Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1846-01-17
From the Leriagtoa No Telegraph ofths 9th
IT. s.Murder will Out.o

has been often said, and the circnmstan-
ces we are about 10 relate, does not at all
lessen the truth OF the quotation.
Last week, we noticed that special
term Of the Circuit Cnnt was in session
for the trial Of John c. Lester, charged
with the murder ofKing B. Scott.
Scott was young man who was brought
up in this county, wild and reckless in
his habits, and careless about the good
opinion ofthe society in which he lived
Ills mother possessed considerable prop
erty, and Scott and Lester who had mar
RED Scott's sister, were her only hcirs.-
Mrs. Scott was, one morning after corn
shucking atthe house Of Lester, found inner
own house, dead. When discovered, she
was lying in the fire nearly half consum-
ed, as though she had E.len in the fire
accidentally and thus died. Suspi / ms
were aroused At the time, that there had
been foul play, and that old Mrs. Scott
had been murdered; however, as there
was such an appearance Of acci ilent, no
clue could then be had TO the murderers ii
she was mufdaered. H H
In the month Of October, 1913, Scott
then about lSyears old, was apprehended
on 4 charge Of larceny, on the information
Of Lester, his brother in law. He man.
aged TO make his essape from custody and
disappeared. His sudden Disappearance
was freely commented upon by The neigh
borhood, and there were those who did
not hesitate to say he had been murdered.
Subsequently, Lester was indicted for
having forged some instrument Of writing,
anda man named John Horton was i'll
dicted fof perjury, having, as subscri-
bing witness sworn to the genuineness Of
the instrument. BY the delays and un-
certainties Of the law, Horton was first
tried for the crime with Which he was
charged. Lester SO managing the matter
as TO put of his trial until the fate Of Hcr-
ton was determined; and at the March
term, 1874 Of the Lafayette Circuit Court,
Horton was found guilty Of perjury and
sentenced tothe penitentiary for two years.
Lester was subsequently tried for the for
gerry and acquitted. Proper representa-
tions having been made to Governor Ed
wards, he pardoned Horton in A pril last.
Upon the return Of Horton to this coun-
ty, Immediately after lie received his par
don, he declared that King b. Scott had
been murdered, and made oath before
Judge Ryland next day. On bringing
the prisoner to town he attempted to es-
cape, but was badly wounded and recap.
tured by the guard.
The examination of Lester took place
before Judge Ryland the next day, and
Horton swore positively that he saw Les
ter murder Scott. As we'll as we recol-
lect Horizons narrative of the horrid af-
fair, was about as follows, 9
He said he had been to a neighbor' 5
house, and was returning home in the
evening when he saw some deer in the
prairie, which he followed-getting near a
small thicket or grove in the prairie, he
saw Lester and Scott coming down the
prairie. He determined to secrete him
sclfin the bushes 10 lei them pass, but in
stead Of passing him, they turned down a
hollow in the prairie near him, and he de-
termined to watch them 10 see what they
were about. 1t by this time was growing
dark. and the two commenced making q
fire. After they had lighted fire bot
tie was produced, from which they drank
alternately, and when Scott turned to set
the bottle down, Lester struck him on his
head with his club, and continued to inflict
blows upon him until he was dead-he
then buried him in sort Of gulley and COW
cred him with dirt and loose stones.
A day or two after, Horton said he had
been hunting ducks, and on his return
home he saw some turkeys which he fol-
lowed to the hills-he came suddenly on
the top ofa steep hill, and in the hollow he
saw Lester digging hole--he crept soft
ly away, and on returning by the spot
where Scott had been buried, he saw that
the hogs had partly rooted him from his
grave, and had eaten a part Of the body
he then supposed that Lester's object in
digging the hole, was to make more Sc
cure grave for his victim; he accordingly
watched Lester's movements that evening,
and sew him remove Scott and re-bury
him.
A party was sent the place where Hor-
ton said Scott was buried, accompanied
by H., to show the spot, the body was ta-
ken up and recognized to be the body oI
Scott from the clothing, He was buried
in place that no human being would ever
suppose to be selected as agrave, and even
those who were sent to search for this ev-
idence TO corroborate Horizons testimony,
believed the story TO be fiction INIT! the
body was found. Itwas in a ravine where
constant stream Of water was flowing
over the grave.
Upon this testimony; Lester was com.
mitted for trial.
Lester applied for change Of venue
and his trial was removed to Jackson
county. The whole of the week befor,
last and part Of the last were devoted Il
the trial. Circumstances elected testimo
nv otherthan that ofthe evidence Of Hortol
which convinced the minds Of the jury
and after short absence they returned
with verdict OF GUILTY.
The Judge, upon pronouncing the aw
ful sentence of the law, asked the prisoner
ifhe had any thing TO say why sentence 9
death should not be pronounced agains
him. Lester arose and for an hour ad
dressed the court, alleging his innocence
and explaining away the circumstances
which seemed most dark against him, in
manner, which we are told, brought tear
~ he ewes oe that large audience whicl