson Monday afternoon, Hudson informing
him that he was going to take some money W!
him to buy cattle and: wanted the revolver to
protect himself. Another gentleman said he
saw Hudson about 4 o’clock Monday afternoon,
and he had agreed to buy some cattle from him-
The unfortunate woman died the next day.
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 613
acter and activity in its members; the pro-
motion of Evangelical religion; the cultiva-
tion of Christian sympathy, and the improve-
ment of the. spiritua', intellectual and social
ition of young men.
eee hgasliation, though still in its infancy,
and has already accomplished much in this di-
rection, but having an object that all who love
the Master can not fail not only to approve, but
heartily co-operate in, when once understood.
‘We hope, with increased means of usefulness,
with a building arranged and devoted especially
to this purpose, and with ripened experience to
rightly direct the efforts put forth, to become a
blessing and help to every young man and boy
in our midst, and direct them to so live that
they may be useful and happy lives in this
world, and spend an eternity in bliss at the
Father’s right hand.”
IN HONOR OF THE DEAD.
In France, the.memory of those. who have
died in the military service, with which is ever
associated national honor and love of country, is
fondly cherished by the people, and their love
and gratitude find a most fitting expression in
the custom observed each spring, when the grass
is greenest and the flowers most beatitiful, in the
decking of graves where the loved remains lie,
or of the tablets erected in. memory of those lost
on the fields of battle. —_.
In 1868, General Logan, Commander of the
Grand Army of the Republic, issued an address,
recommending the 30th day of May be set apart
in which the brave soldiers who volunteered to
defend the Union and to preserve the govern-
ment of our fathers, were to have similar remem-
brances. The sacred spot where their remains
lie were to be strewn with flowers by their sur-
Viving comrades.
“‘How sleep the brave who sink to rest.
By all a country’s wishes blest,
hen spring, with dewy fingers cold
Returns to deck their hallowed mould,
She there shall dress a greener sod
Than fancy’s feet have ever trod!
By tairy hands their knell is rung,
By forms unseen their dirge is sung.
There honor comes, a pilgrim gray,
To bless the surf, that wraps their clay;
And Freedom shal) awhile repair,
To dwell a weeping hermit, there.”
: The first public decoration of soldiers’ graves
in this county was on Saturday, May 30, 1868,
according to the recommendation of the Com-
mander of the Grand Army of the Republic.
e Senate chamber of the old State House was
the place where the ladies met for the arrange-
ment of the flowers and evergreens into wreaths
and boquets. Tables loaded with flowers, and
baskets of evergreens, were scattered about the
room, and around them were gathered a large
number of ladies, all absorbed in the delicate
and artistic work of arranging and weaving the
rare and beautiful flowers into forms indicating
that the fair artists possessed highly cultivated
and exquisitetaste in such matters. The hearts
of all were in the work, and they felt it a duty
thus to honor the noble dead.
At one o’clock, p.m., the committee, consist-
ing of ladies and gentlemen, appointed to deco-
rate the graves of those buried at Camp Butler
Cemetery, met at the State House and marched
to the Wabash depot where a train was in readi-
ness to carry them to the ground. On the ar-
rival of the train at the site of old Camp Butler,
the company formed in procession, and marched
to the spot where rests the remains of many
Union soldiers, who died in the hospital at this
camp. The cemetery is situated on rising ground
only a short distance from the old camp ground,
and is surrounded with a good picket fence,
everything about it being in excellent order.
The graves, numbering several hundred, ‘are
furnished with white headstones, upon which are
inscribed, with few exceptions, the name, age
and number of regiment to which the deceased
belonged. On arriving at the entrance of the
cemetery, every visitor was provided with flow-
ers, and proceeded to the shade of a tree, where
the services of the occasion commenced by the
whole assembly joining in singing the patriotic
and soul-stirring hymn of “America.”
‘“‘My country, ’tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee, I sing.
Land where my fathers, died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountaim side,
Let Freedom ring.”
After singing, Rev. Mr. Carr offered a solemn
and impressive prayer. At the conclusion of
the prayer, Dr. George T. Allen made a few re-
marks. He commenced by referring to the
.8cenes he had witnessed, in which our soldiers
had shown their love of country and the cause
of liberty, many of whom had sealed their devo-
tion with their lives. The graves around us, he
said, contained the remains of those who had
fallen in defense of the country, and we should
remember their virtues and patriotism, as we
placed the flowers upon their last earthly rest-
ing place. The number buried here were but
few compared with the number that perished
SSR Se EG a
ee SS a
ee
TSP ST REECE:
o-~
290 HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
would band together aud demolish the structure. With this rumor
came also some of a more startling import, involving the safety of
the other prisoners confined in the jail. These rumors assumed such
an alarming shape by the Wednesday preceding that the Sheriff was
induced to apply for assistance from abroad. A request was sent
to Capt. Miles, of Washington, to secure the attendance of his riff
company. The Peoria National Blues were also notified that their
services would be needed, and, after receiving orders from the Goy
ernor, they held themselves in readiness to come. On Thursday.
evening the Washington Rifles, accompanied by the Quarter-Mas-
ter General, arrived, and the men marched to the American house ta
await further orders. 3
During the early part of Thursday night, the crowds which gat
ered about the jail and along Court street, gave evidence that some
unusual excitement was anticipated. The } impression prevailed that
a concerted attack would be made before sunrise upon the enclosur
at the scaffold. The arrival of the troops from Peoria was anxio
ly looked for, but they did not reach Pekin until about thre
o’clock., They consisted of three companies, the National Blu
Emmett Guards and German Rifles, and were aceompanied by the.
Adjutant-General, They were marched to the court-room et await:
orders.
At that time quiet prevailed throughout the city. But betwede:
hours of five and six o’clock a startling noise was heard in the vie
ity of the jail, and upon investigation it was found that the ent
structure surrounding the scaffold was leveled to the gro un
The actors in this affair had done the work completely and quick
and quietly dispersed. After the demolition of the tem porary
structure the military were posted in position to protect the jail, bt
nc demonstration was attempted against the building.
At an early hour Friday morning, people came pouring in
all parts of the country, and by ten o’clock it was estimated that
least five thousand had assembled in the city.
About ten o’clock preparations for the execution were commené
The number of persons indicated by the law, with a few others, ¥
invited to witness the proceedings in the jail. The prisoner, ¥:
up to that time had heen engaged in religious exercises, was brow
from his cell. Some time was occupied in removing the mag
from his ankles. During this operation, and while the Sheriff
robing him for the grave, Ott exhibited considerable firmness,
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 291
iooked subdued and resigned. At a quarter before eleven he was
ed forth to the place of execution. He was passive in the hands of
‘he Sheriff, and it seemed as though he had determined to meet his
- without exhibiting any evidence of fear or trepidation. Besides
che officers the Revs. Messrs. Sawyer, Rybolt and Windsor, with a
‘ow others, ascended the scaffold with the prisoner. A dense crowd
clled the streets in the vicinity, and the tops and windows of many
ncighboring houses were occupied with spectators. The military
were drawn up around the scaffold to prevent the crowd from
ing the fence. At the close of the prayer offered by the Rev. Mr.
Rybolt, the prisoner stepped forward and addressed a few disjointed
remarks to the people. With much calmness he declared that he
alone was guilty of the crime for which he was about to die; that
Green was innocent; his doom was just; and he hoped to be for-
given in heaven, where he hoped to meet those who were there to
witness his death. 5 ee
As he closed he was placed upon the trap, the rope adjusted about 3
his neck, the cap drawn over his head, the trap fell, and with ; a mut Se
tered prayer on his lips for mercy the spirit of Jobe Ott passed into
eternity. His neck was broken by the fall and life was: ‘soon ¢ c
tinct. After hanging nineteen minutes the body was taken down, : ss
placed in a coffin and removed to the jail yard. Soon the crowd
began to disperse and all was quiet. Thus terminated fad first e
and only legal execution for murder in Tazewell ay
BRIEF BRETCH OF JOHN orT.
John Ott was born near. Dayton, O., Nov. 6, 1839, iad conse-
yvently was not twenty-one years old when he poiausitted the fearful
rime for which he suffered ‘death: While quite young his parents
“<tnoved to Towa, and soon to Indiana, where they were living when
cir wayward son was hung, both old and feeble. John remained
«t home until about sixteen years old, when he went to live with his
a cle. At school he learned to read, and obtained some —e
arithmetic, but never learned to write.
Not long after he went to live with his uncle he began to sow the
eds of his fature ruin. His first theft was a three-cent piece.
“mm this he went on, from time to time stealing money and other
< ayy .
‘ ot
Finally he became enamored of a woman who must have
| ‘a large amount of the demoniac in her nature, for she urged him
“et fire to barns, to rob and the like, These things, however, he
CHAPTER VI.
CRIMINAL RECORD.
John Wood.
HE first indictment for murder in this county was against J
Wood. It was made by the grand jury at the April term
Circuit Court, 1844. Wood had caused the death of his own iid
by throwing it up against the ceiling. He was tried, found gt
and sent to the penitentiary for four years.
——— Bulger. ;
Henry Berry, a young man, was stabbed at a house of ill-fame
Pekin, Sept. 29, 1859, by a man named Bulger. Berry was all
rtant witness against two men who were confined in jail fo
mitting larceny.
MURDER OF A MOTHER AND HER TWO CHILDREN.
John Ott. :
Oct. 12, 1860, George W. Orendorff,
theast of Delavan, left his family, co
ing of his wife and two little girls, Emma aged nine and Ada
years.old. On nis return in the evening he found his entire fal
This is the most hellish, fiendish murder ever commit
fter a lapse of twenty years the feelings
not died out, nor will it as long
On Friday morning,
ived about four miles sou
murdered.
ted in the county and a
sympathy and indignation has
the sad, sickening affair remains pictured in language.
When Mr. Orendortt reached home he found his wife lying U
the floor lifeless, and by her side lay her elder daughter, and near the
lay little Ada moaning piteously 19 the agonies of death, which 80
relieved her of the pains 0 had received O82 —
¢ the mortal wound she
the head. On the floor a few feet from where the mother was ly#
was found an old rusty axe staine
d with human blood. It was
13749
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 289
chie weapon ernie triple murder was committed. Mrs. Orendortf
; been engaged in washing in the back part of the h oe
dies were all found in the front room with the do babi ue we
Orendorff had received upon the head eight pe peesens ac
chis axe, either of which was sufficient to have prod Fee
She was 8 most estimable woman, and the little ae —
ce as to make them peculiarly interesting to the berea at ibe
ine of them had apparently been out getting: Aiivens: : h er
eanch “ ei in her hand when the assassin struck ue piigay |
: ait ne = ae ae most heart-rending sights that could peta
i oh oy Ee defenseless mother and her two unoffend-
g ren lying in their own blood upon their own
kT
ka
threshold.
Diligent seaeok wis ok ohosvaed Sige ee Spares a8
ies . e for the pe petrato re ets
He | _ pales in finding a sod apa ee pi
_ Dela ees in a shock of corn near Lincoln and brou ht bask.
‘ e pew Many of the best citizens were so infuriated ps Z
ae celings of lynching him were displayed, but at es si at
~ sciesions of Mr. Orendorff, the bereaved h , : ha nt |
was handed over to the civil authorities to aw. eee
ke z reen,’a cousin of Ott's, was also arrested, amex
e Board of Supervisors of the os : oe eS Bee
for 4 e county off She
“ the capture of the murderer, and a a reward of $2,000" ,
additional reward. : : e State to offer an
Wednesday, Feb. 6, 18 By lee ig eee ie
oy ‘ wns 61, John Ott was arrai ed : é 4 e a
ed ben Le ee ee ee of Mrs. Orendeed
- iwo aughters. He was then immediatel : ndorf 9,
nung Friday, Mar.1,1861.0 0 uy sentenced tobe
“*RINNOO TTIMGZVE
EXECUTION OF JOHN OTT.
At eleven o’clock, Friday eiornia ee eo Fite Ce RSS
a piri for the murder: of as ae ae
he a i veo. When arraigned Ott obviated a penteioar Hee
“xecuted in public, ata ree was immediately made to have Biot:
but Mid pe ee ee
ar ee a rations ‘werd then made for executing him in as
nrg Ae law. <A scaffold was erected in the yard o
excladsabke sablic e prison and enclosed with a wooden structure is
Segan_ to siicalse digs es ot this was determined on, rumors
19 a portion of the people of the coun
ty
VUULA
YOU 4
VUUINGE 2 5
IAWLUAL, BErnaras; oA!
Orville;
Vibra non 9 wire
mA 7 |
: 4 | \ * i
tue oe Le LILY YU LING og JVUUL L
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7
whens Sw. ¥ a SA
3
ay .
dn g
oa
Oe C.d INU Vath y UNE »LEL;
Bess P.;
in, Joseph
“\9—Barney Paul Williams was tough
“ friend until just before the end
”
ose?” io © : a ,
yo * Where the penalty is electrocution, the doomed man’s
real punishment is in his last moments, not the chair
THE DEATH WATCH
PaERS are thousands of potential kill-
ers in this country today. Not all
of them are hardened criminals who will
kill for money. Some are mere youths
who have not fully realized the penalties
for murder... Some are persons who in a
moment of rage will slay another. Mur-
der, as we all know, draws no distinc-
tions. It may oecur anywhere, in skid
row or in the lap of luxury, among the
rich or the poor.
Yet many of these murders might be
prevented if everyone about to pull a :
knife or squeeze a trigger could foresee
his own last hours and death in the elec-
tric chair.
You probably have never witnessed an
execution. Only a comparatively few
persons have spent the last moments with
a condemned man and watched him walk
his final steps to the electric chair. Few
know what stories these men, now dead,
would have told.
One of those few men is Warden Frank :
G. Sain of the Cook County (Illinois)
Jail who has executed twenty-nine men
during the past eleven years. He says
~ . there is no physical pain in death by
electrocution. Still, even this does not
save a condemned man from the agonies
of his own soul.
Whether or not you agree with capital
punishment, society has laid down rules
for its own protection and the law of
- Illinois decrees death in the electric chair-
for persons who violate the edict: “Thou
shalt not kill.” This law seems to be
forgotten in the moment of blind rage
or intense hatred: that grips a killer.
Often—until the very last moments be-
fore they are led from the death cell—
they seem almost to forget that the State
demands punishment for those who kill.
Genre. «ss
a ie aie
Many slayers are snarling and defiant
when arrested by the police. At their
trials they will frequently boast that they
are “not afraid to burn.” Some even
enter murderers’ row with that atti-
tude.
But nearly all, as the time of execution
approaches, become aware that their
time to pay for their crime has come and
they are afraid.
It is then, in the shadow of the elec-
tric chair, that most have turned to
religion, Warden Sain has found. Some-
times to the very end, a man will curse
and refuse to accept his faith. Some,
like Paul Williams, will wait until their
last five minutes before they kneel and
pray.
For them, however, religion can only
give comfort in their last hours. Had
they known its guidance earlier they
would not have found themselves about
to die by electrocution. But for them
it was too late.
There are seventeen steps from the
first death cell in the Cook County Jail
‘to the execution chambers; twenty-two
from the second cell and twenty-seven
from the farthest. It takes six seconds
- for a man to be led from his cell, marched
down that brightly lighted corridor and
placed in the electric chair. This job
is accomplished speedily because the jail
has several crews of men especially
trained for the task. Warden Sain has
instructed these crews personally, to
make certain the job is done swiftly and
efficiently. He is a kindly man by na-
ture and that part of his job he knows
is necessary, but it is not pleasant. He
has found that men about to die appre-
ciate little kindnesses and he usually
finds some way to meet any reasonable -
TRVe DEVECTIVE
requests they may make in ‘their last
hours.
As the hour of death approaches, a
guard is placed inside the condemned-
man’s cell. He has been instructed to
ease the final hours as much as possible,
He fits himself into the mood of the’
doomed man. Some condemned men
prefer to talk or play cards, some spend
their time in prayer, others sit in si- _
lence. The guard does nothing on his
own, but if the man wants to play cards, .
he joins in; if he prefers to talk, the
guard. becomes talkative, Facing the
_ unknown, the doomed man is eager for
companionship.
There is one request Warden Sain re-
fuses. In his cell no man is drugged
or given liquor while in the death cell.
Many of them have asked for it, but
such requests are never granted.
In most cases condemned men are kept
in murderers’ row, a separate block of
cells within the jail, and in the final
hours are brought down to the cells
adjoining the. electrocution chambers.
Other men who may lose their minds and
attempt violence are sent down earlier
and placed under double guard—one
guard inside and another stationed in
the corridor outside the cell.
The electric chair was first installed
on July 6th, 1927, in the old County Jail
at 444 North Dearborn Street. Previous
to that time execution was by hanging.
The first of fifty-three men who were to
die in the chair were Anthony Gricco
and Charles Walz. They were executed
on February 20th, 1929. The first to be
electrocuted after Warden Sain became ,
head of the jail were Walter Dittman, a
giant of a man, and his small, shy com-
panion, Herman Boulou,.a Puerto Rican.
SS rr eee geeees wees cere
Peas Feta ips se ana
1 ons
so nnn Na
pan» PN ab Sinn Sf ie
Aimee
HARLAN MASSEY
The new County Jail stands today at
26th Street and South California Ave-
nue. On April 16th, 1937, three separate
death cells were installed. Into each
the sunlight streams through glazed glass
windows and onto single cots. The floors
are gray and are kept spotlessly clean.
The bars and walls are painted cream
color.
A few hours before the time set for
execution (by tradition, always one min-
ute after midnight on a Friday), the
Warden’s duties become heavy. The
current in the eicctric chair must be
checked; the buckles and mechanisms
must be looked over so that nothing can
go wrong. He attends to this person-
ally, for he carries the only keys to the
chamber and insists that he always be
present when anyone enters that room.
Meanwhile other men are preparing the
special solution into which the pads for
the electrodes are dipped to secure a
better contact.
ANOTHER duty is selection of the
men who will conduct the execution.
There are several trained teams and
until the execution hour arrives no one
knows who will be selected. Two-men
are chosen to bring the condemned man
from his cell to the death chamber; three
other men are there beside the electric
chair to assist in adjusting the straps
and mechanisms. ;
Two of the guards take the condemned
man by his arms and lead him from his
cell. Behind him walks the minister or
priest, intoning prayers, and he halts at
the threshold of the chambers and re-
mains outside in prayer. Preceding him
on that last walk is the Warden.
As the (Continued on page 101)
Death is instantaneous
for those who are led
to the electric chair
food lay untouched before him. His teeth
were chattering as if he were terribly cold.
His hands were shaking.. He was no longer
the cold-blooded killer of four men—he
was just a scared kid.
“Well, Barney, I think everybody’s turned
you down,” the Warden said as he walked
in. “There’s no more hope.”
“Sit down, Warden,” the boy said anx-
iously. “You’ve been pretty nice to me. I
appreciate it.”
Slowly, Warden Sain read the orders of
the court, the sentence to death. The youth
began to tremble in a way that got the
Warden worried. Patiently he talked with
him, as he might to his own son. Barney
had always fought alone and lived alone.
But now, facing the unknown, he was afraid,
terrified.
“Warden,” he said, “I’d like to see the
priest if I can.”
There in his death cell he made his final
confession and as he went to his death, he
was calm. From his pockets he drew a
handful of pennies and gave them to his
guards. It was probably the only time in
his life that Sawicki had freely given some-
thing to anyone.
After the execution, a guard brought a
Eighteen years of age, commuting
eight miles to town via a “Tooner-
ville trolley” that ran every two
hours, I began work in the big fac-
tory with a keen desire to make
friends. Working with a construc-
tion gang, I accepted the sugges-
tion of a co-worker that we pur-
chase and share a pie to augment
our already bulging lunch boxes.
Part of the pie was left over and
we offered it to another co-worker,
Joe, who said that.he would put it
in his locker to eat later in the
afternoon.
However, as the afternoon waned,
ing the pie from its place of storage
and eating it with gusto, if with
uneasy conscience. A short while
later, Joe sought it unsuccessfully
and with baleful eye and profane
language told in detail what he
: thought. of a: person who would
_ give away 9 piece of pie and then
steal it.
added the real fear of Joe’s dis-
pleasure, so I sought a happy solu-
tion. As soon as the closing whistle
blew, I hurried to a near-by bakery,
bought a big handsome pie and
started to take it to Joe’s house, a
block away from the factory. As
coming around the corner, a couple
_ the pie, miss the trolley and wait
two hours for the next car? Or
should I take the car and abandon
my pie-appeasement program?
Just then, a friendly, recently
migrated Hungarian came out of the
bakery. I pointed out Joe’s house
“and asked him if he would deliver
‘the pie. He didn’t understand the
When I Killed a
_ ing about the pie. A little later on
my own appetite returned and I.
yielded to the temptation of retriev-.
To my uneasy conscience was now -
I neared it, I saw my traction car
of blocks away. Should I deliver -
letter from Barney, written during his last
hours, and addressed to Warden Sain.
“Dear Warden,” he had written. “I never
had any religion in my life before. If I
had that before, I never would have been
here. I advise all the boys on the outside
to think about their religion before they
end as I.”
There have been tough men, too. The
‘toughest of all, perhaps, was John H. Sead-
lund, one of the most cold-blooded killers
in the history of Cook County. J. Edgar
Hoover of the Federal Bureau of Investi-
gation said he was one of the toughest
-men he had ever come across.
He kidnapped Charles Ross, wealthy
Chicago postcard manufacturer, and took
him out of the State. After collecting
ransom from Ross’ wife, he cold-bloodedly
murdered both Ross and his own partner
in the kidnapping.
The FBI found him spending the ransom
money in huge bets at race tracks. He was
convicted and turned over to the Cook
County Jail by the Federal Government for
execution, the first man to die in the electric
chair under the Lindbergh kidnapping law.
He was executed on July 14th, 1938.
There were other hard killers. Orville
hurried explanation I gave, but he
agreed to deliver the package and
I caught the car. ,
The next morning, Joe said noth-
one of the men said, “Wasn’t that a
strange story told by that poisoned
Hungarian at the hospital?”
Allears, I listened for details. The
narrator said that the police picked —
up the near-unconscious victim in
the street. He had been given a
pie by a stranger, he said, eaten it,
and immediately became violently
ill.
A little later, another of my fel-
low workers came up and told us
he had just heard that the man died
and that the police were searching
‘for the mysterious stranger whom
the dying man had described.
This really scared me. I was in
a near panic but resolved that the
only thing to do was to give myself
up to the police. But, as the hor-
rible details were being discussed,
one of my more sympathetic fellow
workers winked at me and I knew
that I had been the gullible victim
of a very effective hoax.
It has taken me almost twenty
years to’live that down.
—F. A.B,
Watson and Edward P. Ryan were to die
on June 20th, 1941. Ryan had spent most of
his life in prison; Watson was just as tough.
After he entered the jail, Watson began
making enquiries about men in the prison
who had taken the easy way out. Guards
were posted to keep him from trying to
bash his head against the iron cell door,
He continually tried to impress his jailers
with his toughness. A few hours before
he was to die, the Warden and one of his
assistants came into Watson’s cell.
“Who is that man?” Watson demanded.
“That’s the barber, Orville,” Warden Sain
replied.
As the barber prepared to shave Watson’s
head, the tough killer fainted dead away.
All the time the barber worked, and while
they changed his clothes for the electrocu-
tion garb, he remained unconscious. The
braggard killer, stripped of his weapons,
had shown his true colors.
Other killers seem resigned to their fate,
as if they had been sure all their life
that some day this would be their end.
Ernest Wishon, a farm boy, had been in
trouble most of his life. One day he got
drunk and robbed a west side jeweler,
Joseph Schulte, of a few watches and then
shot and killed him. Trailed by a street-
car conductor, Wishon was found by police,
tried and convicted.
He had been in prison most of his life
and gave no trouble to his guards. He
spent all his time reading the Bible. He
vo another killer who found religion too
ate.
“This is the first brgak I’ve ever had in
my life,” he said one day.
After he had been executed, his jailers
went to his cell and there found the Bible
he had been reading. He had left it in-
scribed to Warden Sain and it has been
kept in block C-1 of the jail ever since in
the hope that it might straighten out others
and keep them from joining Wishon in
death by the electric chair.
Paul Williams was another “tough guy”
killer. All his life he had gotten into
trouble; finally it was murder. He was
sentenced to death and when he came to
the Cook County Jail he became a trouble
maker. At last he was brought into the
Warden’s office. This office overlooks the
courtyard and its windows are heavily
barred. On one side of the room is a huge
showcase displaying hundreds of knives
and other weapons, picked up by guards
from the floors of the jail corridors after
they had been surreptitiously thrown there
by prisoners who were about to be searched. |
When word spreads through the grape-
vine that an investigation of the jail is on
(“The bunks are going to be riffled,” the
cons say) and the Warden walks through
block on block of cells, knives and all sorts
of improvised weapons are uncovered. All
of them are in this showcase: books with
cutout pages where Knives were inserted; a
scaling rope one man thought he could use
to escape the jail; soap models of knives
and guns; bottles of whiskey and doped
cigarettes.
When Williams walked into the office, he
stared at the showcase, then at the wall
beyond. There, row on row, are pictures
of men who have died in the Cook County
electric chair—murderers. who have paid
for their crimes with their lives.
“Who are those guys?” he demanded.
“Those are all the boys. who have gone
to the chair in this jail,” Warden Sain an-
swered. =
He stared at them; then he sneered:
“You'll never have my picture up there,
Warden.” ~
As he spoke, his eyes were fastened 0?
an exhibit at the far end of the room. It 15
a four-foot model of the electric chair. With
tiny clamps and electrodes, it is a perfect
miniature of the real chair. It is mounted
on a revolving frame that can be controlle
by elect:
be made
a very e
as he ur
their liv:
them.
When \
heavy gu
~ four-hou:
remarked
, chair; he
His mo
the jail.
by the W
to help h:
son to er
knelt by
see the li:
before he
Warden
vain. He
his mind ;
the chair
from goin
to take h-
is
W
%
im
ak
ert
* Here SE are
HE War
before
chamber.
several m:
he said:
“Paul, y
afternoon.
_ The you
\ his fear, |
committal
“She ma
the Warde
write a le
to write }
you knelt
Williams
to lay dow
taire he h:
one by on
stacked. th:
finished, {
move.
Warden :
more minu
Williams
hand, stari
the table a
long mome
perhaps the
Sea
EOE SSG ERE
“ay Bee A
~ His eyes
> moment, th
© cold concre
. Ww
- Sometime
‘ligion is not
"thoughts of
msults at e
y of animal-}j
‘lance, suspi¢ig
onvenience.’ Ff
‘s incalculable
prisoner
through
personality, out for its victim,
behavior, ig More than one man has had that reaction
S’responsibi to the chair, g C. Scott, a big, powerfully
built Negro, was being leq in blindfolded
Ss Depar
hiatrist,
ined child
regular me
iblic schoo’
ipal,
AS THE Condemned man is
chair, automatic clamps are adjusted on-
y would have
Likely to sues
3 detec
of the electric chair, about twenty feet
> outside of away. It is Separated from the death
chamber by plate 8lass and is darkened so
ar ttle. the execution have gathered together some
ediately ree time before the condemned man is brought
linic, in, They are admitted by passes issued
gists exams” WF by the Sheriff and are Carefully searched
y found he before being led by a circuitous route to
-ent investi- the witnesses’ room
to discovér
The visitor. _
apparently. 4
ir son kept Persons who would attempt—as they did in
Hl, and ap= the Ruth Snyder execution in New York—
‘, they re« to secure a photograph of the condemned
ced: “How Person at the Moment the current is
turned on.
He doesn't To the right of the electric chair is a
@ is just a huge contro] room. This is the warden’s
Bs Station during the execution. Here too is
ator had € electrician, the engineer and foyr
Saly with Prison employees, Before them are four
: his father Suttons; three are dummies, on the fourth
n at plage is the connection which channels the elec-
fore had tricity into the black wooden chair Only
oy by int € Warden knows Which of these buttons
vale A Carries the juice: which of the four men is
— ds of acting as executioner,
ort time
{ on the
ere is no
start to-
rted, the
“put he
i
ung Ct j hen i
f sdving that the condemned man js Strapped into
oring of the chair and the electrodes are in place,
ices are © Warden makes a last-minute check—
hroughe" then signals to the four men at the contro]
’ F. & anel Instantly a loud whirring sound
rnment. Ndicates that the electricity has started
ble Nnder the bright floodlights glaring down
ssyc on the lack chair the man seems to leap
eset “pward at the Straps,
n front of the Warden is a huge clock,
a single
Slowly the 1
“These
time.”
is those who
murdering four Person.
Paroled, t
he had been
in crime and
He was Seized
the Windy City,
everybody,
had never had a chance
model prisoner,
news that he was
Had he ha
uldn’t ha
Teal to him,
in life, he w
eerie li
ght Shining do
arge second hand
journey 4round the ¢]
are the times,”
“when two minutes ca
As the
in whic
ock.
Warden Sain Says,
nN be a long, long
a Chicago Park
in th
ce)
derers’ Tow—but now it
harges,
friendly -advice, But Barney
gone beyond
could not
were posted
twenty-four
Barney had never had enoyu
All
ing his ninetee
that
nN years,
of was that steak he was
his last Meal,
to see him sh
But when
ortly befo
re midnicht
wn on it,
begins its
“I hope I bur
€ was only a child really. He was a
-Nice-looking blond lad of nineteen and he
gh to eat dur-
he had talked
8oing to have for
the Warden came
thy
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\ 2101-A Morric a. -
- -HISTORY OF. IROQUOIS COUNTY.
he plats of Montgomery and Iroquois have never et ee a e
© c . un <a
the ground is still taxed as lots. The actual location ae . gee ;
seat by the commissioners was at Iroquois, adjoining ae ha 7 2 ee
but as no buildings were in Iroquois, the county oe wee a ee oe
8% e 1 1 :
the courts held, in Montgomery. The election at Bunkum in :
Uhotiirst held i ‘county. , :
was thie first held in the count; a ee |
Probably the first. white child born in Concord Ce cam :
fe oe ‘ebruar : nother early
William L. Eastburn; he was born February 22, ee es a
birth was that of Mr. Fry’s daughter, Amanda; she was ee
335, : lied in infancy. ee,
November. 1835, and died in i 7
The first marriage took place October 12, 1832, the ees g
oe G i Courtright and Agnes Newcomb. The license
oarties being George Court 2 ee
. i procured in Danville, Illinois, and the ceremony was ee es
: righ
“in an old leg house, located on the place, now known as the ght
farm. te ip se
~ Following close in the wake of the pioneers 2 ne tones C
S oe 2 1 he een 1
came that dreaded visitor, death, whose presence ha ee
manifest in such’ varied forms, as seems to have exhaus e
‘of power.
Me 3
bee “Old age has been engaged,
Tender infants low were laid, :
- Even the hangman's fatal knot,
~~ Again the landslides rushing rock ;
_» Now the river in its might,
© ‘Then the bold assassin’s knife ;-
Disease so often to the task, :
-! "And the lightning’s vivid flash,—
Wav alicerved, and a one phalanx in that irresistible ame
whicléall inust succumb. The first death to occur Ee ie Be
limits of Concord township was that of Elijah Ds he
spring of 1831. Another early death was that of Hezekiah Kas :
~ October 29, 1882.
Ane
gS
~ CRIME.
EP Eon 2 : 5 Ae = ¢ 1 |
-Gladly would we draw a veil over the succeeding paregrep 9
ae vos : i in the memories of the
a re ’ this ancient town, so cherished 1 a
~ the annals of this ancie dere ana heme
ae A . ven 53 record murders a
st. Certainly it is an unpleasant duty to Bk:
- past. Certainly it is an : of historie
Ponte cos among the chapters of a locality so full ‘as Jou
peu ces AIO : she homason, alias
& : But such is stern reality. Joseph T !
oa a ee 2a F Norriss * was tried, on a change of venue
_F. Morriss, alias Joseph F. Norriss,* was ’ lee Lecraal
peut : ees nae rderin Char es eg
‘from another county, for the crime of murdering
* He dlaimed Morris when arrested. Before the justice he called himself Not
but was afterward recognized as Thomason.
HISTORY OF IROCUDIS CO
_, Benjamin Fry was the char
“noble red man?
they had a cainp close by Mr. Fry’s, |
oe
-Aquaws gave the title of ‘Heap Brave” to the bold white man; and
* as a mark of’ respect. for
shoulder the latte
-d, that ti ided over the dis-
unty was then a part. The jury. was ou
six hours, when a verdict of ** guilty’? was announced. -On‘June 1
he was hanged to a tree‘on the north bank of the Iroquois,
one rod cast of the site of the wagon-bridge. “ei. Hee?
In July, 1862, at a dance held in Iroquois for the 76th regiment,
aman by the name of Landen, a resident of Middleport, -had a
huekster stand. He formerly lived in Rensselaer, Indiana, where he
met John Anderson, a blacksmith, and at the time of the dance a
resident of Troquois, Tllinois. They had some words, Anderson
racing Landon, and shortly the latter was found to be stabbed, from
the etects of which he died. Report says he named Joe Davis, then.
John Anderson as the man who stabbed him. The latter was tried,
and was discharged for want of prosecution, the. witnesses being in
the army. : ee er ae
Again: May 5, 1877, Iroquois
was the scene of a bloody affray
This time Charles Pinkerton killed Samuel Kelly, - Pinkerton was
working for Kelly in the latter’s livery stable. Pinkerton, with.
others, was on a spree in the stable, and Kelly went to quiet them.
They had words, then blows, and Kelly was stabbed, the wound >
proving fatal. Pinkerton was tried and sentenced to three years in
the penitentiary. ne ee a
INCIDENTS, ETC, >
Probably with all early settlements are associated amusing’ inci-
dents and little stories, in which the names of the pioneers of their
respective localities appear, and as one from Concord,
the mettle of her pioneers,
illustrating:
we relate the following, in which Mr._
acter. Tle settled here in 1830, when the:
> roamed the forest at will, and, as was
the case,
They had many dogs, and
Fry’s hogs, until, as a last resort, —
the offending canines, and some-
o exact his vengeance. This un-
e praise of the Indians, and the
these were very unfriendly to Mr.
that gentleman took to shooting
times went into the Indian camp t
flinching bravery won for him th
him, or fear for their dogs, would always
rin passing his residence, and carry them far out
of sight.
Potato as
THOMAS loser. nb 23s “ped. Bunkum: (now: Montgomery)
| (alias mors - -Chahge? 0. “venue aaa,
ee ey aS yx
THE FIRST MURDER “AEN
Bunkum (actually Ser neon mee nad the dubious honor of being the scene of the first
murder trial and execution in [recuois County.--The first murder in Cook County aroused a ”
feeling so strong Seta the accused that his pawyer took a Se ot venue to sibaiaiag
ey al ete
- Charles Merrett a Chicago blacksmith, nwith fifty dollars in his ee casted to"
ak from Chicago to Joliet. On his way he was seen in company with a man on horse back.
The second day his lifeless body was discovered near the road and the man who had been
een with him on horse back the day before had disappeared. ----- A 23 year old man named
F homasson (alias Joseph Morris) was arrested and identified by several witnesses as the
» ame man who was seen in Legree's company. A knife, identified aS the knife of eer. pe
mwas also found in the possession of Thomasson",
; In the absence of 2 court house the trial was held at the house of Richard MonteCiet
in May, 1836. There is some controversy as to the identity of the judge. The names of
Etephen Logan and Thoms !'orl are both mentioned as having presided at the trial. °James
m rant was the states attorney and Hugh Newell was clerk. Samuel poche Dunn was
neriff at the time. ae.
“The prisoner's counsel asked for a Conti nuance which was refused, and the prisoner. ti
; leaded "not guilty". <A jury was impannelled consisting of Benjamin Rey Jacob W. ° es
hiteman, Samiel Rush, Alexander Wilson, James Frame Jacob Morgan, Wesley Spitler, =
illiam A. Cole, Tra Lindsey, and Isaac Fry. J. A. Strickler and George Cour urtright
e: guards on duty during the trial and consequent imprisonment.
je uthe sf le. was gall: bpngianitet as there was no eye witness to the crime, The ~
! s whet: they returned a verdict of guilty. The sentence was”
iesbincés by™ a sae Sh the day for the execution set for June 10. ° On May 19, 11836
“motion for a new trial wa: ovev ruled." Be Ne
The prisoner waseivuned and confined in one of the houses nearby until the day of =
aee He was Ploced in a wagon and.a rope was looped around his neck, the’ ce
ther’end of the rope belies Suctened to the limb of a large walnut tree. > This tree stood =e
‘the bottoms on tix: north side of th: Iroquois river, about hali way between the old
pvigon bridge and the bliuift. The wagon was driven out from under hin and he was left a.
anging until dead. A tate crowd of people came from lonzs distances t. witness. the a
xecution. The day was one of rain and storm. The prisoner, on his way to 2: zcution,
moked a cigar with great foriitude and on arriving at the place of execution, made a
‘hort speech, justifying iis pest lite. When life was extinct the body was buried at
1 point southeast of Bunkum. Rev. Thomas Timmons officiated at the funeral. ence
>The drama of tiiis early crime was re-enacted at the Old Settlers! Reunion 1 of 1879,
-.at which time a piece o the old walnut tree on which Thomasson was hanged, was displayed.
} The relic was the eee Of: Mewes. V.: Nosker. tae Se
AE cath
FS
ORE ae”
en
ESCERPTS FROM HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS, by Beckwith.
Joseph THOMASON, ,anged at Bunkum (Now Montgomery) on June 10, 1836,
John McDONNELL, hanged at Middleport, February 7, 1862.
Francis Marion HARPER, hanged at Effingham, December 22, 1865.
Re eee ee AP ea a
HENDERSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
oS much parley and soisy detonstration, shots
| 4 were fired from both the outside and the inside
: ‘of the’house, Thomas Johpeon Was dangerously
3 wounded bye bullet through his breast; gne
| of the posse was killed and'angther badly wotnd-
iq @h: ‘The officer and his men thén retreated and
waited: for- daylight. In the morning the’ of-
“eer, returned with a great crowd, and gil the
inmates of the hoyse were arrested, and the
Joliagon ‘end the women who were left under
guard,” ;
“At the March tere, #871, of the circuit court,
“ems Jotinson and Joseph B. Johnson” were
‘indict ‘by ‘the Grand Jury, for the ¥Jlling of
Hie" persons as above stated. They both had
ty thats removed by change of venue to War-
ren Gounty; when Joseph Johnson was dis-
cbarged. Thomas Jobneon was puf on trial and,
‘Afterten days exemibation of’ witnesses, a jutoe |
wan tokpa“geriouely, dtek
end “the jury Gis,
changed. © “wt the same. term of odurt the case |
wee qumt by enother change of venue’ to” Me-
Wenengh County, ne Judge Smith, "who predided ~ :
at the tial, became =x important witness, in
1873 the case was tried before Judge Higbee
and a jury at Macomb, and resulted, after a
dj protrapted trial, tn the acquittal of Mr. Johrisan.
In thin trial the people were represented -by
J: “A MeKegsie, John J. Glenn, and Mr. Wheat,
and the defendant by Odi. Robert G. Ingersoll, °
Jonathan Simpson,’ J. H. Setar and Col. J.
W. Davidson.
ee William Lee was indicted at the March term,
1876, of the Circuit Court for the murder, dur-
ing the previous fall, of Jessie McCarty, at Hast
Burlington, by beating her to death and throw-
ing her body into the river. Lee was arrested
and confined in jail until his indictment. The
court appointed a special term during the month
| of April following for Lee’s trinl. At the time
of his arrest and indictment the body of the
| victim had not been found, but a few weeks
before the trial was to take place, the body was
found and fully identified. At the trial the
| ‘Meg sent to the county’ jail, except Thomas
A
HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY opel 131
most intense interest was manifested, the court
room being crowded by the excited people, who
seemed to fear that the prisoner would in seme
manner escape the justice which they believed
‘should attach to hig fearful crime. He Was,
efter ‘a hotly contested trial, convicted, the
jury finding, as a part of thelr verdict under
the “law, that the defendant should suffer
@eath. Judge Smith sentenced him to be hung
on the 16th day of June at the county jail, The
Gay arrived and the town was filled to over
flowing with persons attracted thither by a mor-
bid curiosity to witnessthé death penalty in-
Hicted upon a fellow being: The’ Sheriff of the
county, George Bell, exeeuted the order of the
qyart by banging Leg atthe time appointed by
the court,’ ‘In this omeé’ J, H. Jennings, State's
Attotiiey;“and J. H. Stewart appeared for the
-Daopie and Jonathan Simpron for the defense.
‘“Lapry ONejl, who had been indicted with Lee
‘quiagceqaoraite the sayuvlew of Jousle’ McCarty,
Wal, in’ August, 1870) tried’ and acquitted. At
the eapne tery Cignles'saties of Bagetown, ‘was
fone’ 8? jury, they found this peisouér’ not guilty.
‘Bhe'pebor was very strong,’ yet he was acquitted,
bat ‘was constrained’ to* feat that Henderson
Comite was not’, ' hegithy loeatiqn: for him, and
hp left the county. In ‘this ose J. H. Jennings,
Btgte’s “Attorney; ’ and ‘Qonathan Simpson ap-
pearef for, the people, and Baus Cooper for the
“defendant. |
July 4, 1877, a young man was killed at Car-
maa by a pistol shot, and Jesse Asher, a young
man living in the country near Carman, was
arrested for his murder, In March, 1878, he was
put on trial on an indictment charging him with
the offense. After a warmly contested trial
‘the defendant was convicted of murder in the
second degree, and sentenced to confinement in
the Joliet penitentiary for the term of ten years,
but was afterwards pardoned by the Governor.
J. H. Jennings, and Raus. Cooper appeared for
sag Céirensantient to The Journal
On April 16,1926, Emil Fricker, a farmer
from Highland, Ill. was executed by hanging
at the jail in Edwardsville. He was the last man
to be hanged in Madison County.
Fricker was convicted of murdering the
first husband and inciting the murder of the
Fricker’s- lawyers appealed for a
commutation of the death sentence but on
April 15, 1926, Illinois governor Small refused
to grant the appeal and Fricker’s fate was
sealed,
That night of April 15, Fricker had his last
meal, steak and onions with french-fried
potatoes.
second husband of his German house-girl, 2) Afterwards he played solitaire in order to
whom he loved. (MINAIE $clt4.iCl47¥ occupy his mind and bolster his courage. He
Not long after hiring the girl, Fricker
became involved with her and, over a period
of time, totally neglected-his wife and two
daughters, becoming more and more jealous
and possessive toward the house-girl.
Fricker was married, however, and the girl
eventually decided to marry aman named
Robert K ehrli.
Fricker could not stand the thought of the
girl belonging to another man so he took
Kehrii jout behind a shed and shot him, after
which he covered his crime so well that a
coronor’s jury ruled the death a suicide.
The girl was horrified at the sudden death
of her first husband and almost immediately
decided to wed again, this time to John
Nungesser.
Fricker had already committed one murder
in order to keep the girl and did not hesitate
to commit another.
This time, however, he hired two of his
farmworkers, Jacob Landert and Eldo Wernli,
to dq the job.
He offered them $250.00 and promised his
daughter in marriage to one of the men.
‘Lendert and Wernli then took Nungesser
behind the shed and eliminated him in much
the’same manner that Kehrli had been done
away with.
The law caught up with the two hired
killers, however, and during the confession,
they implicated Fricker in the murder and
also told of Fricker’s first crime.
Landert and Wernhi were sentenced to life
imprisonment for the murder of Nungesser,
and Fricker was given the same sentence for
the murder of Kehrii.
The law wasn’t through, however, and
Fricker was soon on trial again, this time for
inciting the murder of Nungesser.
He was found guilty and sentenced to
death by hanging with the sentence to be
carried out on June 13, 1925. \
Fricker appealed and the €ase went before
the Supreme Court which found Fricker
guilty and. upheld the death penalty. The
even managed to sleep a few hours.
During that final evening before the
execution, a reporter asked Fricker how it felt
to know that he was going to hang.
“How in the hell would you feel if you
know you were to be hung?” snapped Fricker.
A crowd began to gather in the yard the
following morning and by the time the
execution was to take place, an estimated 400
persons, including six women, had gathered to
watch the sentence carried out.
Bill Hanna, of Epworth, Ill. had been
brought in to supervise the proceedings.
Hanna was a wealthy farmer upstate and
hangings was his hobby. He was an expert.
The trap would actually be sprung by
sheriff Ed Deimling, of Madison County, but
Hanna would supervise.
This was Hanna’s fifty-first hanging, and
his last.
At approximately nine {mu Fricker was.
led from the jail, to the scaffold
accompanied by sheriff’s deputies and Rev.
O.J. Eckhard, of Edwardsville.
As he was being led up the sixteen steps
leading to the gallows, Fricker weakened and
stumbled .and had to be assisted by two
deputies the rest of the way.
Father Eckhard assisted Fricker in a prayer
and gave the doomed man a small crucifix.
Fricker gazed out toward the crowd,
looked around at the trees and houses and
then said quietly, “I am not guilty of what I
am charged with.”
Someone then removed Fricker’s hat and
Madison County Deputy Sheriff Paul Taylor
placed the black hood over the prisoner’s head
after which the noose was put into place.
At nine minutes and fifty, seconds after
nine a.m. Sheriff Deimling sprung the trap and
Fricker dropped through. :
Thirteen minutes later, he was pronounced
dead!
Fricker was the eighth and last man to be
executed by hanging in Madison County, the |
last one prior to it had been 33 cae before in
ane center enenee, i amie
n County
execution date was now set for April 16, 1893.
ee am not guilty of what...» -- @
am a charged with.”
Hanging hobbist supervises :
Cay
Woo RIVER SOUR RAL (VaAUSPRPERD APE 20,1972.
Sn eee: we mee
i
hie bewt npn &
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, -ILLINOIS.
O) years and G6 months penal servitude in the aggregate. re
rapist was sent up for five years: Johann Ludwig Fricster,
Fred. Welner were sentenced three and five years respec-
tively, for manslaughter ; E. Aldred, indicted for murder, ob-
tained a change of venue to Bond county ; and Peter Han-
son was fuund guilty of arson and sent up for seven years.
The trial of George Gibson, Edward Barber and Joseph
Watson, for the murder of one Barth. a peddler and resi-
dent of the county, created the most intense excitement
throughout the county. These men were indicted on the 16th
of May, 1857, by the following grand jurors, to wit: Fred.
T. Krafft, foreman, James L. McLanahan, James Whiteside,
Aaron Rule, Jacob Leder, William McCain, John J. Par-
ker, James Kell, Josiah K. Gillham, Benjamin L. Dorsey,
L. S. Wells, Lancaster R. Weeks, John Mason, Collier .
| four murder cases and eight of manslaughter placed
on the criminal docket of the circuit court; other crimes,
Brown, John Cox, George Moffitt, G. W. Layman and
Jacob B. Cox.
The trial commenced on the 21st of May, 1807. The ©
parties were defended by S. T. Sawyer, F. S. Rutherford and |
| ny, burglary, and robbery, their penal servitude aggregating
John Trible, before the following jury: J. H. Williams,
S. W. Tindall, George Hedges, William Sandbach, George
G. Wilson, Jacob Preuitt, Abram Preuitt, Benjamin Heus- |
tis, Ignatius Sweeringen, I. B. Randle, William Keirsey and |
Francis Agnew, who found the defendants guilty of murder. |
One of the murderers, a mere youth, had his death sentence
commuted by executive clemency, into “Penitentiary for life,
and was pardoned out during the civil war. He enlisted in |
the service of the U.S. and served faithfully to the end of |
the war. It is said that he now resides in St. Louis, and is
engaged in business there. The two others ended their lives |
on the gallows, which had been erected on the grounds of the |
county poor farm, south of Edwardsville.
The indignation of the people in the eastern part of the
county, where the murder was committed and where the poor
_ ty-
79
ands of people from all parts of the county, who had come
to attend the “ hanging.”
The sheriff, one of the most kind-hearted men of the day,
performed the dreadful duty of an execution with firmness,
but when he struck and cut the rope which held the plat-
form in position, he sank to the ground from sheer emotion.
1861 ro 1873.
Hon. Joseph Gillespie on the bench, J. B. Hay, J oseph
D. Manners, R. A. Halbert and E, Breese Glass prosecu-
ting attorneys. This period excelled all previous and
all subsequent terms in the number of murder cases,
some of which may be traced to the violent passions pre-
valent during the civil war, while a majority of them
were the out-cropping of depravity. There were twenty-
principally against property, were also very numerous.
Seventy-five persons were sent to the penitentiary for larce-
z51 years; two dealers in counterfeit money received four
years each, one rapist ten years, one forger one year and one
arson one year. Murder and manslaughter cases resulting
in convictions. William Rounds, sentenced for life, Octuber
term, 1863. Albert Rose, convicted of manslaughter, sen-
tenced for fifteen years. Rose had killed one Samuel Legett,
November 28, 186+. George Harrison, manslaughter, six
years. Harrison had killed John Newton in a fight by
stabbing him with a knife, Dec. 2, 1866. Henry Margraf,
murderer, life sentence. The murder committed by Margraf
was one of the most atrocious crimes on record in the coun-
He lived asa farm hand with Christian Wrisse, enjoy-
' ing the confidence of his employer to such a degree that he,
in eases of absence of the family, was left in full control of
victim was at home, was very great, and at times it was |
feared that the murderers would be mobbed.
In fact, an |
organized body, composed of five hundred men, headed by |
Savage and Smiley—a strange combination of names—all
mounted, appeared in the streets of Edwardsville a few days
after the murderers had been jailed, with the avowed pur-
pose of taking the prisoners from jail and hanging them at
‘the very place where Barth had been so foully murdered.
7. B. Job, then sheriff of the county, aided by all the
prominent men of Ed«ardsville, suceeeded in quieting the
mob. The late John S. Wheeler, as plucky as strong, and
7, B. Job, tore the leaders from ‘their horses and secured
their persons. Speeches were made by Hon. Joseph Gilles-
pie, the late F. T. Krafft and the late Solomon Koepfli, of
Highland, to quiet the infuriated masses. The latter, having
to give the alarm. The
Alton, requiring the two
ville at once. This summons was promptly obeyed, and
while they remained in
days,
pany, officered by J. H. Sloss, captain, and J. G. Robinson,
lieutenant. This company acted as guard and police on the
> The town was thronged with thous-
: y 2 > +f
Gay Vs wie Vacvrvict Jute
A
learned what was contemplated, hastened to Edwardsville by shooting, Nov. 1, 1%68, was at the May term,
authorities of the county sent to |
Alton Guards to come to Edwards- —
the house and every thing in it. Once again left there, with
no one except little Henry, a son of Mr. Wrisse, he robbed
the house, choked the poor child to death in a horrible man-
ner, secreted the body of his victim on the premises by
covering it up with two bags of wheat, and fled. The ter-
rible crime was soon discovered and Margraf arrested. He
wasput upon his trial in May, 1869, and taking advantage
of “a statutory proviso—that the death penalty could not be
y.sited on a murderer upon a plea of guilty—plead guilty.
His Honor, in sentencing him for life, expressed his regrets,
that he could not have sent the monster to the gallows,
which he had deserved so much. Margraf is still in the
penitentiary, but very recently had the audacity to ask
residents of the county to sign & petition for his pardon,
William Bell, accused of the murder of Hermann Wendell
1869
indicted for murder by the following grand jury.
H. K. Eaton foreman, Leander McLean, Hilley T. King,
Malachi A. Kline, Lewis Ricks, Anthony Beck, C. P.
charge of the prison for about 10 . Richmond, David Rinderer, Xavier Suter, Frank J. Haag,
the citizens of Edwardsville organized a military com- |
| Suppiger, Edward Elliff, Charles Edwards,
Alonzo Foster, Jacob W. Terry, John
John H. Kuhlen-
beck, Samuel Cough, William Bond, Wesley Reaves and
George L, Whaling.
Joseph G, Robinson,
ny WISTORY OF
you te be ey of murder, and the law says you are to be
hanged. Now I want you and your friends down on Wood
river ty understand that it is not T, that condemns you, but
the jury aud the law. Now I wish to allow you all the time
yeu want to prepare, so the court wants to known at what
time you would prefer to be hanged, ete. The story is continu-
ed extersively, (ireen replied that any time would suit him.
Then the Judge wants to know if four weeks from this day
json a Sunday and the like. Next fullowsa colloquy between
Judge Reynolds and the attorney general about the pro-
priety of cudeavoring to impress upon the conscience of the
culprit a sense of his guilt and to lead his thoughts to a seri-
ous preparation for death, to which suggestions the judge is
said to have replied as follows: Oh, it is no use Mr. Turoer,
Mr. Green understands the whole matter as well as if I had
talked to him for a week. He knows he is to be hanged
this day four weeks. You understand it in that way, Mr.
Green, don’t you?”
The death warrant of Eliphalet Green was issued on the
11th of February, 1824, signed and sealed by Joseph Con-
way, clerk of the circuit court of Madison county.
On the reverse side of this warrant we found the follow-
ing brief endorsement:
“Executed on the 12th of February, 1824, at half past
two of the clock, a. M. .
ia N. BuckmASrer, Sherif.
The “convenient’’ place selected by the sheriff was in the
creek bottom, near the bridge, on the Springfield road.
Spectators had come from a distance, and it is related that
a number of Indians had assembled to see how civilized
people killed their fellow men, Green died like a man,
sincerely repenting his wicked deeds. The opinion of the
public was divided in reference to his crime and its penalty.
Some of the leading men had their symp.thies aroused for
the poor fellow. He was buried near the place of execu-
tion. It is stated that Paris Mason guarded the grave
against body snatchers,and caused the corpse to be taken
up and re-interred in his (Mason’s) own graveyard.
The sheriff, about as much agitated at the execution as
the judge had been at passing sentence of death, certified
as seen above, that he had hung Green at two o'clock in the
MOTRING.
The story would not be complete if left without the bill
of costs. The writer found it among the vouchers of the
year 1824. It reads as follows:
ia Madison County, to N. Buckuasrer, Sheriff.
1824, March Term.
Cash to Watts for making gallows and coffin for E. Green, . $25 50
Paid cash to White for a hovk to hang himon,. . +. - - 2 00
Cash to Paris Mason for a rope,...- +--+ +++ +++ 150
Cash for a small rope at Pogue’s,... + +--+ ‘ 50
Cash for digging grave and filling it, to Jarrot and Roberts, . 8 50
Cash for shroud and cap,» - ee ee ee te ee ee 418
Cash paid to Jarrot for driving wagon ih coffin to place of
executhot, ws <i oe Sik ee ee ee eae 50
Cash to Meeker for nails to make the gallows,. . . >... 1 40
All specie, 0 ed ae eee ree 8 nin
MADISON COECN LS,
. $39 8} | aud prosperous. :
FELIN OLS,
Illinois State paper now being worth 30 ets. per dollar, this amount
of $39.03}, in specie, is equal to $150.30 in State paper.
° N. B., Sheriff.
1824, March Term. Hon. John Reynolds on the Bench.
Augustus Langworthy, foreman of the grand jury.
The case of William Parkinson, indicted for forgery, was
found guilty of the intent to defraud John Herrin to the
amount of 880.00. Parkinson took an appeal to the su-
preme court and gave bail in the sum of $6,000.00, with
Washington Parkinson and William Lec as sureties. Wil-
liam Parkinson, who had brought a damage suit against
Herrin for assault and battery, obtained a judgment tor
$93.00 against Herrin.
The celebrated suit of Madison county versus Edward
Coles was commenced at this term of court. This suit had
its origin in personal hatred and malice. We have shown
on a preceding page, that W. L. May had by a well writ-
ten representation of facts in the case, sueceedel in making
the county commissioners believe it to be their duty tu prose-
cute Governor Coles for manumitting his slaves, ten in num-
ber. Gov. Coles spoke of this suit ina private letter to
Robert Vaux, Philidelphia, in January 1824, in the follow-
ing manner: “For haying been instrumental in effecung
the defeat of the pro-slavery convention plans, and also for
having acted up to my principies in restoring liberty to
certain slaves given to me by my father, it would seem |
am never to be forgiven, but to be subject to an unrelenting
and cruel persecution, which aims to destroy not only my
political influence, but my personal character and property.
After having resorted to various means to injure my standing
with the people an effort is now made to cripple my pecuniary
resources and thus to disable me from promoting the cause
of freedom and of punishing me fur what I have done in
this way, A suit has recently been instituted against me to
recover the penal sum of §2V0, for each negro “emancipated
and brought by me to thisstate. This suit has been brought
under a law passed about the 1st uf April, 1819, which pro-
hibited any person from bringing into this state any negro
for the purpose of emancipation, unless he would give bond
under a penalty of $1,090, that the negro should not become
a county*charge, and that if the emanietpator neglected to
give this bond he should forfeit the sum of $200, for each
negro emancipated. My negrves emigrated to and settled
in this state about one month after the passage of this act,
but more than five months before it was priuted or promul-
gated. To the peculiar hardship of my case, from the im-
possibility of knowing of the existence of the law, until
after I had violated its provisions and incurred its penalty,
is to be added the fact of my not being content with freeing:
the negrocs in Virginia, and thus relinquishing more than
one-third of the property given me by my father, but from
a desire to promote their interest, removed them to this
state at an expense of between five and six hundred dollars,
and then gave them as a remuneration for their past services
and astimulus to future exertion, one hundred and sixty
acres of land to each one who had passed the age of 2+.
They all behaved uniformly well, and are honest, industrious
And what is truly farcical in this suit is,
a ee |
MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
74 HISTORY OF MARION AND CLINTON COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Fatharl! was never captured, and his case removed from docket
March, 1844.
Another murder case of more recent date, ended in the conviction
and executiun of the murderer. Many of our readers will remem-
ber the circumstances,
Crime.—Trial aud execution of James White, a youth of nineteen
years of age, the murderer of Andrew J. Applegate. The crime was
committed in a bar-room and grocery, kept by one Benjamin Crane,
south of the town of Salem, on the 16th day of April, A. D. 1861.
An inquest before W. H. Fraser, coroner of the county, was held
on the same day, when the testimony of two witnesses, W, H.
Smith and Henry C. Thompson, was heard, whereupon the coro-
ner’s jury fuund the following verdict, to wit:
“We, the jury, believe from the testimony that the deceased
came to his death by a stab from a knife in the hands of James
White, on the morning of the 16th of April, 1861, in the grocery
said to be owned by Benjamin Crane, one mile south of Salem,
Marion county. Wm. G, McKinney, foreman; J.T. Dwyer, J.N.
Jones, W. W. Pace, Ben Aker, J. K. Rainey, 8. Allbright, Leouard
Sexton, J. C. Lackey, Robert Clark, James H. Lester, B. F. Bum-
gardper.
James White was arrested by a private citizen on the very day
of the murder, and turned over to the authorities,
A preliminary examination was had before B, F. Marshall and
John W. Merritt, two justices of the peace, ‘in relation to the
alleged murder of Andrew J. Applegate.
The accused made the following statement, to wit:
“My name is James White; I am about nineteen years of age re
I have no family, and have lived in this county six months.”
Henry W. Smith, witness, sworn, states as followa—" I am 27 years’:
of age ; live in the town of Clinton, De Witt county, Illinois; I came |
here last Monday; never saw prisoner until yesterday, 16th of
April, when I met him at the grocery, south of’ Salera. ’ Myself,
oe
/ and we all went out, abd be locked ihe door alier ‘us, Teaviny the
deceased on the floor; the prisoner left the key on a pan in the
blacksmith shop; prisoner then went away. The knife with which
the man was killed was a bowie-knife, silver mounted: the blade
was six and a half to eight inches in length. A!l the occurrences
touk place in this county.”
The testimony of Henry C. Thompson corroborates the alive;
he saya, however, that he saw the prisoner stabbing the deceased
twice, and says in concluding his testimony: “IT know this man
(the prisoner) killed the deceased,” ete. :
The two justices of the peace, upon this testimony, committed
James White to the custody of the sheriff, with instructions to
keep him safely in jail, without bail.
White broke jail once, but was immediatel y recaptured.
The grand jury of the special July, 1861, term of the cireuit
court, to wit:—Hardy Foster, foreman, J. P. Huff, M. Eas. v, 1).
W. Allmon, James M. Carrigan, 8. A. Boggs, J. M. Charlton, J.
M. Huggins, Michael ‘Lee, Thomas A. Sweeny, Solomon Siple,
John H, Gray, J. W. Kessner, William A. Marshell, Jobu Linn,
James Chance, Reuben Chance, Robert Moore, George Courson,
John M. Oglesby, Henry McClelland, John Gall and B. J. Smith —
returned on the 24th of July, 1861, the following indictmeur
to wit:
’
Stare or I.iiNors, }
Special Term of the Marion Circuit Court,
Manion County. 5
‘in the year of our Lord 180).
The grand jurors, chosen, elected and sworn, in and for the
county of Marion, in the name and by the authority of the peuple ot
the state of Illinois, upon their oaths present, that James White. of the
county of Marion, on the sixtceenth day of April, A.D. 1561, ataud
in the county.of Marion aforesaid, with force and arms, in and upeu
one Andrew J. Applegate, in the peace of God and the people of
the State of Illinois, then and there being unlawfully, wilfully,
the deceased, the prisoner, Mr. Thompson and one Willis Albert, yp feloniously and of his malice aforethought, did then and there make
were in the grocery, about sun-up. Albert, Thompson and myself » 8 assault, and that the said James White with a certain Anite,
were sitting on one bench; the prisoner..wag sitting on another (|
by himself; the deceased was lying on a third bench—all in the same |
room. Willis Albert went and tried to wake-up deceased ; the:
latter was not pleased, and Albert left him qnd sat down on the
bench ; the prisoner then told the deceased to’ get up, but he’ did
not get ‘up; prisoner then took an iron poker and. punched de-
ceased gently, and told him to get up. Deceased now rose; had
some conversation together of no importance; deceased was angry
because he was waked up; the deccased and ‘prisoner had some
words, half in anger and half in good humor. ;I thought it was
their mode of talking together. They talked-some time, when
Thompson told them to shut up and sit down} they both sat down
on the same bench. Deceased said prisoner had. been: trying to
impose upon him; prisoner replied he had not, but from this on he
would. They both arose, and deceased said he would -as lieve die’
as not, and began pulling off his coat, but whether. it was all’ re-
moved or not I cannot say. J)eceased stepped up towards the
stove and stood there; prisoncr stood near, facing him, and told’
which he the said James White in his right hand then and _ there
had and held, the said Andrew J. Applegate in and upon the eft
jously and of his malice aforethought did strike and thrust. giving
to the said Andrew J. Applegate then and there with the knife
Ap breastonf- him the said Andrew J. Applegate, then and there felon-
aforesaid, in and upon the said left breast of him the said Andrew
of the depth of four inches, of which said mortal wound he the said
And.ew J. Applegate then and there died. And so the jurors
4
| J. Applegate, one mortal wound of the breadth of two inches and
: | aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do say, that the said James
the deceased to hit him; tne next thing I zaw was prisoner drawing |
a knife from the left breast of the deceased, with blood on the
knife and on the deceased’s clothes. The prisoner then jumped -
over the counter, and took a double-barreled shot-gun, pointing it
towards the deceased. After the deceased was struck, he stood up ~
a few seconds aud then fell forward on the floor; he.was dead:
from the wound. The prisoner fook a cloth and wiped ‘the blood ai
from his knife and put it in its sheath, and told Thompson to take
the key of the grocery. Prisoner then said, ‘Let us all go out,’
| White the said Andrew J. Applegate in manner and form aforesaid,
_ feloniously, wilfully and of his malice aforethought did then and
| there kill and murder, contrary to the form of the statute in such
cases made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the
people of the state of Illinois.
Signed, Amos Warts, States Attorney.
_ The court.—Hon. Silas L. Bryant, Circuit J udge; J. O. Chance,
Circuit Clerk; ‘I’. J. Black, Sheriff; Amos Watts, States Attorney
commenced with the trial on the 24th of July, and being informed
that the defendant, James White, was without means to employ
counsel to defend him, assigned as his counsel Messrs. W.W. Wil
| lard, Michael Schaeffer, aud Thomas E. Merritt. The defendant
plead “Not guilty,” and the case was then tried before the fullow-
_ ing jury, to wit:
‘Foster, Michael Justice, George Evans, Charles F. Baker, Alex-
Joel Chitwood, H. L. Allmon, 8. MeWhirter, Stokes Pruitt, John |
VERMILLION COUNTY,
EE EDEL i NG:
DF di oa
wor
DaANVN LE LLINOtS
WALTER MURPHEY
EXECUTION
FEBRUARY 16TH. 1917
YOU ARE INVITED AOMIS6ION BY TicKrT ONLY
(Mamoremaare
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This is one of about 100 invita-
tions to the hanging of Walter
Murphey, who was executed
Feb. 16, 1917 at the Vermilion
County Jail. He was one of five
5 Plt
CN staff pnote
men legally executed at the
jail, which soon will be
demolished. The invitation is on
display at the Vermilion County
Museum.
Jail wall paints
vivid picture of
county lynchings
@ Five jails ago’’ and
“Fear of kicks,” page 17.
______ By ED CHAMBLISS
C-N Staff Writer
. For more than a century the walls
of the Vermilion County Jail have
stood mute while legends, lies and
half truths about it have spread to
new generations.
But now, on its deathbed, and in
the shadow of the modern yet
colorless upstart that will replace it,
the walls themselves feel an urge to
reminisce, to relive the good times
and the bad for one last time.
Our story begins recently when a
reporter was roaming through the
halls of the jail as reporters have
done for five generations, looking for
news.
“Pssst, hey you,”
from nowhere.
“Who's that,’’ I said.
‘If only walls could talk’
‘Right here, the wall. Aren't you
the one who said last week ‘If only
the walls could talk?’ Well, here I
am. What did you want to talk
about?”
“That's only an expression, walls
can’t talk,” I countered.
“Who do you think you're talking
to? Of course walls can talk, they
just don’t do it very often,”’ the wall
said, somewhat indignantly.
“Okay, okay. What I was wonder-
ing about was some of these tales
I've heard about hangings and
lynchings — historical stuff that
everybody talks about. No one seems
to know whether those tales are
true,”
“Well, if that’s all you need to
know,” the wall said, ‘I'll fill you in,
But please don’t interrupt.
“First of all, the city’s had only
two lynchings in my lifetime, and
only one where one of my prisoners
was killed.
Two men hanged
“That lynching was on May 25,
1895 when 0h white men, poy of
raping 4 y
came a voice
hanged fray eo the. ne newly fee |
LZ od &
-
A C-N ;
Sunday
Special
‘Gilbert Street bridge, also known as
the Southtown bridge.
, “The pair had attacked two girls.
One girl ran away but the men got
the other and dragged her off into
the bushes. A search party was
quickly formed and while the
hunters were crossing the bridge,
the heard the girl cry for heip.
“The two-frapists filled her mouth
with dirt and-sand to hush her up and
took her to a hideout. A little while
Jater the search party found her
“ staggering around in the woods.
‘Police arrested the two men, who
were well known in the area, and the
second girl identified them. The rape
victim herself recovered and lived to
a ripe old age.
“That night angry crowds began
forming in Ellsworth Park. Most of
the people were from the Indianola
and Sidell area. About 9 p.m. the
crowds started rushing the jail.
‘Attempts to batter down my door
with a wooden pole were unsucces-
sful. But someone arrived with a
section of steel rail and after a little
more effort, the doors gave way.
Sheriff's pleas unheeded
“The guards were quickly over-
powered and the men taken from
their cells. Repeated attempts by
the ‘sheriff to convince the crowd to
‘letthe law run its course’ fell on
deaf ears.
‘The men were marched north on
Vermilion Street to Main Street and
then west to Gilbert and the bridge.
When asked if they had any final re-
quests, both men asked to see their
parents. The crowd readily agreed,
but as the wait for the parents grew
longer, the mob grew impatient.
“Finally, both .men un-
“ai were strung up and
(Si page 2, please.)
975
The Commercial-News, Denville, lil. Thursday, Dec. 4, |
Co ———a
Let us consider now, decade: by-degs
the major political, social, and econeni
Pekin's last 125 years. We wilk merely: skin
tace, highlighting only the: very important oF
vpustial. : ith
Probably the most important aspect: of, the. 1850
was the immigration to Pekin by hordes of Germans
‘hese hard working, thrifty newcomers came/to: play
a major role ia the development of our commuagity:
Such names as Herget, Jaeckel, Lautz, Reuling, Ru-
pert, Upland, Velde, Vogelsgesang, Weyrich, and
Zuckweiler began to make their presence’ felt, It wa
among many of the incoming Germans. that.the firs
indications of anti-slavery sentiment were. exhibited
however, Pekin remained a basically pro-slavery com
munity, with Stephen Douglas, not Abraham: Lin-
coln, the lecal hero. sy aR ne ote
Phe city sect out immediately in that decade for ex-.
patision and improvement. In :April-of 1851, the: City.
Couneil awarded John Giblin a contract for grading a -
plank road across the river at a rate of 12!/2¢ per cue
Inc vara (The proicct was eventually completed in:
1854 at a cost of $32,000; it was a frail affair,.seldom -
used. and what was left of it was torn down dn 1867.) °
mh parties : vere abetted ‘bythe fact that the City Council,
grown'tora whopping.5,023 resi-
42 houses,’ 49. stores, four hotels,
Ashops, hali a dozen drug stores,
st. major disaster’ of the 1860's. was the fire on
et, which, is discussed in, the Catastrophies
lt 4s the repercussions of. that event, however,
we want to consider now. The disaster created a
‘or the organization of fire companies in the
its » Amid. much: bickering: over recognition, three
: sompanies were ; initiated: The Defiance Fire
‘the Independent. Fire Company, and the
Company, Among them, their member-
d.more than 200 men.
fre companies proved to be more social than
protective, however, staging a grand parade annually
and victory. party after every blaze. These victory
iman ‘effert to provide motivation, offered $10 to the
‘company, that: was first to reach a fire and douse it.
With whiskey. selling at 25¢ a gallon, the reward pre-
vided the: conquering company with adequate funds
to have a grand celebration.
he city property in that year-—1851—~consisted ‘of *
“titteen padlocks, eight trace-chains, ten shovels, two
tnattocks, ove plow, one scraper, one lantern, two”
buckets, cighteen tin cups, eight tin plates, one ri | ava
can, mne cots, twelve chairs, and four ‘Jadders.” A’
year later this was increased by the purchase ofa carts;
and two wheelbarrows. .
Prohibition was a major topic of concern during this:
decade. with various attempts made at curbing: the’
sale of liquor, For example, on March 6, 1854, a peti-
fon was presented to the City Council by the Ladies
for the Suppression of the Liquor Trafic. On the.
23rd of that month, the Council reported, in part, as.
follows: “hat fully agreeing with your fair petitioners:
that the retail trafhe in ardent. spirits is general- >
ly evil, ...we recognize the present asa ‘propitious «
moment for the enactment of an ordinance placing.
the grocery license at a much higher figure than.was.
heretofore found expedient.” tes
main political interest of the day was the ‘securing of
railroads for the growing city. Records indicate that,
the city subscribed much money to several would-be
companies, avd the decade ended with the first rails
having been taid for the IHinois River Rail Road
Company, « momentous event so far as the city ofh-
clals were concerned.
fires in a remarkably short time.
pong Sk. ie | seiabel aaigineets).--:
Token legislation was passed off and on-during this,»
entire decade regarding prohibition, but the laws were...
cither not enforced or soon rescinded. Besides, the:
to provide a private execution from the newly erected
Immediately, the city was visited by a record-break-
ing ‘series of fires, many of which started in rather
suspicious ways. It is believed that when a fire compa-
‘ny would feel the need for a party, they would muster
their men, line them up at the ropes of their engine,
and open the door. Then they would send out a cho-
sey rember to start a fire, and wait for the alarm to
-come in. In this manner, the old companies reached
| Eaced with this sort of practice, the City Council
‘withdrew the $10 bonus—it was, after all, getting ex-
pensive in more wavs than one-~and the number of
fires. was; promptly reduced. In 1862 the city butt its
first fire station and began appointing fire chicts vor
‘... Miolence of a much different nature affected Pckin
an March ‘L, 1861, A man named John Ott, who axed
tdideath a woman and her two small daughters near
Delavan, was to be hanged for his. brutal crime. A
stockade was erected around the Court House square,
scaffold..Public outrage was runsing at a fever pitch,
_ineited iny part by plenty of liquor and a number of
“Delavan residents who apparently felt that anything
short pfa lynching would be too good for Ou
i
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g HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY.
would not do. Still he wanted money to enable him to deck him..
self out. The desire for money grew to a blind maddening passion,
He stole some jewelry and fled to Illinois, where he brought. up at
Delavan.
There he heard, as he said, people talk about Orendorff having
plenty of money, and that Miller, who worked for Orendorff, was
laying up money fast. Money he wanted, money he would have.
He thought and cared for nothing else. So in his own mind he
determined to get it, and said nothing to anyone about his intentions,
When asked if he went to Orendorff’s intending murder, he replied :
“No; I did not expect to find anyone at home.” When asked if he
did not think it might be necessary to commit murder to get the
money, he replied: “Yes; I had taken that into account on going
there.” :
When he started out. from his cousin’s, where he lived, he went
west till he struck the road leading north. Down this he walked
some distance and then struck straight for Orendorff’s home. He
saw Mrs. Orendorff at the stable and inquired after Mr. Miller.
Then leaving her as if to go out to the east and west road he slipped
around. the straw stack near the house, and remained there about halt
an hour meditating murder. Having determined to do the deed, he
sallied out; but as he approached the house he saw the innocent ones
and his heart failed him. He then requested Mrs. Orendorff to tell
Miller when he came home to come over to his cousin’s, She
replied, “T will,” and these are the last words she is known to have
spoken.
_ But no sooner had he left the house than his diabolical intent
began to gather strength in him once more. This time, he hid him-
self behind a straw stack, remaining there about half an hour.
Having fully determined to do the deed, he started toward the house,
picking up aclub on the way. As he passed into the kitchen he
laid hold of Mrs. Orendorff and told her she must die. She sprang
away from him, and ran screaming into the front room, She was
not able to open the door before her pursuer was upon her and felled
her with powerful blows with his club. Then he struck down one
of the children, who followed and clung to her mother. The
the other little girl had run out of the house. He met her at the
corner of the house and beat her down also. Having done this be
next took the axe and finished his bloody work. The one he struck
out of doors, he carried in and laid beside her mother. He burned
HISTORY OF TAZEWELL COUNTY. 293
- the club in the stove.
He then took what money he could find
and fled.
PEERS GIES SRA Rey ces
Joseph W. Me Dowell.
_ Joseph W. McDowell, indicted for the murder of A. J. Finley,
was arraigned before the Circuit Court Thursday, Feb. 7, 1861.
_ Both sides were represented by able counsel. For the prosecution
ppeared State’s Attorney Fullerton, and Mr. Grove, assisted by
_C. A. Roberts and J. M. Hanna, while the defendant was represented
by Messrs. Puterbaugh and James Roberts, of Pekin, and Julius
Manning, of Peoria. The jury returned into Court Sunday morn-
ing with the verdict of “guilty.” A new trial was granted, and in
une, 1861, a change of venue to McLean county was taken, and
he prisoner tried and sentenced to one year in the penitentiary.
€ never entered within the walls of that prison, however, as he
was met at the doorway with a pardon. MeDowell now resides in
is county a respected citizen,
Edward MeDowell,
‘S brother of Joseph W., was indicted at the February term of the
Circuit Court as a party concerned in killing A. J. Finley. He
j arraigned before the Court Feb. 165, 1861, and granted a change
enue to Mason county. He was tried at the March term of the
uit Court and acquitted.
Enoch Green
° f 8 indicted in February, 1861, for participation in the Orendorff
Maurder. At the June term, 1861, he was discharged.
Thomas Hougle.
nday evening, May 24, 1863, Thomas Hougle shot and killed
Abner H. Underhill. The tragedy was enacted upon the farm of
vu erhill, about two miles east of Delavan. Hougle had lived
‘ath Underhill for sometime, but left his employer and a quarrel
ied between them concerning a woman, when Hougle with a
tun committed the murder, Hougle was immediately arrested
d had a speedy trial, which closed Saturday, June 13, 1863. He
8s convicted of murder, and Judge Harriott sentenced him to be
hung July 9, 1863. Two days before the date of the execution,
Goy, Yates commuted the death sentence to a life sentence in the
PeMitentiary. He was taken from the Tazewell county jail July 9,
Phen not a prisoner was left within its heavy stone walls.
dw ks Onis Eyres te eee
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a
Thyee companies ott
ie ite “itie pcecuiationk: a group. rs heirs eX
vigilantes ae to tear: down Me ‘stockade wy
ia 10,000 “Samnediad the : btty’s: street: Business
rented space on platforms built on their properties
trom which spectators could see over the stockade,
Many of the « cutiomty: -seekers held children, Augh.:
renorte indice ate, vertained tél theouigbaak the ehitine’ ft
attair. and just before falling throughethe trap ‘of thes
scaffold declared that he alone was guilty of:the ¢rime’
tor which he was about to die ta man: named Green.
had been arrested also), that his doom. was just; and
that he hoped to be forgiven in Heaven, where ‘he |
hoped to meet those who were thereto! ‘witness: his
death
He miuitered a prayer as the trap fell; he neck was —
broken by the fall, but he hung for 19: minutes before
being cnt down and placed in a coffin’ The crowd :
soon began to disperse, apparently satished, and there
were mo further incidents,
legal execution in ‘Tazewell County. 0) 0° fs o6
Two other major events of violence ate disgussed in
Thus terminated the first e
the Catastrophies Unit: the Givil War and thie et’ ‘
Mire of TS60. We will not repeat discussion of them
irr oat should be noted that they adequately fit
“violence” which we have attached to
here,
the theme of
this decade.
Iwo other murders took place in the 1860's,’ the
frst a single,
of fur greater magnitude with -more social’ tamifica-
1 ighout the County. Immediately. people began to |
et, and a-resolution was made to round up the
‘once bag for all.
‘thestreets of Pekin with his customary swagger Hi:
gang had committed other crimes, other murders,
“some «more barbarous in that they included helpless
children, and the townspeople had simply appeared
more: ee: each time sti made ne appe arance,
peel be was, Sid lenti CON apn a denen guris in
the: hands of men he had always thought were afraid
tO! ift-a finger against him. The surprised Berry was
“hustled inta the County Jail, and wide-spread search-
ves began for other members of his dastardly band. ke
Berry was finally arrested in Bath, Mason Conney
sevéral weeks Jater, and other Berry bandit:
WOR
na reunded up throughout the County.
unsolved crime and the’second a érime
liens On October 19, 1865, the body of a man was.
tonnd in the Hlinots River at Pekin:
‘ay tastened,
Init was believed to be one George Jack-
son. a well-known resident of the
of Wor Ww
identihed
The head “had”
been severed from the body, around which a quantity.
The corpse was ‘not’ positively
lounty wha had.
been mvstenously absent for some weeks. The Mayor.
of Pokii offered a reward of $500 for thé apprehen-. ©.
murderer,
When Jacksan's wife
Nearly the person she
sion of the
aatih ESO6,
Horve a Byer)
the de oe
Was ahvone over arrested for the crimes: ss
but no leads were uncovered’ '
went to England.”
inet upon hér arrival i
J her supposedh-murdered spouse, Who .
aaa was has never been determined, ‘nor :
frist as violence had ushered in the dscade of thie.
OHSS so Viclouce ushered it out. On July 30, 1869,)a 0
‘G
¥ A
es finally foreed open Berry's cell.
Wiliam Berry, however, cid not live lone enoug)
. toyknow the?fnal outcome of his gang, for on the
very night of dhis arrest, several hundred mes: store:
v =the “jail, overpowered the guards, crashed iis th
building, smashed down a series of trom doors, an!
YThev dragged Berr.
“outs, pounded: him, shot him three tines, took hin
abe: and. hanged him from a tree in the Cour
touse square. In the onslaught, Berry raunaged t
‘vet a knife, anc three of Ins attackers were siabbed.
Ae for other members of the gang, all wete subse
auently captured, tried, and sentenced ss fallows: fe
Berry, life imprisonment, Robert Kritton, 20) year:
* Emanuel Berry, 15 years: Matthew McFarland, 15
vears;.Cornelius Daily, 1S vears. Simeon Berns
found “net guiity,” and settled im Kim Greve
ship.” McParland was pardoned in i876, wert out
. West, and way Killed. Daily was also pardoned abou!
othe same time and disappeared. 4
A parting note on the decade
t.
Wii's
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Soldwedel’s AU Star ldairy
164,
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ADAMS COUNTY EXECUTIONS,
From Quincy’s past
By CARL LANDRUM
6¢ J IZZIE Borden took an axe,
and gave her mother
forty whacks; When she saw
what she had done, she gave
her father forty-one.”
This bit of doggerel appeared
in the newspapers in 1892 at'
the time of the Borden murder
trail in Massachusetts. At the
same time Quincy was excited
over the daily courtroom
events in the trial of Doctor
William Jamison for murder.
There had been a rash of so-
called Indian doctors, many of
them mulattos, flooding the
Midwest, practically every
town of any size at all having
one that made wonderful, im-
possible claims and = guaran-
tees. Naturally all were, or so
they said, full-blooded Indian
chiefs! The one that came to
Quincy made sucha claim.
Doctor William Jamison, a
full-blooded member of a noted
Indian tribe, according to his
own statements, came to
Quincy to heal the sick. Here,
among others, he began treat-
ing a Mrs. John Aaron for the
cure of cancer, To the unini-
tiated, in those days the cures
were many and_ wonderful.
They could cure anything from
the heebie-jeebies to leprosy.
Of course, it took money, and
plenty of it. But to the
uneducated among the
populace, they were willing to
put their life’s saving on the
auction block, if there was a
chance of curing their ail-
ments.
The Aarons lived at Cliola,
near Fowler, and Dr. Jamison
made regular trips to lay his
hand on the ailing Mrs. Aaron.
Then one day he deimandel
more money, and the son,
‘Charles Aaron, resented the
Janguage that he was using. He
ordered Jamison out of the
house, and Jamison, claiming
self-defense, drew a gun and
shot young Aaron in cold blood.
The day was April 19, 1892.
« Jamison was chased by a
neighbor, Charles Long, and
finally brolght down with a
shot in the leg. He was brought
to Quincy and tried. Judge
William Marsh appointed Col.
W.-W. Berry as public defen-
der, for Jamison said he was
to secure a
lawyer. :
. Actually Jamison was from
Nashville, Tenn., and according
to his father, who came here,
_-had been in trouble before, The
father claimed that the son was
mentally unbalanced, and had
threateded their lives a number
of times.
Col. Berry, who was an able
Karly executions
tried to save his
the jury found
Jamison was
attorney,
client, but
Jamison guilty.
heard saying, “If I'd had a
good lawyer—"’. For all his
work Berry received no pay or
gratitude. The judge sentenced
Jamison to hang by the neck
until dead, with the execution
set for August 18, 1893. The
father, who had lost two other
children by natural death
within the last six months, said
his son was insane.
The announcement that the
execution would be held in
Quincy, and in the Adams
County courthouse, created
quite an uproar. Many citizens
were quite outspoken in their
criticism of such an event,
feeling that for years to come,
after the execution, many peo-
ple would avoid that part of the
courthouse. An effort was
made to convince the judge
that the hanging should be held
in some other area.
Sheriff John Vancil wanted to
construct the scaffold in the
space above the jail, an area
about twenty feet square, ex-
tending up to the dome, and
permitting the seating of about
one hundred witnesses. He
journeyed to St. Louis to buy
the rope, already equipped with
a noose, for $5.00.
eee
This was not Sheriff Vancil’s
first scheduled execution. In
1891 he ad prepared to hang
murderer Dan Porter, but
Porter's escape, and subse-
quent killing at the hands of a
Missouri posse, made the offi-
cial execution unnecessary.
More about this later.
Had the Porter execution
come off the plans called for
three levers pulled by three
men, so that no one would
knew which lever sent the
killer to Kingdom Come. The
Jamison scaffold was not so
elaborate, but it was set up on
the west side of the main cor-
ridor of the basement, finally,
in answer to the complaints
of many Quincy citizens, rather
than on the main floor of the
courthouse.
It was constructed by con-
tractor James Shannahan, with
a platform eight feet square
with a three-foot trap door.
Under the platform was eight
feet of space, six feet to the
floor and a two-foot hole in the
‘husiness by
floor. The trap was tested by
Henry Venvertioh, one of
Shannahan’s employes.
At the prisoner’s request,
Chtef of Police Johnny Ahern
and Detective Theodore
Featheringill brought in a box
of cigars for him to treat the
others in the jail. By this time
he had gotten religion, and was
attended by the Rev. Mack, an
evangelist from Louisville, who
was conducting a revival
meeting in Highland Park.
Jamison was told that he
would have fifteen minutes to
talk, before being sent to meet
his maker, but declined. A
couple of ladies called to see
the scaffold but were refused
by Sheriff Vincil. Many wanted
tickets. On the day before the
execution the public was ad-
mitted to view the scaffold, and
about thirty per cent of the
crowd were women and _ chil-
dren. There were one hundred
official invited witnesses, and a
jury of ten men officially noti-
fied to be present.
While Deputy Schaefer made
the final adjustments, Sheriff
Vancil asked the doomed man
if he had any last words. He
did not. With one last look to
check the arrangements the
sheriff pulled the lever and
Jamison paid for his crime.
Doctors Henry Hatch, Henry
Hart, and J. W. Bonney of
Quincy, and Dr.. Aleshire of
Plainville, made the necessary
examiniation and pronounced
the execution a success. Un-
dertakers C. W. and S. T.
Messick claimed the body for
burial, and were escorted from
the courthouse to the place of
Thomas S. Bald-
win, A. F. Roth, Officer Tom
Ryan, Deputy McGinley,
7
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Moses Wilkenson and J. T.
Carr, assisted by Police
Seargent Horbelt. A large
crowd and onlookers and
morbidly curious followed,
Messick was unable to
remove the rope from
Jamison’s neck, and Tom
Baldwin offered his services,
Saying that he had had plenty
of experience with ropes. It
was estimated that 10,000
persons passed through the
Messick establishment viewing
the corpse, and another group
gawked at the scaffold, looking
for souvenirs. The writer saw a
part of the rope jn a Quincy
scrapbook severals ago,
-The Dan Porter murder case
of 1890 created a wealth of ex-
citement for many days. On a
warm summer night in 1890
Edward Smith, popular agent
of the Star Union railroad line,
subsidiary of the Pennsylvania
toad, who lived on the
Rortheast corner of Sixteenth
and Hampshire, rose to
investigate a noise in the pan-
try. He was confronted with
Dan Porter, who fired point
blank at Smith, killing him
with one shot.
Being without funds, L. H.
‘erger Was appointed to defend
jm, but the evidence was so
Strong that he didn’t have a
chance. When the judge asked
if, he had anyuthing to say,
Porter, who claimed to be an
Hawaiian, rose and made an
impassioned appeal in perfect
English, claiming his _ in-
nocence; Berger later denied
writing the speech.
During the night of March 1,
1891 Porter unlocked his jail
cell with a wooden key made
from a broom handle; he had
been given a harmonica, and
evidently used this as a tool.
He passed through the jail hall,
and through the sheriff's
quarters, accidentally
discovering the sheriff prepar-
ing to take a bath. Seizing the
sheriff's gun, he made his
escape,
There was snow on_ the
ground and his footsteps were
traced down Broadway to the
bridge. The northeast part of
Missouri was warned and law
officers hegan the — search.
Several days later he was cor-
nered in a house near Kahoka
by a posse.
The men of the posse claim-
ed that he shot himself, but the
general belief was that he fail-
ed to surrender and when he
drew his gun, he was killed. for
Dulduey
po.1aA0osip
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Souls
tor murder
3-24-74
every man in the posse was a
crack shot.
The first hanging for murder
-in Adams County was on De-
cember 22, 1834, when Thomas
C. Bennett paid the price for
shooting John Williams with a
shotgun on October 29 that
year. Richard M. Young, who
later became a federal judge,
Was on the circuit court bench
and Robert R. Williams. the
State's attorney. Levi Wells
was foreman of the grand jury.
that indicted Bennett. The
witnesses included Enoch Con-
yers, John Wood, Hiram
Rogers, and Samuel Alexan-
der, all prominent Quincy
citizens.
At ten o'clock on the morning
of the execution ihe town
militia paraded ounvier the
command of Captain Hodges to
form a guard for. the hang
ing. Many spectators crowded
around the jail in the rear of
the courthouse on the northeast
corner of Fifth and Maine.
Bennett was a tall, lean old
man, and when brought out of
the old log jail, was dressed
in a long white shroud and cap.
He walked behind the cart
driven by old John Siv,. who
wore buckskin hunting shirt, to
the gallows at Fifth and
Broadway, on the corner of
Jefferson Square. All were
struck with the firm, Indian-
like tread and carriage of the
murderer. Bennett, who was
perhaps the first person ex-
ecuted in the Military Tract,
behaved with ‘the utmost
firmness and dignified
resignation. In his last speech
he drew many tears from the
crowd. Henry Asbury wrote
later in his “‘Reminiscences of
Quincy" that six fights oc-
curred that day in the town,
and not one of the offenders
was arraigned or fined!
The last death penalty was
imposed by Judge Fred
Wolfe, and Tommy Twine paid
the supreme price on February
14, 1927 for bending a piece of
pipe over the head of Lillian
Jackson. The scaffold was set
up in the basement of the
courthouse under the south
steps and porch. Sheriff Ken-
neth “Cap’’ Elmore was in
charge of the execution. But
that’s another story for another
time.
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ria.
Jamison @ad the benefit of excel-
lent lega) talent in his defense. The
court appointed. Colonel Ww. W.
Berry to defend him with William
Schlagenhau! assisting. Colonel Berry
at his own expense carried the case
_ to the supreme court which failed to
= disturb the verdict and sentence im-
by the trial judge. Judge Carl
‘pier was atate’s attormey at the
- time. By # queer cotncidence. Mr.
= Behlisgenhauf one of the associate
counsel for the defense in Twines
; Caae.
; The Pfanschmidt Case.
: ‘ af While the Jemison case is the one
5 Seatac e Eres (888 of recent years where w d¢fend-
Only r has the death penalty | Doe wee > ant explated crime on the gallows. },..;
. Eitan Het the Ray Pfanschmidt case attracted | <=:
- considerable more attention. Pfan-'
~ schmidt was charged with murder |
and, after a trial in Adams county. ;
So was found guilty and eentenced to’
=. death. Prejudice was charged in}
Adams county and, after the case Wa6 |
taken to the supreme court and fe-)
> versed. it was tried a second time in|
the McDonough county circult court:
at Macomb. A third trial in the,
- Bureau county — circuit court in,
_ Princeton resulted in 8 verdict sac-!
* quitting Pfanschmidt. Because of |
the use of “bloodhound evidence” and.
‘the circumstantial character of the jo.
charge, the Pfanschmidt case attract: |
. ed much wider attention. Bae
A In the Jamison case, one of the |g
last requests of the doomed man was We
fer a silk hat which was given him. |
Ile wore the hat to the galhiows: Some
Kingston “wnie caps’ were in jail at
the time the death warrant was read
to him. snd Jainison with considera-
bie bravado uested that it be read
loud enough for them to hear itt
Firat Execution tn 1834.
Hanging as punishment for crime
dates back almost an even century
in Adams county. Early histories re-
cord the execution of a man named
- Bennett in December, 1834. for the
= ‘murder of s companion named Baker
who was @ sot and companion of
_ Bennett. The murder occurred in.
2 Rennett’s cabin on or near the bay)
“> where the pair had been carousing fF
for several days. Bennett died an,
ee he = “Indian” Doctor Was
“= Last Case, 33 Years
ty-three years. That was the |
ayo Dr. William J. Jamison, the!
“Indian doctor,” who murdered
pervisor Charles Asron in the
on the Aaron place near Cliola.
‘ Jamison c to be an Indian
trias.
Jamison ®@ad the penefit of excel-
lent legal valent in ~ ne ny
court appoint a
at his own expense carried the-
to the supreme court which failed to
disturb the verdict and sentence im-
by the trial judge. Judge Carl
tpler was atate’s attorney at the|
time. By # queer coincidence. Mr. i
suntaiernanl one of the associats
counsel for the defense in Twines
case.
The Pfanschmidt Case.
_ While the Jemison -case is the one
case of recent years where 3 defend- |f.
ant expiated crime on t gallows. |
the Ray Pfanschmidt case attracted
considerable more attention. Pfan- | 2
with murder |
seria: far trial in Adams county
and, after a tr oe ee: + tgnominious death but he took with |
was found guilty and eentenced to] ” “ess, Num to the grave the distinction of
death. Prejudice “as charged in ==> being the firat person executed in the | ie.
Adams county and, after the case wae | whole Military Tract. which included J
taken to the supreme court and re-| - eS a large area in western Illinois set |
versed, it was tried a second time inj 3 , aside for bounties for soldiers of the |
| the McDonough county circuit court) - © War of 1812.
at Macomb. A third trial in = A histery of Quinc’. published tn!
Bureau county = circuit 1682, says’ “But one has since been |
Princeton resulted in 8 verdict ac- executed at the hand of the law in)! -’
oultting Pfanschmidt Because = Quincy.” ‘ fe:
the use of “bloodhound evidence and |. “© Executions tn those days were re-
: : impressive an
Pfanschmidt case attract- "= tacles. A history of the case says the ||”
ed much wider attention. of the : militia of the town puraded st 10 )b.5
In the Jamison casé, ber sn o'clock in the forenoon under com-'E: ;
last requests of the g-aer ee mand of Captain Hedges and formed |
for # silk hat whic “ate n “HES a guard at the execution. (
He wore the hat to the r§ Oe en at me Man’ spectators, including a num- ;
ton “whe caps” were eis id wees mivenied Bennett was i}:
é ; » lean old man, and w \
to him. and Jainison with considera- a4. 2 Wrought out of the old log fei pptinioed
uested that it be in @ Jong white shroud and cap. he|
walked behind the cart of wagon/} >.
‘driven by old John Sly, who was |}.
oe + toiggp the gg hunting-shirt) to; F
et, ah ots ‘6. All were struck with:
in Jdams county. Early histories re- |) “Se the firm, tndian-like tread snd nie
a the execution a man named [Oe : riege of the murderer. He behaved,
Bennett in December. 1834, for the ||”: lee WIth utmost firmness and dignitied | fo
murder of a companion named Baker |) é: 2 resignation. In his last speech he ee
who was a sot and companion of beats drew many tears from the great P<:
* Bennett. The murder’ occurred tn’
- But thret—der-)
Bennett's cabin on or near the bay six fights occurred in the town Not ||:
had been carousing |} ; ss “2 one of the offenders *
Bennett died ani Fon fined. The sriter, pn gy alba
he took with cmsswens here only about a month, to
distinction of ; : 3 se ot ee herd place.” #
‘. = uch was
hich included ike : “=< ting for a legal execu i eae be
large area in western Illinois
axtta for beanties for solkiiers of
« day.
ha |
O.M. BRYAN.
SYCAMORE.
RESIDENCE OF D
orm stare
TRE Pe tear sy
ago a
ce a
PR gy, bitnnINIOMCS
«pln
THE BANDITTI. 81
Kishwaukie timber. David Driscoll was the first settler there,
and for many years it was known as Driscoll’s Grove. David
had married a connection of the Brodies, and the families
naturally became intimately associated. A year after David
had settled there, his father, old John Driscoll, moved out
with his family, and William Driscoll, his brother, with a
family of six or seven children, bought David’s claim, the
father and David settling anew a few miles farther west, David
on the banks of the Killbuck, and the father in what is now
called Pennsylvania settlement, a few miles farther north.
There is much reason to believe, and little reason to doubt,
that the houses of David and John Driscoll were other station-
houses on the route of this horse-thieving fraternity; and it is
not impossible that even after William Driscoll’s purchase
there, the Driscoll grove still furnished them shelter and
refreshment. From thence their usual course was across to
Gleason’s at Genoa, or to Henpeck, now Hampshire, in Kane
County, and thence north to McHenry County, where some
men, now prominent as politicians and office-holders, were
supposed to be connected withthe gang. From thence it was
not difficult to pass the stolen horses along to the pineries of
Wisconsin, the mines at Galena, or to find a market for them
at some of the young cities on the lake shore. In Ogle
County on the west, and Winnebago on the northwest, the
banditti were more numerous. There theft, counterfeiting,
and the like crimes, constituted but a small part of the sworn
duties of the gang. ‘They were required to control elections,
to secure the election of justices from among their friends, and
in case of arrest, to furnish perjured testimony to secure their
(lischarge. In the spring of 1841 seven of the gang had been
arrested and confined in the new jail at Oregon. The court
had assembled for their trial in the new Court House, just
completed, when, on the night before the trial, the rogues
assembled, and burned both buildings to the ground. But
the prisoners did not escape. Their trial was proceeded with,
and the evidence was found complete and conclusive. But
11
er nail ab is Sieh ap in Anat pipag eo
84 -HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
and resigned his offiee, and Mr. John Campbell, of White
Rock Grove, in Ogle County, was chosen in his stead.. Mr.
Campbell was a very exemplary man, a good Christian, a
member of the Baptist Church, a father and a grandfather.
In June of this year, Judge Ford, afterwards Governor of
the State, and its historian, was holding court in Sycamore,
when news came down that an armed body of men, magnified
by people's fears to a large army, was marching through the
‘western portion of the County, threatening acts of violence.
The Judge, considering such proceedings to be contrary to
the peace and dignity of the State, resolved to send a formal
embassy to inquire what were their objects and intentions.
Frederick Love, the Probate Judge, the District Attorney,
Farewell, of Ottawa, the Sheriff of the County, Morris Walrod,
and William A. Miller, a well-known citizen, were selected as
the embassy, and started out on the Oregon State Road to
search for the invading army. A mile or two beyond
Driscoll’s Grove it was found encamped for rest and
refreshment. It was discovered to be the lynchers, to the
number of one hundred and fifty, or thereabouts, headed by
Captain Campbell. After a long and friendly conversation,
Captain Campbell, without hesitation, displayed the constitu-
tion of the club for their inspection. It required its mem-
bers to scour the country, investigate the character of sus-
pected persons, warn them, if probably guilty, to leave the
country, and lynch them if they refused. Campbell explained
that they did not desire to interfere with the courts, but to
aid and assist them in the enforcement of justice in cases
which they were unable to reach. The commission had a
friendly visit, and returning, made a very favorable report to
the Judge, who seemed indisposed to make any opposition to
their proceedings, but rather to favor them than otherwise.
It was, perhaps, upon this identical scouting excursion that
Campbell, as chief of the club, visited the Driscolls, one and
all, and warned them that unless they left the country within
twenty days they would be lynched. No Dayid Driscoll he
2
EY
4
won Wy IN
eg, EN
“®
THE. BANDITTI. 85
said : “If after that time you are found east of the Mis-
sissippi river, we will brand your cheeks with R. S., and crop
your ears, so that none shall fail to know your character as a
rogue and a scoundrel wherever you may be seen.” Is it
strange that all the tiger passions in the human heart should
be roused by words like these ?
There was a gathering of some of the gang soon after.
The Brodies, the Driscolls, the Bridges, the Barrets, were all
there; stern, fearless, determined outlaws, exasperated to
madness by the threats which had been served upon them,
indignant as more honest men would have been at the stern
summons to abandon their homes and firesides to their ene-
mies, and fly like hounds before them.
Various modes of resistance were talked of. It was pro-
posed to gather together at Driscoll’s grove, fortify them-
selves there, and defend their position with their lives. Some
counseled a compliance with the order, and an abandonment
of their homes. But the most feasible plan they could im-
agine was one that best suited their crafty and revengeful
natures. It had been tried in Iowa, and worked successfully
there. William Driscoll had been in Iowa the previous
winter, and he had told the story. It was simple, and easily
executed. It was merely to shoot the captain of the Regu-
lators. Long had been frightened into resigning by merely
burning his mill. Let his successor be shot, and no person
would dare to risk his life as its captain; so the organization
would necessarily become extinct. This course was resolved
upon, the agents in the tragedy were selected, and the meet-
ing dispersed.
Was William Driscoll present at that meeting ?
There are many reasons for supposing he was not. It was
generally thought by those who knew him best that he was
not connected with any of the criminal acts of his father and
brothers. Those who had known him from infancy asserted
that he was an exception in the family. The family, even
while residing in Ohio, were noted as criminals. The father
a 5
it on
sli i Be i a aa ids dice aicmecn ra hinds Sa ye
ih aia
neensitne te ecg nities
aesbiondatnrse
86 HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
had served his five years in the penitentiary, and some of the
sons, perhaps, deserved the same punishment. But William
was known as a marked exception. He was a man of noble
bearing—generous, hospitable, industrious—possessor of a
large property, which he was known to have honestly ac-
quired, one of the leading farmers of the County. No one
could point to any crime that he was guilty of, or even seri-
ously suspected of. Itis chief sin was that he was one of the
Driscolls, and he suffered the fate of poor dog Tray for the
same reason—he was found in bad company.
On the Sunday morning following this meeting, the old
man Driscoll was seen about the premises of Campbell. He
walked around the grounds, passe up to a clump of bushes,
closely observed the location, and soon went away. He |
might that night have easily gone home, but he did not. He
stayed at a neighbor's without any apparent reason, and slept
there. Was it because he knew that a foul crime was about
to be committed, and he wanted to prove an alibi? It was
so supposed. That evening just at dusk, Captain Campbell,
who had returned from attending Church at Rockford, was
passing from his dwelling to his stable, when he was accosted
by two men who inquired the road to Oregon. His wife
heard him call out “ Driscoll,” and immediately after there
was the report of a gun, and as she rushed toward him he fell
lifeless in her arms, shot through the heart. The two men
immediately and deliberately walked off in the direction of
Driscoll’s Grove. The brave son of Campbell—a lad of
thirteen years—seized his father’s gun, rushed toward the
retreating murderers and snapped it at them three times, but
the effort to avenge the murder was unavailing: the gun did
not go off. The murderers disappeared in the distance, and
the grief-stricken family was left alone with the lifeless corpse
of its honored head.
It will be readily understéod that this shocking murder
caused a prodigious excitement throughout the whole country-
Swift couriers roused the entire region with the startling
PM
aan el: 3 er
aan eames
THE BANDITTI. 87
intelligence, and summoned all the clans to meet at once and
devise means to secure and punish the murderers of their
chief. Detachments were sent out with the morning's light
to scour the country in search for the guilty pair, but the
pursuit was unsuccessful. David and Taylor Driscoll were
understood to be the two who had committed the crime, but
they could nowhere be discovered. The scouts in their
search discovered a spot upon the prairie, a half-mile from
the scene of the murder, where three horses had been held
while they closely cropped the herbage that grew there, and
there was some reason to suppose that a wretch named Bridge,
who has never since been seen in this section of country, was
the man who held, ready for instant use, the horses of his
companions, while they committed the murder. None of
these men could be found; but the old man Driscoll was taken
at his house by one party, and, in spite of his protestations
of innocence and ignorance of the whole matter, and of the
proof he presented of his absence from the scene at the time
of its perpetration, he was carried off, his house set on fire
and burned to the ground. The house of David Driscoll was
also burned and his family left shelterless upon the open
prairie.
Toward evening a party reached Driscoll’s Grove, and set-
ting their guards about it to prevent any escape, they
went up to William Driscoll’s cabin and took him and his
young brother, Pierce, into custody. William had been the
first to tell the story of the murder to the settlers at the
grove. Ie had been in Sycamore on that day, and while
there Mr. Hamlin. the postmaster, had called him into his
office and read to him the startling news, which the Post-
master at Oregon City had written on his package of letters
for Chicago, that, passing through all the offices on the route
it might speedily spread the news far and wide. William
seemed surprised and saddened by the intelligence: it boded
no good to him. IIe had perhaps expected to be taken and
tricd, for he went quietly with his captors, making no objec-
i ee Soi tact te eh OS a te NR acu ait
z
82 - HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
one of the confederates had secured a place upon the jury.
He would consent to no verdict of guilt. Then a novel method
of securing a conviction was adopted. The eleven honest
jurors seized the refractory twelfth, and threatened to lynch
him in the jury room unless he gave his assent to the verdict
of guilty. The rascal gave up his opposition, the verdict of
guilty was received, and the three criminals were sentenced
to imprisonment for a year. They all, however, broke out of
jail and escaped. .
Such outrages as these naturally aroused a strong and bitter
opposition among the honest people of theland. They would
be more or less than men who should submit tamely to them.
Neither life nor property being protected by the laws, some
additional, more stringent, if less merciful, measures must be
adopted. The settlers met by universal consent, and
organized a band of lynchers. The Ogle County Lynching
Club was the title of the organization, although its membership
extended over Winnebago and Lee Counties as well. In the
spring and early summer of 1841, there were held numerous
meetings of these Regulators, or Lynching Clubs, and their
armed bands, mounted or on foot, traversed the country,
delivering warnings and threatenings to those whom they
suspected of being confederated in the gangs of banditti.
“ You are given twenty or thirty days to leave the country,
and if found here after that time you will be lynched,” was
the brief and threatening message which condemned the
suspected party, without a trial, to banishment, at whatever
sacrifice of his property, and at whatever sudden sundering of
the ties which bound him to his home. It was not strange
that such messages provoked strong, indignant opposition.
Crime always finds or imagines some justification for its evil
deeds, and at least is apt to retort that its acts are no Worse,
only more bold, than those of its pursuers. And it was true
in this case, that although the original organization of the
Lynching Club was supported by many men of undoubted
probity and worth, although the staid Puritan, the upright
‘owe
“~~
tg, man ccciealentoseon
THE BANDITTI. 83
justice, the honest lawyer, the clergyman even, were on its
rolls of membership, yet there were also men of the baser
sort,—men who used the organization for the purpose of
wreaking vengeance on their personal enemies--men who were
capable of manufacturing false statements to secure the
destruction of their foes; yes! there were even horse-thieves
themselves among the most active and prominent of those who
were lynching others for the same nefarious practice.
The Lynching Clubs duly organized, they met by mutual
agreement, and selected John Long, of Stillman’s Run, the
proprietor of a fine saw-mill just erected there, as captain of
the combined companies. Soon after, in the performance of
his duties, he headed a detachment of the lynchers, who seized
one Daggett, who was residing near what is now Greenough’s
Ford in the town of Franklin, and, tying him up, gave him a
severe flogging, at the same time ordering him to leave the
country. Not long after these events, the mill of Mr. Long
was set on fire and destroyed ; and although no direct evidence
was obtained of Daggett’s connection with the deed, yet
circumstances pointed strongly to him as the perpetrator of
the crime. About the same time one Lyman Powell was
seized upon the road between Driscoll’s and the Killbuck.
He seems to have been really a harmless, inoffensive man,
lame, and destitute of any scttled occupation. But he was
an associate of the suspected Driscolls, worked at threshing
and other odd jobs for them and others. The Lynching
Company questioned him closely, to draw from him some
evidence of the criminality of himself or his associates, but
not succeeding to their liking, they beat him cruelly with
hickory withes, and taking from him the horse he rode, they
turned him adrift. Ife afterwards went to the place where
he had bought his horse, and furnishing satisfactory proof
that it was honestly obtained, it was returned tohim, About
the same time a threatening letter was sent to Long, defying
the society to combat, and threatening personal violence. Mr.
Long, being intimidated by these acts, called his band together
34
os
ROGUES’ MUSEUM? | Sate eUien £ onenhixdcat (he viatt at
agency that ‘collects money
claim to fame goes ; back 65 year.
when it hosted Illinois’ last han;
- ing of one of its most. notorious
“Bloody Wiliamson” gang.
_ closed in 1990, is a stark reminder
_ nois history when it was ruled
gangsters and bootleggers. duri
_ the Roaring 20’s.
~ was Charlie Birger, a former
-cowhand, AMY.) yetera' and ex-
“Bloody Williamson.”
_ er was charged in. 1927 with th
manger of West. City tee J
_ nest with peeling paint hanging
. from the ceilings like stalactite
- but a group of citizens plan
old structure’ over into the
; Simmion Fe sunthern ainucte
: het said. “If pesple want
the
FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS
iV
DETECTOVE CASES, October, 1994
SHORT TAKES FROM
The old Franklin County Jail
was a dirty hellhole,” aye from the city’s meters: — ha
said. “But that was: ahe ablest — each plundered.
) ay in coins, which they. ‘usual
jy hauled off in canvas bag
that they carried on their jobs
One collector boasted to a
killers, Charlie Birger of the
The three-story. jail,: which
of a violent area in Southern Illi- he had stolen $45,000. in two years./
The unit is part 0 :
‘Department: of anaportsilon
One of its most colorf outla That's the ‘question ajudgein —
ith before finding a weightlifter
guilty of killing his girlfriend, |
. 31, by striking —
convict.
“He usually wore two guns :
holsters and often’ ‘cradled a su
machine gun in one arm,” Pai
Angle wrote in his 19 2. boo
: rookin Pi cueceda
erunlilion paying pe eat
After four-years of terror,
: a8
Instead, Judge Ronald Mebling
ntenced Gallegos to. . term of 75
in prison. Wi h good
‘icted ki
_ The vacant building is a rat
“would be plead ana others late
clean it up and make the $3-year- “would be dropped off close to th
eeidental” peaks eee she
dropped. a barbell on her head
Franklin County Historic ‘Prese
vation Museum. —
‘it never turned out that ‘way sol
: hem to count n me out,
undercover city investigator ‘that
which was hit by irregularities
u Page County, Ill, wrestled When it was uncovered thar :
fae two to
cocaine into the
_rectums, which
shut to prevent 1
_ targets and tramp through woods, —
phere they hid for’ pours a belong
1 boxes of live b
International A
( wasn’t din
and» driving ove
lghty perc
3p
)
soul
* : i ld a
il
de AT Se AS
mn
8 EAKLY PIONEERS AND EVENTS.
inet with a misfortune that had given him a stiff neck.
He could not turn his head in any direction any more than
if his neck had been marble. He was at one tine the guest
of my father during a term of the court. While the Fen-
ners were in jail they explained this cireumstance by say-
ing that Rowley had at one time been hung by the neck by
a mob for horse-stealing, but they took him down before he
was quite dead; and that was what had injured his neck.
Soon after the Fenners had escaped from jail, Rowley, with
his wife andson, leftthiscountry. I heard that he had made
a solemn vow when the Fenners got away that he would
hunt them down and that their lives should pay the penalty
for the life of his daughter.
Last weck my brother Leonard, of Lewistown, sent me a
copy of Chapman’s History of Fulton County. In look-
ing over it I find that the author makes mention of this
Fenner case, and says that Judge Stephen Phelps of Lewis-
town defended him and insisted that according to law and
the Scriptures 2 man had the right to chastise his wife.
The writer is evidently in error, for the Fenners escaped
and were never tried for their crime; while Judge Phelps
was a merchant and did not practice law.
The first lawyers that practiced law in Lewistown were
Mr. Caverly of Vandalia, Pew of Springfield, John
Bogardus of Peoria and Hugh R. Coulter of Lewistown.
W. C. Osborn and William Elliott were the next lawyers
who came to Lewistown. Among the first settlers that
came to Lewistown were my father’s family, David W.
Barnes, John Totten, John Wolcott, Stephen Chase, John
Jewell, Peter White, A. M. Williams, Lyman Tracy,
David Gallatine, Stephen Dewey, Elijah Wentworth,
John Holcomb, Robert Grant, George Matthews, Thomas
Covell, Peter Cook and William Higgins. Then came my
father’s mother, Abigail Ross, and his three brothers,
Joseph, Thomas and John, and his two brothers-in-law,
Simeon Velsey (father to Capt. William Phelps’ first
wife) and Tugh R. Coulter.
In looking over Chapman’s History of Fulton County
T find a great deal of very valuable information in it, and
KARLY PIONEERS AND EVENTS. 9
I think he is entitled to the thanks of the people of Tulton
county for getting up so good a work. But I have found
somr errors in it, and some of these I may have occasion
to mention as I proceed with my narrative, for what the
people want are the real facts. A history that does not
contain the truth is no history at all.
There was another remarkable tragedy in the early set-
tlement of the county that caused a great deal of talk and
excitement among the people. It was the death of an old
gentleman, Peter White. Je is mentioned in Chapman’s
history as being one of the first petit jurymen chosen in
the county. He was murdered, and his son, aged twenty-
four, was arrested and charged with the murder. I will
give the circumstances of this terrible tragedy in my next
etter.
CHAPTER III.
TRAGICAL DEATH OF PETER WHITE.——THE ROSS FEKRY.—
A FIGHT BETWEEN PIONEERS AND INDIANS.
In regard to the tragical death of Peter White, supposed
to have been murdered by his son, I will have to make a
prelirainary statement. When my father first came to the
mouth of the Spoon river, in 1821, he determined, if pos-
sible, that he would be the owner of a ferry across the Mli-
nois river at that place as soon as possible. It was forty
miles down the river to the first ferry at Beardstown} and
fifty miles to Peoria, where the next ferry was kept. He
believed that it would be but a few years until there would
be a good deal of travel across the river at Havana, and that
a ferry at that place would be a paying investment. He
was on the alert, and as soon as a license for a ferry could
be procured he got one. It proved to be a good enterprise.
For a good many years the reccipts from the ferry
amounted to about $2,000 a year.
Peter White came to Lewistown among the carly set-
sie oe
ee ea fsa pan ROS a Ag AM Nil BK a a
Ph oP NARRRI A ek PM aa ine
me ee ee ee oe
THE
PIONEER EVENTS
OF THE -STATE?{ OF ILLHFOLS
INCLUDING PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF THE WRITER,
OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, ANDREW JACKSON, AND
PETER CARTWRIGHT, TOGETHER WITH
A BRIEF AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF THE WRITER.
eae
BY HARVEY LEE ROSS
eee
CHICAGO
EASTMAN BROTHERS
1899
f
4
NOD'TOT
Noo
I
\..
STONITII *xa0
6 EARLY PIONEERS AND EVENTS.
CHAPTER II.
THE FIRST MURDER AMONG EARLY PIONEERS.—TILE FIRST
LAWYERS.—SOME ERRORS IN CIIAPMAN’S HISTORY OF
FULTON COUNTY.
There had been no circumstance ever occurred before in
Fulton county that caused so much excitement and indig-
nation as the murder of Mrs. Reuben Fenner by her hus-
band and his brother. It was the first murder that took
place in the county after the white people had settled it,
and the Fenners were the first prisoners that ever occupied
the new log jail.
Reuben and Roswell Fenner were both about six feet
two inches tall, and were of such dark complexion as to
suggest that they were part Indian. It was said- by peo
ple in Calhoun county, where they came from, that there
was Indian blood in them. They settled on the south side
of Spoon river near tie site of tne celebrated Duncan
Mills, afterwards erected four miles southwest of Lewis-
town. They built a log house and lived together alone.
After they had lived there some eighteen months a man
named Rowley came into the country and settled about a
mile from the Fenners. The Rowleys had a daughter
about twenty-two years old and a son aged ten or twelve.
They had only lived there a few months when Reuben
Fenner and Miss Rowley were married: He took her to
their joint cabin. It turned out that Reuben was willing
that his brother Roswell should share equally with him
in his wife’s affections, and that she rebelled with shame
and indignation. Then the trouble commenced. She
fought for her honor as any noble woman would do, but
the poor girl was at the mercy of two heartless giants.
Her mother heard that she was sick in bed and went to
see her, and the girl told her mother how both the brothers
had whipped her and how eruclly they had treated her.
EARLY PIONEEKS AND EVENTS. ‘
The young wife continued to grow worse, and in a few
days died. When the word camo to Lewistown of her
death a great many of the people, both men and women,
went down to the Tenner place to attend the funcral.
When the people assembled they discovered that the Fen-
ners had made a rough box for a coffin and had put her in
st ready for burial. But the men opened the box and took
the body out and examined it. They found many black
stripes on her limbs and bruises on her body, and they de
cided that she had come to her death from ernel treatment
at the hands of the Fenners. The Fenners were arrested
and taken to the Lewistown jail. They had been confined
for a couple of months waiting for the circuit court to con-
vene, when one night some of their friends came and as-
sisted them to escape. The jail was built of hewed logs
twelve inches square, and a crowbar had been used to pry
out the end of one of the logs so that they could crawl out.
The next morning an officer went in pursuit of them, but
they had gone to their cabin and loaded their goods into
canoes and gone down the river, and it was the last that
was ever heard of them. It was thought that some of their
friends in Calhoun ‘county, where they came from, had
come up and liberated them. If they had not escaped it
is probable that they would have been hung.
The new jail stood about ten rods south of the place
where the old court house was located. At that time
school was being taught in the old log court house by Peter
Wood. I can remember how the school boys used to go
and look through the grates of the jail to sce the Fenners
when they were there, and how we used to crawl in and out
of the hole between the logs which they crept throngh in
escaping. These public buildings in the ’203 wero very
primitive buildings that would cause much derision in
these days.
Mr. Rowley, the father of the murdered girl. must not
be confounded with the Rowley who moved into the settle-
ment some years after, and who also had some daughters.
The first Rowley, whose daughter married Fenner, was
about fifty years old, and had at some period in his life
-
MADISON COUNTY EXECUTIONS.
Madison County Historical Sorietg, Tne.
715 NORTH MAIN STREET
EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS 62025
oF 7
October 28, 1982
Mr. watt uspy
Capital Punishnent Research Project
Law Library, Box 6205
University, AL 35486-6205
Dear Mr. Espy:
The following constitutes all the material we have regarding Madison County, Illinois
executions:
Hliphalet Green: see enclosed clipping and enclosed material from Brink's History
of Madison County, Illinois (1882);
George W. Sharpe and John Johnson: we have no record of these names. Our material
(see enclosed) gives the names of the two men hung on June 19,,1857 as George Gibson
and Edward Barber. An additional reference to these men appeared in the June 30, 1903
Alton Evening Telegraph newspaper, which stated that a Frank Clemment had published a
pamphlet about the double hanging (we do not have a copy of the pamphlet). The article
mentioned the,names Gibson and Barber;
William Bell and William Felix Henry: no information is available other than that
sketchily outlined on the enclosed sheets;
Emil Fricker: see enclosed newspaper account;
Nikola Gavilovich: see enclosed typewritten sheet; nothing else is available about
him in our library.
As to the references we have used, the clipping entitled "Capital Punishment" is not
dated and no citation was ever seek for our files. Possibly it is from the Alton
Evening Telegraph (one of the major papers in Madison County), since it indicates that
it is not from the Edwardsville Intelligencer.
The typewritten page is from our files. We do not know who researched the material, so
its veracity may be questioned; however, we regard it as relatively reliable.
Brink's volume has long been considered the standard historical reference work about
our county. It is generally thought to be an “extremely reliable source.
I hope this information will help you in your project. We are glad to be of service
whenever possible. Our fee for these copies is $1.40.
eee ty.
bythe tae he Ce faalaeieek
Cynthia Hill Longwi
Assistant Librarian
inks
se” in
@ “he city
hort St.,
sap.
, for hauling
uired by the
yat in 1896; it
. “Kelly wagon”
yassenger, a man
who was arrested
g the wallet of a
er at the old Fair
rig at first had no
2s were railings; a
‘sides and a top
; of horses. In the
1935 these squad
‘tation, car to car
ipment of the
ent, as listed by
G. Lindsten, in-
cked cars, five
2 animal control
meter checker
‘umber jailed
year, with
@ day. The
all girls, give
ckets per work-
975 total was
are now 107
ind patrolmen,
44,
‘on Bureau was
iperation great-
Every prisoner
‘ho were picked
Bureau, which
United States.
fingerprinting
‘erprints in its
rders, possibly
A egg
S962
, de ad Saleem ait i ered ee o oo Ig PER
Sena trtnetntiatit eeuietiitibtn Satin aa sata wide dabbi Parry oe ee i egies td . lis Aas: BS. MP
the most sensational of which was the unsolved killing of a former police
chief, Omer E. Davenport. He was working for the Wabash Railroad at
the time as security officer and was shot in the railroad yards on Oct. 8,
1935. His slayer was never found.
The only Decatur policeman ever killed while on duty was Carl
Besalski, who was fatally shot Aug. 8, 1912 when he surprised Andrew
Rowan whom he found asleep in-a boxcar near the Wabash station.
Rowan was sentenced to life imprisonment. The public made up a fund
of more than $1,000 for the Besalski family, and Mrs. Besalski was leader
in a campaign for establishment of a tax-supported police pension fund.
This was done in 1915 and she was the first beneficiary of the fund.
County sheriff records include a lynching. On May 29, 1893, a woman
living south of Decatur was reported'to have been assaulted by a black
man and on the following day another woman, living between Decatur
and Mt. Zion, had suffered the same experience. On June 2 Samuel J.
Bush who fitted the women’s description, was arrested in Moultrie Coun-
_ ty and brought to the Macon County jail. At.2:45 A.M. a few days later
an armed mob appeared at the jail. Police Chief William Mason was
thrown out of the way, the office door and jail door broken down with
sledge hammers and the guards overpowered.
Bush was dragged out, naked and protesting his innocence. Halters
from horses of some members of the mob were fashioned into a noose
which was fastened to an electric light pole at the northeast corner of
Water and Wood Sts. A cab driver was forced to drive his cab close to the
pole, the doomed man was made to climb atop the cab where the noose
was fastened around his neck and he was left dangling in the air when the
cab was driven out from under him. The mob gave three cheers for Mt.
Zion—from where some of the leaders had come—and Decatur, and dis-
persed. Gov. Peter Altgeld offered a reward of $200 for each of the
lynchers, but authorities failed to learn identity of any of them.
No member of the sheriff's force ever has been killed while on regular
duty, but one was fatally shot during his time off. Fred A. Hertrich, 31,
and two other deputies had been em ployed as security officers by those in
charge of a dance at Chap’s roller rink, 2900 North Water St., on the
night of Nov. 17,4963) Hertrich died from two bullet wounds suffered
while the three deputies were trying to break up a fight following the
dance. Emery Thornell, who was sheriff at the time, made an arrest, but
no one was convicted of the crime.
The only execution ever conducted in this ccunty took place on Friday,
Feb. 13, 1925, when John Stacey, 51, was publicly hanged by Sheriff
William A. Underwood. Stacey was convicted of the fatal shooting on
Nov. 25, 1924 of Haman Rubinstein, operator of a shoe store, in a holdup
at the store. The sentence was imposed by Circuit Judge James S.
Baldwin, and the prosecution was handled by State’s Atty. Charles
Evans.
Several recent sheriffs have been well known in the community as
207
re cheeee e paon ar ae ae b
HISTORY
“of
MACON COUNTY
1976
O. T. Banton
Editor
copyright 1976
Macon County Historical Society
“ paeT IE =
“ry mrevouUy GF MDE it ote
UL ht oe fyi anyaet te fare the eourt. a cheege obo eine Was yxkexl
eat! gia ted, ane ing ot the party’, M}ing wuti facta, wees taken
the fonewing spring 1888) to Rushiviile, A foi comet ter trial
Wyte Mepetlen was discharged by the dis thove her no
evidenee agetest fies
ie
¥
“~~
Georse Waar, Aifred Evans, Neleon Meatyomery, Joseph Up-
deyraf, £,W. Brattle, Moses Venton, Witiain dd &rasiea:. William
Bowen, Yamei Bowen, Perry Keys, und Janies Anderson were
vgch ploeed under bonds of $3800 to app et as witiesses in the
Case,
lo May, 1835, the case was called in ihe Circuit Court at Rush-
ville, and Hlias and David McFadden, tather acsl ron, were placed
npon trial fer their lives. Judge Young presided, and Cyrus
Walker appeared for the people as Prosecuting Attorney, while
Judge Minshall assured the hopeless task of ceteuding the mur-
derers.
‘The trial lasted for several days, Mr. Waiker, weit Known as the
best criminal lawyer in the Weat, exerted all hix powers to weave
around the murderersa chain of unimpeachabie testimony. Judge
Minsball detendod in a most admirable maanier, doing «li for hie
clients that it was possible for man to do, bot without avail. In
his speech, he charged the Judge, the attorney forthe people, and
the jury also, of not prosecuting, but peraccnting bis cients.
As was expected, the jury brought in a verdict of murder in the
tirst degree, and npon Judge Young devolved the duty of pro-
nouncing the sentence of death. ‘This was done, and in due time,
upon 4 seattold, erected in a hollow uesr the city of Rushville,
Flias aud David McFadden paid the penalty for the criine com-
mitted. Thomas Hayden, as Sheriff of the county, erected the
scatiold, and his son, acting as Deputy Sheriff, pulled the drop that
launched the souls of the guilty men into etermty, Jhie bill of
$1 60 for henging the guilty wretches is now on file mm the Couuty
Clerk’s office at Macomb.
Such, in brief, is the record of the second inurder that cver oc-
curred in McDonough county. For the faccs in the case we are
indebted to James Clarke, David Clarke, dohn O. C. Wiiscn, J.
M. Campbell, and others. We believe the story is as exact an it js
possible to get it at this Iate lay, and only jn miner details can
exceptions he taken.
Se
one ee ge
PEORIA COUNTY
At the same time, June 2, 1877, an act wee
Peowy, being im the second appellate district.
Phe tow further previded that the Suprenge €lgs
we iil swe Appellate courts, three to each dis
aun of the Appellate Judges for the third distr
Ae hy Parcs Ke
vig Atel ule :
’ Yt ae Me, ; ¢
Considering that Peoria county is » river cots es wie - _ Y 4
nada, the city of Peoria has become a rails “ai ies ae ap tian iapactinne. Ce
sounty has always been remarkably free from damieie
kM eumpared ‘with
~ population, than
communities. There have been fewer ry sy population, than de
any other county in the State. From the Se in the shadows o
Fort Clark in the Spring of 1819, the pressmoe of fee criminally disposed char-
acters, has not been tolerated. Every my ten, ais! s
upon the rights of persons and property, has .
In mixed communities and growing, Dercey ves-aisncat ays a certain par
cent. of reckless, graceless characters dishouueh.iey whe seek by any means but
honest industry to obtain a livelihood. These chai, a2 @ rale, are never rightly en-
titled to be called permanent residents, but mor» agguagititaly come under the head of
what are now called tramps. And it is safe w ated Set seven out of every ten crimi-
nal cases, especially of the higher grades, thwat sta:: sée watt records of Peoria county,
have been committed by transient characters mgwiu! allemses have been committed
here, as they have been committed in every comsuwedty sagem the world began to be peo-
pled. But they have been punished. Only a ety tow i these convicted for murder,
have escaped the full punishment of the law. Sven. ae i the case of McAlister, who
murdered Joseph Eads in the beginning of 1875, jwtit twp penalty of life sentences in the
penitentiary. Others have been sentenced for lomgint we @uerter periods of time, according
to the nature of the circumstances under whivh the were committed.
The death penalty has only been promennemd 11; {ome sages in the fifty-five years that
have passed since the organization of dha commry uncdes a aot of the Legislature approved
January 13, 1825. The first instance was wm the case of B ian, alread
cited. In the other three cases the sentewe@ua wr
i eebend es promptly punished.
fon. there fs sw
ue, the
- ALMOST A TRAGEDY — 4 i*** #4 EKEOUTION.
The first execution of the death penalty s {'-#tm seamty was a double one, in which
two young men, named respectively Thome ferwn sed George Williams, were executed
for the murder of a man named Hewitt, in tp ater part of 1850.
Hewitt was a farmer and cattle dealer whe ‘ived at Berwick, in Warren county, and
on the Saturday he was assaulted he had drawt sme @1,500 or $2,500 (the exact amount
is not remembered) in Cherokee (Georgia) © wid a” money from Curtis’ bank, at the
corner of Main Water streets. This fact wee kmown to Thomas Jordan, a notorious
. Yiver thief of the times, whose alias was “ Tum Tit," who imparted his kno to
Brown and Williams, and planned to have them ret Hewitt of the money. They: ed
Hewitt’s movements, saw him enter his buggy aed start for home, and lowed close in
his rear. At the foot of the bluff, on Spring street, Hewitt got out of his and. .
started to walk up the bluff behind his casriage to tighten the load for his home. 1} ne
and Williams quickened their pace, came ap with kim and demanded his 3 om
his refusal to “stand and deliver,” they assaulted aime witha brick-bat, striking Lisp. 0a
IISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY, ILLINOIS XXXXXX¥ 1880, Chicago: ¥," "SER
Johnson & Company.
342 HISTORY OF PEGA COUNTY.
soOugn’ ai the approach ofthe mob to the j»'. »ut without effect. fe ct the mek
fered +r way past Irons and his assistants smi secured possession of Williams, who
wee sy without a struggle. Another part of the mob seized the scaffold, which had
, ceewwted in the jail yard, and bore it out to the center of the street. When it was
we ‘bet the mob was determined to take the men from the officers, Brown was told to
wind himself as best he could, and right bravely did he respond. He secured one |
«¢ « pair of trousers, into one end of which he fastened a bri - The cell in which
iw was confined was small, and he so stationed bimesif as to be able to strike a head as
*m+ as it appeared within the door, which had teem fereed. His aim was so unerring,
and his weapon of defense 86 strong, that sfter two or three trials the attempt to drag
him out was abandoned. One man from Fulton -#umty received such a terrible blow
that he died from the effects of it soon after.
Williams was carried out to the scaffvld sm: gigead under the beam. Then the
vourage of the mob oozed out, and not a man aneong Mawen was brave enough to place the
rope around his neck. After some parleying he «we earried back to the jail to await a
legal execution.
THE EX ROU?
On the 19th day of January the senteuce «* »+ ‘ ourt was legally carried into exe-
cution. and Thomas Brown and George Wijiia.. «© \e prime of their young manhood,
paid the penalty of death for the murder of «1+. + «=n. The gallows from which they
were hanged was erected on the open pra 14 now overlooked by the stately
residence and handsome grounds of Johu tir = = ‘he execution was public and was
witnessed by no less. than ten thousand }#1;. =“... « were terraces of men and women
all along the bluff in the vicinity of the + 4% -«a.s Of whom had come from long
distances to witness a double death-leap t:): + »wffeld to eternity. When the demand
of the law was satisfied, their bodies we's i ~* «snd given to Dr. Cooper, physician
and surgeon, for the benefit of science.
The executed men were poor and fries sat when they were first called for
trial, the Court appointed Halsey O. M+: »» &lihu N. Powell, and subsequently,
Norman H. Purple, to defend them.
o TosM ye!
HIS ARREST, TKi 4: «%! «*x# VICTION.
As soon as the news of the assault uj. ‘4+ #s+ reached town, patrol and guards
were thrown out in every direction and covers, «% the roads, with a view of preventing
the escape of any one not.well known to the — ‘is. but not soon enough to prevent the
flight of Thomas Jordan, alias ‘Tom Tit, w. «1 planned and instigated the robbery
and murder for which Brown and Williams «» +» »secuted. He was missing from the
streets and his usual haunts, and it was Isarn» et @ man answering his description had
been seen going down the river. A search woe «etituted in that direction, but he cov
ered his tracks so well, that he was not overt .«-#. It was learned soon after, howeves,
that he had gone to St. Louis, and from St. ©. #« he was traced to New Orleans.
At New Orleans, Jordan told his associe:«. the robbery and murder of Hewitt, and
of the part he had taken in the affair, and iu tum the story reached the ears of the police.
Anticipating that a reward would be offered # ‘is apprehension, the Chief of the New
Orleans police wrote to the Governor of Ils, advising him of Jordan’s presence
that city, and of his statement in relation t&: «* semplicity in the Hewitt murder. The
Governor communicated with the authoritiew « Peoria, and the respite was obtained a
areee mentioned. ‘
illiam M. Dodge was appointed an sgweet to go to New Orleans for Jordan. The be
head, ‘fracturing his skull, and rendering him unconseious. They barely had time to
kets when they were frightened away by some teamsters coming down the
ran over the bluff and reached and crossed the river between the site now oc-
the pottery and the “ Narrows.” By some means, probably by the help of the
» who may have imagined him intoxicated, Hewitt got up in his buggy, his
ve started on and went out about ten miles, to Holmes’s wayside tavern, where he was
;the habit of stopping. There his condition was noticed and he was carried into the
puse. Medical aid was summoned, but the wounds were of such « nature that he died
the ninth day.
_ Brown and Williams had been seen running across the bluff and «hem it was known
t Hewitt had been assaulted and robbed, suspicion pointed i thw as the ilty
prties, and they were traced across the river. Early on Sunday morsing. Sheriff Riggs,
orge C. Bestor, Zenas Hotchkiss and others, crossed the river as a perouing party, and
making inquiries among the farmers they learned that two young mes answering the
n and Williams were lodged in the old jail at the corner of North Fayette and
ashington streets, now occupied in part as a dwelling by Eberhardt Godel. When
urt caine on in November (1850), they were indicted for murder, put upon trial, found
nilty of murder in the first de ree, and on the 27th day of that month were sentenced
i on Friday, the 20th day of December. In the mean-
A MOB.
The populace were greatly excited over the murder, and as the day first fixed for
b execution drew wear, the excitement increased. On the morning of that day men
me to Peoria from all parts of the country, until there was a te crowd in the streets
nnd and about the jail. When it became known that a respite had been granted, the
citement overleaped all bounds of tespect for law and good order, and the frenzied mob
manded that the mee hould be hanged, and declared that if the sheriff did net hang
ed to their better judguumns, an urged them by every possible argument to disperse
go home, assuring thems dhat the law should be enforced. A aad appeals
reason and obedience gp tww and good order were useless. cher, James L.
Bgs, naturally a timid sug, had become frightened and kept concealed. Hie deputy,
id D. bf mare nerve, and with others that he ealied to his assistance,
fev)
q
4
=
om, the mob woukd. ‘Pheleading men of Peoria tried to allay their excitement, ap-
HISTORY OF MARION AND CLINTON COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 75
. ‘
ander Kell, Mordecai Smith, Samuel Gaston, and William War-
ner.
This jury brought into court on July 26th the following ver-
diet :—
“ We, the jury, find the defendant guilty in manner and form as
charged in the indictment in this cause.”
Motion for a new trial was overruled by the court, and sentence
pronounced July 27th, to wit: “That you, James White, be by
the sheriff of Marion county, State of Illinois, removed from this
court reom to the jail of said county, and there be safely and se-
curely kept Ly said sheriff until Thursday, the 15th day of August
next, in the vear of our Lord, 1861, and that on said day, between
the hours of 10 o'clock in the forenoon, and 5 o'clock in the after-
noon, you, James White, shall be by said sheriff, from a gallows to
be by him erected, hung by the neck until you are dead,”
The desperate character of James White was again proved on the
day of his execution, When the officer attempted to take him -
from his ceil, White fought the officer and his attendants. He
struck the sheriff'a severe blow with a piece of a log chain, and be-
ing # most powerful athlete, he actually held the officers at bay for
several hours An effort to stupity the prisoner by squirting chlo-
roform into the celi, proved abortive. What force and chloroform
failed to accomplish, was brought about by a drink of whisky—
White agreeing to surrender fur a glass of whisky anda dinner—
saying: “1 shall eat my dinner here, and my supper I'll take in
hell!”
The death-warrant, issued by the Circuit Clerk on the 14th of
August, 1861, was duly executed on the 15th. We find endorsed
on that solemn warrant the following
State or Inurois, )
Marion County, ) *™
I, Thomas J. Black, Sheriff of the County of Marion, do certify
that James White. who was sevtenced by the Circuit Court of said
County on the 27th day of July, A. D.1861, to be executed on this
day, to wit: Thursday, the 15th day of August, A.D. 1861, be-
tween the hours of ten o'clock in the ferenoon and five o'clock in
the afternoon, was at the time mentioned, in pursuance of said sen-
tence, executed by hanging by the neck until he was dead, in the
vicinity of the jail of said county, in said county, and that the same
was conducted and performed in couformity with the provisions of
the law of this Siate concernivg capita) punishipent and of the said
sentence,
Tn witness whereof I have hereto subscribed my name this 15th
day of August, A.D. 1861,
T. J. Buacx, Sheriff:
; [SEAL}.
State oF ILutnors, )
Manion County, j ™*
We the undersigned certify that the facts stated in the foregoing
certificate of T.J. Black, Sheriff, are correct; that we witnessed said
execution, and that said James White was executed at the place and
time apecitied in said certitieate, in conformity with the sentence of
court, and the act of February 18th, 1839, of this State. Dated
August 15, A. D., 1861, at Salem, Lllinois. J. H. Nickell, minis-
ter; W. B. Matthews, constable; H. Rockhold, Granville Cheely,
Michael Justice, M. C. Kell, 8. Smith, Logan Shelton, J. R. Woo-
ters, W. B. Lewis, W. W. Pace, Reuben Chance, W. R. Black, J.
A. Cooper, M. D., J. A. Davenport, M. D., and J. S. Sweeney, M.
D.
The criminal calendar of the county mentions many more viola-
tions of the Jaw, and even the court of Judge Lynch has had its
victims in the county. Ata very recent date, scarcely teu years
ago, the majesty of the law was outraged by some of the so-called
best citizens of the county. Henry Leonard had been arrested in
the spring of 1870 on suspicion of being a member of a gang of
outlaws avd robbers, who had infested the western part of the
county, and had become a plague and terror to the inhabitants,
The impetuosity of a few hot-headed men carried others with them
and on the night of April 20, 1870, the jail in Salem was forcibly
entered, and Henry Leonard dragged to the scaffuld improvised in a
vacant shed west of town. As soon as Samuel R. Carrigan, sheriff
of the county, was made aware of what was being doue, he started
in hot pursuit, and confronted, solitary and alone, a howling mob,
who had just hung their victim. Carrigan cut down the wretch,
and perceiving symptoms of life, hurried to the city for medical aid,
the mob having dispersed, Returning he found the dead body of
Leonard. Some of the mob had returned to the scene of the outrage
and finding no sheriff there, had beaten their victim to death with
clubs and rails. The names of the perpetrators of this act of bar-
barity have never become known officially. They deserve, howev-
er, the punishment meted out to other murderers by the law.
Probate Court.—The early terms of this court were presided over
by Rufus Ricker, who in fact conducted the affairs of the county
alone, and held five offices at one and the sametime. He served as
Recorder, Probate Judge, Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, and Justice
of the Peace for twelvo years.
The estates administered on during the infancy of the county are
but few in number and small in value. ‘The first estate admicis-
tered on was that of Henry Whatley, who died in 1827. The value
of the personal property was $121.45, Hardy Foster, administrator.
The estate of William Pursley, March, 1828, amounted to $301.-
75.
Joshua Pile's estate, February, 1829, $331.95.
James Jackson's estate, March, 1831, $393.75 worth of personal
property,
Alexander Chance’s estate, May, 1833, valued at $147.65.
Harmon Holt’s estate, September, 1833, $402.25.
Samuel Hayes’ estate, Decen:ber, 1833, $99.30.
Seven estates, with assets of $1797.10 in the aggregate.
The first will was probated September, 1829 ; it contains a legacy
of a pot and a puil to a beloved wife, etc., as follows.
FIRST WILL PROBATED.
State of Illinois,
In the name of God, Amen.
Marion County.
I, Thomas Weems, being very weak in body but perfectly sound
in mind, I resign my body to the tomb and give my spirit to God.
And ag it is appointed once for man to die, and after that to judg-
ment, This being my last Will and Testament.
I do bequeath uoto Ann, my wife, one cow and galf and bed and
covering, one pot and pail as long as she lives or lives single, and
so she shall have the farm for maintaining the children, to wit,
Ann my wife, is to have the increase of her cow and calf her lile-
time or widowhood, also to wit, John Weems, my son, is to have
half: of the fitty acres of land lying in the state of Tennessee, in
Sumner. county on Long creek, also that he, the said John Weema,
pays to Thomas Weems one hundred and twenty-five dollars in
horseflesh for the other fifty acres above mentioned to be paid in
two years, also that my son Thomas L. Weems shal! have my roan
mare, new saddle and bridle, and that the said Thomas Weems
shall raise all the colts he can, and give all the rest a colt, except
John Weems, my son, and Elizabeth Helms, if the mare lives to
have them.
techn
ase
*
aoe
ry are
bint? “ented ¥ colered, who
See R ante’ AGay. Web. -16, 1927 for tre
By ee ee ny re >ftemes, @ Greek
Bice pester, Pls Americanized naiue was
> : neon ‘tine airs 2M ol
{ci rewrtnas 0b “that. 0° period. of
BAe)“ execations ta this
Ne vty Pate ond Frank Btires roa ht
ae 3 Soy "apap -#m the county jail here on
«. SRP Sheets Mys83 for the murder of
» Pee paty Jakks. '
ee: Fe
EUSA: ty a pecultay Pict thar the lz
Nes ‘grecutions tm rho coznty war
% oe ite: whith resuit.d 4
PAG: easing: of (Use victims >t ‘the
we ‘ eh ae {
Ba es Pe dens 1on in Ver-
7 MARYS Sho a county was tha: of ¢ matilent
GN Siaeeat aes ee ngs of ae
het webt more ce a wtngy of venue.
‘yc gue Se $B 3341, aZiJsvive bein
yo
¥ ED. te. Irerenis county that the
* : Fees, GOSEREADA, Precerich Kester,
ad ‘7 Sar tad eve. ie
a ale . Mester was ehu: rred with murder-
1, a Se nee tien convicted, the
ied that she had been
yebot through the heart while asleep:
“ber head was crushed. ta
em axe and her body dragxed
ad tz a fit of anger,
ber. The buebaad BF
* -
Xe
ee ecack was sentenced to 99 rare
“Risht of Oct 1913, hese
‘@ boak car ja whkb
_youbsry of “manv railroad
Peasy 3914 wae lald at the
:piurphy and Armatrens.
“gud
George Romas, or Jang.
~ ule .
apne awakened about 30:30 o'clock Ft:
oe sight. by some one rounding oD
of their cor, The door Was
-G ‘dead on the cinders just outside
t ear door. . Be GER, :
J: Dy Mant, afresed on a charn®
i fergrty. amusted the officers in
{,arecking wp the cusa.. He hecarce
crtrteadiy with Murphy in jal and
e hime tearned thot Atiitoe Arr:
gropg hail Wen with bie. Armee
Pas was arrestes). Both were
‘hp for the aluy:ng of George Lans,
cige. Bomes, Both were found gullty
»
fe the penitentiary. :
Tike, Murphys wes found guilly of
% Lovie aod for ins he wes
' gentenced to hana. Armen’ nsave
{ was “found goilty ond again wer
i: entenced to 99 yerre in gecison,
Erde One Kurcet hm sauepyest.
ti natner execuilor & +8 achedula
Ya see. Dut wes otenred after ase
_ weareh tc the acaffeid had beet
"s . This wae in the “a ron
+ Joba Johanson. ailae Chon ae Pi es
:“$fa°was convicted of trurter. reault+
“few trom 8 felt at 2 dance in Wests
;, ville He was convicted and fee
* to hang. ‘The sete wre sot,
a lors tasved and the peaffate
£, 2m Tendivess. The rhersfl sen hnal
»& od the march to the gallewe
e “Attworney Gd, B8 MeDusvedt end W
-S:Ceanetiy, hewspapertsar wie he
é ed themecivea 10 rons of
bs man, Bad waned s tung art hard
, Bettis ts seve hi,, The govern!
Fe eed in nucl, dibieulty wae
in finding the Heutenst.
te have a Stay ef enacuthen
‘$b wae dune oniy ® ahort
before aad @ tnesena* gent ere
focal Masaget of the Western
qategfaplh cvmpenr. mot Jeet:
qo trust oo fayortart a tnresndsr
bog, carried 1 hit:
ty fe the esved fF.
creer the wry. A de
ewe ‘rminvies in getting
(he erewé wevld beve }s0de
‘De. age the ecee wae (1:
{ye board of pardnne acd
wea | dle re-
, Pesvitle sed 2 How &
tam aiding cRisen.
aridence t tended to show that
Om te
ofier serievins ehe eri-| |.
a
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND WARREN COUNTY
Garrison’s Inn licensed in Monmouth; the
oldest log house in Moumouth on present site
of tne Kilgore property; torn down in 1898.
Martha: Williams obtained first divoree in
the county, from Richard Williams, May 11,
on charge of desertion. .
e
Monmouth organized under village govern-
ment, F
The first Presbyterian chureh located in
county, nine miles N. W. of Monmouth.
Oounty eommissioners set aside “Seminary
Block” (new known as “Commercial Row”)
for a county seminary, where “all the citizens
of the county shalt, have equal privileges of
sending .to said school, college or seminary ;”
fhe Jots sold in 1891 for $1,225.
Villace of Berwick laid out by Peter Butler,
county survevor,
Village of Little York platted; postoffice es-
tablished in 1838.
183
Virst Presbyterian Chureh organized in Mon-
mouth,
Swan Creek post office established.
James H. Ralsten sueceeds Judge R. M.
Young as Cirenit Judge holding court at Mon-
mouth; Prebate Court established, under Leg-
islative Act of same year,
1839
First appartus to fight fire authorized by vil-
lnge of Monmouth.
1840
Population of Warren County was 6,739,
1841
.
Henderson County organized with Oquawka
as county seat. ;
Traylor brothers of Greenbush accused of
murder; Lineon and Logan their attorneys,
secured their acquittal at Springfiefa.
City Umits of Monmouth made to extend one-
half mile in each direction.
Second county jail completed in Monmouth ;
Third courthouse built in Monmouth. :
Stephen A. Douglas, Circuit Judge, presided
at trial of Joseph Smith, Mormon leader of
Nauvoo, on charge of murder; the writ ‘was
quashed; Lincoln, one of the. attorneys for the
319
prosecution, was not present at the trial in I)
Monmouth. Douglas Judge of the Cireuit until ep feet
1848. m, ay pee “4
1846
Monmouth Atlas established by C. K. Smith
& Company, ~~
Lodge No. 87, A. F. and A. M., instituted in
Monmouth,
John Baxter sentenced to be hanged by
Judge N. H. Purple; defendant, accused of
killing Col. George Davenport, Indian agent,
was subsequently sent to the penitentiary for
life.
| 1848
Second schoolhouse replaced the first built in
Monmouth.
1849
County Court superseded County Commis-
sioners’ Court. Ivory Quinby first County Judge
under Legislative Act of 1849.
1850
Population of Warren County, 8,176; popu-
lation of Monmouth, 780.
4
1852
Monmouth adopted a charter, with city limits
one mile in each direction.
First annual fair in Warren County held in
courthouse.
1853
Monmouth Academy established; became eol-
lege in 1856.
Beginnings of First United Presbyterian
Chureh in Monmouth.
Township organization of county adopted. ;
Harding’s Addition added twenty-four bloeks , ’ '
to Monmouth, if
1854
Warren Lodge No. 160; I. O. O. I*., instituted
in Monmouth.
Village of Young America (now Kirkwood)
laid out; incorporated in 1865.
Village of Cameronville (now Cameron)
‘platted; post office established, 1855.
First stationary steam engine installed in
Monmouth, in wagon ‘shop of William Y. and “i,
Nugh Henry. and J. W. Morgan. :
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND WARREN COUNTY 45
to defend those surrendered. A petition for a
writ of Habeas Corpus was presented to Judge
Young at the same term on the ground that
they were not the persons charged by the in-
Cictment, and upon such being shown, they
were promptly released. At the October term,
1835, the indictment against these Indians was
dismissed by William A, Richardson, state’s at-
torney. In 1835, the Legislature allowed the
county $187.40 expenses for capturing the In-
dians who were never captured.
' In those days when the homes of the settlers
were poorly protected, it was a serious matter
to set fire to the rank prairie grass, which, be-
coming ignited and the fire fanned by the
prairie winds, swept everything before it. Such
cases were promptly indicted and prosecuted
with vigor.
‘he early records show not a few cases where
careless hunters or travelers were brought to
the bar for such offenses. One such had a
peculiar setting. The judge and lawyers tray-
cling on horseback from court in Macomb to
court in Monmouth, carelessly let fire escape
into the prairie grass. <A couple of hunters,
who were discovered in the neighborhood of the
fire, were aceused and indicted by the grand
jury. Able counsel volunteered to defend them ;
the state’s attorney, who was one of the guilty
parties, prosecuted like a tyro, but it required
the united ingenuity of the court and attorneys
to convinee the jury of the innocence of the
defendants, and at the same time not disclose
their own guilt,
JOSEPH SMITH A PRISONER
It is not generally known that Joseph Smith,
the Mormon prophet, was once a prisoner in the
Warren County jail. He had been arrested in
pursuance of a requisition by the governor of
Missouri on the governor of Illinois, as a fugi-
tive from the justice of Missouri where he
stood charged with a criminal offense. Those
were the days of the anti-Mosmon agitation, and
sentiment ran high. In 1841, he was brought
before Judge Stephen A, Douglas, who was
then a Circuit Judge of the Fifth Judicial Cir-
euit on a writ of Habeas Corpus, and by the
judge discharged from the arrest and imprison-
ment,
DAVENPORT MURDER
The case of Baxter ys. the People, a report
of which is found in 3 Gilman of the Supreme
Court proceedings, which now locally only a
'
tradition, was at the time one of great impor-
tance by reason of the actors, and is yet a
leading case in the laws of this state on ae-
count of the questions of law decided. John
Baxter, together with five other persons, was
indicted for the murder of Col. George Daven-
port, on the island at Rock Island. Colonel
Davenport was a very prominent man of the
times. The purpose of the murder was robbery.
The indictment was returned by a grand jury
of Rock Island County, but the ease, as to
Baxter, was removed to Warren County on a
change of venue, and tried here, three of his
associates having been tried, convicted and ex-
ecuted in Rock Island. The jury found the
prisoner guilty and imposed the death penalty,
the only time such a penalty has been returned
by a jury in this county, and he was sentenced
to he hanged. The Supreme Court sustained the
verdict, but reversed the sentence because pro-
nounced on Sunday, and sent the case*back for
sentence on a proper day. Shortly thereafter,
someone had influence enough with the Legis-
lature to get an act passed reducing the punish-
ment to life imprisonment, although the consti-
tution gave the power to commute sentences to
the governor, and Baxter died in the peniten-
tiary.
UNUSUAL BILL OF INJUNCTION
A case of local interest arose when the center
of the Public Square was, by the city council,
erected into a park. For years, during certain
Seasons, the Public Square became an impos-
sible sea of mud. The city council, for the pur-
pose of remedying the matter so far as pos-
sible, after due and acrimonious street-corner
debates and public agitation, passed an ordi-
nance, establishing the little park, and defining
its bounds. ,
Some merchants and others contended that if
the farmers were not allowed to hitch their
teams on the Public Square, they would hoy-
cott the tuwn, and such threats were made by
certain farmers. The matter culminated in a
bill for an injunction to restrain the city coun-
cil from diverting public grounds from public
use. Feeling ran high, and local statesmen
debated the legal and economic questions with
much physical and vyocal eloquence, but the
city council remained firm, and upon @ hearing,
the bill for injunction was dismissed, the park
was saved, and the farmers continued to visit
and trade in the city.
WARREN COUNTY, ILLINOIS
HI STORICAL AND.. BIOGRAPHICAL. RBCSED.OF: MONMOUTH..AND.. WARREN COUNTY, ILLINOIS
1927 | Edited by Luther E. Robinson
14 HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND WARREN COUNTY
Warren County was organized, he was elected
its first sheriff, and he continued his ownership
of a portion of what later became the town-
site of Oquawka, and resided on this prop-
rty until his death which occurred about New
Year’s Day, 1861.
OTHER EARLY SETTLERS
In 1829 several new settlers arrived. John
Campbell selected a site several miles east of
Oquawka; James Ryason located a few miles
to the south of that pleasant little village, while
Jeremiah Smith built a sawmill, and later a
gristmill on Henderson River, east of the same
place. This old mill, known as Jack’s Mill,
later on, because it passed into the possession
of Andrew T. W. Jack, drew several settlers,
among others Martin Woods.
FIRST TRAGEDY
One of the very early settlers, Daniel Har-
ris, met his death in a most tragic manner,
his taking off being the first criminal offense
of the county. His cabin stood on Ellison
Creek, and in it he was shot and killed, March
7, 1831, His body was discovered sitting at
the table, his head bowed over a bowl of soup,
and it was supposed that someone had shot
him through the window as he was commencing
his meal. Over his dead body was held the
first coroner’s inquest of the county, and his
estate was the first to be settled by the Pro-
bate Court of the county.
Iror many years the solution of his death
remained one of the unsolved questions of the
locality. Twenty years passed before any
light was shed on the mystery. The people of
Warren County then read in a Cincinnati, Ohio,
newspaper of a confession made on the scaf-
fold of a man who was executed for another
crime. In this confession he said that ‘he had
murdered Mr, Harris, and his object had been
burglary, Having seen Mr. Harris draw from
a bank in New York, a large amount of money,
he had followed him across the continent, re-
solved to rob him. In order to divert suspicion
from himself, he had disguised himself as an
Indian, and shot him as the defenseless and
harmless man sat at the table. The crime com-
mitted, he hegan his search for the money,
but could discover no trace of it on the victim’s
person or in his cabin. Heartlessly he fled, and
buried his dire seerct in his own breast until
the approach of his own shameful death brought
forth the confession. Mr. Harris should be
remembered with gratitude by the people of
this county as it was he who set out the first
apple orchard here, putting in trees he had
brought from Prince’s Nursery at Prineeton.
OTHER SETTLERS
James, William R. and John C. Jamison,
together with relatives of theirs, Abner and
Gabriel Short, came to what is now Henderson
County, in 1829, and located about seven miles
southeast of Oquawka, on South Wenderson
Creek. During that same year David Findley
and his sons settled in the same neighborhood,
and still another pioneer of the South Hender-
son region was James Ry ason, who came there
about the same time as the Jamisons, if his
arrival did not antedate theirs. James Ritchey,
who settled at Biggsville, was another of the
early settlers. It was in 1880 that William
Beatty took up his @laim cast of OquaweEa.
In 1852 a Frenchman by the name of Joseph
De Hague, secured a claim in the neighbor-
hood of Gladstone, but he sold it in 1837, to
J. J. Brooks, and, going several miles below
his first claim, built a tavern. The year 1§32
also brought to this region John McKinney,
who settled at Salter’s Grove, and Amos Wil-
liams, Abraham Hendricks and Izckiel Smith,
whose claims were a little further south. The
settlers for 1833 were Maj. James CG. Hutchin-
son, whose claim was made east of Oauawka;
John Gibson, who located in Olena Township;
Frederick Davidson, who located on Ellison
Creek. Robert and Wilson Kendall, who eame
to Olena in 1834, were quite prominent. The
village was laid out by the former, and the
latter became the first postmaster after the
postoffice was established at that place. The
first physician of Oquawka was Dr. Alpheus
Lewis, whose arrival toolx place during 18384
or 1835. Lambert Hopper built a lumber min,
and later added to it a grinding mill, his prop-
erty being near the present site of Biggsville.
Other settlers of this period in the neighbor-
hood of Giggsville were: Samuel I. MeDill,
Andrew Graham, Benjamin Thompson and
Dykeman Shook,
FIRST WARREN COUNTY SETTLERS
The ahove-mentioned settlers, while locating
in what was then Warren County, properly
belong in the history of Henderson County as
the site of their claims now lies within its con-
=)
ol gore, See ee
ALMANAC AND YEAR-BOOK FOR 1930. . _ 863
liam E. Dever. The metering program was of other disposal stations. It also is build-
interrupted after the election of Mayor | ing flood-control works in the Illinois river,
William Hale Thompson, who opposed +] The amount of diversion from Lake Michi-
compliance with the war _ department's | gan that ultimately will be allowed by the
stipulation and made it a political issue in federal government, will bear an ;important
his campaign for office. Fulfillment of the| relation to engineering phases of. the pro-
metering program has not been executed. jected waterway from the great lakes to
The sanitary district has completed some of] the Gulf of Mexico, via the Chicago river,
the units essential to artificial treatment of | the sanitary district's drainage channel, the -
Sewage and is engaged on the construction ! Illinois river and the Mississippi river,
LS
EXECUTIONS IN: COOK COUNTY.
John Stone.......... reeseseeese uly 10, 1840] Edward Wheed ,...... sidbsnnsaeh. 34
William Jackson....... G8 be doerae June 19, 1857 | Harry Lindsae Shes tugice siee eb. 12 ate
Albert Staub............. ae April 20, 1858 | John Anderson ..... seececcoveee duly 19, 1918
Michael _McNamee..............+. ay 6, 1859 | Lloyd’ Bopp Cee eésoebine Ceccccees Dec. 6, 1918
Walter Fleming...........0..... Dec. 15, 1866 | ‘Albert AMONG cK ae Feb. 28° 1919-
TOrry COrpett «05 saves viesss... Dec, 15, 1865] Far] enn, ROPE PURE: Seah des June 27° 1919
ROOT RG: LAWN 6 casi r iss soos. March 14, 1873 Thomas Fitzgerald bovdedeisc.cOet 17° 1919
Chris Rafferty......... Poe sae vee Feb. 27, 1874 Raeffaelo Durage Mat shid ate 2° 1920
George SUOITY si. oiscds cess sees June 21, 1878 | John O’Brien Maier. ee “my 20; 1920
eremiah ae sae ik aban William Yancy: Mills’ ( ol.)..April 16; 1920
BCI ie a Ue ok ube se 4s 5 ,
Isaac Jacobson... 2.7" Sept. 19, 1884 John He eeIONe oa eee es cA Oct tae sess
Bnasto Srivestri.... Nov. i2° tae¢ | Frank Zagar coor 7777 17+ Oct. 15,. 1920
Agostino Gilardo................ ore ig tty Arthur Haensel.. 7!" 7° seeeeee.. Nov. 19, 1920
Giovanni Azzaro... Maren 26° 1886 | Nicholas Viana .....°°°°°"7" Dec. 10, 1920
Frank Mulkowski.. Nov. 11° 1889 | Edward Brislane “...07/0°07" Feb. 11° 1921
Albert Parsons............0008., oy: it’ isay | Sam Cardinella veccccesscecoscApril 1B) 1081
August Spies.............cce000- - Ov. it pe Sam Ferrara Lecivhiee re April 15° 1991
Pastas reel. NSETETD ESS Se ¥ 06's Now. 11° 1887 | Joseph Costanzo Liber Wises April 15, 1921
Zephyr Davis (col.).............May 12° 188g | Grover C. Redding’ (col.)...... June 24, 1921
H. Paint Jan. 26, 1894 | Oscar McGavick COOL F spec June 24, 1921
George co MANTEL, see ese eee - 26, Antonio Lopez F3
homas ( ig 3 ) oe agement 3 1 1894
Patrick E. J. Prendergast...... uly 1
Harry (‘Butch’) Lyons........ Oct. 11,
enry Foster (col.)....... vee dan, 284,
gltred a aa COOL) s fedisc es wey +f. C
oseph INOTAUN... .cacccscccceses une 5, § L gee 17° 1994
Julius Manow:'..3....c00cccsc.c, Oct. 30, § H Wil ’
Daniel McCarthy,...............Feb. 19; 1897 | Henry gon (col.).......... April 17, 1924
John Lattimore (colt)... May 25. 1897 | Wile Sane Tmeton (ool:} |“May 18° 1938
William T. Powers (col.)...... May 28, 1897 ams (col.)....... +-..Jdune 19,1925
Chris Merry April 22° 1898 Canal ene af sug + ek Se 33° t+
BUSSE aay eee : iy aad Ah ange. 9
Gogree Haack ccc Oet a dag [Sack Wendy erty, (SOL)... Jan. 38: 1038
Robert Howard (col.)....e.c0., Feb. 17, 1899 | Joseph Holmes ....7 773272227! Feb. 13, 1926
August A. Becker.............. Nov. 10, 1899 | Raymond _ Costello (2.7... April 16; 1926
Michael FE. Rollinger......... Nov. 17, 1899 | Charles Hobbs (col.)../22.7! April 16; 192¢
G Dolinski Oct. 11, 1901 | Richard Evans ....0..7777°°** Oct. 29, 1926
Louis G Sete ee Aug. 8, 1902 | James Gricius .....0217/....77° Dec. 31, 1926
Louis Pesant cesseveesevseenses-ADMi 15, 1904 | Thomas McWane11.722000777" Dec. 31; 1926
Peter Niedemeyer............... April 22, 1904 | Oscar Quarles (col.) 277.7: bis < Feb. 17, 1927
EN MONEE ak gees sind: April 22, 1904 | John Walton Winn “/:!'°°'°"* April 15, 1927
Harvey Van Dine.............. April 22, 1904 | Elin Lyons ......... 0.077707" June 24, 1927
Frank _Lewandowski............ Sept. 30, 1904 | Anthony Grecco* 7" "| Nie eae Feb. 20, 1929
John Johnson...............00-0.. Jan. 20, 1905] Charles Walz* ......0°°°7°"" Feb. 20, 1929
Robert E. Newcomb...:......... Feb. 16, 1906 | Napoleon Glover (col.).......June 20; 1929
SORES PEUIOP WS iis edesss ose peat 29. see Morgan Swan (col.).........June 20; 1929
g WE GAS Ree ees the Fcc eb. a Wj : F 4
eee eT eens CHL eve © bebe ot June 22, 1906 First electrocutions in Cook county,
aniel Francis (col.).......... ct. 12, 1906 John Stone was executed publicly on the
Richard Walton (col.).......... Feb. 16, 1912] prairie on the South side. William Jackson
William papowen, (cel.) Segaph ees web. 2% 1913 ana ge ae vane _ bad rege pub-
] hiblawski' .............. eb, » 2972 | licly, but on the west side er that exe-
beter wes diesisigice'esoe éy3 Dec. 18, 1907 | cutions were private. and took Place in the
Philip Sommerling ............, Oct. 22, 1909] courthouse until , 1878, after which time
MER ONO i os 0 mocdcc, Feb. 16, 1912] they took place in the county jail, Raf-
Thomas Jennings (col.).........Feb. 73° EEE: forty, vas hanged in Waukegan for murder
° cago.
Roswell C, F, Smith............ Feb.
CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEFS,
Alex. Lloyd.........1837-388|J. M. Donnelly....... 1854] John McDonough.... 1906
Calhoun.......... 1839/5. McBride...........1855-57 | James Horan........1906-10
L. Nicholl............ | 18401] D. J. Swenie......... 1858/0. F. Seyferlich...... 1910-14
A. Sherman.........1841-43]0. P. Harris...:.....1859-67 | Thomas O’Connor....1914-22
a POLS -. -1844-46 |R. A. Williams.....”’ 1867-73 | Arthur R. Seyferlich.1922-23
C. E. Peck..........1847-48 Matt. Benner........ 1873-79 | Edward J. Buckley. ..1923-25
i UOT, sae vue esac 1849 |D. J. Swenie... |” 1879-1901 | Arthur RB. ‘Seyferlich.1925-27
C. PB. Bradley........1850-51 | Wim. H. Musham....1901-04 Michael J, Corrigan, .1927-
‘
U. P. Harris........ 1852-53 John. Campion.......1904-06
(1x4* fv
x
CHAMPAIGN — ILLINOIS, EXECUTIONS.
wrt
tens
“were last™ ‘voi ced i in: “Cha
by pd
E56
hee F
a ee ee P
Ti
NT
iG he
when™ a’ Rep rncr man ‘was hun:
ss
£
Everett pa
cE | ae :
mbers eg ‘ll MW errible
Py 2% oad
rt 2 ee at BAT
ned f
g.. go
Dae
as loaded on. to a truck “at, the
nty. > - Courthouse ‘“aeTuesday
‘morning “and removed ‘to, the U:
bana dump grounds. *
* More than: 135. “years. 20.8. ‘27.
fyear-old » convicted — . murderer
pai . the * penalty: of’ “death . by
anging on these timbers, Cham-
jpaign County’ Ss aollows of yester-
ear. Se * a e.2
~ The Martiite cation” famber Was.
removed Monday. from:the. base-
tment .of. the. County <Courthouse
‘at. the direction of Sheriff Everett).
. -Hedrick.: The room is needed
for the installation of the riew
eating system. for the _court-
louse, and for Storage. space. i-
. “But the Meatave, ‘painted | in:
, & deep, forest green hue, still _
sturdy where ‘the termites ©
had not done ‘their damage,’ _ :
“also tell the story of Cham-~
paign County’s reluctance. to
a
prs,
ne oe
ae ’
‘Gallo.
eri Cox
ate
For
OWS
eho: Ses et
ib FP He Pty er a
RE ad soy vee
inetice
tm SRE LS. CET NE BE SORE ate ie RENE Rae
any “pile cot “old, Potting . siete: » Old. newspaper.- clippings: ‘and |:
‘Champaigri County’ Circuit Court} -
records | indicate , that. *fwo men}*
-|actually~ were. changed, ‘on ‘the ‘gal-}<
“|lows- that were ‘erected: , on ;-the
courthouse’ ‘lawn, ‘between the Jail
and’ the main: “building. /
On June 27,'1845, a. man “named|
William “Weaver. was: “the © first
in the ‘county given a sentence -of
death: by hanging.’ His ‘debt * to.
society was never paid.” Hé suc]!
cessfully. ‘escaped: from, Jal with
2 ;
vd
- ‘Fifty-three. years Tater, a
16, 1898, . the. first recorded hang-
ing took. place ' here.>: “A*™ young
man. qbamed Rice Collier “was
ec:
“Ming, was held here,” The pris- >.
“ oner.... WAS ° {John -Edward::
" Christmas,” on “young - Negro. .
“who slashed: 17-year-old |.
._wife’s” throat. “with> ‘a ‘razor, =]
ea: 1€
ae. the next, and last hang: safe Ss
"resort to the death, by Hane
a escaped © a scaptate., dot daya.y a ft
me! ed in-# 4 ;
Sie
ee
S%
rt
ot
~
langin:
Bein
ent.
asel
‘Ba
4 eee ‘were
‘tipped off. aN cea
tt ay lipped. ott sees
edt} 4s. in-thes
murd er, “his” *trial: and: -imprison-
ment. ‘while “awaiting: ‘death ‘ ‘that
the‘ final “chapter-and_ “bistory.cof,
veteran ‘teporter,;:Howe ‘Brown,
now retired,“was an attual wit -
ness to the ‘Christmas hanging: |<
tse ae
“During” his 50: “years “with” The
‘News-Gazette-“Brown “Saids Tues ~
day. he*. could- “recall: “only.-two
hangings heré, thatof Collier and -
Christmas.” Anothet “prisoner:in
jail ° “and = awaiting ” :death ‘: with -
tice“ was.’ “completed * “on* 1 Det.” my
}1921, the date Christmas*’ Bean
alee with” the» Aightening”_ pes
aut
E
4
{death ‘by “hanging.in> the: <¢ounty, 5
is “unfolded. “The “News-Gazette’ s--*
£
3
5]
4
”
Watacabis a
ncaa iN eee yy 4) ee Ff TA a il CH ee BOI gd BEALS
4
—— > gt me ey t
oe Pe Re Coe yn n..,@ ean
Gallows arate ae
pete
*
oe
eles)
~*~
ie ef
: hg gy 2
Dy het? Src
flog:
2 we age”
id
ze
ge
n nO.
res
+e
Fi
Li4- dig! oat Heoe
RR ry, ge ag
Janna “was < an wealthy farmer:
ast.
a8 ‘operate “m4
Phil Hanna, pty pwor
~saaioerats
Sad cst es
ne ea
= igings
red eed x
“prisoners? is) through if ihr
bail ee ees .
¥ dose mee ihe ‘south * ee [a
ot the County. Jail. The Strap was} di
1 ig" and.” aoe chi
des ee
Sect te <<.
Pe
at
one GALLOWS.
ts a
A neath nging 2 In“our
was ‘averted: in. Changer
ping ol ARE hen
jam‘ nae
liam
“ee ge
hang » for; ie arder ¢ 0
Hbran. Wehr seat
For us by the. is
: ‘Socety th ‘that byes
Pe ee i
b ran—with: arifle f
ight ‘side’ “aaa sets lly died:
Veaver was ; found
miced to be. *Linged ht
‘C2 ae before the | stale
+ Who we were the atte atterne:
ie peared « ‘for. “Weaver? =
an the: Hon, “Ac Lineo
Field, ‘and. ‘Ashael "Galen Bloom.
\gton, “who = “3 “traveled 2 “be cold
Eighth Judicial circuit,” ith’ “Judge ‘
1D aid: Davis, “he Sof “the “hefty:3 B30}.
pounds,” “and numerous oil ie atto:
evs eS Ear ap es ee MES
pi Even. Lincoln, who: W:
= en aie ae : 2
soky eke RE a
og: out of -F lace “an
ere We cate 2 told:jn°o1 one yo!
re ‘our eae
“ ped.
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y Weaver ae
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2 The Commercial-News, Danville, Ill.
~Jail wal
(Coatinued from page 1.)
tossed over the bridge by what a cor-
oner’s jury later Called “party or
Parties unknown."’
“Danville’s second mob execution’
Started down at the city lockup, but
ended in a full-scale riot at my door.
“On July 25, 1903, a fellow named
John D. Metcalfe killed Billy Gat-
terman in a saloon brawl on East
Main Street. The City police took
Metcalfe to the old city lockup at
North and Walnut where the Parking
Barage stands today.
Racial differences
“Billy Gatterman was a member
of the Leverenz family and he had a
lot of friends. Billy was white and
Metcalfe was black. which made
things worse.
“A crowd of about 200 people
Stormed the City jail. After a two
hour siege, they overpowered the
Police officers and got Metcalfe. One
man killed him instantly by crushing
his head with a crowbar. Then Met-
Calfe’s body was dragged down East
Main Street where the crowd hung it
in front of the tavern where Billy
was killed. Then they riddled his
body with bullets.
Sunday, Dec. 7, 1975
“By then the blood lust had really
Gotten to the crowd. They decided to
Cut Metcalfe down and drag him to
the County Jail. They were intent on
lynching every prisoner in the jail
and I had a full house.
“When they Bot to the jail, they
burned Metcalfe’s body. Then
Someone came with a rail to be used
as a battering ram. They assaulted
the South door..
Prisoners protected
“The sheriff was a Butsy bird by
the name of Hardy Whitlock and he
was intent on Protecting his
prisoners. When the boys with the
battering ram came at him he laid
his shotgun on the rail and fired. The
birdshot hit their hands and they had
to drop the rail. Later on, those who
had their hands treated by doctors
were reported to the sheriff and
eventually 14 men were Sent to jail
for rioting.
“The siege lasted all night and by
the next day the militia arrived to
guell the disturbance.
“Of course, I've seen five other
men killed. But that was all legaJ —
they were hanged after a formal
trial.
“The first one was Jan. 21, 1881, of
a man named Kester from Iroquois
County. He was brought down here
because the judge felt he Couldn't get
a fair trial there.
“He was supposed to have shot his
wife through the heart and then
crushed her skull with an axe. Then
he was said to have dragged her out
into a field.
“After his trial he went up to the
Ballows protesting his innocence the
whole way. Ironically, years later
Mrs. Kester’s father allegedly con-
~erime-from -his
deathbed. The Story was that he had
become angry over her refusal to
leave her husband, so he killed her.
The Kester fellow Was convicted on
circumstantial evidence only, so it
will never be known if an innocent
man was executed.
Portable gallows used
“That hanging took place in my
dining room, with about 75 people
Watching. They used a portable
Ballows that was stored on second
floor, but it’s long since gone.
“The next hanging was on Dec. 8,
1893, when Harvey Pate and Frank
Stires walked the 13 Steps for the
murder of Henry J. Helmick in an at-
tempted robbery.
| paints picture of count
“They were a calm Pair. The day
before they were hanged, they sat
around with a reporter from The
Commercial and smoked cigars,
chatted and made jokes. They ate
like horses the next morning,
climbed the Steps of the portable
gallows and kerplunk, that was it.
“One of the most interesting cases
was the hanging of Walter Johnson,
alias Walter Murphey, alias “Big
John" Murphy.
“He was hanged Feb. 16, 1917, for
the murder of two railroad workers
in the yards at Hillery. He confessed
to the crime. Another fellow who
Was Convicted with him was sent to
prison.
Hanged in elevator shaft
“ “Big John’ was hanged in the
elevator shaft of the new section of
the jail, which had been completed
earlier that year.
“He got religion and went to his
death with a half-uttered prayer on
his lips, every inch a man.
“The hanging started on the third
floor and finished up in the base-
ment. That allowed three floors of
spectators — about 100 were invited
— to see at least part of the show.
“The last legal hanging at the jail
was April 11, 1924, when George
4
Barber was hanged for the murder
of a Vermilion Heights grocer. An
accomplice, Elgin Watson, got a 20-
year prison sentence. Barber had in-
sisted throughout that Watson had
done the killing.
“But on the night before his execu-
tion a reporter asked Barber if he
Was going to his Maker with a lie on
his lips. He later signed a confession
and gave it to the sheriff.
“Once again the elevator shaft
was used for the gallows. The
elevator was never installed.
Sentence commuted
“Richard ‘Preacher’ O'Neal was
Supposed to hang on Nov. 3, 191S. for
murdering his wife. The rope was
erected in the elevator shaft and
O'Neal was headed for a neck,
Stretching when word was received
that the governor had commuted his
Sentence to life imprisonment.
The sheriff left the noose hanging
there for five years — until Barber's
execution — as a warning.
The last hanging at the jail was
Scheduled for April 22, 1927. Nate
Harris was convicted of a double
slaying on Oct. 5, 1995. But one
month to the day before his sched-
uled execution, he tore up his
blanket, tied one end around a ceil-
ing bar and the other around his
neck, executing himself in the
Privacy of his own cell.
“Your newspaper said the reason
he didn’t leave a note probably was
‘owing to the fact that he could not
Write,’ which I thought at the time
Was a brilliant deduction. Shortly
after that, the state decreed hanging
inhumane and went to the electric
chair. 3 t
Well, that's it, any more ques-
tions?”’
Rope-cutting rumor ’
“Yes, there is,” I said. “‘I've heard
a rumor that one sheriff didn’t want
to cut the rope himself, so he ran it
outside across the old Inter-Urban
Street Car line and when a train ran
over it, the rope was cut, the man
was hanged and the sheriff didn’t
have it on his conscience.”’
“That's a good one,"’ the wall said.
“It's not true, but it’s good. When
I'm gone, why don't you keep that
' Tumor going, at least it will help me
be remembered.”’
“In the new Public Safety Building
there won't be any executions, and
there won't be any more here either.
I guess those days are gone for good.
‘Oh, there will be one more execu-
tion... mine.” ;
y lynchings ~
a
A
wll <i SAE
FAROE SRS: BENS ee
WEANING Bag
ancien in sae:
7: sae
4
seq te
Sey. or ep otra Roper opr et eRe
ae Wee yer ee ee otmnty
Warden Pat Burke stands in the room that served
as the gallows for two men convicted of murder.
It was built in 1917 as.an elevator shaft, bu? the
elevator was never installed. Instead, a trap door
was installed. “Big John’’ Murphy and George
Barber were hanged here. A sheriff once allowed
the hangman’s noose to be kept ready as a warn-
ing to potential falons.
Bae Se
By BILL HOUPT
Aside from the bars, it’s inno-
cent-looking enough—the old exe-
cution room at the county jatl,
In fact, tt's belng used as a tem-
‘porary storage place for cases
‘of empty pop bottles.
‘| But three men have breathed
itheir last there—in the tradjtional
, words of the law—hanged by the
‘neck until they were dead.
At least one of them died well.
Venerable Robert Meade of
‘201 E, Winter Ave., retired
court baliff who devoted some
39 years of his life to law en-
forcement as a deputy sheriff
and city police officer, can tell
you all about the hanging of
Walter (Big John) Murphy.
“Mr. Courthouse,” as Meade is
sometimes referred to by his
* many friends and acquaintances,
remembers it well. A deputy as-
County Jail ‘Deal
Former
signed to the jail at the time, he
tke kok
was there that cold winter morn-
ing of Feb. 16, 1917, when they
cut the rope on Murphy, |
As a matter of fact, Meade
was the one who put the black
hood over Murphy’s head and
shoulders.
Murphy, a _ powerfully-built
man of about 35 whose home was
in Champaign, was sentenced to
die by a jury which found him
guilty of murder in the robbery-
motivated shooting of two rail-
road section hands. The two
were shot down in the converted
railroad box car in which they
lived in Hillery. *
Murphy had an accomplice in
the double-slaying. A resident of
Champaign also, he drew a life
sentence. This, Meade relates,
ecause while Murphy was identi-
fied as haying been seen in the
Hillery area the day of. the
crime, no .such identification
could be established in the ease
of the accomplice.
—- ot ee Se el eh
a nt enn ete nshencencsane
kok o*k
Assigned to guard the doomed
man, Meade sat in a chair outside
Murphy’s cell for 40 consecutive
nights including Murphy’s last,
“We'd talk till one or two
o’clock in the morning,” says
Meade. ‘He told me all about
some burglaries he pulled—
he’d been involved in: his
share.”
Feb. 16, 1917, was a Friday as
Meade recalls it, and “right up
to the Tuesday before,. Murphy
kept hoping that something would
happen to save him,”
By that time his case had al-
ready been taken to the Supreme
Court. and they’d turned him
down. It was on the Tuesday be-
fore that the governor, who was
Murphy’s last hope, denied a plea
to commute the sentence.
“Murphy’d been reading the Bi-
ble a lot and praying before then.
But after that he read it every
h Room’ Now
x KOK
day and prayed every night. And
he stopped swearing.” ;
“Breakfast was served to him
that final morning, but he ato
very little.”
It was shortly before 7 a. m.
when Murphy was led from his
cell to the execution room. Meade
has a photograph taken of Mur-
phy that day. He wore neatly-
pressed trousers and a white shirt
with brown stripes. A bow tie
was affixed to a detachable white
collar.
As was the custom in those days
before the 1927 law providing
that all executions take place in
state prisons (and by means of
the electric chair), a dozen or
more persons were on hand in
addition to sheriff’s personnel,
All were there by invitation
(printed and mailed out as was
the practice) of the sheriff, The
law required that witnesses be
present to certify to the carrying
Used for Storage
Pe
Ka, Xd) SR s~ 4
bated ae ZENS
CR The he
Bailiff Tells Colorful Story of Hanging in 1917
out of the sentence imposed by
the court.
Among those assembled were
two physicians and a quartet,
In Meade’s words, “Murphy
stepped onto the platform with
no sign of feeling. I put the
hood over his face and shoul.
ders and the rope was put
around his neck. He shook
hands with me, said good-bye,
He didn’t cry out or scream or
anything like that.”
The quartet sang ‘Nearer My
God to Thee.” By pre-arranged
signal the rope was cut at the
close of the first verse. The trap
door gave way beneath Murphy’s
feet. It was about 7:15 when the
two physicians pronounced him
dead,
Says Meade: . “At least Mur.
phy’s troubles are over. As far ag
I know, his partner in the shoote
ing is still in prison.”
&yunoy UOTT[TwW498),
(Y)
‘5 The Commercial-News Sunday, August 3, 1969
County jail faces destruction in urban renewal plan.
Urban Renewal Calls for Rebuildmg —
County Jail May Be Torn Down
By JEAN WiDDIS ago the basement’s stone walls shaft” is the jail’s garbage|the jail, put he fought them
C-N Staff Writer divided it into cells, but they — re sil Successtully.
7 « te ost of the maintenance wor
It's held a few murderers, !@ré 10 longer used. at the jail with its avera ge of Thompson. remembers a more
gangsters and kidnapers, and 4) Bare lightbulbs cast unée™, 40 prisoners is done by the trus- recent break, when @ prisoner
oa drunks—more | tain Night om steel. walls and tes, six prisoners who by their filed through a cell bar with @
‘ean 24,000 different men and yars, The windows are dirty,|actions and reputations have smuggled hack saw and es-
somen who broke the law and tne hallways dark. But the shown themselves to be trust- caped through a broken window
got caught. {walls are ciean and some walls|worthy. The trusties cook, to the yard below. He, too, was
It’s been a dungeon, a gal-\are newly painted. clean, cut hair, launder and lafer caught. There are bars on
ows, and a boardinghouse—and) . ; _ |paint. They have free run of|that window now. ee .
ow the Vermilion County Jail! Willing deputies, with permis-|the jail. “| Sometimes trustworthy pris-|
‘aces destruction if urban re-ision of Sheriff Harlan Hosch,| Sam Thompson of 833 Holland|ouers will inform deputies of
aewal plans succeed. | give tours of the jail. One of|was a deputy here from 1952 to|planned breaks. The two depu-}: 7
But jails are inevitable, and the things they mention is the|1968. He and Elmer Morse ofj|ties both remembered notes
vhis one will be rebuilt if urbanjlast execution there, in 1924 of|421 Avenue A, a deputy from|frem the “inside”, warning jail- s
-enewal is approved. Parts ofa man who Committed murder 1936 to 1968, recalled severallers of escape plans. The men
the jail are 96 years old. Thejduring a holdup in Vermilion| jail breaks. recalled famous prisoners at
newest section of the building ‘Heights. Morse remembered several | the jail. They are sure at least
was constructed in 1917. "\ The gallows look like a steel| federal prisoners housed on the one of the Shelton brothers,
The third floor is stifling dur-‘elevator shaft which now has|third floor of the jail who made gangsters in Southern Illinois}
ing the summer, and the base-,concrete floors at every level.|a rope with torn blankets and in the 1930s, was kept there, but}
rent, the coclest part except Prisoners stood on a collapsible escaped out 2 window. They|their memories nor the jail files}
for the air-conditioned radio;platform on the second floor and|were later caught in the South- specify which one.
room, is too dark and damp for fell to just above the first when| west. An old-fashioned shoot-out, in
use for anything but storage they were hanged. The base-| Morse was once “jumped” by |which one armed bandit was|~
and a dining room. Decades ment section of the “elevator |two prisoners in a hallway of shot and injured and another|
celeste Whe fee captured in Crawfordsville, was
! recalled by Thompson and
’ . j Morse. The pair was chased
7 ‘by local and state police after
the robbery of a grocery store
here before the capture in 1958.
\ Years later, on his way to
the state prison at Menard, the;
ganman again spent a few)
nights here. He entered the
jail in leg irons and body}
chains,
Geers ooo meee om
Thompson said he thinks went
sometimes commit minor
crimes and allow themselves to
be caught because the jail of-
fers a free home. Records show
that often during the depression
the jail was filled to its 200- A
prisoner capacity.
There is a padded cell for
mentally ill prisoners who might
‘injure themselves or other in-
‘mates, and a solitary —
vida SURGE ACE ge ge et ES bhi ei, i eh, aM OO fe
‘ ne cell: which is always darkP" ~ :
Ra ol 4 >
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
HISTORICAL SOUVENIR
— OF
WILLIAMSON COUNTY
~ ILLINOIS
Being a Brief Review of the County from Date
of Founding to the Present
J. F. WILCOX
ILLUSTRATED y
WHITE COUNTY, Illinois
362 HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
remained in this region for a few years, and then left for other
parts.
MERIDITH AND MARTIN, 1831.
Some time in August, 1831, one Saturday night about 12 o’clock,
the ery of murder rang out upon the midnight air. It was clearly
the voice of a woman. As the night was very dark no investiga-
tion was made till morning. It was ascertained that in a drunken
family quarrel the night before, William Eubanks had been slain
by the hands of Charles Kershaw, and William Meridith and Jack
Martin were accessories to the homicide. It was the murdered
man’s wife that aroused the neighborhood. Meridith and Martin
were captured that night, but Kershaw made his escape and fi.
nally died in Texas. Meridith and Martin were tried in their pre
liminary examination before David Thompson, then a Justice of
the Peace in Edwards County, and committed to jail at Albion by
that?good citizen, Major James Stephenson acting as Constable by
special appointment. At a final trial William Meridith was sent
to the penitentiary for five years, and Jack Martin for two years;
but they were pardoned out by the Governor in less than twelve
months. Meridith went to Texas and Martin to Arkansas, and
each have long since crossed beyond the river.
WILLIAM B. LEDBETTER, 1834.
In April, 1834, William B. Ledbetter was indicted for murder,
on change of venue from Gallatin County. As itis the only case
of hanging in this county a full account is here given.
After the adjournment of court, the condemned man was guarded
int he court-house by armed men, the county having no jail. Col-
onel Hosea Pearce, the Sheriff of the county, selected the place of
execution at a point some 400 yards northeast from the present fair
grounds, and had a scaffold erected in the woods, some sixty yards
from the present State roads, leading southwest in a line with the
main street of the city of Carmi. On the 30th of April, 1834, an
immense crowd of people assembled in Carmi to witness the exe-
cution. At the appointed time, the armed militia formed at the
court-honse, when the condemned man was brought out and seated
in a wagon, the militia formed a hollow square around the wagon.
The cortege moved in solemn step to the music, to wit: the muf-
fled drum and the shrill note of the fife playing the dead march.
a
‘
Oa
oy
pS
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY. 363
On arriving at the piace of execution the militia held their position—
a hollo wsquare around the scaffold. The condemned man walked
up to the platform with unfaltering step and took his seat. The
Rev. Charles Slocumb delivered an appropriate prayer, and pro-
ceeded to preach a powerful sermon to the vast concourse present.
While he was preaching, a gun in the hands of Wm. Dosher, one
of the guard, was accidentally discharged, but without injury to any
one, the ball taking effect in one of the posts of the scaffold. At
the conclusion of the address, the hour had arrived when the
immortal soul of Wm. B. Ledbetter should depart from earth and
appear before that tribunal from whose judgment there is no appeal.
His arms were pinioned, the black cap drawn over his face, and his
position taken on the fatal trap. '
The sherift failed to sever the cord that held the trap until he
made the the third blow, when down shot the body through the
drop. He died without much struggling, and in about twenty-four
minutes the body was lowered and placed in a plain coftin, and by
Colonel Pearce delivered to the wife of the deceased. She, with
her little son, was there with a wagon drawn by a yoke of small
oxen, awaiting the sad result that would make her a widow and
her children orphans. After the coffin was put into the wagon,
she and her little son started for their home in Gallatin County,
some six miles from Elizabethtown, now Hardin County, and near
the Cave in Rock. That night they camped out by the roadside,
near New Haven, as no person would let them stay in their house all
night.
The charge against William B. Ledbetter was for killinghis brother
on Christmas day at his father’s house. He and his father had
some dispute, and William was ordered from the premises. When
in the act of leaving his brother took up the quarrel of his father,
and the result was that he stabbed his brother with a knife, with
fatal effect.
JAMES 8TANLEX, 1845.
Some time in the fall of 1845, while Daniel Charles and wife
were absent from home, his house was burnt with all its contents;
not only were the house and contents lost, but quite asum of
money was added to the loss. It was a crushing misfortune to
the family; they lost all the savings of thirty years? hard toil upon
the farm. All they had left, except a spotless reputation, was the
land with a cropgrowing thereon. The sequel of the conflagration
So Tae = So : Lechack ed: Corridor. a = = ; = ae 2 Soe
by” Cherles Clarke,
After the riot in Joliet, June 5, 1917, the 18 ringleaders
- were removed to the Hole and kept on the upper tier of | the
same.
One night in August, I Believe, one of the men complained
of sickness and the guard on duty unlocked the door and en- _
tered the cell which contained four men. As soon as he got
in the cell, he was seized and gagged and his revolver was
taken from him, also his keys. He was then locked up and
the men unlocked the other cells and offered the occupants
thier freedom, among whom was Handsome Jack Ketters who
: refused to go but who did afterwards escape from the Prison
Honor Farm and was later captured in California and returned
to Joliet to finish his life sentence.’
After the men had liberated all that wished to escape, it
was decided to wait’untill the Cant. of the night guards called
to the Solitary on his hourly trip of inspection. The Capt.,. MES 8s,
Carlson, arriaved at the solitary on time and on entering the
same, was pounced upon, beaten and his weapons taken from
him, after which the 13 men locked the solitary doors and.
: scaled the prison walls and escaped.
News of this escape was at once flashed to all towns near
Joliet with the result that all of the men who got away, with
the exception of one negro who separated from the rest and >
3 who has nevéy been. recaptured, were surrovened and ‘Tecap- fe
- * tured and returned to prison the next day, . ne tos.
- After the men left pri ison, they stopped a street ear, _vobbed
the conductor and passengers of money and clothes, and when e a
_ Feturned to the prison were clothed in al manner of clothes =
a suet as pliey. y had stele aiier ae > becaye.,
Pe _ Another snp was committed | during my stay there by” a
i : Thirty-five Years of Prison Life: pe 125
at the time of his escape was life, for murder. After Clure en- ©
tered. J oliet, he had a fight with another negro and killed him
and was in the solitary waiting to be tried for this crime. Clure
| was then taken to the Joliet jail, tried for murder, and hanged.
- . Before he was executed he was converted and died a Christian,
or at least a convert. He sent us a message by the prison
es . priest, telling us that he had realized too late that the only life =
to lead was the straight one and that the crooked path led 5
to destruction. QO
C32
Another man named Reppetto. was also hung in the Wills
Co. Jail (Joliet) for a murder commstted in the prison dining 3 _
-. room. This man, an Italian, a product of the slums of Chi-
cago, refused religious aid and died game, but I believe of the;
two men, Clure showed more gameness than Reppetto. Rep--
_ -petto killed the man with a knife. I saw the murder com-c Z
. mitted, which was during the dinner hour. Reppetto delib<e
- erately left his seat at the table, walked over to the man he
_ killed, and plunged a knife in his heart. During all ‘of this _
__ time men were shouting and much excitement resulted. The .
prison band kept playing, as the band leader thought by so
= doing, that the men would quiet down, but they did not do so
untill Capt. Kane returned from the hospital and announced : =
ae that the man. was dead. -Reppetto. in.the meantime was. re- =e
a moved to the Solitary. and later on tried, convicted, and hung ae
s I have stated, unconverted and tough to the end. ad
” ' a cite
a Wi i
i! a ui
B. it if it i | Vy
j ii WW
uit a 186 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
hal wert | a
' l r i i, Vii | | sm ti
| i th i th of the first public highways through Mont- | mastery of her, and when seeing that both
| Ya a | \ «oe : Ap: 1
, 4) Ty 4 womery. It was surveyed in 1839. It was | she and the jul must bart together, she
Hi | Hilt ht usually called the State Road, but-its preper screamed for help. Sam Garrard, still a .citi-
an 1] te A, name was Vincennes and Chicago road. The | zen of Palestine, was the first to reach the
4 Hl | Hi “ Purgatory Road” as + ‘was called, . was laid; |» Se°8" and succeeded in rescuing her from the
, | | i | I out ee 1836. It was so called on account of | flames. She was afterward transferred to
{ i : i | a large swamp through which it passed. It Lawrence county on a change of venue, tried
a ih I We run from Vincennes to Palestine, and is the | for the murder of her husband, condemned,
i i real State road. While the Vincennes road, | and finally hung in Lawrenceville.
| Ht iy | ae is merely an improved Indian trail, probably Another tragedy oecurred in this township,
| F ae He ' | several hundred years old. The township is which, though necidental, was none the less
q I ili ea supplied with roads of as good quality as any deplorable, inasmuch as it resulted from a
7 At i N Wit portion of the county, and in many places barbarous custom. A young man named
i] i | : coat | good bridges span the streams. Green Baker, who lived in the southeast part
a | | | | | An incident occurred in this township some of Montgomery, in “racing for the bottle ” at
if | i H years ago, which shocked the moral sensibility | wedding was thrown against a tree and in-
i | w 1 of all the better class of people. Leonard | stantly killed. It was a custom in those ear-
| ny i i 2eed was a well-to-do citizen, and aman who | ly times ata wedding for two or three young
4 j i uN stood fair among his neighbors. He lived five | men to be selected to go to the house of the
{ I miles southeast of Palestine, and was poisoned pride for the usual bottle of spirits that graced
a bi i \! by his wife that she might secure his property the occasion. At the proper time they started
— i i) all to herself. She dosed him with arsenic, | on horseback: at break-neck speed, as one
e A) t I putting it in his victuals in small quantities, would ride a hurdle-race, turning aside for
ny j iy with the design of killing him by inches and | no object or impediment. The one who
ye i thus escaping suspicion. The drug gave out gained the race by first reaching the bride’s
\be an and she was compelled to procure a second | residence and getting possession of the bottle
t } supply. One morning the hired girl saw her | was the hero of the day, a kind of champion
knight among the fair ladies. In obedience
put something in her husband’s coffee from a
paper, and his violent pains a few moments to this rude custom Baker and one or two
—
ii afterward aroused the girl’s suspicions. It others started on the race for the bottle.
aN f i seems the woman had given her husband a | They were running their horses at full speed,
b | larger dose than usual, infuriated perhaps at and at a turn in the road by which stood a
iu i. his tenacious hold on Jife, and from the effects | tree somewhat bent, Baker swayed his body
Va . 4h ‘ é b ; ;
| of it he died. ‘The hired girl then told some | to the side he supposed the horse would go,
H ; \
4 i i of the neighbors what she had herself seen, | but contrary to his expectations it went on
$ ae a and a medical examination was the result, | the other side. His head struck the tree and
j : 1 which revealed the presence of arsenic in the | death was instantaneous. Thus, by observing
| ij i i stomach. The woman was arrested and | a rude.and barbarous custom, an occasion of
i i i C4 lodged in the jail at Palestine. Before her | gayety was turned into the deepest mourning.
Le i : ty reed trial came on she attempted to escape by ‘The people of Montgomery Township take
a +} burning a hole in the jail wall, which was of | an active interest in education. It is not
: i | | | wood, She would burn a little ata time, and | known now who taught the first school in the
ti FN i then extinguish the fire ‘1 order not to excite | township. It is known, however, that schools
4 *H | | suspicion. One night she let the fire get the were established as soon as. there were
i}
nase NA NEN
78 HISTORY-OF DEKALB COUNTY.
CHAPTER VI.
THE BANDITTI.
4
About the confines of advancing civilization upon this
continent, there has always hovered, like scouts before the
march of ah invading army, a swarm of bold, enterprising,
adventurous criminals. The broad, untrodden prairies, the
trackless forests, the rivers, unbroken by the keels of
commerce, furnished admirable refuge for those whose crimes
had driven them from the companionship of the honest and
the law-abiding; and, hovering there where courts and civil
processes could furnish but a thin veil of protection for life or
property, the temptaticn to prey upon the unprotected sons
of toil, rather than to gain a livelihood by the slow process of
peaceful industry, has proved too strong to be resisted. poms
have sought these unpeopled western wilds for the mechs
purpose of theft and robbery, some because they dare not live
within reach of efficient laws, and some who came with honest
intentions, have been tempted into crime by the prevalent
immunity from punishment. Everywhere in newly-settled
lands the proportion of the dishonest and criminal has been
vreater than in the older and better regulated anae ee
This was particularly the case in the earlier settlement of the
prairies of DeKalb County. A strong and well constructed
net-work of organized crime at that time stretched over this
whole seetion of country, and few were fortunate enough to
preserve all their property from being swept up in its mar
A good horse and his equipments was the most easily captured,
and most readily concealed—consequently the most coveted
and dangerous property in the country. No possessor of a
THE BANDITTI. 79
fleet and famous horse dared leave him for a single night,
unless secured in a strong, double-locked stable, guarded by
faithful dogs, and oftentimes by the owner himself, who
regularly slept in his stable. During the first four years of
the settlement of the country, a large portion of the population
were obliged to keep an armed watchman every night, in order
to secure any sense of safety to their valuable horses. Many
an instance will old settlers relate of thieves detected by these
watchmen, while engaged in breaking the stable locks, and
fired upon, with more or less damage to the intruder. They
were the more cautious, from the fact that a fleet horse once
gone was gone forever. So skillfully were the plans of the
thieves concocted, so much of energy and ingenuity was
employed in rapidly forcing the stolen steeds at once to a
great distance, so large the number of rascals who were
connected, that pursuit and capture was difficult—even
dangerous—and always unsuccessful.
Brodie’s Grove, near what is now the village of Dement,
and near the west line of the present township of Malta, was
a famous rendezvous and station-house of this gang of banditti.
When Mr. Benjamin Worden lived there in 1840, he had a
fine pair of horses, and much against his will felt forced to
adopt the prevalent custom of sleeping in the barn with them
to guard them. Old Brodie discovered that he made this a
practicc, and innocently asked him why. He answered
promptly and significantly, that there were many thieves about,
and he feared he should have them stolen. The old man, who
had taken a fancy to Ben., answered that he need not fear.
fis horses should not be stolen. He would see to that, and
warrant him that they should not be lost. The old man had
the reputation of being one of the chiefs of the gang; and
Worden, confident of his sincerity, ever afterwards considered
them safe, as if guarded with bars of steel. About that time
Worden had made some significant discoveries. Near the
little grove was a large, circular depression of the prairie,
called a sink-hole. In its center was a strong stake driven,
AINNOD @Tvyed
ett ng ii stire Esse lagna titan nae
9 Nema
ERSTE AM
|
38 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY,
newly made State, in the very mansion of
the royal rulers of the whilom Coiony, Pat-
rick Henry indited his letter of appointment
to John Todd, and entered it in the book
already referred to. It occupies the first tive
pages and is in Patrick Henry’s own hand-
writing. This book, made precious by his
pen, was intrusted to a faithful messenger,
who carried it from tidewater across the
Mountains to Fort Pitt, thence down the
Ohio until he met with its destined recipient,
and delivered to him his credentials. It is
supposed that Todd received it at Vincennes,
then known to Virginians as St. Vincent, not
Jong after the surrender of that place on the
24th of February, 1779, and thereupon as-
sumed his new duties,
tis old record book, of itself, forms an
interesting chapter in the history of Illinois;
but our space will admit of only a brief ex-
tract or.two from its contents. The foilow-
ing is in Todd’s own handwriting, and no
doubt wiil sound strangely enough to many
of our readers at the present day. We give
it verbatim et literatum, as follows:
“Tilinois, to-wit: To Richard Winston,
Esq., Sheriff in chief of the district of Kas-
kaskia. wl
“Negro Manuel, a slave in your custody,
is condemned by the Court of Kaskaskia,
after having made honorable Fine at the
Door of the Church, to be chained to a post
at the Water Side and there to be burnt alive
and his ashes scattered, as appears to me by
Record. This Sentence you are hereby re-
quired to put in execution on tuesday next at
9 o’clock in the morning, and this shall be
your warrant. Given under my hand and
seal at Kaskaskia the 13th day of June in the
third year of the Commonwealth.”
It is a grim record and reveals a dark
chapter in the early history of Illinois. It is
startling, and somewhat humiliating, too, to
reflect that barely one hundred years ago,
that within the territory now composing this
great State, a court of law deliberately sens
tenced a human being to be burnt alive! It
is palpable that the inhuman penalty was
fixed by the court, and as the statute deprived
the commandant of the power to pardon in
such cases, it is probable that the sentence
was actually executed. The cruel form of
death, the color of the unfortunate victim,
and the scattering of the ashes, all seem to
indicate that this was one of the instances of
the imagined crime of Voudouism, or negro
witchcraft, for which it is known that some
persons suffered in the Illinois country in the
early period. Reynolds, in his “ Pioneer His-
tory,” recites a similar instance to the one
above given, as occurring in 1790, at Ca-
hokia. ie
A few words additional, of John Todd,
the first civil Governor of “the Illinois
Country,” and we will take up the organiza-
tion of Crawford County. In the spring of
1780, Todd was elected a delegate from the
County of Kentucky to the Legislature of
Virginia. In November following, Kentucky
was divided into three counties, viz.: Fayette,
Lincoln and Jefferson, and in 1781, Thomas
Jeff2rson, who had become Governor of Vir-
ginia, appointed Todd Colonel of Fayette
County, and Daniel Boone, Lieutenant-Col-
onel. In the summer of 1782, Todd Visited
Richmond, Va., on business of the Illinois
Country, where, it is said, he had concluded
to reside permanently, and stopped at Lex-
ington, Ky., on his return. While here, an
Indian attack on a frontier settlement sum-
moned the militia to arms, and Todd, as
senior colonel, took command of the little
army sent in pursuit of the retreating sav-
ages. It included Boone and many other
pioneers of note. At the Blue Licks, on the
18th of August, 1782, they overtook the
enemy, but the headlong courage of those
who would not follow the prudent counsels of
ae ee
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80 HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
and every indication about it that in that sheltered, obscure
spot horses had been frequently tethered and fed. The
Brodies were frequently coming and going, and every time
upon a new horse, usually a very fine animal. What could
all this mean, but systematic horse thieving ?
But horses were not the only prey for these banditti. The
circulation of counterfeit money was a large and profitable
branch of business, and there were dark and ominous hints in
circulation of yet fouler crimes perpetrated ; pedlars had
mysteriously disappeared in that section of the country. They
had been traced to the vicinity of this grove, but never traced
beyond it. When the Brodies finally fled the country, there
were found among their effects a suspiciously large number of
travelers’ trunks, pedlars’ cases, and similar property, whose
possession was most easily accounted for on the supposition
that the murder of innocent travelers, pedlars, and other
wayfarers, was not too heinous a crime for them to commit, if
the temptation offered. Walking over the prairie one day in
search of his cattle, Worden suddenly found the ground sinking
beneath his fect, and he was precipitated into a large, square
cavity, which had been carefully excavated, then covered with
planks and soil, and carefully turfed over with growing grass.
The soil taken out had been carefully removed, so that no
traces of the excavation could be scen on the surface, and no
suspicion of its existence there would be excited. Although
no property was then in the cavern, yet the purpose for which
it was designed was evident, and its proximity to the residence
of the suspected Brodies indicated the origin and ownership
of this place of concealment. Pages might be filled with stories
told by the early settlers of circumstances which indicated
plainly that Brodie’s isolated Grove was one of the chief
rendezvous of some of the most daring and skillful of those
Jand pirates who at that early period roved over these billowy
prairies, as pirates roam the seas.
Six miles north of Brodie’s is what is now called South
Grove, so called because it was south of the main body of the
2
aed
pees pare SP ite an
etek es
Sa ie na cin
~ gt lS eaten en SSP a A aM ae
94 HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
before, were casily persuaded that she might have been equally
mistaken in testifying to the identity of Taylor, whom she had
not seen for six years, and they gave him a verdict of ac-
quittal. —_
But the investigations of the writer of this history have led
him upon evidence, which he is not permitted to divulge,
which fully convinces him that Mrs. Campbell was right, and
that Taylor Driscoll was really the murderer of Campbell.
din adiimeldiccmiatn, iain ain a eee ee ae
" eigen ARR gg”
THE RESURRECTIONISTS. 95
CHAPTER VII.
THE RESURRECTIONISTS.
During the years 1847 and 1848, the inhabitants of the
village of St. Charles, in Kane County, and of that section of
the country which surrounded it, were kept in an unpleasant
state of excitement by a suspicion that the graves of their
friends, whose remains they had buried, were being invaded
and robbed by the faculty and students of a medical institute
located at that place, which was under the charge of one Dr.
Richards. Two or three graves of honored citizens of that
place had been examined, and discovered to be emptied of
their precious eontents. Many who had recently lost friends
commenced the painful task of examining their newly made
graves, while many others only refrained from it lest they
should find their fears realized and that the outrage so hope-
less of redress had been consummated. To the gloom and
terrors which surround every death-bed were added the dread
surmise, that even the grave was no secure resting place for
the sacred remains of the dead. The restlessness, the irrita-
tion, the indignation that was caused by this feeling may
readily be imagined.
But until the spring of 1849 it was not known, nor gen-
erally suspected, that the reckless grave robbers extended
their depredations beyond the near vicinity of the hated in-
stitute.
It was one gloomy afternoon in March of that year, that
three young men, driving a pair of horses attached to a large
spring-wagon, stopped for supper at the well-known tavern
kept by Mr. James Lovell, on the Sycamore and St. Charles
road, near Ohio Grove. A few words of the conversation
LA alle a0
tah an AEM ANOS
88 _HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
tion or resistance. Conscious of his own innocence, he said
he felt sure of acquittal. They told him that they merely
wanted him to go before Mrs. Campbell, at White Rock, that
she might see if he was the man who had killed her husband.
Toward evening they arrived at the house where the corpse
of the murdered chief of the lynchers was still lying, and
where the wailing widow still mourned her sudden and awful
bereavement. The two Driscolls were brought to her view,
and without any hesitation she said that neither of them was
present at the murder. The son who had followed and tried
to shoot the assassins, Was equally confident that neither of
the prisoners were of the guilty pair. But the party of ex-
cited men who had gathered at the scene of the assassination
were eager to avenge the death of their leader, and cried
aloud for victims. Those whom they had captured were of
the family of the murderers.
The country was ringing with the ery that the Driscolls
had done the murder, and these were Driscolls. The clans
would mect there on the morrow, and these men should be
kept and put at their disposal. So saying they placed them
for the night in the upper chamber of the Campbell house,
and a guard was set round to prevent their escape. It was
not a vigilant guard, and as the night wore on the sleepless
captives talked of attempting an escape. “ They are deter-
mined to kill us to-morrow,” said Pierce—“I can see it in
their looks and manner.”
“No,” said William, “we can prove our innocence s0
strongly that they can not fail to discharge us.”
And after a long whispering discussion of the chances, the
stern determination of the elder brother prevailed, and they
concluded to remain. With the dawn of the morning a large
gathering of the lynchers had collected from the country
around. Many of the most respectable citizens of that sec-
tion of country, such as the Cheneys, of White Rock, who
had hitherto looked with some disfavor upon the summary
proceedings of the lynchers, now gave up their opposition and
a" hg Ng AO it
ay es
~
hat
sil app
THE BANDITTI. 89
freely imbibed, they soon became like a band of raving
enrolled themselves as its inembers, and became the sternest
and most sanguinary of the band. At an early hour. the
clans from the remotcr settlements came in. There was a
company from Payne's Point, led by Wellington; from the
Pennsylvania scttlement, led by Dr. Hubbard ; from Oregon
City, led by a Methodist clergyman, by the name of Crist,
and a company from Daysville, a flourishing little town, that
has since gone to decay, which was commanded by one Capt.
Austin.
White Rock Grove, a small belt of timber not far from the
larger and better known Washington Grove, in Ogle County,
had been selected as the place of rendezvous for the lynchers,
and thither the band, with their prisoners, wended their way.
The three Driscolls were carried in one wagon, with ropes
about their necks. It had become evident to the captives
that their trial was to be a mere farce, and that their fate
was already sealed. Overwhelmed by the horrors of their
situation, they sat stupid and dazed.
But meantime the friends of William Driscoll had not been
entirely idle. At the moment of his arrest a messenger Was
dispatched to Sycamore to procure the attendance at the trial
of some who knew of his innocence, and as they arrived upon
the ground where two hundred of the infuriated lynchers were
raging around their doomed victims, a couple of wagons were
driven up containing a few of his defenders. Among these
were J. R. Hamlin, Timothy Wells, and Frank Spencer, of
Sycamore, and Benjamin Worden and Solomon Wells, of
Driscoll’s Grove. The lynching club of Rockford had not
yet arrived, and an hour was spent in waiting for their com-
ing. Near the place of the mock trial was a distillery, and
during the delay a barrel of whisky was rolled out from it,
its head removed, and the thirsty crowd regaled themselves
with its fiery contents. Maddened by a sense of indignation
at the outrages of the banditti whom they were organized to
oppose, infuriated by the brutal murder of their own honored
chief, 7 driven to frenzy by the fiery fluid which they
2A ASNT RE LT TG
92 HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
[lamlin, meanwhile, moved around among the excited crowd
endeavoring to secure a postponement of the execution, or, if
possible, a commutation of the sentence to banishment beyond
the Mississippi, within twenty-four hours.
Leland, the presiding officer, favored the project, and while
unwilling to do much himself, urged Hamlin to keep up the
excitement in favor of mercy. Phelps, clerk of the Ogle
County Court, favored it. MeFarland was also active in
support of this movement, and they finally got the party called
together again, and moved for an extension of the time, but
the majority, led by the Cheneys, Marsh and others, were
bitterly opposed to it, and fairly hooted it down. The time
had now expired, and the gray-haired old man was brought
out, blindfolded, and told to kneel upon the grass. The
lynchers drew up in a long line, with guns in their hands.
A number, unwilling to take part in the execution, stood
round in the rear, and their guns were leaning against the
rees. Marsh shouted that all must join in, and he movd that
all the guns left standing there be whipped up against the
trees. Upon this the guns were all taken, and the men fell
into line. A Justice from White Rock was marshall and
gave the order to fire. The fatal one, two, three was called,
and at the word three an hundred guns were discharged, and
the lifeless body of the old man fell over like a bag of wheat.
Then William Driscoll was led out by the side of the bloody
body of his father, and he, too, shared the same fate. Not.a
muscle moved in cither of them: so many well-aimed bullets
pierced them, that but for the bandages that covered their
eyes, their heads would have fallen into fragments. The
bodies were thrown into a brush-heap, and the crowd dis-
persed to their homes. Some pitying hand partially covered
the corpses with a foot or two of earth, and a couple of weeks
later, when the popular excitement had somewhat subsided,
the Driscolls having found, in Mr. R. P. Watson, a friend
who dared public opinion so far as to make coffins for them,
and they were quietly removed and decently buried in Dris-
coll’s Grove.
nitrite
THE BANDITTI. v3
The crowd returning destroyed what remained of the log
houses and barns of both the father and the son David, to
make sure that the whole race should be driven from the
country. No one dared harbor or take the houseless family
in, and for two or three weeks they lived in a corn-crib amidst
the ruins.
Probably no one at this time will justify this sanguinary
act of execution; none, perhaps doubt that it resulted in the
death of at least one innocent man. No doubt the leading
men engageil in it thought they were doing right. It is cer-
tain that it resulted in dispersing the whole gang of banditti,
and giving peace and security to a section of country that had
hitherto been subjected to frequent outrages and constant
alarm.
David Driscoll has never since been seen in this country:
he fled to the uninhabited wilderness across the Mississippi,
and his fate is unknown.
Six years after these occurrences Taylor Driscoll returned,
and being seen in McHenry County, was arrested and
brought to trial for the murder of Captain Campbell.
The witnesses against him all depended upon the testimony
of the widow of Campbell, who swore positively that Taylor
Driscoll was the man who fired the shot that killed her hus-
band. Although six years had passed, she said she knew
him perfectly, and that she never was mistaken in identifying
a person whom she had once known.
But in the course of a vigilant cross-examination, by Mr.
Barry of Driscoll’s counsel, she was induced to swear with
equal certainty, that upon a more recent occasion she had
seen Pierce Driscoll at a certain time and place. She was as
positive of it as she was that she had seen Taylor Driscoll
shoot her husband. It happened, however, that she was mis-
taken in this. It was proved beyond a question that it was
not Pierce but another brother, who closely resembled him,
whom she had then scen, and that Pierce was forty miles
away at this time. The jury finding her thus mistaken in
«lentifying a person whom she had seen only a few months
ae
Tee Seo
90 ‘ HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY.
wolves, and it was evident that no mercy, not even strict
justice would be meted out to their captives.
The little band of those who knew William, and believed
in his innocence, endeavored to encourage him to hope for an
acquittal. But “no,” said he, “they will kill me, but they
will kill an innocent man.”
The club from Rockford soon arrived. It was led by
Jason Marsh, a well known citizen of that place, by Mr.
Robertson, the postmaster of the town, and by Charles Lat-
timer, a young lawyer, who was subsequently killed in a
street fight in Wisconsin.
Upon their arrival a circle was formed, and a lawyer
named Leland, who has since occupied the bench in Illinois,
as a Judge of the Circuit Court, was chosen as the presiding
officer. Seating himself upon the ground at the foot of a
tree, he had the old man Driscoll brought into the ring and
arraigned before him.
«What are the charges against this man,” said he.
_
It was a natural and pertinent question, but it rather con
fused the lynchers. There was some hesitation among them, but
at Jast one and another charged him with certain minor offences.
The main charge was a general cry that he was one of the
horse-thieving fraternity, and that they were afraid of their
lives if he should be released.
‘The old man stoutly denied most of the charges, but he ad-
mitted that he had stolen a yoke of cattle in Ohio, and one
who was present says that he also admitted the theft of fifty
horses in Ohio, without detection, but that he was caught in
stealing the fifty-first, and served five years in the peniten-
tiary, at Columbus, for it. * When I came out,” said he “J
resolved to lead an honest life. I moved away to this county,
and I have since kept my pledge.”
A very few minutes were spent in the mockery of a trial,
when Leland put the question, “ What shall be done with this
9
man!
Some one started up and moved that ‘Swe shoot him.”
ai
?
a eee
ey
THE BANDITTI. 91
The Judge put it to vote, and it was carried with a shout of
unanimity.
The old man was taken out of the ring, and William Dris-
coll was taken in. Ile was a large, noble-looking man, and
if the party had not been frenzied with rage and liquor,
would have excited some respect. Accusations against him
were called for. Few could charge any crime whatever ; but
a circumstance that excited suspicion, and that had been
‘much talked about, was mentioned. It was, that he must
have been in the secret of the murder of Campbell, because
he first reported it at Driscoll’s Grove and in that section of
country. We have already seen that he got the information
about it from Mr. Hamlin, the postmaster at Hamlin, who had
come especially to explain this suspicious circumstance, now
tried to get a hearing. Ile asked to be permitted to say a
word or two, but was met with a storm of hisses, and shouts
of “no, not a word.”
Spencer and Wells, who had made some defense of the ac-
cused, and got excited in the discussion, had already been
seized and placed under guard. A move was made to take
Hamlin also, but Leland cried out that he had a right to be
heard, and he was permitted to make his statement. “Deisdoll
also talked a little. He said he had lived honestly and done
no injustice to any one, unless it was that in a certain trade
on one occasion, he had afterward thought he did not do quite
right. Nothing was of any avail. The crowd cried “ Shoot
him, shoot him,”’ and he was led out of the ring.
There was no evidence whatever against the boy Pierce
and he was discharged.
There was a motion, then, to give them an hour to prepare
for death, and to give them the benefit of clergy, which, as
they construed it, was to furnish a clergyman to talk and
pray with them. Crist, the preacher, Captain of the band
from Oregon City, went to the open whisky barrel, drank a
dipper full of its fiery contents, and then knelt down and
prayed, long and noisily. William Driscoll joined him audi-
bly, but the old man took no notice of what was transpiring.
46 sos HIsTORY OF [ROQUOIS COUNTY.
Neue
ve under the breastworks of Vieksbarp
agéoas treatment which saved me from @ gre’
I lament that this tribute I pay him is so ina uate and 80 feebly express “i j ;
bat I could not refrain from saying something. I could not bear that the
friend | had known #0 long should be covered up in the ground without some expres”
sion of my admiration for the man, and of my aortow that he has departed, to be with
us no more. FRANKLIN BLapes.”
We would add that, at the conclusion of the war, Dr. Babcock re-
turned to his beautiful home in Gnarga, where he resumed the practice
of his profession, and ‘n which he continued until the time of his death.
He died April 7, 1875, of paralysis, aged fifty-seven years and seve
months, leaving a faithful and devoted wife and an estimable danghter
to mourn his loss. In the death of Dr. Babcock the poor and aftlicted
lost a kind and sympathizing friend, the town of Onarga and the county
of Iroquois an eminent physician and surgeon, and the country a faith-
ful, patriotic and distinguished citizen.
EXECUTION OF JOHN M'DONNELLD-
On September 27, 1861, John McDonnell killed his brother-in-law,
James Hare, in the store of Smith & Chapin, in Ashkum in this county,
by striking him three times with a rod of iron, which he had procured
from the blacksmith shop of Peter Kelly, and he was arrested and com-
mitted to jail. At the following November term of the circuit court
he was indicted for murder, and arraigned for trial before the following
jury: Joe) Brandenburg, Oscar Kinney, O. W. Dean, James Cauvins,
George Pineo, G. CG. Newland, William 5S. Gould, J. EH. Bishop, James
Egbert, Putnam Gaftield, William Alderman and John Snyder; Judge
C. R. Starr presiding. The trial commenced December ©, 1861, and
occupied that and the next day, and on the 6th a verdict of “guilty”
was returned, and on the 21st McDonnell was sentenced to be hanged
on Friday, January 14, 1862. C. H. Wood, Esq., was attorney tor the
atate, and Fletcher & Kinney for the defense. The attorneys for the
defense deeming some of the proceedings irregular, procured a reprieve
for their client until February 7, to give them time to obtain a super-
gedeas from the supreme court, but failing in that, McDonnell was
hanged February 7, 1862, Sheriff Luther T. Clark officiating at the
execution. McDonnell, previous to his execution, made a confession
in which he admitted the deed, but denied that he intended to kill
Hare, but only inteuded to disable him, they having had mach diff
culty on account of Hare’s interfering with his domestic relations. In
this confession he stated that his name was not McDonnell, but at.
McLanghlin, and that he was born in Donegal county, Ireland, in 182%,
_and came to this country in 1849, and a few years after married Bridge
* beta
Hughes, by whom he had three chiJdren, and that she and the children
were still living. He further stated that he killed » man by the’narie
wa
BECKWITH'S } ae
H'S HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS”
A
’ ‘ st
mS AxG: bie oo # : »
/ pisrorY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY. é 467
of Huey McKeever, at Philadelphia, in a difficulty, and for which he
had to run away, and after residing at Pittsburgh, New Orleans, St.
Louls and other places, he came to Chicago, where he married Eliza
flare, and then moved to this county. ‘
i: The execution took place in the grand jury room of the court-house
xt Middleport. The scaffold was composed of four posts with crose-
pieces at top; on which was laid a piece of timber 6x4 inches, and
Hight feet long, with blocks and pulleys at the end, through which the
rope passed by which, with » weight of 990 pounds, he was to ‘de sus-
pended. At forty minutes past eleven the’ culprit, attended by Father
Theodore Van de Poel, of L’Erable, in this county, who had adminis-
tered to him the last rites of the Catholic church, Sheriff Clark, Thomas
Vennum, circuit. clerk, Drs. McNeill, Harwood, Secrest and Hewins,
and several others, entered the room. After prayer the black cap and
noose were adjusted, and the rope suspending the weight, at one
minnte past twelve, was cut by the sheriff. At nine minutes after his
heart ceased to beat and he was pronounced to be dead by the physi-
cians in attendance, and in thirty minutes he was cut down. His body
was given in charge of Father Van de Poel, and taken to L’Erable tor
burial.
Execution oF Francis Marion Harper ALIAS JouHNSON, FOR THE
MURDER oF D. W. NELson, DeceMBER 22, 1865.—THE MURDER COM-
MITTED ON THE NIGHT OF NovEMBER 2, 1865. Harper was born in
Morgan county, Indiana, in 1843. In 1864 he joined the 70th reg.
Ind. Vol., but soon after deserted and came to Effingham, in this state,
to which place his father, Henry Harper, and his mother and their
family had removed. He soon after stole a horse from & Mr. Wilson,
near that place, and took it to another part of the country and sold it.
He then went to Gilman, in this county, and was employed by Mr.
Maxson, who after some time discharged him. He then returned
home and remained there six weeks, and then went to Kankakee city
and became acquainted with a young man by the name of D. W.
Nelson, who was from Muncie, Indiana, and engaged in inaking and
selling stencil plates. Nelson had received a remittance of $15 from
his father, and foolishly exhibited the express package in which he had
received it, in such a manner a8 to induce Harper to believe it con-
tained $1,500. In order to obtain this, after having procured & revol-
ver, he induced Nelson to go with him to Gilman, on the night of
November 2, 1865. After getting off the train at that place Harper
invited Nelaon to go down the road with him to the house of a triend,
jas he said, where he would introduce him to some {emale friends.
When they had gone down the track about 100 rods Harper made a
duey Suyop *TTINNOGOW
ONVION Aopazeg poweu [eet)
® ¢ e o ] NI
Z9gt 62 *a9q S*TTI 6°09 sfonbouy nae pe
‘
ma he
~ HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY. \ 467
at Philadelphia, in « difficulty, and for which he
had to run away, and after residing at Pittsburgh, New Orleans, St.
Louis and other places, he came to Chicago, where he married Eliza
Hare, and then moved to this county. ;
‘. The execution took place in the grand jury room of the court-house
at Middleport. The scaffold was composed of four posts with cross-
pieces at top; on which was laid a piece of timber 6x4 inches, and
¢ight feet long, with blocks and pulleys at the end, through which the
rope passed by which, with a weight of 290 pounds, he was to be sus-
pended. At forty minutes past eleven the culprit, attended by Father
Theodore Van de Poel, of L’Erable, in this county, who had adminis-
tered to him the last rites of the Catholic church, Sheriff Clark, Thomas
Vennum, circuit. clerk, Drs. McNeill, Harwood, Secrest and Hewins,
and several others, entered the room. After prayer the black cap and
noose were adjusted, and the rope suspending the weight, at one
minute past twelve, was cut by the sheriff. At nine minutes after his
heart ceased to beat and he was prononnced to be dead by the physi-
and in thirty minutes he was cut down. His body
Poel, and taken to L’Erable tor
of Hoey McKeever,
cians in attendance,
was given in charge of Father Van de
burial.
Exeuution or Francis Marton Harper Actas JOHNSON, FOR THE
-wurpER or D. W. Nevson, DecEMBER 92, 1865.—THE MURDER COM-
MITTED ON THE NIGHT OF NovEMBER 9, 1865. Harper was born in
Morgan county, Indiana, in 1843. In 1864 he joined the 70th reg.
Ind. Vol., but soon after deserted and came to Effingham, in this state,
to which place his father, Henry Harper, and his mother and their
family had removed. He soon after stole a horse from a Mr. Wilson,
near that place, and took it to another part of the country and sold it.
He then went to Gilman, in this county, and was employed by Mr.
Maxson, who after some time discharged him. He then returned
home and remained there six weeks, and then went to Kankakee city
and became acquainted with a young man by the name of D. W.
Nelson, who was from Muncie, Indiana, and engaged in making and
selling stencil plates. Nelson had received a remittance of $15 from
bia father, and foolishly exhibited the express package in which he had
received it, in such a manner as to induce Harper to believe it con-
tained $1,500. In order to obtain this, after having procured a revol-
ver, he induced Nelson to go with him to Gilman, on the night of
November 2, 1865. After getting off the train at that place Harper
invited Nelson to go down the road with him to the house of a friend,
(as he said, where he would introduce him to some temale friends.
When they had gone down the track about 100 rods Harper made a
m S Bi as
BECKWITH'S HISTORY OF IRDQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
sei
Pag EN SIEBER Dale 52 hee sar
I
TERRE
tee eee aa
wait ong."
Pe nc RSENS ge ee TE ;
SR a, Ap Eo il, SPT Pa, eee ak
A We
Bi he nh <i
_ the scaffold for Harper’s execution was erected.
468 HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
remark about the coolness of th i i i
pad his revolver and shot N alice a uetel hota ae
ope Sele .8 “see ensued and Harper choked his victim to
Hig: Wateh sid chats, aod We bee Ohee Lc meee
ee He then placed the body ag mg sg - re
aving it mangled by the next train, went to Onarga, staid th de
rptdied got breakfast, had his coat mended (which had beast pois
ia z nese) e Mr. Wand, a tailor of that place, and soon after took
pila ae in 2 Kankakee. In the morning the body of the mur-
ae sane ound, with his name on his clothing. The fact was
—— si Bete fu road, was read by the operator at Clifton, and
iad sak on there it was discovered that a-passenger had a
a nee : ich were the initials, “1D. W. N.,” and he was returned
and’ ah Ghaunivatie had Gla Bhool Sage MEE eet
ri 4 i
arrived in the evening and took him Rings BA OMe edt fe
: the train three attempts were made by a mob to hang Harper, but
bi
ae hae by the sheriff alone, and who took him to the Kanka
| : ns proves what a determined office
r, who regards hi:
ag en oa do in the face of a cowardly ravh. ee ae
he. ong term of the circuit court of Iroquois county he was
. He was arraigned for trial before tl
! A ar e the court, Judge C. R.
Gt coe William T. Ament for the state, and Chester Kinney
. F. McNeill for the defense. The following persons composed
_ the Jury which tried the case: Tilden Graham, George Wright, James
ae eels bee a tags Jessup, Martin Cottrill, George
Ner, eClintock, Isaac Peniston, Milton Goodi
Cain and Justus Smith Nov : i a
ember 30 the jury returned ict of
. f ' rned a verdict of
betas i a —— 1, Harper was sentenced by the aes 3
ecember 22, 1865, between the ho f ‘
o’clock. He was brough ; Gl we Bhar bene
ght from the Kankakee jail by iff
. jail by Sheriff Sher
on Thursday, the 21st, and placed in the custody of Sheriff J ear
Martin, who had erected an inclosure 16X18 feet, and fourteen feet |
high, on the ground where the court-house now stands, and in which
It was in f i
re used for the execution of McDonnell, andthe weight se -
ae ance of lead and shot. At eight minutes past eleven the noose
m ae ss og rope cut, and in sixteen minutes he was found to :
- His body was taken in charge by A. G. Smith, editor of the
“Republican,” and by him sent bye
han, in this state, at Harper’s ia to Harper’s father, at Effing-
(*uosuyor setTe) f ia ak
*sogl $22 °2eq uC STOUTTTI SueysuTssq ye pesuey SuoTseW stouety “YAGUVH
IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS
a
264
HISTORY op IROQUOIS COUNTY,
years, and sold and went to Indiana. Mr. Whitehead has about 400
acres of land, with tuir improvements. He has One of the finest
barns in the township,
urbin lived south of Hults, He w
48 noted for raising '
the first and the tinest pair of twins in this Part of the country. He }
died here, and his Widow lives in Onarga. Mr. Griffin commenced an
improvement near
there, and George Underwood, from Georgetown,
about the same time,
n commenced a farm on t]
arly as 1856 or 1857,
Ohio, who now
rove in 18586.
The tormer die
Eli Strawn, from La §
part of the st
national reputation
undertakings, came
Vermilion county,
Lewis and Michael Buorlej
Michael now resides, ag e
Belmont county,
ern side of Ash CG
Went to the army,
resides on the farm,
a pioneer in that
had a
» Came to the wegt-
and Andrew i.
cturn. Andrew
alle county, who had been
ate, and who belonged tu a family which
tor energy, enterprise and vast business
here in 1869 and pureliased 4 half section which
lay cast of the creek,
j iv land of this to
, Straw
r business men in Buckley
has sixteen tarme in
Wnship is owne
n, Hartshorn, McClave,
» OWN Considerable land,
this and adjoining townships,
, and expect to see them still mor
One of the most shocking crimes,
the suddest that was ever commit
by red K Coster, alias Fritz
August 26,1879. Only a y
Burmeister,
d by non-
Lincoln, and
The former
They consider them
food investments
lmestances one of
ty, was the murder,
Mary, on the night of
car previously Keoster had married Mary
4 pleasant and agreeable of parents liy-
ing near by, and liy he owned,
ace of 11 seres which
near the railroad, thr 1 So far as the pub-
lie ig informed, em until shortly
before the ¢ n of approaching
1d she declined to
help him, Naturally avarice}
ve become incensed at
this, and complained th;
course,
girl, the daughter
10 unpleasantness exis
rime was ¢
maternity rendered her
1 his flax-seed, saying
e last seen of him here
The next morning Mrs, K
it vacant, but with sta;
deed. Search was
ARTESIA TOWNSHIP. yee
é i ‘ i
found with a gun-wound and horribly chopped with an ax, lying in &
ditch in the orchard. There could be only one theory, and that was
that Koester was the author of this terrible crime. The horrible story
of Mera was retold, and his tragic death. Vengeance was pledged
from mouth to mouth, and had the criminal been then found, there
can be little doubt what the result would have been. Fortunately,
before he was found the feeling had considerably toned down. Ten years
ago hanging for inurder had well-nigh, as one criminal actually said,
“played out” in TMlinvis, but the recent execution of several who had
been proved guilty has very niuch changed the sentiment of her citizens
in regard tolynching. The story of Keoster’s escape and capture is short.
He rode his horse to Ashkum, where he abandoned it, and walked to
Clifton, the next station north, where he took the train to Chicago and
went directly to Towa, from which place he wrote a letter to some rela-
tives in Nebraska, by which tell-tale letter he was traced and arrested.
Artesia was set off from the townships of Loda.and Onarga, March
17, 1804, and organized by the election of 4.5. Pusey as supervisor j
W. G. Riggs. clerk, and E. L. Gibson as assessor. The principal offi-
cers of the township se a present: J. G. McClave, supervisor; M. M.
Meacham, clerk J.C. Harlan, assessor, and J. M. Lindenmeyer, col-
lector. The justices of the peace during the political lite of the town-
ship have been: Ira A. Manley, Japheth Hull, J. K. Smith, ].. Grove,
Calvin Newlin, Samuel iris. ME. Riggs. M- M. Meacham and Jolin
Newlin. At the firet election, in 1564, there were seventy-six votes
east. At the last election the number had inereased to 271, which indi-
cates an ‘crease in population of ‘about 100 per cent every fen years.
BUCKLEY.
Ira A. Manley, who, during nearly all of the lite of this village has
been a prominent business man here, came to reside here in 1856. He
iad entered into a contract with the railroad company for the land
npou which the village stands, and rightly judged that this would be
the place for a shipping point. He proposed to Jay out a town plat
and make this the central place for business between the two, Loda
and Onarga, on either side. He secured a station, and named it from
a relative in Philadelphia, Bulkley. The following year Franklin
Pierson came to visit him. This was a queer place to come on a visit.
There was nothing here but a station, not even a switch, and the scat-
tering farmers back a few miles had hardly heard either of Bulkley or
Manley. But Pierson was captivated with the situation. It was good
hunting, and that was enough. He concluded to remain. They two
did the grading and furnished the ties for 4 gwitch, and then Pierson
eed
}
HANGING ROPE
| QM AUGUST 26, 1879, FRED KORSTER, ALIAS FRITZ RAFTER, MURDERED HIS
WOVE, THE YORMER MARY BURMELSTER.
,* a
© Sp COUPLE LIVED ON s SMALL 12 ACRE FARM LOCATED NEAR THE RAILROAD ABOUT
3 MILES NORTH OF BUCKLEY. (THIS LAND IS NOW OWNED BY THE MERLE HARTER
FAMILY). MRS. KOESTER'S PARENTS LIVED NEARBY ON THE PROPERTY NOW OWNED
BY EARL RUST.
MRS. KOESTBR, AN EXPECTANT KOTHER, FELT SHE WAS UNABLE TO WORK IN THE
FIELD. HIN SHE DECLINED TO HELP, HER HUSBAND BECAME ANGRY AND BLAMED
HER FAMILY. ON AUGUSI 26, Hi DREW SOME MONEY UN FLAX SHED STATING HE
NEEDED Ti CASH Tu “AY A LOAN. ‘THIS WAS THS LAST THAT WAS SWEN OF HIM
UNTIL HIS ARREST IN H0Wa.
ON THE » UNNING VF AUGUST 27, MRS. KOBSTER'S SISTER wEXT TU VEE MOUSE FOR
A VISIT. FINDING NO ONE AT HOME, SHE INVESTIGATED AND FOUND INDIGATIONS
OF THE MURDER. A SBAKCH AKSULTED JN THY DISCOVERY C¥ TEE BODY IN A DITCH
IN THE ORCHARD. KOESTER, AFTER COMMITTING THE CRIME, RODF HIS HORSE TO
ASHKUM, WHERE HF sBANDONED IT, WALKED TO CLIFTON, BOARDED A TRAIN FOR
CHICAGO, AND ¥ROM THERE WENT ON TO IOWA. A LETTER WRITTEN TO A RELATIVE
IN NEBRASKA: LFD TO HIS APPREHENSION.
FOLLOWING HIS ARREST, HE WAS RETURNED T0 BUCKLEY. AFTER A SHORT TRIAL,
HE W4S FOUND GUILTY, AND WAS HANGED IN DANVILLE.
THIS IS THE ROPE THAT KAS USED FOR THE HANGING.
at once to Chicago, whither his father had shortly before preceded him. He
began the study of law under Butterfield & Collins, then prominent Illinois
practitioners. About a year later he entered the law school at Cambridge,
Massachusetts, and in 1841 was admitted to the Massachusetts bar, returned
to Illinois and began practice at Elgin, in August of that year. “He was ele-
vated to the bench in 1851, holding through subsequent elections for about
seventeen years. In 1867 he removed to Chicago, remaining until 1871, when
he lost his valuable law library in the great fire. He finally returned to Kane
county, locating at Geneva, and was elected one of the judges of the Twelfth
judicial circuit. He held the office continuously from 1879 to . The
characteristics of Judge Wilson were remarkable industry, strict integrity,
and opposition to needless litigation and the delays which are so vexatious
‘n most courts. He is regarded as one of the ablest lawyers of Illinois, and
during his years upon the bench was several times chosen to represent his
district in the appellate court.
Hon. Silvanus Wilcox; who succeeded Judge Wilson in 1867, is a native
of Montgomery county, New York. He was a cadet at West Point for two
years, beginning in April, 1836, but was obliged to resign on account of
ill health, standing fifth in general merit, in a class of fifty. He spent five
months in the West, in 1840, and finally located, in 1844, at Elgin, where
he was the next year appointed postmaster by President Polk, holding the
office during the latter’s administration. He was admitted to the bar in 1846,
and in 1867 elected judge of the Twenty-eighth judicial circuit, comprising
the counties of Kane,. DuPage and Kendall. He was reelected in 1873, but
resigned in 1874, because of poor health, his resignation being received with
regret by the judiciary of the state.
Judges Wilson and Wilcox and Judge Willis are the only citizens fur-
nished by Kane county for the circuit bench of the district, but those from
other counties, who have performed its duties have been men of marked
ability and high standing in the profession. Judge Hiram H. Cody, of
DuPage, was no exception to the rule, and Judges Charles Kellum and Clark
W. Upton, stand also in the front rank. George W. Brown and L. J. Ruth,
of DuPage, and Charles A. Bishop, of DeKalb county, all three of whom
have died within three years, were each able lawyers and capable judges,
whose loss to the district can hardly be estimated.
Judge Henry B. Willis, present circuit judge, was born May 8, 1849,
in Vermont, and came to Illinois with his parents in 1852, they locating at
Genoa, DeKalb county. In 1870 he graduated from Albany Law School,
Albany, New York, and began practice in Elgin in 1872. He was state’s
attorney, 1876 to 1880, and mayor of Elgin, 1885-7. He was elected cir-
cuit judge in 1891, succeeding Judge Isaac G. Wilson, and has since held that
office, conducting its business with dignity and ability. In 1906 he was
appointed one of the justices of the appellate court for the Second district. -
NOTABLE CASES.
Although numerous murders have been committed in Kane county,
and some of them of the most diabolical character, but two men have been
KANE COUNTY HISTORY 561
“One of the most brutal murders occurred in the E. J. & E. railroad
yards in West Aurora, February 28, 1903, when Antonio Romano, an Italian,
murdered his companion, Nicholas Tomaso, in a box car by striking him
with a hatchet in the head. In this case Chief Michels and his assistants
deserve great credit in ferreting out and capturing said Romano. The cause
of the murder was an old grudge from Italy before they came to America.
In looking over the grounds after the murder was committed a hatchet was
found in the snow covered with blood, and from this Romano was suspected
of being the murderer. The dragnet was put in all the Italian quarters in
Chicago and Chief Michels, with the assistance of the Chicago police depart-
ment, captured Romano at 121 West Polk street. Chicago, Illinois. The
arrest was made by Detectives Murray and Shaunessy, of the Chicago police
department. He was brought to Aurora, bound over to the grand jury, and
at his trial was found guilty and was sentenced to be hanged November 20,
1903. The execution was carried out by Sheriff Burke on said date at
12:30 P. M., the hanging being perfect.”
“One of the greatest catches made was when Chief Michels arrested
Emory Hartsig and five of his bogus collectors February 25, 1908, who were
collecting for advertising space in several bogus directories. These men have
operated all over the United States and have defrauded business houses of
hundreds of thousands of dollars. They are known the world wide and all
large detective agencies had been trying to capture them, but without avail
until Chief Michels and his assistants made good in capturing five of these
men so long sought for. These five men are now doing time in the Joliet
State prison and several more are listed to keep company with their companions
in Joliet.”
First Patrol Wagon. S. L. Charles, alderman of the second ward under
the old charter, has the honor of being the man who bought the first patrol
wagon and team for the city of Aurora in the year 1886. Also the first team
for the present fire and police system. The horses were named Sam and
Charlie by Alderman Sam Charles, he being the chairman of the police com-
mittee. They had to answer every fire call, pulling the hook and.ladders,
besides doing all the police work. In the year 1808 the patrol wagon was
done away and an ambulance was bought to do police work and take care of
the sick and injured, taking them to either their homes or hospitals as requested.
The old jail in the city building has been torn out and a modern jail,
Well ventilated and electric lighted, second to none in the state, having cost the
city $7,000, taken its place.
ae The “red light system” has been adopted in the business district and is
indispensable to the police department. By throwing a switch in the chief’s
Office a red light appears on most of the down town corners, telling the police-
men that someone is wanted At headquarters or to be spoken to by the office.
In three minutes’ time all the men will have answered the signal and through
this means many suspects have been caught and quick service rendered.
The police department in 1908 consisted of:
I chief of police. 1 assistant ‘chief of police. 1 captain of police. 2 detectives,
2 patrol drivers. 2 desk sergeints. 1 jailor. 12 patrolmen. 3 merchants police.
KANE COUNTY HISTORY 457
legally executed for this crime within the limits of the county. At the
February term of the circuit court, in 1855, John Collins was convicted of
murder for having, while intoxicated, killed his wife. He was sentenced
to be hanged, and the penalty was inflicted upon him by Sheriff Spaulding,
April 21, 1855. N.S. Young, Esq., of Batavia, thus describes the incident:
“The sheriff and prisoner were escorted from the jail, in the old stone
court house, by an armed military company from Chicago, procured for the
purpose, to a spot southwest from the court house, in a hollow or ravine
just north of the present Chicago & Northwestern Railroad track, and in
sight of the present depot grounds. The scaffold was made with a platform
some three feet from the ground, with two upright posts eight or ten feet
apart, and a cross-beam on top. The rope hanging down from the center
of the cross-beam, passed over a pulley and along the beam to the post, over
another pulley and down to a large, heavy iron weight, to which it was fast-
ened. The prisoner was dressed in a nankeen suit of clothes; a white cotton
cap was drawn over his head and face; his arms were tied to his body, the rope
was placed around his neck, and, standing west, the sheriff, with a hatchet,
cut a rope which held the heavy weight. Falling quickly and heavily, it gave
the culprit a sudden jerk upward about one foot. A slight contraction of
the legs was all there was to be seen of struggling, and soon they relaxed, and,
after hanging thirty minutes the doctor pronounced him dead. A large con-
course of people was present on the rising grounds near, and all through
the proceedings quiet and order prevailed, with no disturbance.”
In 1897 an Italian named ————— Romano was executed for killing
a companion.
There have been several noted murder cases in the county, among them
the following: April 3, 1868, Mrs. Mary Widner, second wife of Adam
Widner, was found to have been murdered. The crime was laid to John
Ferris and wife, who rented part of~the Widner house, and with whom there
had been a dispute and one or two lawsuits. The trial was held at Wood-
stock, McHenry county, and ended early in April, 1869, with a verdict of
acquittal for Mrs. Ferris and a sentence of fourteen years in the penitentiary
for the husband, who was proved to-be undoubtedly guilty.
Rev. Isaac B. Smith was tried in the fall of 1869 for the alleged drown-
ing of his wife in a creek near Elgin and Turner Junction. The trial was
long, and excited great interest, but a verdict of not guilty was reached in
November.
The Kimball case, tried in the circuit court in the fore part of May, 1881,
was for the fatal wounding of Billings Wright by William Kimball, in the
car shops at Aurora, October 22, 1880, while the latter was intoxicated.
Wright died of his wounds in November following. The jury found Kimball
not guilty, on the plea of emotional insanity.
On Sunday, June 1, 1884, Otto John Hope, a German farmer, residing
in Sugar Grove township, was killed, and his hired man, Ed. Steinburn,
dangerously wounded during a dispute over the feeding of some of Hope’s
cattle on the highway. Ozias W. Fletcher and his son Merritt W.. were the
guilty parties, the shooting being done with a revolver. The trial, which
re —_ LAKE COUNTY
ae etfs 404 THE WAUKEGAN NEWS-SUN Tue. me oe
dna! wii LY] es Mea ieee
aNd el
ae fist,” Ke butt
ifs: fresh new ye
‘s'"" each of us. We J
“uo NeW year es
ding; when his daugh |
‘< dine, was married to William Wigham. The tirst j |
- Tally we are afferted by wo the peace ever el
'. only as intensely interested in - e: ‘pei
Go
alts copit
eh ‘herent in each of us, -althou,
Be / May differ as widely as (the! |
#1 .; Surely’ inese were the * gen:
Buy aneers to Lake County. ‘His
‘".JRere the search
! Warren. Township, e.
ce oettis > Marked: that he was the first “white” m
new terri-
ithe: ‘county. Those days the differen
tween the Indian Red skins and the
or white. »
é bi eet o
dn 1836 at Half Day, Miss Laura Sprague taught the first
school
3 i » The first school house was €rected In Libertyville in: 3:
hite ram Ween .. that same year. SNe Rie OT
y “white ‘ settler, . Stes emer eee ify
: ate pea) “In December: 1837 the court fixed the fees’ the landlords nel
* of §6 and remained until fate Lh A Bi
: ohn ¥O aNd Ter itoremain . Might charge their guests, For a night’s lodging 1214 centy,. at
ef fied tic 1 fy itd! $0 een ip Was the lawful Price; for a team of horses H
rees, stabling ang ‘4,
‘hay, 25. cents; meals, 37 cents; half Pint of
int, 12 cents; brandy, gin or rum, half pint, 12'*":
‘cents, pint, 25 cents; wine, half pint 18 cents; pint, 37 cents... »
|| The first church building erectes was a Catholic edifice:
ape ad Seater ne ners of logs, near Highland Park and was known as St. Mary's.
pines hd cds A . The-county’s first legal proceeding’ arose over a dispute
; ' Tegarding’ the Occupancy of a “claim” near
sal Bayland: occupied the land
'( Waukegan’s first pler was
ee steer : | house was not Constructed un
CRSP CS RGE ale pet db at. {2 "The’ first newspaper was the “
», Democratic Banner” which con
. (/ dts. first: issue was Published on March 4, 1845. N. U. F
ne was editor. he
_ The first murder. occurred at the Old Geadele Tavern iq
S Peddler, was the victim: Ne
‘The men: suspected of and tried for the crime were acquit- as,
uller >/.2
was its publisher and A. B. Wynkoop Vs
eptember 1847. Silas Marble, a p,
| ted by the jury
ily aN
On’ June 30, 1865, occiirred the first éxecution ofa crim #
» nal ‘in Lake County. William Bell, ‘who had murdered Mira.
(Ruth: Briden, ‘a. woman. by. wht alas Je loved.
came’ a noted market {6 ns 4
"the clip, and during the wool buying season long strings of ‘i
{ y te a
& offers of the numer- oe
of pounds were annually he et
.» Marketed and employment given to Scores of men. For sey-
a)
; County stood second in alt see fe
« the counties in Illinois in the number of a ergs Tae det
., 08, searching
onto another
Wet at a
od
LIVINGSTON @DUNTY, ILLINOIS.
322 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
year named, having realized the expensive method of cari: or prisoners, and
not being desirous longer of depending on other counties for such accommoda-
tions, the Board of Supervisors erected upon the spot designed for the purpose
a building eminently fitted for the purpose. It is a built of. massive stone,
thirty-five by fifty feet, and eost $32,000. It has been called a ‘model jail,”
and committees from various counties have been sent to examine it, with a view
of making it a pattern for similar buildings.
Perhaps the case which has produced the greatest excitement—and on
account of recent developments excites additional interest—that ever came
defore.the courts of Livingston County, was a tvial for murder committed in the
vicinity of Pontiac, in 1858
In October of that year, the body of a young woman named Mary Murphy
was found near the railroad track, a short distance south of town. She had
been missing about eighteen days, and certain suspicious circumstances occur-
ring at the time led to the arrest of a colored man, who gave his name as Wiley
J. Morris. tie wes brought to Pontiac and examined before Jacob Streamer,
Justice of the Peace, and by him committed to jail to await trial. He was con-
fined inthe jail at Bloomington, where he lay until the Fall of 1860, when his
‘rial came off.
Tt was shown on the part of the prosecution that Morris had been seen walk-
ing on the railroad track, about a mile behind the girl afterward found mur-
dered; that the rate at which he was walking, as compared with her pace, would
cause him to overtake her at the point where the body was found; and that he
had just been in a ee brawl in Bloomington, and was of desperate char
acter. The evi was wholly circumstantial, but quite strong. He was ably
arding, Ksq., of this city, who, however, labored greatly
under the disadventege of a popular feeling, which then existed in the commu-
mty, against the coior of his client.
The jury, : ftor 2 an absence of an unusually long time, failed to agree, and
the prisoner was again remanded to jail to await a new trial.
in the meantime, the counsel for defense made application for a change of
venue, Which being granted, the case was carried to Kankakee County.
The second tri al ¢ came of April, 1861. In this trial he was still more unsuc-
cessful, and he was adjudged guilty of murder in the first degree, and con-
demned to hang, in May of the year named.
‘The doomed man protested his innocence to the last, declaring that he was
being murdered on account of prejudice against his race; and on the scaffold.
his last words were, “You murder me! You murder me! You murder me!”
Subsequent revelations show that probally Morris was an innocent man;
and, though otherwise a bad character, that he was not guilty of the murder of
Mary Murphy.
A short time since, Hawkeye Bill, a notorious desperado and murderer, on
ye Cying bed mace confession that, at the time of the murder of Mary Murphy.
Va
whe
~_
defended by A. -
a
202 History of La Salle County.
victed and sent to the penitentiary. Subsequently,
when the notorious Birch was at Ottawa under
arrest, he stated that he and another leading member
of the gang by the name of Fox, robbed Swift; that
Dewey had a stiff hip, and Bliss a crooked knee ;
that when they committed the robbery they affected
these infirmities to avoid detection, and these were
the peculiarities by which the Swifts recognized
Dewey and Bliss when they testified against them
at their trial. The prosecuting attorney conferred
with the Governor, and while they considered
Dewey and Bliss innocent of the crime for which
they were convicted, they were proved to be mem-
bers of the gang, and they decided to let them take
the punishment on general principles.
An Englishman by the name of Liléy, was mur-
_ dered and his body found near the Danville road,
just in the edge of Livingston County. The clothing
was all removed, and the face mutilated to prevent
identification. The day before Liley’s disap pear-
ance, he had been in Ottawa and purchased a scythe
and snath, and left on-foot for his home in Livingston
County. About a week‘after, a man by the name
of George Gates was arrested for passing counterfeit eg
money, and lodged in jailin Ottawa. He was iden-
tified as having been seen traveling with Liley just
at. evening on the day of his disappearance, and
carrying Liley’s scythe; the wounds upon Liley
were two cuts across the face and a triangular cut
across the top of the head cutting through the skull. :
A scythe was found near the body, bent so as to
fit the triangular cut in the head.
HISTORY OF LASALLE CO,, IL, by Elmer, ji
La Salle & Dizon Railroad. | 203
Gates’ clothes were bloody, as proved by — his
washerwoman, and he paid out some ; Prussian
thalers, such as Liley had received at the bank in
Ottawa; and Gates was seen wearing a coat of Liley’s,
At the June term of the court in Ottawa, 1858, Gates
was convicted, and hung in August, following—the
only execution that ever took place in the county.
In December, 1853, about four hundred men were
employed on the line of the Central Railroad, south
of the river, at La Salle. A misunderstanding
existed between the contractor, Albert Story, and
these men. Their wages had been reduced from
$1.25 to one dollar per day. After considerable
altercation, Story went to the stable to get his horse,
to escape, when: they rushed upon him with picks
and stones, and instantly killed him. Twelve were
indicted as leaders; four of them took a change of
venue to Kendall county, and were convicted’ of
murder. <A new trial was granted, which: resulted
in a second conviction. Governor Matteson com-
muted their punishment to imprisonment for life,
and finally granted a full pardon. The La Salle
people were dissatisfied with the executive clemenc
and when Matteson was on a visit to La Salle he was
burnt in effigy.
LA SALLE & DIXON RAILROAD,
On the 27th of February, 1841, the Legislature
chartered the La Salle & Dixon Railroad Company,
«giving them the grading and work done on the old
B;: 1877, Chicago: Rand McNally & CQ.
4 |
‘
STOUTTTI ‘A}zUNOD eTTeSeT
the Ritzert gravel pit in Naperville while a couple
thousand people looked on, some having traveled for
miles just to view this execution.
Many DuPage residents still remember when Henry
Spencer was hanged at the DuPage County jail in July,
1914, following his conviction of murdering Mildred Al-
lison. Several years later in 1925, John Kammerer was
hanged in a stockade specially constructed between
the DuPage County jail and the boiler room building
located at the immediate east of the old jail. Kammerer
was convicted by a DuPage jury of slaying Frances
Eder.
John Preston was the first defendant in the state of
Illinois to suffer death in the electric chair on October 9,
1931, following his conviction by a DuPage jury of the
murder of Agnes Johnston. Previously the state legis-
lature had authorized electrocution rather than hanging
as the method of execution following imposition of the
death sentence.
The Preston murder, which occurred near West Chi-
cago, received considerable notariety. The Wheaton II-
linoian, in the October 18, 1929 issue, commenced its
report of the slaying in the following language:
West Chicago has furnished another headline ar-
ticle for the Chicago dailies and put another
smirch on our neighbor community which is not to
its credit, although it is innocent, and again Chica-
go’s jungaleers have come into DuPage county
STORY OF PLPAGE Co mY +l
and smeared up the landscape with the result of
their lust and animal instinct.
Several years before, in 1924 and 1925, the Chicago
newspapers focused their attention on the George
Munding murder trial. Munding, a well-known riding
master and owner of various livery stables, was
charged with shooting and killing his sweetheart, Mrs.
Julia Abb Douglass, on her farm near Hinsdale, where
she operated the Douglass Riding Academy. Mrs.
Douglass was the widow of George A. Douglass,
grandson of R. G. Dun of Dun and Bradstreet. Claren-
ce Darrow, eminent Chicago trial lawyer, joined forces
with DuPage’s outstanding trial advocate, Charles W.
Hadley, in Munding’s defense. In its April 17, 1925
issue, the Wheaton Illinoian reports the following:
The Munding murder trial is going along in the cir-
cuit court, and the attorneys for the defense have
almost made a hero of the killer. Whether
Hadley’s and Darrow’s pleas will have any ap-
preciable effect on the jury remains to be seen, al-
though, as we have said before, the case is more of
a dead open-and-shut than the one against Henry
Spencer, who was hanged... . Alienists occupied
the time of the court Wednesday, attempting to
prove the man insane. That plea often works in
Chicago, but not usually in DuPage county.
The DuPage jury, in fact, rejected the Darrow-Hadley
defense. However Munding cheated the gallows and
one
141
ALNNOOD WoVd Nd
aR:
wall,
5. 4 thle, ARE apg
eae:
Nye PRG ve
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY. S23
he was fully cognizant of all of the facts—that he was 2 confederate of Dil
Britt, Jo. Montana ana Charles Logwe. He says that these three men were on
a horse stealing expedition, and were camping for a few days in the Umber,
near Pontiac, and that the three were the guilty parties. Ie gives dates and
circumstances With So much precision as to leave but little doubt caus shey were
the actual murderers. {fe further states that Britt and Montana have since
been hung for other crimes, and that Logue has died in prison.
‘he Reform School at Pontiac, though a State institution, 1s mentioned cre
for the reason that the city and townshiv of Pontiac were interested large!
o a >
yin
securing (is location at this place. The Legislature had passed an act allowing
certain towns, possessing specified natural and already acquired sdvanages, +0
compete for the establishment of the school in their midst. Aficr due examina
tion by the commission appointed for that purpose, and hearing the propusi-
tions from each locality, they settled on Pontiac; and the building was ¢o.2-
pleted and ready for occupants in 1870. George W. Perkins, former Warden
of the Minos Penitentiary, was selected as Superintendent, and in his charge
the school remained until 1872, when the present efficient Superintendent, J.
7}
§
D. Scouller, was appointed. Through his kindness we are able to give ve fol-
towing items in relavion to the institution :
ao
“bere is belonging to the institution, in land, 280 acres, which is worked
. 5
by the inmates. A system of thorough drainage has been commenced, and
$5,00Q have been spent for the purpose, including 3,000 fect oF sewer feom the
main building.
|
he buildings alone are valued at $110,000. Over 6,000 shace anc fruit
trees have been planted. he inmates have a large play ground oF severs:
acres, including an excellent base ball eround.
‘An additional building, called a Family Building, has recently been erecicd,
where about thirty of the better class of boys will reside apart from the others.
Great good is expected from this classification by the managers.
Five teachers are employed, also a farmer, engineer, baker, overseers of
shops and others to the number of eighteen employes.
he school was opened for the reception of boys, in June, 1871, and to cas
date there have been 756 admitted. There are at this time in the school 4 O+.
Between seventy and eighty are employed making shoes in the factory con-
nected with the institution. Nearly 300 pairs are turned out daily. ‘the con-
tractors, Messrs. Tead & Son, pay eighteen cents per day (of six hours each) for
the services of each boy employed.
About sixty of the smaller boys are engaged im caning chairs for the Bloom-
ington Furniture Manufacturing Company. This branch is not profitable, but
keeps the, boys busy, and teaches them habits of industry.
The rest of the inmates are employed on the farm, in the laundry, bakery
and garden, and at miscellaneous labor.
ceca ceere ne + ene RN cree sh NE TO I IN catia penta ED ITO I pe ee ne
4G MPRA O8 MM SPONG art
CHAPTER \.
MURDER OF JOUN WiLses
Previous to November, 1834, there was ve eveswt in the history
of MeDouough county calenlated to areuse any particular excite-
ment among her citizens, save the tachicut vf the fost cliid, an ac-
count of which we publish in a previows chapter The settlers of
that day pursued the even tenor of their way, ondosvoring to make
for themselves and families a home in this uubroken wildness,
Their little troubles were settled by a fair fight, and a friendly
drink atterward, and vo bard feelings were entertamed.
A year or two previous to the time of which we write, Elias Me-
Fadden, his son, David, and son-in-law, Wytie MokFudden, with
their families, came to this county and settled on the farm now
owned and oceupied by William Hunter, about one mile south of
Macomb. If reperts are correct, all were of an over-hearing and
quarrelsome nature, and from the first trouble ensucd between
them and their neighbors.
John Wilson, the murdered man, came to the county about the
same time, and settled on what is known as the “ Ruthy” Wilson
farm, adjoining McFadden’s, now Ilunter’s place. Wilson was
generally respected by all; a good-natured, yet bold and fearless
man. |
The McFaddens and Wilson had not long been neighbors he-
fore there was trouble between tliem in reference to some timber
land lying near. Threats were made by the former aguinst the
latter, and at the time of the murder, as it afterwar/i was shown,
Wylie McFadden was in Rushville consniting Judge Minshail as
to whether they had the right to kill Wilson should he appear on
their place. :
In the early part of the month of November, 1854. an execution
was placed in the hands of Nelson Montgomery, Constalie and
McDONOUGH COUNTY, Illinois ¥
HISTORY OF M’DONOUGH coUNTy. | 31
At this meeting of the board the various magistrate districts
were nade election precincts for the Congressional! election, to be
held the tirst Monday in August. For this election the clerks
were each aliowed one dollar and twelve and a half cents, aud the
Judges ove dollar per day. We suppose the clerk’s duties wer
rmaore laborious, hence, the difference in price.
By an act of Congress the sixteenth section of Jand in every
township was set apart, and the proceeds otits sule used, for com-
mon school purposes. Commissioners were appointed in each
county to superintend its sale and take charge of the proceeds.
In September of this year James Vance received the appointment
as Commissioner of School Lands,and was instructed by the board
to loan all money received therefor for not less than twelve per
cent. per annum. Trustees tor each township were also appointed
for the school lands.
The assessment of taxes then and now will bear no comparison,
as we learn from the records that Resin Naylor was only allowed
fifteen dollars for assessing the taxes of the whole county.
The Court House was tivished according to contract, and Cir-
eult Court convened therein for its second term on the twenty-first
day of October. There were present the Hon. Richard M. Young,
Circuit Judge; Hou. Thomas Ford, State’s Attorney; William
Southward, Sheriff, and James M. Campbell, Clerk. fat this ses-
sion considerable business was transacted, the most important be-
ing the trial of David Morgan for murder. This was a case trom
Schuyler county. After a patient hearing, the jury rendered its
verdict, finding him guilty, as charged in the indictment. Fer
some cause the verdict was set aside, the indictment quashed, and
the prisoner discharged.
Au indictment was found by the grand jury against Thomas
Morgan, a brother of David, for murder, after which he was ar-
rested, and obtained a continuance of his case unti! the next term
ofcourt. There being no jail in the county, he was remanded by
the Judge to the Schuyler county jail. At the next session of the
court he obtained a farther continuance, and ere another term he
broke jail, and was never afterward heard from.
Quite a number settled in the county this year, among whom
“was J. W. Brattle, for many years surveyor for the county, and a
man we'l and universally esteemed. Mr. Brattle has probably
done imore surveying in McDonough county than all others cum-
bined since the organization of the county.
HISTORY OF M'PDOXNOUGH COUNTY. 47
Deputy Shevitk of the county, against Wylie McFadden, directing
tiin to levy on the property of said Wylie MeFadden to Batisiy a
Judyinent aguinst him in favor of Henton & Robi nsou, merchants
in Macomb. Mr, Montgomery tovk the execution and called upon
Wilson to accompany him, and take his team, that he night haul
uwvay a certain amount of corn he proposed to seize to satis!y the
Chain, Anprehending ne danger. Mr. Wilson agreed to aecom-
pany him. Arviving af the place, they were met by Elius MceFad-
der, who engaged them in’ couversution, decoying them arvind to
the north stde of the house, and when in proper range, through
the window, David Mek adden committed the foul deed, shooting
Wiisen down, without a word of warning. Mr. Montcomery
caught bim as he fell, and dragged him within a woodshed and
hurried off to town and gave the alarm. A crowd of excited peo-
ple at once proceeded out to the scene of the murder, and tound
Klias Me#adden coolly repairing a fence, while near by lay Wilson
in & supposed dying condition. McFadden was at once arrested,
and search was made for the then unknown murderer. Search-
ing the house, a rifle was found in the corner near the acrth win-
dow unloaded; a pane of glass was found broken out of the
window; a hook laying upon the sill, and the sash and book both
powder-marked. The question now arose who committed the
deed. Wylie MeFadden was supposed to be away,and David was
not known to be near. Searching, footsteps were found leading
fvorn the house in the Jirection of the residence of David Mc ad.
deu, who lived just across the hollow on the west side. Follow-
ing uke tracks, they were led to the door of David McFadden’s
house; aud going in they found kim at work ona shoemuker’s
bench, as entirely uneoncerned as his father, aud acting as inno-
cently as though no cold-blooded murder had teken place. He
was at once arrested, and, in company with his father, brought to
town and placed under guard, to await the reault of the wound in-
theted upon Mr. Wilson. Wylie McFadden, coming home the
same evening, was likewise arrested. |
Mr. Wilsov lived some days. On his death a preliminary ex-
amination was had before James Clarke, Esq., Justice ot the
Peace, the evidence heing as already narrated, and-the three men,
Klias, David aud Wylie McFadden were committed to the county
jail, witbout bail, to await the meeting of the Circuit Court.
On the fifteenth day of November, 1834, the grand jury found a
trae bill of indictment against the three, and a few days afterward
WISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
NOB: It wii] be for vour consideration whether a speedy
trial will be to the interest of the country or not.
A special term of the court was ordered to be held on the
13th day of January, 1824, when the following freeholders
of Madison county were duly impanneled as grand jurors, to
wit: Emanuel J. West, foreman, Lyman Gillet Ephraim
W ood, Matthew B. Torrence, William Hinch, John Gonter-
Paddock, Jacob Judy, John T. Lusk, Low Jackson, James
Watts, Oliver Balster, James Tunnel, Erastus Brown and
John C. Barnett.
The grand jury heard the testimony of William Ogle,
James Dabs, Susannah Bradley, Amos Bradley, Polly Brad-
so the jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do say, that —
. the said Kliphalet Green felonously, wilfully aud of his mal-
ice aforethought, him the said William Wright, then and
there in manner and form aforesaid did kill and murder, to
the great displeasure of Almighty God, to the evil example of
all others in like cases offending, contrary to the form of the
_ statute in such cases made and provided, and against the
man, Julius Barnsback, John Good, Caleb Gouterman, Guy .
ley, George Debaum, Abel Moore and wife, and returned the |
fullowing bill or indictment on the same day, to wit:
State of Illinois, Madison county. At a special term of ©
the circuit court begunand held for the county of Madison
aforesaid, in the Court House in the town of Edwardsville
in said county, on the 13th day of January, 1824, in the |
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-
fuur. The Grand jurors of the people of the state of [linois,
residents and good and lawful men of the county of Madison
afvresaid, impanneled, sworn and charged to inquire for |
the body of the county of Madison aforesaid in the name
and by the authority of the people of the state of Illinois, |
upon their oath gmesent that one Eliphalet Green, late of
said county of Madison, yeoman, not having the fear of
God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the
instigation of the Devil, on the twenty-fourth day of December,
in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and
twenty-three, in the county of Madison aforesaid, with force
: mt felonously, wilfully and of his malice afore- | an
nae ee ee ie any thing for himself he had or knew to say why the court
thought did make an assault upon the body of one William
Wright, in the peace of God then and there being, and the
said Eliphalet Green, a certain gun of the value of twenty
dollars, then and there charged with gunpowder and one
Jeaden bullet, which gun so loaded and charged as aforesaid
he the said Eliphalet Green in both his hands then and there
had and held to, against and upon the said William Wright,
then and there, felonously, wilfully and of his malice afore-
thought did shoot and discharge and the said Eliphalet
Green with the leaden bullet aforesaid, out of the gun afore-
said, then and there by force of the gunpowder shot, dis
charged and sent forth as aforesaid, the aforesaid William
Wright in and upon the right side of him the said William
Wright, near the right pap of the right side of him the said
William Wright, then and there with the leaden bullet
“aforesaid out of the gun aforesaid, by the said Eliphalet
Green so as aforesaid shot, discharged and sent forth, felon-
ously, wilfully and of his malice afurethought, did strike,
penetrate and wound, giving to the said William Wright,
with the leaden bullet aforesaid so es aforesaid shot, dis-
charged, and sent forth out of the gun aforesaid by the said
Eliphalet Green in and upon the right side of him the said
William Wright near the right pop of him the said William
Wright one mortal wound, of the depth of four inches and
of the breadth of two inches, of which said mortal wound |
the said William Wright then and there instantly died, and
peace and dignity of the same people of the state of Illinois,
James Turyer, Attorney.
The trial ended on the 14th day of February, 1824, and
resulted in the following verdict: We the jury tind the
prisoner guilty of murder,
JamMES Mason, Foreman.
This verdict is written in lead pencil on the indictment
and has no date.
The following is the sentence pronounced by the court.
It is copied trom a paper on file in the handwriting of Judge
Reynolds :
WEDNESDAY, January 15, 1824.
The court met according to adjournment, present: John
~ Reynolds, judge.
Tue Preorres ) plaintiff.
v8, \ Indictment for murder.
EvipuaAvet Green. | defendant.
X
The said defendant, Eliphalet Green, who stands con-
victed of murder, was led again to the bar in cus-
tody of the sheriff, and it being demanded of him if
here to judgment and execution against him and upon the
premises should not proceed, he said he had nothing but
what he had before said. Therefore it is considered by the
court that he be hanged by the neck until he be dead, dead,
dead! and that the sheriff of Madison county to cause ex-
tention of this judgment to be done and performed on him,
the said Eliphalet Green, on Thursday, the 12th February,
1824, between the hours of ten o’clock in the morning and
three in the evening at some “ convenient’’ place near the
town of Elwardsville, and it is furthered ordered that
the said defendant pay the cost of this prosecution.
The manuscript of Judge Reynolds shows plainly the agita-
tion of his mind in passing sentence, it contains many cor-
rections and changes of words, at a “convenient” place near
the town of Edwardsville are interlined and undoubtedly
written at a later day or hour, the ink used being of a dif-
ferent hue.
The agitation of the judge was observed by bystanders
together with the “convenient place” and may have
been the cause of the fullowing version of the affair, as re-
peated by J. T. Hair, in Madison county Gazetteer, Alton
1866.
It is stated that the judge in passing sentence of death
upon the prisoner made use of language something like the
following: Well Mr. Green the jury in their verdict found
E. ECUTIONS | 3
slipnalet Green killed abel Moore on December 24, 1823, ood River Listillery.
btxecuted Ushokia Creek First in madison County, second in Lilinois,
2dwerd Barber, George Gibson, Joseph iatscn killed Jacob Barth, peddler. sentenced
May 29, 1857 . Execution, Gibson & Barber, Co. Home (When Court House
occupted), June 19, 1857. Watson, about 20, commuted: Fardoned -
Civil War - St. L. Restaurant.
William Bell, November 12, 1869, for death K. Herman.
Felix Henry, only negro, Jan. 16, 1885. Killed two Alton negroes.
ee
Patrick Boyle, executed Jan. 23, 1892. Killed John Muench, Nameoki
and Mitchell, August 12, 1892. Killed for 90 cents.
Emil Fricher, Mar.—or April 15,1925. ws eA — 9 G 7, bo |
Nikola Gavilovich killed wife May 10, 1910.
Feb. 18, 1914. 10 days before memorial.
June 1915. Sent penitentiary for life.
5 years. Bias
April 16, 1914.
.
tk
INATMIEZOA) CAUAHU TLL. HISTORICAL MUSEU IM LtBRACY GIES ES
~ .
“a
aide
2 a8
*o} ~
¥ oe
‘ ‘ -,
a: a ae * ,
om “a
treme
-Slver,. and was hung by ‘Sheriff y
_Backmester on Feb. 12, 1824,..... aie
_ The Second use of the ‘gallows ‘was
“aaade on Jane‘19,. 1867, ‘when George
“Gibson and Edward Barber paid the
penalty for the murder of Jacob Barth,
on the Troy road, on June 1, 1857,
‘Next was. the hanging of Wm. Bell,
‘forthe-murder of Herman Wendalt on
Rear ans
“the 86.
oxeho ah
— ee
ey ee
welled (MOC Ss
S 4 Ul Suter ek
f
1a QTISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, [LLINOIS.
eeryiide was not to exeeed four months. Creorge went to
Sullof course, and as he could not, and would not pay the
eo, the sheritf executed the order of court. He advertised
and offered George for sale,
bidders, as stated in his return. The expenses of the pro-
ceeding—85 U7, were paid by the county in 1821;—the
voucher is still in existence. Field Bradshaw was another
fighter; John T. Lusk held an inquest over his body on the
15th day of February, 1821, without stating hov Field
came to his death. This inquest cost the county $13.50.
Among the thirty-nine fighters mentioned above we find the
Hon. Theophilus W.Smith, and also Dayid Gillespie,the father
of Hon. Joseph Gillespie. The latter had his case tried before
a jury comprised of Thomas Gillham—the man that sported a
fur hat worth $5.00 and a pair of silver kneebuckles—Jacob
Gonterman, Thomas Reynolds, William Moore, George
Kinder, Andrew Turner, Hezekiah L. Harris, Jesse Waddle,
Joseph B, Tays, Henry Hays, Thomas Cox and John Da-
vidson, who found him guilty, and fined him $5.00. Theo-
philus threw himself upon the mercy of the court and got off
with a nominal fine of 12} cents. Judge Reynolds presided
at the next term—October, 1820 when the first divorce case,
Polly Bowles vs Matthew Bowles, was tried by the following
jury; Matthias Handly, Isaac Furguson, John Harris,
Henry Blanford, John Giger, Ira Bacon George Barnsback,
Abraham Howard,#amuel Delaplain, Mlexander Caw ley,
James Cray and John Wallace.
It was proved that Matthew had a wife living in Kentucky
when he married Polly. Divorce was granted and Matthew
ordered to give up to Polly all property obtained through
her ;-~no fine or other punishment inflicted.
~ tember term 1823 was of no interest.
but failed to sell for want of |
Judge Reynolds presided also at the April and September |
terms 1821 and 1822. There is nothing of interest to be re-
lated, except that W. L. May was indicted for burglary and
Jeptha Lampkins for kidnapping, and that James Foley,
who had stolen a shovel from Augustus Anson, and Benja-
man Roe, who had stolen $15.00 state paper worth $6.90 in
specie, from James Love were publicly whipped by Nathan-
iel Buckmaster, sheriff, and successor of W. B Whiteside.
Each received 15 lashes on bare back, and well Jaid on.
In March 1833, Hon. Thomas C. Reynolds, chief justice
since August 3lst, 1822, presided. One Jacob Stump was
convicted of larceny and sentenced to 25 lashes, and Charles,
a negro, also larceny, to 35 lashes. His case was re-con- |
sidered on, the court saying: The court not having been ful-
ly advised of the statute authorizing punishment in
such cases, do re-consider the sentence passed on said defend-
ant, whereupon it is considered and ordered by the court that
the sheriff defer executing the said sentence until one o'clock
Pp. M. on Monday next, and that the said defeudant be
whipped forty lashes instead of thirty-five.—Sarbarous !
The September term 182% - presided over by Judge John
Reynolds, with Thomas Lippincott as foreman of the grand-
jury brought several cases of interest, amongst which that of
William Parkinson, indicted for forgery, created quite a sen-
Even Twiss was indicted for perjury and Jeptha
A number of men were indicted
Sep-
sation.
Lamkins for kidnapping.
for yagrancy, several fur nuisance and 21 for fighting.
It was soon after sue-
ceeded by a special term, held in January, 1824, to try the
first murder case in the county. The particulars of this case
were as follows:
TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF ELIPHALET GREEN. <&
First case of infliction of capital punishment in the county.
A murder, committed on Christmas Eve 1825, had been
the cause of great excitement. Eliphalet Green, a laborer
at Abel Moore’s distillery on Wood river, had a quarrel
with one William Wright, also in the employment of Abel
Moore. During this quarrel, which ended in a fist fight,
Green was badly beaten. Half-witted, as he was represented
to have been, he became furiously enraged, got his gun and
deliberately shot Wright down, as he was retreating to the
house. Green, who had at first ran away into the forests, came
to the office of Squire Ogle and gave himself up. The squire
heard his story, and after examining some witnesses com-
mitted Green to jail, This paper and several others refer-
ring to the matter have been preserved, and their contents are
here introduced.
Srate or Intrvor )
Madison county = 5 :
The people of the state of’ Hlinois to any lawful officer,
greeting :
Whereas, Eliphalet Green, distiller of Madison county,
having come forward before me on the night of the 24th of
December, and delivered up his body as a prisoner of state
and acknowledged himself to have shot with a rifle at the
body of one William Wright of the county and state afore-
said on the 24th inst., about 40’clock in the afternoon at the
premises of Abel Moore, of the county and state aforesaid,
and proof being made that the said Wright is now dead in
consequence of said wound, you are hereby commanded to
take into your custody the body of the said Eliphalet Green
and him safely convey to the jail of the county, the keeper
whereof is hereby required to receive and safely keep the
body of said Green until such time as he shall be discharged
agreabte to law, fail not as the law directs in such cases.
Given from under my hand this 25th day of December, 1823.
-
WiLurAm Outs, Justice Peace.
This commitment is briefly endorsed: “ Executed,” N.
Buckmaster sheriff, no dute. Oa the 28th of December Buck-
master addressed the following letter to Hon. John Reynolds,
judge, then residing at Clear Lake.
Suerirr’s Orrice, Edwardsville, Feb. 28, 1823.
Jupcr Reynotps: Dear Sir, Painful as it is to me it be-
comes my duty to inform you that there was committed to
the common prison of this county on the 25th of December
a man by the name of Eliphalet Green charged of having
committed a murder on the body of one William Wright. I
take this opportunity of making the facts known to you and
should you think proper to order a special court, give timely
notice and I will govern myself accordingly.
Yours respectfully,
N. Buckmaster, Sheriff.
ee
t
t
:
¢
;
f
$
Pi
528 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
another had entered the back, passed through
the body, and came out near the nipple of the
right breast. Either of these wounds would
have caused his death. Three other bullets had
entered the body just below the right shoulder.
In addition to these wounds, six stabs were
found from a large knife in the back, one in the
right arm, two in-the breast, and another in the
back of the head. More than one person must
have been. concerned in the murder, as the
wounds showed the attack to have been made in
front and rear at the same time. The man’s
name was afterwards ascertained to be Henry
Aholtz, a member of the Second Illinois Cayalry.
His murderers were never known.
KILLING OF JOSEPH WARD.
Joseph Ward on. Wednesday, November 20,
1867, visited a saloon on Jefferson street, and
being slightly intoxicated, soon got into a quar-
rel with Fritz Triever, the barkeeper of the es-
tablishment. During the altercation, it was re-
ported that Ward drew a knife, but without at-
tempting to use it. Triever, on being informed
that Ward had a knife in his hand, took up a
club and struck Ward several blows over the
head, from the effects of which he died the next
morning. Triever was arrested. >
MURDER OF WILLIAM MORTAR.
‘Zachariah Brock had been drinking, and on
Saturday, August 1, 1868, came to the shop of
William Mortar and began to quarrel with him.
Mortar picked up a wagon spoke, probably with
the intention of defending himself, but on
second thought threw it down, and began trying
to pacify him. Brock advanced, picked up the
spoke, and struck Mortar over the head. The
victim was carried into the house and died the
following Tuesday.
DOINGS OF A DESPERADO.
On Saturday, May 28, 1870, one of those ter-
rible tragedies, which for a time throw a com-
munity into a state of excitement, occurred at
' Springfield.» For some days previous, the sur-
veyors of the Northwestern Railroad had been
engaged in surveying a route through the city.
On Friday, the 27th, Coburn Bancroft, becoming
desperate at the thought that his mother’s prop-
erty would be taken for railroad purposes, fired
a revolver at the surveyors two or thres times,
but without effect. A warrant was sworn out
and two or three policemen started to arrest
young Bancroft. The police soon found him
and attempted his arrest, but the offender backed
into a corner of the room and swore that he
.statement, and was met by Bancroft with an
would kill the first man who attempted to ls
hands on him. Finding the man desperate, re-int
forcements were sent for, when another effort
was made to effect his arrest, but Bancroft defied
them and ‘stood his ground. Not wishing to
injure the man, the polico retired, hoping to
effect his arrest at another time wher it could be
done without endangering the lives of any.
On the morning} of the 28th, Louis Souther
local editor of the| Register, went to the house
of Bancroft for the purpose of securing his
oath and a threat to kill him. Knowing the
desperate character of the young man, Mr,
Souther retreated, but was followed by the des-
perado, who fired upon him, wounding him in
the arm. oe ese ee
About three o’clock in the afternoon, Bancroft
left his house, and returning about four o’clock,
he met Alonzo McClure, the man who swore out
the warrant against him, accompanied by a
friend. Addressing McClure, Bancroft asked
him if he was the one who swore out a warrant
against him, and having satisfied himself, step-
ped back and ‘picked up. the lead of a brick-
layer’s plamb and threw it at McClure, who re-
treated a few steps and then drew a. revolver
and fired five shots at Bancroft without effect
Bancroft then drew his revolver and fired four
shots at McClure, two of which took effect. He
then proceeded deliberately to his mother’s
house, went to his room, and commenced load-
ing his pistol.
Several men witnessed the fight between Ban-
croft and McClure, and the news rapidly spread
and soon a large crowd was collected around the
Bancroft residence. The young desperado sat
by a window, and playing a violin, defied the
crowd. The sheriff and a number of police
officers were present. After trying in vain to
get him to surrender without farther trouble, he
was fired upon by the Chief of Police, of Spring-
field, D. C. Robbins, the ball taking effect, and
from which he died in about fifteen minutes.
The Coroner called a jury, and investigated
the case, fully exonerating ee Robbins
from all blame. Notwithstanding this, the
grand jury found a bill of indictment against
him, and he was subsequently tried and ac-
quitted.
MURDER OF SHARON TYNDALE.
On Saturday morning, April 29, 1871, Sharon
Tyndale, ex-Secretary of State, was foully mur
dered, near his residence, on Adams, between
First and Second streets. It appears that Mr.
Tyndale had arisen shortly after one o’clock 3-
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY. 527
a
rovost guard went to the house and arrested
Fae two men. On their way to headquarters, and
when on the north side of the square, Keily,
who had been drinking, drew his revolver and
fired two shots at one of the guards, one of the
shots cutting the hair on the side of his head.
Two of the guards immediately fired, killing
Keily instantly, one ball passing through his
preast and the other throug his hips.
ROBBERY AND MURDER AT PAW NEE.
On Tuesday evening, March 7, 1865,a man
called at the residence of James Bodge, a mer-
chant at Pawnee, and requested him to'go to the
store as he wished to purchase some tea and
coffee. Mr. Bodge complied with his request,
and while doing up the articles John Saunders
came into the store and purchased a can of
oysters and soon left: On going out he was fol-
lowed by the man, who stepped ont of the store
and spoke to his horse, as though he feared it
would get away. As he did so, another } pikes
an accomplice, stepped into the store, and point-
ing a pistol at Mr. Bodge, with an oath, told him
to surrender. Mr. Bodge replied, “I do surren-
der, but don’t shoot me!” The robber then de-
liberately took Mr. Bodge’s pocket book, con-
taining $500, walked out of the store, mounted
his horse, and, in company with another person
who was with him, rode away. As they left the
store one of the party shot and instantly killed
Mr. Saunders.
While some of the citizens were. gathered
around the body of Mr. Saunders, the robber
who first entered the store came near with re-
volver in hand and inquired, “who did it?” and
immediately mounted his horse and joined his
accomplices. The desperadoes acted ee
coolness and deliberation. The citizens of the
place were so astounded at the hellish deed that
the murderers were permitted to escape.
After a few months had passed Barney Van-
arsdale was arrested in lowa, and confessed to
the crime of killing Mr. Saunders. He was
brought to Spri eld. In his confession Van-
arsdale accused Nathan Trayler and Hezekiah
Sampley of being accomplices. They were both
arrested, and ona preliminary examination were
bound over to the Circuit Court in sums of
James Lemon was afterwards arrested for the
same crime, and at the May term, 1866, of the
Cirenit Court of the county, both Vanarsdale
and Lemon were arraigned .for trial. Milton
Hay was assigned by the court to defend
Lemon, while James H. Matheny was employed
61—
by friends of the accused, to defend Vanarsdale.
he defense was such as could be expected from
such eminent counsel, and everything that could
be done was done for the prisoners, Sat without
avail. Twelve good and true men found them
guilty by their own confessions, and they were
sentenced to death.
On Friday, June 1, they were brought into
the court room, and Judge Rice, after a solemn
and impressive prayer had been offered up by
Rev. W.S. Prentiss, pronounced the sentence of
death, and sentenced them to be hung within the
walls of the prison or the enclosed yard, on Fri-
day, June 22, 1866, The Judge concluded his
address to them with the awful sentence: “ May
God have mercy on your souls. No earthly hope
now remains for you; may you direct your atten-
tion to Him who alone can save, and who spoke
pardon and peace to the dying thief upon the
cross.”
In the absence of Governor Oglesby, Lieuten-
ant Governor Bross granted a reprieve till Fri-
day, July 20,1866. Before the arrival of the
day the sheriff made all preparation for the exe-
cution, hoping meanwhile the Governor would
commute the sentence to imprisonment for life.
But it was deemed best by that officer not to in-
terfere with the sentence of the court.
All hope of commutation of sentence having
paseo’ at their request, the sacrament of the
rd’s supper was administered to the con-
demned, after which the black cap was placed
over their faces, shutting out their last sight of
earth, a prayer was made, the drop pulled, and
the souls of Vanarsdale and Lemon went out
to meet that of their victim.
FOUND DEAD.
On Sunday, January 21, 1866, as two boys
were playing near the northeast part of the city
they found a pocket-book and a man’s coat cov-
ered with blood. Giving information to their
father, James Minsel, the latter, accompanied
by a friend, repaired to the spot, and while ex-
amining the coat noticed a dog standing over a
man’s body a few yards away. On approaching
the body, they found it lying face downward,
partiaily covered with snow, and giving evidenee
that it had been foully dealt with. The dead
man was frozen and had evidently been killed a
couple of days. A jury was summoned by the
coroner and an inquest held. An examination
of the body disclosed the fact that the man had
been murdered in a manner horrible to contem-
plate. A ball from a navy revolver had passed
through his neck, severing the jugular vein, and
526
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
was arrested for the crime, and after a full and
atient hearing before Judge Rice, the jury
became in a verdict of “not guilty,” and the
prisoner was discharged.
HOMICIDE IN CHATHAM,
On the night of Tuesday, January 17, 1860, a
dance was held at the house of Joseph Newland,
on Lick creek, Chatham township. George S.
Pulliam, Mr. Newland, and another person were
in a room talking about a fight which was to
occur the next day, when Pulliam offered to bet
a certain sum of money on his favorite. At this
point, Richard R. Whitehead came into the
room. A dispute immediately occurred between
Pulliam and Whitehead, and the lie passed be-
tween them. Blows were also passed, White-
head striking with his fist, and Pulliam with a
bowie knife. Whitehead was struck three times,
twice on the head, and once on the breast, the
last stroke causing his death in a few minutes.
Pulliam was arrested and lodged in jail. On
Thursday, May 10, 1860, Mr. Pulliam was ar-
raigned for trial. J.B. White, Prosecuting At-
torney, W. H. Herndon and J. E. Rosette ap-
peared for the people, and Stephen T. Logan
and Matheny & Shutt for the defense. The case
was ably argued, and at its conclusion, after an
absence of two hours, the jury brought in a ver-
dict of guilty of manslaughter, and Pulliam
was sentenced to the State’s prison for seven
ears. Subsequently pardoned by Governor
ates. :
TRAGEDY NEAR CAMP BUTLER.
In October, 1861, six soldiers went to the
house of a German living near the camp, and
while four of them were on the outside, two of
them entered the house, and it is alleged, at-
tempted to violate the person of a thirteen-year-
old daughter of the owner of the house, when
he seized a billet of wood and made an on-
slaught on them, killing one cutright and badly
using up the other. roner Hopper held an
inquest and the jury returned a verdict of justi-
fiable homicide.
FATAL AFFRAY.
- Two rebel prisoners at Camp Butler, named
Dawson and Kendrick, got into a quarrel Satur-
day, May 3, 1862, when Kendrick seized a large
stick and struck Dawson a heavy blow, from the
effect of which he died in about two hours.
Kendrick was delivered over to the civil author-
ities of the county for trial. An indictment
was found, and he was tried for crime. The
jury failed to agree, and the case was subse-
quently nolle prosequied.
SHOCKING MURDER.
On the morning of July 4, 1862, a man
found dead on the sidewalk on North Sixth
street. Upon examination his face was found
‘to be fearfully mangled, and an unloaded sin
barrel pistol lying near by. The presam
was that the man had ssclidiied aleide.” Ae
inquest was held and the body identified to be
that of Charles Remsey, a German. The bod
was buried but subsequently disinterred, stl
@ more thorough examination was held, the ver
dict of the Coroner’s jury being that he came
to his death by the hands of some person or
persons unknown.
TRAGEDY AT CAMP BUTLER.
Thomas Vines, a teamster in the employ of
the United States Quartermaster Department,
was killed at Camp Butler, Tuesday, November
4, 1862. He had been engaged in hauling
baggage from the camp to the railroad, when an
officer ordered his arrest on some pretext. The
team of the man became frightened, and run-
ning through the camp, an order was given to
fire on him Some fifteen or twenty shots were
fired, one taking effect in the neck, killing him
instantly. :
KILLING OF WESLEY... PILCHER. >
On Tuesday, March 17, 1863, as Lieutenant
Emery P. Dustin, in company with a friend, was
conducting two deserters to Camp Butler, while
near the St. Nicholas Hotel, in Springfield, he
witnessed an affray between Wesley Pilcher and
aman by the name of O’Hara, the former un-
mercifully beating the latter. .O’Hara was call-
ing for the police, when Dustan interfered,
Pilcher then turning upon him began to admin-
ister the same punishment to him, when Dustan
backed out, at the same time warning Pilcher to
cease his attacks, or he would be tempted to
injure him. Pilcher being enraged followed
Dustan for some distance, when the latter pulled
a revolver and shot him dead. Dustan was at
once arrested and taken before Esquires Adams
and Hickman, who, after hearing the case, boun
him over to the courts. The military authorities
interfering Dustan was taken out and tried by
court martial and acquitted.
SOLDIER SHOT.
William Keily, of Company K., Tenth Illi-
nois Cavalry, while the company was encam
at Camp Butler, in company with another gol-
dier, was creating some disturbance in the boara-
ing house of Mrs. Horry, on North Fifth mage
having broken one of the windows, when the
y.
a
}
4
“4
*
-
‘
Pa
aS
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
m.,to take the train for St. Louis. His intention
was probably known by his murderers, who la
in wait for him, and who committed the hellish
deed for the sake of a few paltry dollars upen
his person. The body, when found, exhibited a
severe and deep wound upon the left side of the
face, extending from the forehead to the lower
part of the cheek. It had the appearance of
having been made by a heavy club. On the
right side of the head, and just back of the ear,
was another wound, caused by a pistol bullet of
large calibre. A probe inserted by a physician
showed that the ball passed upward, toward the
top of the head, and that its effects were proba-
bly instantaneously fatal, as a pool of blood was
found upon the ground immediately underneath
the wound, indicating that the murdered man
must have died immediately, as no traces of
blood were found elsewhere.
KILLING OF WILLIAM KELLEY.
The beautiful little village of Pleasant Plains
would hardly be expected to be the scene of a
bloody murder On the evening of September
25, 1871, while Mrs. Rhoda Elmore, Anderson
Harris, and William Kelly were sitting at the
Supper table, a knock was heard at the door, and
Kelly arose from the table, and, picking up a
chair, started in the direction of Harrison, and
succeeded in pushing him outside the door and
shutting it. He then started towards a door in
the opposite side of the room, and on reaching
it fell, and soon after expired. Harrison was
afterwards arrested, and an indictment found by
the grandjury. A change of venue was taken, to
Christian Co., where he was tried and acquitted.
might spend it. Slater came down, and o ning
the door of the saloon, let in Stay, who paid him
the promised money, after which Slater gave him
something to drink. After drinking Stay started
to leave, when Edward Duffey came to the door
and asked to be admitted. é was let in, and
being an acquaintance of Stay, the two pleasantly
conversed for awhile, when Stay, in a kind of
jolly way, took hold of Duffy and the two com-
menced scuffing, during which Duffey was rather
roughly thrown to the floor Slater, the saloon-
keeper, then said to Stay: “Don’t handle Duffey
so roughly, for he is an-older man than you.”
Stay, who was feeling jolly, helped Duffey upon
his feet. Daffey, on etting upon his feet,
appeared to he angry, ant told Stay that he would
not submit to such treatment, and drew a re-
volver. Stay, when he saw the revolver, said:
“You had better put that pistol up,” appearing
as though he did not think Duffey would use it.
Duffey then stepped back a couple of steps and
fired, the ball strikin Stay in the left side and
in the regicn of the we Stay fell upon the
floor, and Duffey, as quick as thought, turned
and fired at Slater, the ball striking on the point
of the right shoulder, making an ugly flesh
wound. Slater, on finding that he was wounded,
cried out: “For God’s sake, don’t shoot an
more.” Duffey replied, “I won’t,” and immedi-
ately fled.
An alarm was immediately given, and the
police at once responded to the call. The
Coroner was summoned, the evidence taken, and
@ verdict rendered in accordance with the fore- j
going facts.
RIOT AT ILLIOPOLIS.
On Saturday, J uly 6, 1872, as Taylor Dicker-
son was walking home with a young lady, some
one threw a bunch of fire-crackers behind the
couple, which excited the anger of Dickerson,
and the next day, in speaking of the affair, he
said if he knew who done it he would give him
a thrashing. Carlyle Cantrall then stepped for-
ward and said that he was the man who commit-
ted the deed. Dickerson, nothing daunted,
pitched in; result was a terrible fight, which,
before it was ended, resulted in a half dozen
others, friends of both parties taking a band, in
which Cantrall and his friends were badly whip-
ped. Of course the fight was the town talk, and
the result was the personal friends arrayed them-
selves into factions, and by many hard and bitter
words, added fuel to the flame. On Saturday,
July 20, Cantrall went to the village, accom-
panied by some friends, two of whom were
named Kendall. Their appearance was the sig-
nal for a row, in which Dickerson was badly
beaten. All that afternoon and until late in the
evening, the village was a perfect pandemonium.
Late in the evening the Kendalls started home,
accompanied by a cousin, when Dr. J. M. Burch
stepped up and attempted to arrest them. The
Keudalls put whip to their horses and attempted
to escape. Dr. Burch ordered them to halt or
he would shoot. This command he repeated
a
a
164
amined it for money, but they were
_ disappointed, as Mrs. Reichelderfer
had not sold the farm as reported,
and had no money. At their trial
they seemed utterly indifferent and
stoical, and even joked, sang comic
songs and danced, and were jolly
while the gallows was being erected
within sound of their cells. They
paid the penalty for their crime on
Friday, June 12th, 19038.
Judge O. A. Harker tried the case,
L. D. Hartwell, States Attorney,
Joseph W. Hartwell, Assistant, H.
8. Harris, Sheriff; Frank Throg-
morton, Deputy; E. N. Rice, coro-
ner; W. 8. Miller, jailor; D. T. Hart-
well, City Attorney, who assisted in
securing evidence and the confes-
sions of the murderers.
Except to experts in phrenology
and physiognomy, the half-tone por-
traits herein shown do not indicate
unusual depravity in these two boys,
and they were probably not such.
‘There are hundreds like them in
every community, untrained, undis-
ciplined, natural sons of evil, who
escape the gallows only by a miracle.
ne mena
JOHN M. LINES
Groceryman’s Clerk, N. Market St.,
ae Clandeailt AY¥
near Goodall Avenue.
This promising young merchant
was born near Marion March 13th,
1885. He still attends High School,
from which he will graduate next
term. He is a good student and an
industrious and faithful worker, and
for the last four years has had
charge of his father’s store during
vacation. He is a member of the
Marion Base Ball Track Team and is
besides a great sprinter. He is par-
ticulurly strong on the 100 yards
and the 220 yards race, running the
latter in 22 2-5 seconds. It is need-
less to add that he is of good moral
character, good habits and has a
promising future before him.
SKETCH OF MRS. JOHN A. LOGAN
I was born in Petersburg, Boone
County, Missouri, on the 15th day
of August, 1838. The town in which
I was born is no more, but in its
stead there has arisen the present
PAPER Rats aN at iat, ig Cala
nois, under Pierce’s administration,
we removed to that place. I attend-
ed school at the Convent of Saint
Vincent, near Uniontown, Kentucky,
which is a branch of the far-famed
Nazareth Schooi, graduating from
that school in 1855. I came home
and soon after met my husband,
General John A. Logan, who served
during the War with Mexico with
my father, and to whom I am said
to have been given by my father
when I was a child. We were mar-
ried on the 27th day of November,
1855.
I was very young when we were
married and little suited for the
duties and responsibilities of the
wife of a promising young attorney.
We removed to Franklin, Benton
County, Illinois, as my husband was
then Prosecuting Attorney for the
third Judicial District of the State
of Illinois, which embraced sixteen
counties. In those days we were not
furnished with the blanks for every-
thing as we are today, and I began
to assist my husband in writing in-
dictments for minor offenses, and in
that way gradually drifted into tak-
ing part in everything which he did.
We had the samé struggle that all
young people without money had in
those early days, but the fact that in
1858 my husband was elected to
Congress shows that we were not al-
together unsuccessful. At the break-
ing out of the Rebellion, General
Logan was still a member of Con-
gress from the oli District. His
history is well known. I can only
claim to have maile the best fight
possible at home surrounded by
very bitter political opponents, who
sympathized very strongly with the
Rebellion, and who, from regarding
General Logan as little less than an
idol, became his bitter enemies and
persecuted him and his adherents
in the vilest manner, they could. I
am glad, however, that in the end
they repented of their rash acts and
became his devoted friends.
During these five years I went
through everything that a human
being could endure, but had the
satisfaction of aiding him in his own
magnificent efforts to succeed and in
the conversion of his ol1 friends to
the support of the Government and
SOUVENIR OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the welfare of his country a
friends, and if I had any sfla
I have been well repaid by h
erous recognition of all I t
do. Since his death I have ¢
myself absolutely to the pe
tion of his memory and in tr
prove that I was worthy of th
confidence which he had jn
his partial estimation of my
There were three children
us. The first born died when
one year old; the second, ud
Mary Logan Tucker, wife of
Ww. F. Tucker, U. S. Army,
sons, one twenty-five and o1
teen years of age.
Our beloved son, Major
Logan, Jr., served during the
War as an Adjutant General
staff of General John C. Be
turning at the close of th
paign more dead than ali
malarial fever. I met him
tauk Point and brought hi
and nursed him back to heal
tilities being renewed in tl
ippines, he insisted upon af
tering the army, and was a
Major of the 33rd U. 8.
reaching Manilla Octobe
1899. He succeeded in gettl
regiment assigned to the ¢
of General Lloyd Wheaton &
immediately to northern
making the first reconnoitr
command he secured the ad
the attack upon the entrenc
ipinos at San Jacinto and w
by a Filipino who was sec
the top. of a tree which
above his battalion as h¢
ing them in a charge, fallir
would have fallen on the vé
of his advancing battalion.
subsequently routed the en
his death I lost my all,
never again have the same
in life, as he was, in the 8
he bore his father’s na
lineage, my idol. He left
and three lovely children,
and a boy, John A. Logan,
for the tenderness and sym
corded me by the nation I
have survived this secon
whelming blow.
I have written for a nu
periodicals, edited The Ho
zine for six years, and am
the mismanag
aed thraug
This was only his third day in the
mine.
December 21, 1898, James Van-
sage, miner, aged 33 years, mar-
ried, was killed while at work in a
pillar in the mine of the St. L. and
M. Coal Co., at Carterville, leaving
a wife and three children. He was
working off some coal that had been
shattered by a shot the night before,
when a piece of top coal, weighing
about 200 pounds, fell, crushing his
head against a pit-car close by.
August Sth, 1899, A. McNeal,
mniner, aged 28 years, was instantly
killed in room 9, first south entry,
by a fall of slate in the Big Muddy
Coal and Iron Company’s No. 7
mine at Herrin. Deceased had fired
his shot, and instead of waiting a
reasonable time for the powder
smoke to clear away so that he couli
examine the roof, he returned to the
room with the intention of lighting
another shot, but when he got with-
in a few feet of the face of the
room a piece of slate fell, killing
him instantly. He leaves a widow
and five children.
January 9, 1901, Noah Morgan,
driver, aged 20 years, single, was
killed instantly by being caught be-
tween a pit-car and the side of the
entry, in the Big Muddy Coal and
Iron Company’s mine No. 7, at Her-
rin. The deceased was making his
last trip before dinner and was rid-
ing on the front end of the empty
car, driving at full speed, when the
ae
SOUVENIR OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
163
JERRY GRAVES AND CAL
Who Murdered Mrs.
at Dewmaine. He had gone into his
room to light a shot and in making
his retreat was struck by flying coal.
It is not known whether he was
struck by coal from his own blast or
from the adjoining room, as it was
found upon examination that a blast
in an adjoining room had blown
Nellie Reichelderfer,
PRICE,
March 16, 1903.
at Marion January 17, 1887, and is
therefore but 18 years old. He
owns and runs the laundry on Bundy
Place, and is probably the youngest
man doing business in his own name
in the County. He is a most dili-
gent student, and will grastuate from
the High School in 1906. He is an
a —_— oS UF CU
Kes Toe oe SORBE isis ORGIES iit
Ei
“hie ERA SC es ig
JERRY GRAVES AND CAL PRICE,
Who Murdered Mrs. Nellie Reichelderfer, March 16, 1903.
it Dewmaine. He had gone into his
‘ocm to light a shot and in making
lis retreat was struck by flying coal.
t is not known whether he was
truck by coal from his own blast or
rom the adjoining room, as it was
ound upon examination that a blast
nun adjoining room had blown
hrough the pillar at the time of the
ccident. He died from his injuries
ve hours later,
February 24, 1902, Aleck Calca-
arra, a miner, aged 41 years, mar-
ied, was severely injured about the
ody by a fall of slate in the B. M.
» & I, Co’s. shaft No. 7, Herrin. He
‘as cautioned by the mine. ex-
miner to be careful of some loose
jale at the face of his working
lace, In reply he said that he
juld take care of himself. He was
ining off some coal that had been
osened by a blast the previous day
hen slate fell, which caused his
2ath hours later.
June 26, 1902, Charles Wheel, a
iner, aged 54 years, was instant-
killed by flying coal in the Car-
rville Coal Co'’c. mine. He had
epared a blast in his room, which
as about 40 feet in from the en-
y. When firing time came he went
to the room and lit the squib. It
presumed he became bewildered,
d Mmstead of coming out into the
try he went down the face of the
om. When the shot exploded he
8 séruck by the flying coal. The
ceased had a family somewhere in
p West,
JOE A. MEAD, Laundryman.
This promising young business
n, student and athlete, was born
at Marion January 17, 1887, and is
therefore but 18 years old. He
Owns and runs the laundry on Bundy
Place, and is probably the youngest
man doing business in his own name
in the County. He is a most dili-
gent student, and will graduate from
the High School in 1906. He is an
expert sprinter and all-round ath-
lete, doing a 50 yard dash in 5 2-5
seconds. He is right half-back in
the High School Champion Footbal)
Team of 1904, which he joined when
he entered High School. He has
also belonged to the base ball and
track tears the same period. He
has never used alcohol in any form
or tobacco, and his muscles are as
hard as iron.
THE MURDER OF MRS. NELLIE
REICHELDERFER, March
16, 1903.
This foul crime was committed by
two boys, only about 21 years of
age, for the sole purpose of robbery,
They lived in the vicinity of Herrin
in’ Franklin County, and were
idlers but apparently not vicious
nor drunken. Their parents were
respectable people but poor and il-
literate, and the boys seem not to
have had any moral or religious
training. They broke into a neigh-
bor’s house and stole the gun with
which the deed was committed. They
went to the house of the victim, who
was a widow living with her daugh-
ter, in broad daylight, and Price
fired the fatal shot. They then ran-
sacked the house and took a few
rings and other trifles and then re-
turned to the hog-lot, where the
body of their victim lay, and ex-
_ Date | ide red Age Comments
“AT
32, a-l4-1247) Dania\ Melarthy ne ‘drops Strang led for Qo mia.
33. 528-1097 John Lattimere Black nck Snapped
3Y. 5-8-1997 William T: Powers 8 lack ; Strong led ia lS mia,
35. smi Chris Merry | Large pourertul mam Strang|
26, 10-19-1699 John Dr ugg an a ( Hanged Lyst 1 SHeang led fa 20min
37. lo~ 14-188 George HH. Jaqls Strang|ed.
3.971704) Robert Howard Black youth, allowed fo
| Shoes oF, noel not brofen , but
cy instantly UCONnSCpOUS+
34. I-h-1899) August BeeKer Shortt goonted last cequest= 2 bottle
| OF beer; dead tn (Pmin.
#0. N-17-1894 Michael Rollinger Neel Snapped with a crack
f(Jo-dl-lto(|, George Dolinsti Dazed on gallows, dead a I mi
42. 8-b-14094 Louis Thombs Froclaimed innotence right belore-trap Fe
42, | Y-1S-190¥| Lous's Pesant Broporn reek; désd ia !7 min.
YY. €22-Mof! Peter Netdermeier| 24 — |Heaged Sitting tw Chaley Strang/
Ys. 4-2-(g0¥]) @stav Mary Brolen neck
Yo. 4-ar-tqo#l) Harvey Van Dine Brolen ntc& |
£7,9-%0-Hot Frat tenndow st G2 | Dead tn T min,
£8, |-aetqos}, J ohn Johnsen S¢ | Bleck; broken nok
19. 2-let4, Robert Ne weomb BU; hanged Hirst
50. 2-6-1404 Toha Myeller Neck Snapped, deal ta Smt
5}. 2-23-1906) Tohann Adolph Hoth | Sa B rofen aT es
SA-b-22-1406, Richard 6. Ivens A¥4 [Hanged }n Semi-Stupor, dead in 15m
| Cook County HANGINE S$ (CHICAGO, TLUNOIS)
Date 1 Pri$ena_— -Age | Cammeat’s
t. 7-10-1940 John Stone 34 Poblie, Strang | [ed to death
p> 6-19- [857 Willian Jackson | 30 | Public, yeck-vp method
3. 5-0- (059 Albert Stavb AL Public (last): |
+, 5-6 Itsq Michael MeAamee SL | tndoor gallows a CourthavS2,
hanged twice whan rape gave waa
JF, 1a-(S- - IMs Serr Corbett XC f Sree foot drop Pane
t. [31S * ss Wa er heen ing 3S both dead en Cie
7.3- Y-1873 GLovye Driver 4 Ne’ drop, nee |e brofen y
| dead ta Il minutes.
Bi2-la-is7 Andrew Perteet | ST |Hanged in Zolietdue-te verve ch
Tree- bony Negro, jer Up by
| } S00-|b. Sand bay; dead in 7 min
q A-I7-(87Y (Ari's Ratterty aS Hang eh in Wavkeqan, \ebup
| meted; Strang (ed) dead in 10. Sa
jo. © 2-418 Ceorge Sherry AX | [bs. } as Joh bro
Jf G-2(-|978 Jeremiah Coane lly 2g \l¢7 [6s 56" Cred avdible Yo spoe
| Fators ‘dangled 20
la. “/S-1882 Tames Tracy 5 ‘drop, spun fn30 See, ) ther
| Chie hung hobled ess! |
}3. q-|q- -/§ sf Lraae Jacob Son SY Neck brofen’ dead }n 6 min.
if. U-14- 1645 fi goshao Glued D3 [Almost brofedown nok Snape
IS etd -]9 Agnario § Sulvestr 23 |Strood stn! git, ‘noc Snapped
Io+ WIY-Ie CTovann: i 3| Nie Sigal seed fn Sei,
ad spent moi
vas just as to
orked, and w:
or the electroéc
icnscious, t
id.
ed to their fate
und religion’
‘ve ever had
ited, his jailers
found the Bible
had left it ins
nd it has been
il ever since in
shten out others
ing ~~" ".on in
er ‘ t guy”.
ad gotten into
rder. He was
en he came to”
came a trouble
ought into the
overlooks the
Ss are heavily
room is a huge
eds of knives -
up by guards
corridors after
y thrown there
to be searched.
.gh the grape-
the jail is on
e rifled,” the
walks through
5 and all sorts
incovered. All
e: books with
ere inserted; a
t he could use
iels of knives
2y and doped
. at the wall
, are pictures
Cook County
10 have paid
ives.
demanded.
no have gone
he sneered:
ire up there,
fastened :0D
2 f “i
ye contro
the office, he °
der? Sain an-:
by electricity. By pushing a button, it can
be made to slowly revolve,
a very effective weapon for Warden Sain
as he urges young men to Straighten up
their lives before the death chair claims
them.
When Williams left the Office, still under
heavy guard, he was placed under a twenty-
four-hour-a-day watch for a week, He had
Tos Warden’s last Visit to him was shortly
before he was to start for the death
chamber. He Sat across from Williams for ~
several minutes without speaking, Finally,
he said: ;
“Paul, your mother came to see me this
afternoon,” -
The youth looked up, his eyes mirroring
his fear, but he mumbled something non-
committal, ;
Williams paid no attention, but continued
to lay down the cards in the game of soli-
move.
Warden Sain glanced at his watch. “Five
more minutes, Paul.”
Williams picked up a card, held it in his
hand, Staring at it. Slowly he laid it on
the table and looked at the Warden for a
long moment in Silence. In that moment,
perhaps there flashed before him what his
life had been and what death meant for
him,
His eyes held the Warden’s for another
moment, then he fell to his knees on the
cold concrete floor and his lips moved in
prayer. Without hesitation, Warden Sain
knelt beside him and also prayed, The «
next day he wrote Williams’ mother the
letter for which she had hoped—her boy
had prayed before he died,
4 convict there. But when he came to Cook
County Jail, he knew he was doomed and
he became one of the mildest men ever
held there. In the third cell was Frank
Whyte.
Murawski and Whyte had been Partners
in the murder which led to their sentences
but by this time they had become bitter
enemies.
A brick wall Separated the three cells but
all during their time there the two shouted
Msults at each other, each blaming the
other for their being caught and sentenced
to die. .
Saved three times from the chair. But
finally his luck ran out and he was exe-
cuted, _
“As I look back on my eleven years, I must
admit that I’ve had some bad moments,”
Warden Sain said to me quietly as we sat
talking over his experiences, “You cannot
Supervise the death of twenty-nine men
without experiencing deep feelings. To
the snuffing out of a human life is not an
"easy task, But it is my job.”
- Fortunately, he said, he could also look
back on many good moments, Not long
before he had had an experience which he
felt more than repaid him for all the bad
moments he had undergone during his years
as Warden of the Cook County Jail.
One day a slim young man came into his
Office. The Warden remembered him well.
burglary. He appeared headed for more
Perhaps to join. the
twenty-nine men who had died in the chair.
The Warden thought he saw a chance to
He talked with the
lad for many hours; finally decided that
if he really wanted to go straight, he would
tence waived so he could join the Marines—
with a clean record.
Jail or any other institution—except as a
visitor,
i great visited for an hour before the
marine rose to leave, Instinctively the
Warden reached into his pocket.
“How are you fixed?” he asked. “Can I
help you out?”
The lad was hurt. Yet he understood. He
said quietly, “Warden, I came here to thank
I don’t need any money. I’ve a lot
of respect for you. Since I left here I’ve
learned a lot. T just want to Say I’ve kept
the faith with you—and I’ll never break
it.”
As he walked out, the Warden stepped
to the window to watch.
into the sunlight, the marine seemed to
straighten and take a deep breath—as if
“One sleeve of his uniform was pinned
up; he had lost an arm at Okinawa,” War-
“There he had regained
all his self-respect and the respect of his
country. Instead of dying in the electric
chair, a criminal, he had risked his life
for his country. As I watched him walk
out that door, an honored citizen—not a
freed criminal—in that single moment, all
the heartaches of my job were repaid.”
The Warden Paused and smiled. “TI mean
it,” he added. “Repaid many times over.”
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|
Date, | Prisomarn Age Comment S
(7, 3-26-1984 FranK Mulfowskr |° Hanged fren peev, wa lnc —
| Stained gallows nack nap
It. 7-16-1996) Tamas Daceg SF Hanged tn Woedstock jd
| : : in [2 min. only MekEneg (Hy, eet
(9. W-i-1e7] Albert Pavsens 37
2O Mie ( Sey fvquet Sp (2s 30 The Hay morbet Anarchist S
Qs V1 1987) be orge Engel SO Pll fo ue strangled FO déath,,
DZ + W\-s-1887) f/dolph Fu’sth er 27 | ane
QS. 5-12-1888) Zephyr Va TS | FR lay man hanged _within
Coop Cet.) depotg pulled down
legs with all his arte(at Tl movome
; Stopped.
24 , 1-26-]994 (eonge Painter. Rope broke.) died wh en
| head hit concrete, body
Hen hanged fo flAll [aw
BS. 3-23-1094| Thomas “Bu “Higgins | 2¥ | Dead ta & minutes,
Yo. 1-13-1094) Patric Prendergast Ol gingly eed web aud collar
47, bo 4-104 Hare | ons Dead in [0 min. bralin neck.
18. 1-24-1994, Lew ry ster Block yoUth,| 73 [bs 5 7.
: drop strangled }n Il min,
9 5-IS-|Yo Alfred C, Bields RG Black strangled i Kmtns
30. 6-S-1€9 Joseph Wind rath pHacled minister broken noe
1, lo-30 4) JU\tas Mano Allowed walk te gallows wily hand
free ; strangled, m {S min.
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY. 345
On the evening of the 15th of April, 1875, the * Tontine ” was visited by a man
named Joseph Eads, his brother, and several other mew. all of them, except the first
named, being pretty well under the influence of liquor at tke time of the visit, Joseph
ada, as was afterwards shown, was perfectly sober whe: i+ weat there, and remained
so during the entire evening. It was also shown that he hu: wene there more to per-
suade his brother away from the company by which he wa: +e-reunded, than for any
other purpose. |
During the fore part of the evening the party joined in . sa + one of the upper
rooms with the falea women who were gathered there, and wt g.ee ran = Along
towards midnight the drunken debauch oroke up in a row, anit W.? «eter blew out the
lights and forced the besotted crowd out of the house and clo ~a In the melee
cCallister received a slight cut with a knife or some other ats: ~aseent on the back
of his shoulder or side. The wound was slight, but suffi. .«s:- ~~ ‘he fury of his
demon nature, already heated with whisky, and he followes 5 street. Joseph
Eads was standing a little way up Main street, separate fries. o¥:\ sine sed giving no
heed to any thing around him. As soon as McCallister saw x he menbed towards him
exclaiming in bitter language, ‘“‘you are the man that cut +. vid at the same time
drew his revolver and shot Eads to death.
McCallister was arrested by the police the same nigh! ow taken to the police station.
The form of a preliminary examination was gone through with :efore Justice Cunning-
ham, and McCallister was committed to jail on the 16th two a..: the action of the grand
jury. Court came on in May, Judge Cochran presiding, « 1 on the 18th day of that
month an indictment was returned against McCallister. +) .-::4 him with the murder
of Joseph Eads. He was called to the bar of the .»-..+ and the indictment read
to him, to which he entered the plea of not guilty, and was :emanded for trial.
The character of McCallister and his place was so disreputable as to be a bar against
any degree of public sympathy in his favor, a fact well kun to him and his counsel,
and he refused to go to trial in Peoria county, and asked «+ and obtained a change of
venue.
The case was sent to Mason county, Havana, the seat u: justice, and the trial came
on there at the February term of the Circuit Court, 1X76 Vine State’s attorney was as-
sisted in the prosecution by N. E. Worthington, of Peoria andi P. Shope, of Lewis-
ton, who were employed and paid by an appropriation mai» for that purpose, by the
Board of Supervisors. The defense was conducted by M+ «sts. Thomas Cratty and L.
_ W. James, of Peoria, and W. W. O’Brien, of Chicago.” The eounsel for the people and
for the defendant were pretty evenly matched, and the cwetent was measured almost
word by word. McCallister’s life was at stake, but with « liberal use of his ill- otten
money and the ingenuity of the best legal talent in the Neate, he hoped to baftte the
ends of uation and gain a new lease of life. The pewpis of Peoria were equally de-
termined that he shoald be prosecuted to the utmoss oatout of the law, and were not
sparing of money of the employment of counsel to ensure « therough prosecution. The
trial, because of the eetoriously bad character of McCai wt, amd the eminent and well-
known ability of tow sttorneys engaged, attracted genera! siteation, and lasted several
iaews was concluded, emguments ended, and the case
ven to the jury, whe fend McCallister guilty of musher amd he was sentemeu! u che
was a murderer. bux teugame of his naturally depraves! Aisaumertwon, atc her WAR ies plan
nd execute, throug’ Grane by whom he was surround vie darbew ied rucew’ wméamous
times known te men. reveled in dissipation. («\muctear emnee dishonesty
d prostitution. Inside ef hie house the life of no om was safe >. smoie x0 une would
23
‘i “a
Cy OEP as
A se
846 HISTORY oF POeRIA COUNTY.
take hw tr the desperado that he was. i» presence among young men, whose habits
were maiarnag, was like the poison of a agumw tree. Even among older and better me
tused minds, his presence was not withes: evil influences. And it is to be hoped me
comumunity will ever sanction and that ae <éwernor will ever prostitute the pardoningt
je wer to hisenlargement. He is a fit comypmeson to Rande. Together let them be fom
vvec iummured within prison walls where tie will be powerless for evil to the moral and
physical well-being of their fellow-men. ; .
Pa pe me
Eo See
EP > 35. SE,
CRIMINAL STATHHWWe -—— CONVICTIONS.
The following bulletin of criming! stmiasnius is compiled from the Sheriff's recoré
and shows the number of convictions fer e+» e#imes enumerated, from March 17, 1
to December 31, 1879.
To the Penitentiary—Larceny, 126 targiary, 89 ; rape, 4; false pretenses, «
murder, 1; robbery, 15; confidence game” | ; forge , 5; bigamy, 4; incest 1; assa»
with intent to kill, 14; perjury, 1; horse aay, Yibel. 1—total in ten years, 213
In the same period of time, 878 persvms Aave been confined in the county jail. Th«
imprisonments represent all grades of petiy erimes ead misdemeanors—vagrancy, |.
larceny, drunks, riot, etc. The terms of wprwenwment ranged from a few hours to tw
months. Five of the number were sentessur: t the gil by the U.S. Court. Thirty ~
of the remainder were mere boys, and wery «ut frem the jail to the Reform Schoo!
from two to five years. A goodly per «en: of the wamber incarcerated in the jail ir
last few years were tramps—graceless scamps that never find work to suit them— -
want to cut ice in dog-days, and harvest wheat ami make hay in mid-winter.
OFFICIAL Revvxm: 182 to 1880.
FIRST &i xeorion
The first election for county officers was tieid ow the Tth day of March, 1825.
that, until 1848, general elections were he!i i: August. Under the amendments »
constitution in 1848, the time of holdiny election» was changed to the first Tuesda.
the first Monday in November.
COUNTY COMM idwiiue ERS,
March 7, 1825 — Nathan Dillon, Joseph ests, William Holland.
August, 1826 — Nathan Dillon, Williaw #4-%:snd, John Hamlin. At the June |
1827, the names of George Sharp and Henry «mas appear in place of Nathan :«
and William Holland.
August 4, 1828 — Isaac Egman and Fram: Msomas were elected, and with ‘+
Sharp made a full board.
eptember term 1830, George Sharp, Joi itasalin and Stephen French quai:
commissioners. Ata special election, Augne i i881, Resolved Cleveland was #. ,
to fill a vacancy in the board caused by the teazt: of George Sharp. At another « &)
election on the 5th of December, John Coy} +es elected to fill the place of John *4: '
lin, resigned. Stephen French also resigne.: «: the beginning of the year, 1832, aim . 3G
special election on the 5th of March, Aquiie Wren was elected to the vacancy. ene’
August, 1832 — Edwin S. Jones was edsted, who, with Wren and Coyle, maxes ©.
board. “hg gla
August 4, 1884— John Coyle, Orin Hewtn and Andrew Tharp.
August 1, 1886 — William J. Phelps, &qxila Wren, Samuel T. McKean.
*So booked on the jail record, but trial ami eveviction followed on some other chasge.
‘
+
HISTORY OF PEORIA “COUNTY.
848
first evening he arrived there, he met the Chief of Poi at the St. Charles Hotel, not
by appointment, but by accident, and his business was »»:+ wade known. Jordan was
hunted up by the police, and arrested and put in the »«».«! prison on a charge of
vagrancy, and held there till the departure of an up rive: °.-* hile at New Orleans,
Mr. Dodge learned that ‘Tom Tit’’ was a notorious wh» = « viver thief, and he bore
the name of a desperado, although he proved to be an a. «+ =» «el. He was held in
prison until a boat was ready to cut loose, when he was ~ hustled on board,
with the assurance that he would be killed if he atternpte: — «»« The removal of
“Tom Tit” from the, prison to the boat was quietly condi: + «« \« avoid an attempt-
ed rescue by the gang of which he was a member. As qii- he aovements were
conducted however, two of his associates got on the boat. avd Mr. Dodge and
his prisoner to St. Louis, and at one time, in the night hos: vasceteen: was made by
one of the villains looking to a rescue, but Dodge ‘scen:.: game and mpped it in °
the bud. From St. Louis the way was clear, but as they « are Peora, aad heard of the
attempted mobbing of Williams and Brown, ‘ Tom Tit
mecame terribly friyybtened, and
had to be braced up with brandy. They arrived home thy worning of the 1h day of
January, the day Williams and Brown were executed, asia ree hed jail by a back street.
The streets were filled with people who had come to set ¢'.» +aecution, and when the
conveyance neared the jail, Dodge told ‘Tom Tit,”’ who »« +«mbling like a leaf, to be
ready and jump as soon as the wagon stopped at the fron:
he jail, and get within as
quick as he could. The instructions were obeyed and J i+»: .:ood in the presence of
the young men he had brought to the scaffold. The ides... at:.on was positive. ‘“* That’s
the man,” exclaimed Brown, assoon as Jordan appeared :1: \::. presence.
Tom Tit was held in jail to await the action of the yx: ary. On Friday, the 7th
day of March, 1851, he was indicted for murder. He was .-raiyned for plea on the 8th,
plead not guilty, and was remanded to jail to await trial. ( the 12th of May, Court
being again in session, the grand jury returned another ii ent against him, charging
him with robbery. On the 14th of May, 1851, the ind: -«:..:: for murder was dismissed.
Ou the 22d he was called to the bar of the Court to answer « the charge of robbery, to
which he plead guilty, and was sentenced to the penitentia’, at Alton for fourteen years,
the first five to solitary confinement.
After his term of imprisonment but little was heard tru [0m Tit” for some years.
t last he commenced to write to Mr. Dodge to interest {ii in securing his pardon. For
ome time Mr Dodge gave no heed to the letters. At \as:. in 1868, “*Tom Tit” wrote
gain, and assucrd Mr. Dodge that if his pardon was sec. t, he would enlist in the
rmy. Dodge then wrote that, as he had done so much '- +».«s, him back for trial, he
ould do what he vould to secure his enlargement, but 4: he could do as he pleased
bout Joining the army. The pardon was secured, and * Toa 1," after twelve years be-
ind prison bars, -#ae vet at liberty. He kept bis promim w enlist, and in 1863 Mr.
odge rece:ved anvther (and the last) letter from hi
™m, ee he was in the army of
he Potomac. ss vebtimg where a letter would reach bia
r. Dodge answered that
tter, but nev» copaieed any reply, and it isinferred the’ t+ was killed in battle, or died
om other cawsees. and that ** Tom Tit” is no more.
*am MCNULTY EXECUTION—TH* Wi &PER.
Henry McN:..:: .-wi bie wife lived at Chillicothe. He was a man of incewperate
abits, and, when ui: the influence of liquor, was fa quarrelsome dim»titioe and
equently abused ani spaddioeated his wife, who was an industrious, prudem: wsvaes His
uduct toward her wae istolerable, that she was often forced to secw:. Xe .aoarcera-
on in jail that he augtd wtee up, but would as often vast the authertiens ai secure
is discharge. Sheriff @ittehewck and George Puterbaugt. State's Atiwreny, often can-
oned her that her life was ie danger from McNulty, but with the faith af « woman who
Binns need
—~eeere
PIKE COUNTY, Illinois
HISTORY taax:
OF |.
STATE HISTOC |;
~’/
LIBRARY.
., PIKE COUNTY
ILLINOIS,
TOGETHER WITH SKE
CATIONAL, RELIG
PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT PERSON
IOUS, CIV IL, MILITARY, AN
TCHES OF ITs ; CITIES, VILLAGES
AND TOWNSIUPS, EDU.
D POLITICAL Isto RY:
OF REPRESENTATIVE E CITIZENS,
S AND BIOGRAPHes
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS,
“EMBK: ACING ACCOUNTS OF THE PRE
ENGLISH AND
OF ITS CIVIT., POLITICAL AN
D AMERICAN CONQUESTS, AND
DIGEST OF STATE LAWS,
ILLUSTRATED.
CHICAGO:
CHAS. C. CHAPMAN
‘1880, - ae
-HISTORIC RACE ES, ABOREDS
ES, FRENCTI,
A GENERAL REVIF bind
D MILITARY IMISTORY,
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CHAPTER XI.
CRIMINAL RECORD. :
INTRODUCTORY.
Since the two Indians, Shonwennekek and Pemesan, were indicted
for murder, there have been 41 other indictments for this grave
crime returned by the grand juries of Pike county, many of which
included inore than one individual. This represents a long and
bloody calendar, a stain that every good citizen wonld have blotted
out were it possible. It has been made by the blood of many vic-
tims, dyed in crimson never to be erased, and we only record what
has occurred. Who can picture the agony of heart, the remorse,
the anguish of mind, to say nothing of the physical pains caused
by these bloody deeds? Both the victim and his friends, as well as
the perpetrator of the crime, have suffered untold misery. <5
Often has the deadly weapon been brought into use on the slight-
est pretext. A moment after he had taken the life of his victim
and he had realized that his hands were stained with the life-blood
of a fellow man, the perpetrator of the deed would have given every-
thing he possessed or ever hoped for, and in some cases life itself,
could he but recall the deed; but alas! it is done, never to he
undone. The feeling has not been thus in every instance where
the bloody victiin fell at the feet of the man-slayer, but frequently
so. Sometimes the joy was great when he who sent the deadly
messenger saw its work well done.
Among this long catalogue of criminals only one has ever suffer-
ed the extreme penalty of the law, and most of them have had light
punishment. We begin with the first person indicted for murder,
and give every indictment during the county’s existence. There
are a multitude of cases of murder or manslaughter of which we
make no mention, as no indictments were made for want of sufli-
cient evidence.
Pemesan and Shonwennekek.
(Two Indians.)
These Indians were indicted Oct. 2, 1821, at the very first term
ef Court held in Pike county, for the murder of aFrenchman. The
i eis
IEE TOS SF OHHH ti yr SOR gm yee rey Yh ere paper:
ran Won } dis :
4 4a, eg ,
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 325
evidence showing, however, that the shooting of the deceased was
more an act of carelessness than of premeditated murder, the
‘next morning the jury returned a verdict for manslaughter on the
part of Pemesan, or “ Traveler,” and that Shonwennekek, or “ Spice-
bush,”’ was not guilty. The Court had assigned Daniel P. Cook
and Poleinon II. Winchester as counsel for the Indians, and John
Shaw and Jean Baptist Patelle were the sworn interpreters. No
atturncy for the people appears on record, but of course there must
have been such an officer present. It appears that these Indians
y ere out hunting one day, and when the Frenchman suddenly ap-
\euad in view in the distance they touk him to be a deer or some
other animal, and Pemesan immediately fired and killed him. No
sooner was this done than they discovered their mistake, and Shon-
wennekek proposed that they run away; but Pemesan argued that
as it was an accident the whites would do them no harm, There-
upon they immediately surrendered themselves to a magistrate.
Pemesan’s punishment was a fine of 25 cents and imprisonment
for 24 hours. He accordingly paid the fine and served out his sen-
tence in arail pen which was guarded for the occasion.
Chrles Collins, James Whitly, Alfred Miller and James
Stockton.
_ These parties were indicted for murder May, 2, 1843, but after -
their case was continued from term to term with hopes of arresting
them, they were never found.
Winship Moreton
was indicted Sept. 10, 1841, but the following April his éase
was stricken. from the docket.
John Bartholomew, et al.
-were indicted April 5, 1848, for the murder of John Crewson,
or Cruson, near the Mississippi rivera few days preceding (March
29), while the latter was hauling a log fur the rafting. He was
shot beside his team. The others indicted with Bartholomew were
- Benj. Chouls and John Stipp. The two latter tuok a change of
venue to Adams county, where a nolle prosegut was entered April
2, 1849. Bartholomew’s case was continued from term to term
until Sept, 12, 1853, when it was stricken from the docket.
John Me Guyre
was indicted Sept. 5, 1849, for the murder of Wm. Ber->tt near
Phillip’s Ferry, Sept. 1, preceding. That day McGuyr. t to
the house of Mr. Pease where Mr. Bennett was and urgec to
g° gunning, but which, by the solicitation of Mr. Pease, he « 1
oing. McGuyre left and returned about sun-down, when Pes | and
Bennett were eating their supper, who invited him to partake ; he
PEARS ee ope
326 HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
refused, saying, “G@—d d—n you! Lam tired waiting for you and
am going to shoot you now.” He immediately fired a load of buck-
shot, which struck Bennett in the face, killing: him. McGuyre
commenced reloading his gun with the declared intention of kill-
ing Pease, but the latter made his escape and raised the alarm.
McGuyre ran away but was arrested on the 6th and taken betore
the Circuit Court then in session, and at first pleaded guilty; but
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 32
am |
Stephen Cole et. al.
Were, according to the record, indicted for murder March 9, 1857.
In this suit it seems that no parties were ever brought to trial.
Robert Ellis.
This criminal was indicted «April 14, 1560, for the murder of
Benj. F. Wade, Dee. 23 preceding, a little west uf Detroit. Wade
broke Ellis’ whisky bottle and a quarrel ensued which resulted in
the fatal affray- in the yard of Kranets Phillips. Ellis stabbed
Wade with a large pocket-knife. Ellis pleaded not guilty but was
convicted of manslaughter Nov. 24, 1860, and sentenced to one year
in the penitentiary.
atter the consequence of such a plea was explained to him, he pleaded
not guilty, and tor want of time his. case was continued to the
next term of Court. McGuyre broke jail twice: the first time he
was caught at McGee's creek, in crossing which he came very
near being drowned, and the second time he got out through the
wall, a stone having been removed by ‘the sid of frieuds outside.
This was effected withuut awaking a family which was asleep di-
rectly above. He has never been re-taken, and his case was finally
stricken from the docket with leave to reinstate.
i
ENR ARS eB
i,
ead
Edwin C. Hendrick.
This party was indicted Aug. 10, 1860, for poisoning to death
Emeline Amanda Hendrick. He pleaded not guilty, was. tried,
and, after the jury had two days’ consultation, he was acquitted.
James Likes, Simon Likes, Lyman Likes, Philip Neal, Christo-
pher Neal and Wm. Bothwich.
The indictment in this case, Nov. 23, 1860, was for the murder ©
of Samuel Macumber, an innocent man about 65. years of age,
living in Barry township, and who was killed Oct. 23, 1860. The
parties set upon their victim in cold blood and killed him with
clubs and stones. Macumber was a Baptist minister, who had
married the mother of the Neals, and it was alleged that he mal-
treated her in some way. After trial all the indicted parties were
acquitted Dec. 8,1860, except Christopher Neal, who was convicted
of manslaughter and sentenced for life, and James Likes was
acquitted the next term of Court. :
= a A y
George Kesterson
was indicted for murder March 29, 1851, but for some reason was
never brought to trial.
. eet r f8 eiows
a ann oe om
b: 5 = i aaa
100 panes
Philip Wilcox
wan indicted Oct. 11, 1851, and he also was never tried.
Preston F. Groves
was indicted March 23, 1853, for the murder of Robert Carr, about
5 miles east of Pittsfield. Both these parties were married men
and trequented a house of ill repute. Groves was tried and acquit-
- ted March 28, 1853. : Bae Serge
Jonathan W. Hutehinson.
* This man was indicted Nov. 27, 1854, for killing Francis P.
Wells in Brown county. A change of venue had been taken from
that county, his case was tried at Pittsfield, and after the jury Was
out several days it brought in a verdict of not guilty, Sept. 15,
th del
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Thomas Johnson, Fielding Johnson, John Ho kins, Andrew J.
“Kensor, Mary Pearsun, Julia Bell, Angeline Bell and Hampton
insor.
These parties were indicted during the spring term of Court in
enh: A erMEtE, Pp
1855. ; 1863, for the murder of Andrew J. Pearson, in Flint township.
3 Hugh W. Wren The Victim, a farmer, was found murdered by hanging, and robbed.
: *. ‘ ‘lit November 18, 1862, Pearson started from his house in search of
a: was indicted Sept. 14,.1855, for manslaughter ; about S fortnigh some of hisstock. Nig*tcame on and he did not return. Suspicion
fi afterward his bail was forfeited by his escape and his case was was aroused, inquirics aid search were made, and final!’ ‘ig body
Fi never brought to trial. was found in a ravine, a half mile from home, cove bd with
-. . Jimas Diinisle : leaves, brush, ete.: two hundred dollars in money b 4 taken
4 5 from his person. The robbers also went to his ho: 4, finding
was accused of killine Newton Soules in Calhoun county in a
saloon. Soules had burned his hair previously. Daniels was ine
dicted in the Pike county Court Sept. 12, 1856 ; but Aug. 5, 1859,
his case was discontinued.
no one at home, they entered it and took about seventy Jars more,
which they found in a bureau. They then took a good horse and
decamped. Of theabore parties, some were directiy accused by the
no eee
OO: WS nage.
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iA oe Ahlan ed dpi
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.
ABOUT PEORIA’S LAST HANGING...
(cont’d from Page 1!)
usual story.
Jose Oritz had come from
peon-poverty in a rural com-
munity in Mexico. He was
described as a strangely-
silent youth with burning
eyes. He was used to re-
buffs, denials, disappoint-
ment. But, as the uncle who
brought him here said, he
had an inner deter ion.
At that time Peoria had a
Mexican community, largely
housed im converted rail-
way cars on a siding, on
Peoria’s near north © side.
There came Jose Ortiz to
work as did other residents
there, on the railroad sec-
tion crew. Juanita Martin-
ez, 17, was also there, a
rather shy, retiring girl. She
had come to aid her sister
who was with Child. Jose
Ortiz saw Juanita and, in
her, all the things he de-
sired.
In summary, Jose could
not stand this final rejection.
Drinking bootleg liquor, he
‘he sat aloof and
confronted the girl — was
refused — went berserk and
killed her. He was captured,
cringing and in terror, in a
coal shed at the foot of
Morton Street by city de-
tectives Montgomery and
Moran. All through his trial,
silent,
words being translated for
came in — a whimpering
youth attended by a tall
gray-haired Fransiscan monk
from Sacred ‘Heart church
who was reciting the ‘“‘Hail
Mary” in Spanish. The sight
of the unusual young man
shocked many in the crowd
— he looked like a fright-
ened, bewildered boy — not
& :
a cious killer. Among
thee shocked was the
sheriff who delegated the
ple ing of the noose, cover-
ing the head with a black
ho:-1, and the springing of
the trap to stocky, bull-
ner ed Frank Carrier. A ~
sec-ad or two, the thud of a
faliag body and the deed
Sf
was done. Society called
Juanita Martinez avenged.
But, as the crowd filed
out into the dull, grey after-
noon, there was no talk —
only silence. A far cry from
the public hanging of Thom-
as Brown on Jan. 18, 1851,
when people brought lunch-
es, and children played. Or
the hangings. of George
Williams, Henry McNulty,
John McCrea, Charles Otis
Botts, and Edward Clifford.
As many as 15,000 turned
out for some of these, with |
cheers, and laughter.
The last Peorian to be
executed, but this in the
electric chair at Joliet prison,
was one Gerald Thompson,
condemned for the murder |
of one Mildred Hallmark in
Springdale Cemetery.
So Peoria contributed,
almost 50 years ago, to the
controversy now rampant,
about capital punishment.
But if Jose Ortiz was a
point for the prosecution,
it was a strange one—indeed.
his friend, Ruby Simonde,
112 Prairie
St. who wrote after his execution:
"Thro dark, mysterious mists, Jose .
Ortiz has gone into the great
brightness-and now Jose, I bid youa
long, long good night. Word swept
thro the crowd that Yrtiz was on
his way. ‘he execution spot was a
trap door on which the condemned man
stood. When it was opened the man
dropped one floor. Ortiz came in ..
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328 HISTURY OF PIKE COUNTY.
indictment, some impleaded with them, and severances were ob-
tained. Some of them were desperadoes trom Missouri; some of
the parties took a change of venue to Brown county. The result
of the whole prosecution was, that Thomas Johnson and John Hop-
kins were convictedof manslaughter April 27, 1863, and sentenced
for life; Fielding Johnson was convicted of the same and sentenced
fur 20 years, and the rest were discharged. ,
During the trial the guilty criminals pleaded guilty of man-
slaughter, confessing as follows: They lived in Missouri, were
rebels in Porter’s army, which subsequently disbanded. They worked
several days for a neighbor of Pearson’s named Dimmitt, and spent
several evenings at Mr. Pearson’s house. This man aruhis wife,
Mary (impleaded above), frequently quarreled. The night previous
to the murder they had au unusually wicked altercation, after which
Mrs. P. .went into a fit. After coming ont ’she told the accused
that if they would kill Pearson she would give; them a horse. The
girls, Julia and Angeline Bell, her daughters by a former husband,
also expressed the wish that they should kill him. The next morn-
‘ing they invited Pearson out for a walk and told him they were
going to hang him. He said hedid not blame them. ‘Two of them
held him up while the other adjusted the rope. He did not resist nor
struggle. After he was dead they took sixty dollars from his pocket,
carried it to the house and reported. what they had done. All were
rejoiced and gave the prisoners ten dollars apiece. Mrs. Pearson
ave them a horse, asking thein not to betray her, and they started
for Missouri. The daughters asked for and received a lock of their
hair for mementoes, and a parting kiss.
The young men were not over twenty years of age, did not look
like criminals, and were said to be respectfully connected.
— John W. Parksand Henry C. Price.
These parties were indicted Apr. 18, 1864, for the murder of Peter
C. Staats, an old settler of Hadley township, on the road between
New Salem and Maysville. Staats was twice shot in the back, one
ball coming outat the breast. The accused took a change of venue
to Adams county and were finally acquitted.
George Crow, alias Roselle,
was indicted April 19, 1864, for the murder of a Mr. Gard.
May 21, following, he broke jail, and the shooting necessary to his
captnre-J une 11, in Greene county, resulted in his death the next
day in jail.
Austin and Abraham Stevens
were, according to the records, indicted April 19, 1864, for murder,
but it appears that there was never any trial of the case.
fe
thoy aie ae et as a
Mgt
IISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 329
Wm. W. Moore and J. 8S. Wilson
were indicted the same day for being accessory after the fact of the
murder. They moved their case to Brown county, and from the
evidence elicited it appears that young Moore, only sixteen years
of age, had killed John Ziff, living near Pittsfieid. Mr. Moore’s
father and Ziff had a dispute about some wood which Moore had
been cutting on land which Ziff claimed and which Moore had
‘rented. Ziff struck Moore with an‘ax, knocking him down and
then stamping upon him. The lad seeing his father in this condi-
tion, ran up and struck Ziff a blow upon the top of his head with
the edge of an ax, thus literally cleaving his head clear to his
shoulders.
Samuel Evan «nd Matthew Gilmer, Gilmore, or Gilman:
These men were indicted Nov. 29, 1864, for killing’ Cornelius
Myers, Evans being a resident of Montézuma. They broke jail, and
- after several months Evans was recaptured in Tennessee. “He took a
change of venue to Brown county, where he was convicted of man-
slaughter and sentenced for twelve yearsin the State prison. There
he became insane, and after his release he stole a horse, was ar-
rested, and while in jail his insanity became so marked that he was
finally sent to the asylum at Jacksonville.
Chas. Brummell or Brumble, ete.
This rascal, whose name was spelled half a dozen different ways,
was indicted March 15, 1866, for the murder of Edward Garrison,
of New Canton. The fatal deed was perpetrated by stabbing the
victim with a pocket-knife. Sept. 19, 1867, he was convicted of
the charge and sentenced to State prison for three years.
Name not Given. .
Although not strictly within the purview of this chapter, we may
mention here, as the parties were both residents of Griggsville, this
county, that Dr. J. H. Caldwell, of that place, w ** Texas in May
or June, 1868, employing a young man to acco. him, who,on
the 24th of June, murdered and robbed the do ut was sum-
marily lynched by the infuriated people when th occnrred.
MeV right Murray
was indicted for murder in 1869, but the case was ultimately
stricken from the docket.
Joseph Daul and Anthony Scheiner.
These criminals were indicted April 20, 1869, for committing
murder in Brown county, as the result of an affray connected with
the berning of show tents at Mount Sterling. A change of venue
:)
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330 HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
was taken to Pike county. and aftera two days’ trial the chaps were
sentenced to 15 years’ hard labor.
Capt. Wm. H. Stout.
This man was indicted April 6, 1871, charged with the murder
of a Mr. Kimball, at Cockle-bur slough, the preceding year. By
change of venue his case was taken to the Brown county Court.
Samuel Douglas
was the homicide who beat to death James Sapp, June 12, 1871,
near Pleasant Hill. At the first beating he left Mr. Sapp lying
prostrate, and induced a Mr. McKenna _t vany him to the
place, who tried to lift him up, when Dou, gave the poor vic-
tim several additional blows, fromi which he died a few days after-
ward. Douglas and McKenna were both arrested, but the latter
was dismissed for want of evidence against him. ‘Douglas was held
for manslanghter, the indictment being made Oct. 12,1871. He
was convicted and sentenced Nov. 29, 1871, for six and a half years
in the penitentiary.
John Shannahan. . — :
Sept. 16, 1871, in Pleasant Vale township, Wn. Hall claimed
that Shannahan had said something mean about him, and proceeded
to assault him with aclub. The latter warded off the blow, snatched
the club from Hall, who then started to run away; Shannahan,
however, soon overtook him, struck’ him on the head with the club,
knocking him over into a gully senseless, and Shannahan tumbling
down with him. Hall’s ankle was broken in the fall, and he died
soon afterward. Shannahan was arrested and committed to jail,
where he suffered froin a feeble constitition and a diseased leg,
which had to be amputated. He was indicted by the grand jury,
Oct. 12, 1871, but he died before the trial took place.
Bartholomew Barnes.
The only execution ever taking place in Pike county was that of
Bartholomew Barnes, Dec. 29, 1871, in the Pittsfield jail-yard, for
the murder of John Gresham in Calhoun county. The suit was
first instituted in that county, and a change of venue being taken
to this county, the case was called at the session of the Pike
county Cireuit Court Nov. 27, 1871; and after a thorough trial the
traverse jury returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first de-
grée, and that he should suffer death by hanging. The particulars
of the murder are well condensed in Judge Highce’s sentence given
Dec. 6, as below. The court-house was crowded to. overflowing
with ladies and gentlemen to hear the sentence of death pronounced
_ upon the young convict. At 10} a. m. he was brought in to re-
ceive his sentence. Death-like stillness reigned within the room,
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. _ 831
as the Judge, in a solemn and impressive manner, addressed him,
broken only by the prisoner, who, standing with brazen effrontery,
ave vent occasiunally to protests of innocence. The Judge said:
“Tn discharging the unpieasant daty required of me by the law,
it seems proper that I should place on the tiles of this Court a brief
statement of the facts and proofs which render it the duty of the
Court, to pronouncea judgment which is to deprive a human. being
of his 1.fe.
«“ By the record in this case it appears that you were indicted at
the May term of the Calhoun Cireuit.Court, 1871, for the murder ,
of John Gresham, and the case was brought here on a change of
venue fur trial; that there is no prejudice in this county which
would injuriously affect your rights 1s sufficiently manifest by the
-fact that the crime for which yon have been tried was ‘committed
in another county; and of the twelve jurors selected for your trial
every one has stated anuer oath that he never heard of the case un-
til called into the jury box.
“From the evidence it appears that somewhere about the ~
of February last, for some cause (which is not appare’ | va
became very much enraged against the deceased in the town of Pleas-
ant Hill and threatened to whip him. When told by the town con-
stable that that would not be permitted and that he would arrest
you if you did not keep quiet, you said that you would see the de-
ceased at same other time and tear his heart out. On the 27th day
of February the deceased, his son (15 years of age) and yourself,
were in Clarksville, Mo., and crossed the river on your return in
the afternoon in the same boat, the deceased and his son within a
wagon; and after the boat landed, as they were leaving the river
for home, you asked the privilege of riding with them, to which
the boy objected, his father being quite drunk at the time. You
then said to them that if they would let you ride you would be
quiet and ‘peaceable; whereupon the deceased consented, and you
rot into the wagon and seated yourself on a board beside the
eceased, the boy standing up in front driving. You had gone
but ashort distance when some words passed, but no blows or
attempts to strike ensued, and you jumped ont; saying, ‘You,
d d old son of a bitch!’ At the-time you jumped out the
‘board on which the dece: ed was sitting tipped up and he
out on the other side on his back near the wagon and near toa
You ran back to the wagon and to where the deceased lay, auc
turning your back to the fence, you seized the rails with which to
steady yourself, and with the deceased still lying on his back im-
mediately in front of you, with the heel of your boot you stamped
his face, head and breast until you killed him. The evidence shows
that in this brutal manner, and when the deceased was lying on
his back perfectly helpless, in the presence of his son and another
witness who was near by, you stamped from eight to ten times,
breaking his nose, cheek-bone and jaw, and crushing out one eye,
and forced the heel of your boot through his skull into his brain
i,
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332 HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
more than an inch in depth, and so crushed and distigured his face
that it could not be resognized by Dr. Thomas, who had lived a
near neighbor to deceased for 20 years. :
tr“ While engaged in this work of death, Mr. Oyler, who was a
short distance off and saw it all, halloved and started to run to you.
On seeing him you jumped over the fence and started torun. You
were pursued and captured in a few minutes, and blood was found
all over the heel of your boot, with hair and whiskers still adhering
to it. Soon afterward you declared that you had not seen deceased
on that day.
“In answer to all this proof you produced a single witness, your
brother, who testified that in the fall of 1869 deceased made some
threats against you, which, so far.as the - °° ace shows, he uever
attempted to execute. Beyond this | .er no explanation or
justification of this dreadful crime. ; “S
“Upon this proof the jury have found you guilty of murder, and
their verdict declares that you shall suffer death by hanging. You
have been well defended by able attorneys, fairly tried, and, as it
seems to me, properly convicted; and it only remains now for the
Court to pronounce the judgment of the law, which is, to ceive
you of your life. Unpleasant as this duty is, I am not at liberty
to shrink from it. You have deprived John Gresham of his life by
a foul and brutal murder, and the law demands your life as the pen-
alty. As the time which can be extended to you to prepare to
meet this dreadful punishment is limited by law, let me admonish
yon not to spend it in vain efforts to arrest your doom, but rather
devote every moment of the time allotted you to prepare for the
final trial wherein injustice is never done and where all must
answer for every act of his life. It is the order of this Court, Bar-
tholomew Barnes, that you be taken from here to the county jail of
this county and there confined until Friday, the twenty-ninth day
of December, 1871, and that between the hours of 10 o0’clock a. m.
and 3. p. m. of said day, in said jail, and in the presence of the wit-
nesses required by law, hanged by the neck until you are dead.”
We take the following account of the execution from. the Old
of Jan. 4. 1872:
“The dreadful day having arrived, a large crowd gathered around
the jail, which increased constantly as.the hour of execution ap-
proached. There was no disturbance, however, the anxiety of sus-
* pense seeming to pervade the throng and keep them quiet, and
waiting almost with suspended breath until the tragedy was over.
The execution was delayed until afternoon in order to give the
prisoner all the time possible. About half past’ one, or later, in
company with the physicians, the jury and others, we were admitted
to the Sheriffs room and waited the last preparations for the final
scene. The leave-taking of the brother and sister and relatives of
the prisoner we did not witness. At about a quarter past two the
great iron door leading from the Sheriff’s room into the hall of the
jail was unbarred, and those in waiting entered the hall and took
map:
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PIKE COUNTY JAIL
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 335
places in front of the scaffuld and waited with uncovered heads the
appearance of the prisoner. We need hardly tell our readers there
was stillness in that company and that all sound was hushed ex-
cept the long-drawn. breathings of men who knew they stood in
the chamber of Death, that a living mortal man was soon to be his
victim, and that a fellow being was within a few moments of eternity
and judgment. There was the scaffold, rather a rough-looking
structure, and of larger dimensions than we had expected to see;
above it, from a pulley fastened to a beam, hung a rope apparently
about half an ineh ia thickness, With knot and noose on the end
of it.
“As we stood there contemplating the scene, and held our watch
to note the time, some few remarks were made in a whisper and
several times a reporter asked us, ‘ What time is it. now? Seven-
teen minutes past two, eighteen minutes, nineteen minutes, each
elapsing minute increasing the anxiety of suspense and expectation;
twenty minutes, and the Sheriff and prisoner, accompanied with
deputies and ministers, appeared on the corridor and descended
one flight of steps and ‘ascended the other which led to the scaffold.
The prisoner was pale from long confinement, but we could not
say that he flindhat or quailed at the sight of the gallows or when
standing on the platform. When his eyes first caught sight of
scaffold and rope there was an expression of surprise which was
momentary, and that was all. -He was well dressed in a black suit
- with a fine shirt, white stockings and slippers, and looked like a
entleman. He was told to be seated on a seat of boards that had
een prepared, which he did, Revs. Priestly and Johnsey, Methodist
preachers, sitting on each side of him. ‘They sat only for a moment
when deputy Landrum told him to stand up, which he did. They
both stood close to the grated window when the death warrent wes
read to him by Mr. Landruin distinctly, but with evident emotion,
and was heard by the prisoner attentively, but without any mani-
festations whatever. When the reading was over and Mr. Landrum
had folded the paper, ‘ Let us pray’ was announced, and a prayer
was pronounced by Rev. Mr. Johnsey, which to our ear was some-
what peculiar if not poetical, the prisoner all the while uttering
fervid ejaculations, such as, ‘O Lord, have mercy on my sonl!?
On rising from his knees after the prayer he deliberately stepped
forward, and taking the rope in his right hand, passed the noose
into his left and seemed to take a careful look at it. He was then
"told, if he had any thing to say, to say it now. He hesitated a
moment as if not fully comprehending what was meant; but upon
being told a second time, he said, ‘ Well, I say that’ I believe all
my sins have been pardoned; and I thank the jailor for his kindness
to me, and I hope that no one will ever again be hung.” Ile was
then told to take farewell of all;'and having shaken hands with the
ministers, Sheriff and attendants, he asked leave to pray once him-
self, and was told to do so, when, kneeling down with his fuce
——. the window in the west, he said, as we understood, ‘O Lord,
1
IOCOUVULIVL LT
inued from 1A
neys were ineffective.
ilker was executed Wednesday
thal injection for the June.1983
ting deaths of 25-year-old Sharon
er and 21-year-old Kevin Paule
e banks of Silver Creek near Ma-
tah.
s was the first execution in Illi-
since 1962.
» had robbed Winker and Paule,
were engaged to be married, of
and some fishing tackle. Walker
he shot them because Paule rec-
zed him.
it Walker’s execution won’t ne-
arily cause death sentences to be
ied out more quickly, Claps said.
‘hey’re all separate cases, and
‘re all separate issues,” Claps
“The complexities of them are
rent.”
. Clair County State’s Attorney
1 Baricevic, who - prosecuted
ker, agreed that death sentences
will take years tocarry out.
think it’s ridiculous to suggest
just because Walker did, it will
on the floodgate,” he said.
it Baricevic said the wait is too
because there are too many ap-
5.
\ny new ideas raised in death pen-
cases, they’re taking. This is a
ry-go-round that’s not stopping,” .
aid. “Gi as been to the
Supreme: ‘Court twice already
is on his way back. Isn’t once en-
a8
avis is another Death Row inmate
1the metro-east.
MA] 3TL
ews-Democrat >
StaGlaiz,Coun e of the most bloody counties i in.
a capital punishment expert said.
“There have been 19 people put to death under the
death penalty in St. Clair County alone,” said Watt
Espy, who chronicles every legal execution from
Colonial times to the present. “I would have to say that
it appears St. Clair County has a pretty high state
average.’
Espy said 367 legal executions have occurred i in the
state and 17,228 nationwide since 1608. The first
execution was in Virginia.
Early St. Clair County executions were done by
hanging and all were done in Belleville, Espy said.
“In the early days, the execution was done in the
county where the person was convicted of the crime,”
he said. “It was done that way until 1928, when they
began electrocuting individuals at the state prison.’
men and women who were sentenced to death before
him all were convicted of murder.
The following is Espy’s list of people who have died
under the death penalty in St. Clair County:
1. Timothy Bennett, Sept. 3, 1821, hanged for
- murder.
2. Joseph Orban, Sept. 4, 1854, hanged for murder.
Like Charles Walker, executed Wednesday for the |
- murders of a young Mascoutah couple in 1983, the 19
18 men, : woman have been executedi in county since 1821
3. John Gudel, April 26, 1867, hanged for abner
. aneighbor.
4. Phillip: Matthews, Jan. 12, 1883, hanged for —
the state when it comes to enforcing the gdeathpenaliyiam,murder of his ex-fiancee.
5. William Brown, May 29, 1884, hanged for robbing
' and murdering a Russian peddler.
6. Noah Merriman, Jan. 15, 1886, hanged for the
murder of his wife.
7. George Centrall, Nov. 30, 1894, hanged for
murder.
8. Willis Clark; Feb. 18, 1910, iaiaedteetiuedell..
9. Robert Martin, July 22, 1910, hanged for murder.
10. Leroy Hollins and Earnest Williams, both
hanged Feb. 21, 1923, for the murder of a candy
salesman.
11. Willie Green, Dec. 11, 1931, electrocuted for
murder.
12. James Jackson, Dec. 11, 1931, electrocuted for
murdering his wife.
13. James Smith, Sept. 23, 1932, clectrapules for
murder. § .-
14. Van Buren Dedman, Edward Balling and John
Krul, July 9, 1935, electrocuted for murder.
15. Marie Porter and her lover, Angelo Giancola,
Jan. 28,-1938, electrocuted for murder. Porter is the
only woman to die under the death penalty, Espy said..
This was the last execution until Walker, according
‘to Espy.
“LUPD =i V
wD wy tS
wants to die, as Walker did, the waiti is
too long, Baricevic said. |
“(Walker) gave up his appeals. and
it took six to seven years to get him
executed,” Baricevic said.
But Claps did not advocate trying to
shorten appeal time.
CeSS.
allows Death Row inmates to purpo-
sely avoid raising certain issues ‘on
first appeal so they can come back for
more appeals and draw out the pro-
“Tt will be nine to 12 years of litiga-
tion for every person on Death Row
: like Walker did.” -
he requested.
MNeAn Wuahn
Gc ae ge naa
and blackberry pie and 80 to sleep;
aN
* Walker's last meal was fried wil
rabbit, gravy and blackberry pie, a
n
St. Clair County Public Defender
whoa nrevionsly nut
vit i}
oats RR! PN poh UN bee Tincedionly af
Pen
AP RD GN RHE Te wie dnie dpe
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338 HISTORY uF PIKE COUNTY.
Matthew Harris and Thomas Stapleton.
Ata place called the cut-off, on the Suy Levee, in the spring of 1872
were two large squads of men at work. The one working higher up the
river received $2.00 per day to each man and those below receis ed
$1.75. Atter those above had completed their work, their employers
told them they could go and work with those below if they were will-
ine to work at the sanie rates. They all went to work, but after awhile
becatne dissatisfied with the wages, threatened to strike, and made a
good deal of disturbance. Their employers discharged several of
the ring-leaders who still continued to make trouble. When Pay.
day arrived the strikers drank a great deal, came to the place o
work and-were determined, as they said, to clean out Harris, the
time-keeper, and Stapleton, the “ walking-boss.’ As the two age
were coming from the store after dinner, the mob, ot strikers fell
upon them and Harris.and Stapleton both fired at the first man,
Pat Vaughan, killing him and slightly injuring another man. This
roceeding deterred the rioters from avy further aggressions.
Reasiaion and Harris were arrested, but to keep them safe from the
rioters they were lodged in the jail at Pittsfield. They were in-
dicted April 12 following, tried, convicted of murder, and July 1
both were sentenced to State prison for one year.. :
: Andrew Hamilton.
Near Nebo, Feb. 5, 1875, a number of young people assembled —
4 s i tina
at the house of Mrs. McKee, for the purpose of taking part 11
- dance. Among those present were Andrew Hamilton and Clifton
niels, both young men. and sons of well-known farmers in
us eietutey. During the dance a quarrel arose between Hamilton
and Daniels, when the former drew.a revolver and shot Daniels in
the neck at its juncture with the chest. The wounded man stag-
‘yered against the wall and fell dead almost instantly. Hamilton
immediately fled, and, so far as appears from the records, has never
been captured.
John A. Thomas
was indicted Oct. 14, 1876, for murder, but three days afterward _
was acquitted.
John H. Mallory.
A man named Davis got to peeping around Mallory’s house at
night to see some girls, and Mallory, discovering the fact, ran et
with a gun and shot Davis as he dodged behind a cedar bush, an
killed him. his occurred at Barry. Mallory was indicted Octo-
ber 14, 1876, for manslaughter. The case dragged along in the
Courts antil April 6, 1878, when the accused was acquitted.
to stheniltinca = nb= =
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 339
George Haskins.
About four miles northwest of Kinderhook a quarrel took place,
March 4, 1877, between two young men, Geo. Haskins and a Mr.
Simpkins, originating in a controversy about a dog biting a sister
of Simpkins. A tussle ensued during which Simpkins was stabbed
with a knife, and from the effects of the wound he shortly after-
ward died. Haskins was arrested, and April 10, 1877, he was in-
dicted for murder; but the trial resulted in his conviction for man-
sJaughter, and Oct. 19, following, he was sentenced to two years,
imprisonment at hard labor. He was only nineteen years of age
and Simpkins seventeen.
Henry A. Fowler.
This ruffian and a Mr. Hamilton were attending a datice near
Nebo in the spring of 1878, where they drank and quarreled until
Fowler cut Hamilton across the arm with a knife, and the’ latter
bled to death. Fowler was arrested and April 6, 1878, was indicted
for murder. Before his trial he escaped from jail, but voluntarily
returned and delivered himself up. The trial resulted-in his con-
viction and sentence to confinement in the State prison for two
years.
Thomas McDonald.
James A. Brown was murdered near his own door in Montezuma .
-March 11, 1878, shortly before daylight. Jan. 25 preceding he had
_, been waylaid, drugged and robbed by two men in a small wood
near dis home, and lay exposed all night in a stupid condition until
found the next morning, and was restored to consciousness with
much difficulty. Thomas McDonald was afterward arrested and
identified as one of those two men: the other culprit remained at
large. Mr. Brown and his friends had feared that an effort would
be made to prevent him (Brown) from appearing at a certain trial,
and the tragedy just mentioned showed how well grounded their
fears had been. For several nights preceding the murder noises
had been heard in the vicinity of the residence of Brown, and he
went armed. About 4 o’clock that morning (Monday) he stepped
from his house to an out-house a few yards distant, taking his rifle
with him. On his return afew minutes later, and when within
two or three paces of the door, he was shot, the ball entering the
back of the head and coming out toward the front. Hearing the
report the family rushed out to find the victim lying where he fell,
and in a few moments he ceased to live. Excitement became so in-
tense that the Sheriff had to obtain assistance from the State Gov-
ernment to aid in keeping the peace. -The excitement was greatly
intensified by a report that the Sheriff intended to remove the pris-
oner from the Pike county jail to another county. McDonald was
tried and found innocent. A full account of his case is given in
the history of Pittsfield.
si
rere
2 ee nine memerrenen mamdeine
Tis tt), Sake Ge ae “
Hii
iti
336 HISTURY OF PIKE COULTY.
I pray thee to forgive my sins, to save my soul and take me to
i itions, as w ic more.
‘heaven,’ repeating the petitions, as we thought, twice or
He then arose and stepped forward on the trap, = pe er atas
put over his head and adjusted about his neck, and t ie b HE
drawn over his face, his hands and feet having been previously tied,
he all the while praying. ‘Q Lord, save my soul. an
“This was the most solemr and anxious moment of t ap.exeen ae
both to the doomed man and to the spectators. bad ste a
man on the immediate confines of two worlds, just ready - s °P
into eternity aid kuow the grand secret; only one moment mo
ive in thisdife. : =
the cae was drawn over his face at twenty-fi ve pobre ed
the elapsing seconds now seemed as long as nicks a ~ a
and an attendant were the last to come down type es eps.
fatal lever which should spring the trap was at the bottom, con-
cealed by apiece of carpet. ‘ What time is it now?’ said the re- .
tous. Twenty-five minutes and fifteen seconds past two,
ed quick as a flash the man who was standing on ri ramets one
still saying, ‘O Lord, save my soul,’ dropped till his see -~
more than six inches below. There was no noise mt an :
sudden tightening of the cord with a heavy weight wou ‘1 se
A trap door swung intoa niche prepared to receive it an — 8
there. The rope had been perfectly tested and did not strete
least. The fall was more tlian six feet. His neck had been instantly
i victim did not struggle -at all.
ken and all pain was over. The victim d rugg)
x the end of the first minute there was a slight motiou of the vo
and limbs, swaying slightly, which was continued until after the
end of the second minute, and evidently caused by muscular con/
traction. At the end of three and a half eae prea bar pus
‘violent and last contraction of muscle; shoulders heave he 7
whole body was lifted up, and then relapsed and a my ae
at the end of twenty minutes the doctors pronounce — ne
and at the end of twenty-five minutes the body = = ve “s
laid out, while a further examination was made by t re 20 on ag
pronounced his neck broken and his life to be cigeewy a a ne
of thirty minutes from the time of the drop and within abou ah
minutes of 3 o’clock he was placed in a coffin and at sp ae :
out and delivered to his relatives to be taken to Pleasant Hill fu
*27 9) : 5
the preparations for the hanging had been very ig itor “se
there was not a single mistake or slightest failure in any peitics a
and Sheriff McFarland aero pean foe ay ewes in which
ims ‘ iis melancho ties.
per ta eS yal ” in which ved insisted to the last that
he did not mean to kill Gresham, and claimed that he was 2 a
and did not know what he was about. The ay w pon sn
a very large plain hand by the pen of doctor J. J. Topliff, w
Cireuit Clerk at the tiie.
Bi
Sai ca tn 2%,
¢ - ea
WISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 337
John Barnes,
cousin of the preceding, was indicted Noy. 29, 1871, for the murder
of MeLanghlin, in Detroit, on the sixteenth of that month. . The
name of the murdered man was ascertained only by its being
marked on his arm with India ink. Both the men-had been in a
saloon drinking and had had a quarrel about a red ball. McLaugh-
lin shook his fist in Barnes’ face and told him not to open his face
again about it. He turned around, and when his eyes were averted
Barnes jumped to his feet having a knife in his hand which he swung
with great force, the blade striking MeLaughlin’s face and neck, sev-
~ ering the jugular vein. and windpipe and completely cutting his
throat. Barnes then made a back stroke which missed McLaughlin,
who then staggered into a-back room and fell dead. Barnes was
immediately arrested and committed to. the Pittsfield, jail where,
sometime after his indictment, he gradually wasted away with pul-
monary consumption and died.
Jack Connor, alias Wm. CG. Walton, and Chas. Berry,
were indicted in the Pike Circuit Court Oct. 18, 1872, for man-
‘slaughter. April 11, 1873, Connor was acquitted and Berry was
convicted and sentenced for one year.
Peter B. Ford.
On the night of May 3, 1872, George DeHaven, of Barry, was
killed on a shebang boat just above Florence, by Peter B. Ford.
Two disreputable women and two or three low-lived men were on
board. “ Tack,” Henry Schaffuer and DeHaven came on the boat,
which was owned by the Fords. After drinking awhile. Tack
hauled open his coat and declared he was the best man on board, and
attacked Elisha N. Ford. At the same time DeHaven sprang at
Peter Ford with brass knuckles on one hand and a cocked revolver
in the other, pointed at Peter’s breast. Peter knocked the revolver
aside and shot Dellaven, who died in about 20 minutes. Elisha
and the two women were arrested, but after examination were dis-
charged. Peter was also arrested, and indicted Oct. 21, 1872, for
harder, was convicted, and “sent up” for 18 years. A motion for
a new trial was made, but denied, and the sentence was executed.
-- James Ray and L. J. Hall.
At Pleasant Hill, June 22, 1872, L. J. Hall, a grocer, had a
controversy with a Mr. McGinn, when a young man named James
Ray interfered, knocking McGinn down with a beer glass and beating
him and stainping upon him, Hall meanwhile keeping off all who
would interfere. When the beating ceased McGinn was found
dead. Hall then gave Ray some money, telling him to make his
escape, which it seems he did most effectually. Hall was arrested,
and examined, but acquitted of being au accessory. McGinn left
a wife and eight children. “
se atladeed De read ens Pe eiy:
ve
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OU Say Dmaaetyg
litical inlatttia re
JAG VY US ent ALD ‘ ‘
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ee ae sad 5 4 _ 2: B afene .
7 joSWe y ais 9
wrnntertost he whinge tnd! Wes, Lemmenaneage nada
“ wraps yee ser , ewe gi?
“
a We) coma ih elem yim sete EL Hs pele AEE MO EPR ags ,
“ aA UN HO Ste ets miue = canis
a 2. i re weeny
sathaliethenedapereninn oot aa ean ee inet on "
vt - — . = e ~ ar Owvahet'a, .
al “s : :
= = it —<—e - ed eS ee aie
340 : HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Colonel Williams.
A number of people gathered at the house of Monte Gant about
ten miles south of Pittsfield, on Christmas eve, to have a dance,
and were enjoying themselves in the usual way, when some of the
boys asked Andrew Main (commonly denominated “Coon Main ’*)
to call otfa set. Main refusing, they said they could get along
well enough without him. He thought thisa good time as any to
whip some of the boys, aud, the quarrel continuing for some time,
he commenced striking them. Main struck Williams, knocking
him down. Williams then commenced stabbing at Main with his
pocket knife. Main got hold ofa long iron poker and commenced
striking at Williams. About this time the landlord interfered and
turned them from the house, when the latter and his brother Col-
onel immediately lett and were fullowed by Main and two or three
others. Then Colonel Williams shot Main with a revolver, and he
and his brother immediately ran away, no effort being made at the
time to arrest them. The wounded man then retured to the house,
lay down on a bed, saying that Colonel Williams had shot him,
and died about five hours afterward. Williams has been arrested,
and is now in the Pittsfield jail awaiting trial.
Bo yles,
a lad seventeen years of age, is also in jail for helping his brother
to escape who had killed a companion with a pocket knife.
a td
. tty beth (he .
A eos en PMR 7 i
Paes RL ek leita at ha
CHAPTER XII.
PIONEER LIFE.
LOG CABINS. :
We shall, in this chapter, give as clear and exact a description of
pioneer life in this county as we can find language to picture it in,
commencing with the time the sturdy settlers first arrived with
their scanty stores. They had migrated from older States, where
the prospects for even a competency were very poor, many of them
coming from Kentucky, for, it is supposed, they found that a good
State to emigrate from. Their entire stock of furniture, imple-
ments and family necessities were easily stored in one wagon, and
sometimes a cart was tlieir only vehicle. :
As the first thing after they arrived and found a suitable loca-
tion, they would set about the building of a log cabin, a description
of which may be interesting to the younger readers, and especially
their descendants, who may never see a structure of the kind,
Trees of uniform size were selected and cut into pieces of the de-
sired length, each end being saddled and notched so as to bring the
logs as near together as possible. The cracks were “chinked and
daubed” to prevent the wind from whistling through. This had
to be renewed every fa'l before cold weather set in. The usual
height was one story of about seven or eight feet. The gables were
made of logs graduully shortened up to the top. The roof was made
by laying small logs or stout poles reaching from gable to gable,
suitable distances apart, on which were laid the clapboards after the
manner of shingling, showing two feet or more to the weather.
The clapboards were fastened by laying across them heavy poles,
called “ weight poles,” reaching from one gable to the other, being
kept apart and in their place by laying pieces of timber between
them called “runs,” or “knees.” A wide chimney place was cut
out of one end of the cabin, the chimney standing entirely outside,
and built of rived sticks, laid up cob-house fashion and filled with
clay, or built of stone, often using two or three cords of stone in
building one chimney. For a window, a piece about two feet long
was cut out of one of the wall logs, and the hole closed, sometimes
with glass, but oftener with greased paper pasted over it. A door-
LINCOLN LIBRARY
Springfield, Illinois
TANQAMON COTTINTY TP TTNOTS
SANGAMON COUNTY, LULLNOLS. ZT, d,
HISTORY “
SANGAMON COUNTY,
TiOINOTS;
TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS, EDUCATIONAL,
RELIGIOUS, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND POLITICAL HISTORY; PORTRAITS
OF PROMINENT PERSONS, AND BIOGRAPHIES OF
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS,
EMBRACING ACCOUNTS OF THE PRE-HISTORIC RACES, ABORIGINES, WINNEBAGO AND
BLACK HAWK WARS, AND A BRIEF REVIEW OF ITS CIVIL,
POLITICAL AND MILITARY HISTORY.
ILLUSTRA TEHD.
CHICAGO:
/ INTER-STATE PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1881.
Here’s,the Score
Gang Killings in an
The Past Six Years}
1—Samuel Feliccia iets gain in
Sangamon river, Aprij] 3, 1924.
2—John Napolia found slain in
Sangamon river May 1, 1925.
_ 3—Bert Zumwalt shot on Sanga-
“mon avenue road.
4—Jasper Aiello shot at Ninth and
Reynolds, Feb. 14, 1927.
5-6—Bob and Frank Aljello shot in
Blue Bird cafe Nov. 10, 1927.
7—Unidentifled man found slain in
Sangamon river, March 25, 1928.
8—Unidentified man found slain in
_ Sangamon river, April 7, 1928.
9—Cesare Sansone, shot at Eighth
and Jackson, May 20, 1929.
10—Dominic Tarro found slain in
Sangamon river, May 2, 1930.
11—R. C. Tincher found slain near
Rochester, July 11, 1930.
12—Elmer Stover found slain ryear
Edinburg, July 14, 1930. ae
Ot
| ee
=
1 dk
egal Hangings
In Sangamon
1, Nathaniel Van Noy executed in|
early history of county for killing of
wife.
2-3. Barney Van Agsdale and John
Lemons hanged June 22, 1866, for
murder of John Saunders of Pawnee
during store robbery.
4. James Mingle hanged Feb. 11,
1898, for murder of his baby girl.
5. Joe James hanged Oct. 23, 1908,
for murder of Clergy Ballard.
6. Frank Bryant hanged Dec. 18,
1908, for murder of Thomas Brady. .
7, James Hayes hanged Dec. 16,
1927, for murder of Sarah Flatt.
534 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXIL
DARK DEEDS.
“Thou shalt not kill,” is a Divine precept. Its
obligation is incumbent upon every one. Not-
withstanding this, since the day that Cain slew
his brother Abel, crime has been rife in the land.
Laws are passed and heavy penalties are inflicted
upon the guilty, yet crime does not cease to exist.
either the terrors of this world or that which
is to come deters the determined and wicked
man from taking the life of a fellow-being. San-
gamon county has, with every other county in
the State, been the theater of bloodshed, and
however distasteful the task may be, it is a part
of the historian’s duty to record the dark deeds
that have been committed; not to pander to
taste of a depraved people for the sensational,
but as a warning alike to the pure, and those who
have murder in their heart. The first case in
which life was taken was that of the
MURDER OF MES. VANNOY.
On the morning of August 27, 1826, Nathaniel
VanNoy, in a fit of drunken frenzy, killed his
wife. He was arrested and lodged in jail the
same night. The sheriff at once notified Judge
Sawyer, who at once called a special session of
the Circuit Court. A grand jury was empanneled
and sworn, who found a true "pill of indictment
against him. The following named composed
this jury: Gersham Jayne, foreman; Stephen
Stillman, John Morris, John Stephenson, jr.,
James White, Thomas Morgan, James Stewart,
Jacob Boyer, Robert White, John N. Moore,
William Carpenter, Jesse M. Harrison, Robert
Cownover, James Turley, Aaron Houton, John
Young, John Lindsay, Charles Boyd, William
O. Chilton, Job Burdan, Hugh Sportsman, Abram
Lanterman. The bill of indictment was pre-
sented to the court, and a petit jury was chen
called, consisting of the following named: Bowl-
ing Green, foreman; Samuel Lee, Jesse Arm-
atrong, Levi W. Gordon, Thomas I. Parish,
Erastus Wright, William Vincent, Philip I.
Fowler, John L. Stephenscn, Levi Parish, James
Collins, George Davenport.
The jury were sworn, and the trial commenced
on the 28th. James Turney, Attorney General
of the State, acted for the people, and the accused
was defended by James Adams and Jonathan -
H. Pugh, both of Springfield. A verdict of
guilty was rendered on the 29th, and sentence
pronounced the same day, that the condemned
man be hung November 26, 1826. Thus in less
than three days was the murder committed, the
murderer tried and condemned to be hung. The
sentence was carried out, at the time appointed,
in the presence of almost the entire community.
The execution took place about where the State
House now stands. Many are yet living who
witnessed the summary disposal of the first mur-
derer in what was then Sangamon county.
Just before the egetition VanNoy sent for Dr.
Filleo and enquired of him if a man could be
brought to life after he had been hung. The
doctor replied that if the neck escaped disloca-
tion, and that if the condemned person did not
hang too long there was a possibility that by the
galvanic battery, life could be restored. Van-
Noy then told him that if he could be brought
to life that he would be willing to pay a reason-
able sum, but otherwise the doctor might have
his body for dissection. The doctor told him to
lean forward when the wagon was driven from
under him, and that he consequently would have
an easy fall. He followed the doctor’s advice
and his neck was not broken. The sheriff, how-
ever, fearing that he would come tw life, kept
him hanging nearly an hour, and when he was
taken down his soul was too far in the land of
the spirits to be called back. Dr. Filleo made
the attempt notwithstanding, and when he ap-
plied the galvanic battery, the nerves of thedead
man twitched spasmodically several times in
quick succession. There was no life in them
b See ane
SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
594 | : HISTORY OF SANGAMON CUOUN'I'Y.
“a
History of Sangamon County pLllinois _ pp 54 -aS:|
Interstate Pub. , Chicago , 18s!
CHAPTER XXIL
DARK DEEDS. gi
“Thou shalt not kill,” is a Divine precept. Its
obligation is incumbent upon every one. Not-
withstanding this, since the day that Cain slew
his brother Abel, crime has been rife in the land.
Laws are passed and heavy penalties are inflicted
upon the guilty, yet crime does not cease to exist.
Neither the terrors of this world or that which
is to come deters the determined and wicked
man from taking the life of afellow-being. San-
gamon county has, with every other county in
the State, been the theater of bloodshed, and
however distasteful the task may be, it is a part
of the historian’s duty to record the dark deeds
that have been committed; not to pander to
taste of a depraved people for the sensational,
but as a warning alike to the pure, and those who
have murder in their heart. The first case in
which life was taken was that of the
.’ MUBDER OF MRS. VANNOY.
On the morning of August 27, 1826, Nathaniel
VanNoy, in a fit of drunken frenzy, killed his
wife. He was arrested and lodged in jail the
rame night. ‘The sheriff at once notified Judge
Sawyer, who at once called a special session of
the Circuit Court. A grand jury was empanneled
and sworn, who found a true bill of indictment
against bim. The following named composed
this jury: Gersham Jayne, foreman; Stephen
Stillman, John Morris, John Stephenson, jr.,
James White, Thomas Morgan, James Stewart,
Jacob Boyer, Robert White, John N. Moore,
William Caknenter, Jesse M. Harrison, Robert
Cownover, James Turley, Aaron Houton, John
Young, John Lindsay, Charles Boyd, William
Q. Chilton, Job Burdan, Hugh Sportsman, Abram
Lanterman. The bill of indictment was pre-
sented to the court, and a petit jury was then
called, consisting of the following named: Bowl-
ing Green, foreman; Samuel Lee, Jesse Arm-
strong, Levi W. Gordon, Thomas I. Parish,
Erastus Wright, William Vincent, Philip I -;
Fowler, John L. Stephenscn, Levi Parish, James © 5
Collins, George Davenport. Ay
The jury were sworn, and the trial commenced fj
on the 28th. James Turney, Attorney General i
of the State, acted for the people, and the accused
was defended by James Adams and Jonathan
H. Pugb, both of Springfield. A verdict of
guilty was rendered on the 29th, and sentence
pronounced the same day, that the condemned “Ge
man be hung November 26, 1826. Thus in les 34
than three days was the murder committed, the 4%
murderer tried and condemned to be hung. The ‘xg
sentence was carried out, at the time appointed, ““@
in the presence of almost the entire community. ‘2%
The execution took place about where the State
Ilouse now stands. Many are yet living who ©
witnessed the summary disposal of the first mur *y
derer in what was then Sangamon county. Pe
Just before the execution VanNoy sent forDr. 44
Filleo and enquired of him if a man could be 39%
brought to life after he had been hung. The “<%
doctor replied that if the neck escaped disloc @
tion, and that if the condemned person did not (2
hang too long there was a possibility that oe se
galvanic battery, life could be restored. Van
oy then told him that if he could be brought «73
to life that he would be willing to pay a reaso® a4
able sum, but otherwise the doctor might have 25
his body for dissection. The doctor told himts °4
lean forward when the wagon was driven from 4
under him, and that he consequently would have vy
an easy fall. He followed the doctor’s advice
and his neck was not broken. The sheriff, how <4
ever, fearing that he would come to life, kept 7
him hanging nearly an hour, and when he ws ea
taken down his soul was too far in the land of 9
the spirits to be called back. Dr. Filleo msde a
the attempt notwithstanding, and when he sp “J
plied the galvanic battery, the nerves of thedesd *3
man twitched spasmodically several times '* 74
quick succession. There was no life in them <7
and they only moved in obedience to the power- 3
ful battery that was brought to bear upon them. oe
bw i yt + oh: ‘I 2}
~e
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