Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-03-11
VOL. ~.
Bloody Tragedy In Muscntine Co.
lntideiity of a W1e-Kiiiing Of the
Ulfs's Father bu her Husband

.
a most desperate rencoun,er, between
Mr.. benjamin Nye and Mr.. George
Mccoy, his son-in-law. from the Mus
ca,ine Journal, of Saturday last. Mr..
Nye. il will be recollec,ed, is the same
person who came near killing Maj. Cor
den a few years ago, in fight near Mus
catine. We were at Muscatine on Sal.
urday and from what we could learn, we
,hink that Mccoy will be discharged By
the examining court ON the ground tina,
he acted in defence Of his rights,
Scarcely has the the sensitive heart
ceased 10 thrill al the recital of the hor
rid murder Of Jared Irwin, and even he.
fore the blood. stained earth at the devo,-
ed spot has resumed its natural color. ere
we are again called upon to record the
particulars of a fatal ARRAY which orcur.
red within almost stones throw Of the
same spot, and nearly similar in many
respects, with an equally lamen,able re.
cult.
On "Wednesday evening last. about
sun. set, near The residence of Mr.. Cham
bers. senior. eight miles above this place,
IN this county, an alteration took place
between Benjamin Nye and George Nc.
Coy, his son.ln-law, in which the former
was almost instantly killed.
In order to give the reader more cor.
rect and full understanding of the case,
we here take occasion to revert briefly
10 one or two occurrences OF the pas, few
years in the life of MIR. Mccoy, whose
career has been an evenifnl and some.
what romantic one. Some years since,
he was employed by Mr.. Nye as a dav
Isblrer, when he became enamored of
his daughter, and notwithstanding the
opposition of her parents, the young
couple, believing that the "course nf true
love never did run SMOOTH" resolved 10
marry at all hazards. They according.
)y elcped. wen, over into Illinois and got
married, for which M'Coy incurred the
impIacable enmi,y Of his brides father.
M'Coy soon afterwards removed 10 Cedar
county, whers he lived many years in
prosperity and happiness. aud was once
elevated TO the Office Of Sheriff Of that
county. Having suffered a reverse Of
fortune, in the spring of 1919. 1--WE be-
ieye, he went 10 California--srom
whence he returned few months since,
having been fortunate enough 10 acquire
handsome lille fortune. To his un.
nt'erable surprise, when he went to the
residence OF his wife, she received him
10 very cold and formal manner. His
rage was almost uncomfortable when he
learned irpta her own lips The melancholy
story of her faiihlessness and infdelpy.
and when, in confirmation of her asser.
tion, she pointed to one fring wifness
OF the fact, mentioning. at the same time,
judicial func,ionary OF an adjoining
county as her paran.our.
Justly indignant o, this shameful vio-
Iation oftheir marriage vow. he gave her
10 understand, in plain terms, that they
were henceforih to betro; he was deter
mined, with kis children, to return TO Cal
ifornia, and she might remain where she
WAS. and do the best she could with hers.
She continued unrelen,ing, c,incing no
slgn OF remorse or repentance, when he
left her. Repairing TO the residence of
one OF her paramours, for the ayowed
purpose OF obtaining satisfaction. he
found that worthy dienitary seriously
indisposed, for which reason alone he a.
greed 10 postpone ::h se contemplated ssf-
Element.
Wednesday last. in company with
friend who took his team, MIR. M'Coy
went 10 the residence of his father in. law.
{.omeiimes called Montpelier, about IL
miles above This place on the river,I
where his wife resided, to obtain his
children. Mr.. Nye being absent. he ex-
perienced but little difficulty in getting
the children five in number) from their
mother end grandmother. Soon after
their departure, Mr.. Nye returned, who,
on learning what had taken place. furi-
ously started in pursuit. his son-in-law
(Mr. Patterson accompany ing him.
FROM the testimony, we learn ihaj, as
MIR. M'Coy was returning from the
mouth Of Pine. with his children in a
wagon, he was oyertaken near William
Chambers, by Mr.. Nye and Mr.. Pat.
terson, who intercepted his path by driv-
ing around him. Mr.. Nye jumped on,
Of his wagon and, while advancing. de-
manded the instant release Of his children.
Mr.. M'Coy told him 10 stand back
declaring il he touched them ha would
be shot. Mr.. Nye sill insisted, how
ever. expressing determination to have
them or die; he was again warned to
stand back several times, which he heed
ed not. but came up to the wagon aud
took hold of the oldest child by the arm,
when Mr.. M'Coy shot him. Mr.. Nye
then picked up club and struck at Mr..
M'Coy. who shot him twice in success.
sion. Mr.. M'Coy was IN the wagon a,
the time. standing over his children. Mr..
Nye came a. him again with his club.
and was shot fourth time. E.r. Pa,
,erson then took hold OF M'Coy, aud
Nye again came at him. striking him
several lines with his club. Having lost
his pistol. M'Coy, alter diseneaging him
self. drew bowie-knife, sprang towards
Nye. stabbed him in the breast--Nye
still endeavoring 10 strike with his club.
tie was stabbed three iimes--ihe third
took effect in the shoulder. When the