The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-03-11
raTAL. ARRAY IN MUsCATlNr :

nesday oil last week lew miles below nj,
place IN Musca,inc county, the parties i.
ling known 10 many Of our ctlzens--w.
publish from the Muscaline Journal II,
following particulars:
Scarcely has the sensitive heart ce,s,d
10 thrill at the recital Of The horrid murd..
i Jared Irwin, and even before The lla's
stained earth al The devoted spo, has ~
.umcd its natural color, ere we AFRO 49,
called upon TO record the particulars az.
fatal atiray which occurred within almost
stones throw Of the same spot, an1 pea,L'
similar in many respects, with al conan.
lamen,able result.
On Wednesday evening Inst, abou, -,
SET, near tho residence Of Mr.. chambo..
Sen, eight miles above this place. in ~,
county, an alteration took place belwea'
Benjamin Nye and George M'Coy a;a
son.in-IaM) in which The former was V :,
most instantly killed.
Ia order to give the reader moro co,
rect and full understanding Of The case
We here take occasion TO revert briefly ~
one or two occurrences Of the past few
years in the life Of Mr.. M'Coy whose =.
reer has been m cyentiu! and somewb,,
romantic one Some years since. ho w,s
employed by Mr.. N,e as day ab@er
when he became cnnmored of bis dauoh,er
and, notwithstanding tho opposition q be,
parents, the young couple, believing IA,
.the course Of true love never did RIM
smooth," resolved to marry at all hazard,
They accordingly elopcd, went over into
/ Illinois and got married, for which MEOW
Incurred the implacable enmily Of ri,
brides father. M'Coy soon after removed
10 Cedar county, where he lived manv
years in prosperity and happiness, and was
once elevated TO the Office Of Sheriff Of lha,
county. Having suffered reverse Of for.
tune, in the spring Of 1910, 1--WE believe he
went to California, from where be returned
a few months since, having been fortunate
enough TO acquire a handsome little for.
tune. TO his unu,terable surprise, when
he went 10 the residence OF his wife, she
received him in very cold and forms,
manner. Ills rage was almos, unconlroa.
ble when he learned from her own lips the
melancholy story Of her fai,hlessness aud
intidelily; and when, in confirmation oh
assertion, she pointed TO one lring iritaess
Of the fact mentioning, nj The same time, a
judicial functionary OF an adjoining county
IS her paramour. Justly indignant at his
shameful violation Of The marriage vow, he
gave her 10 understand, in plain terms, tia,
they were hcncetorth 10 be bro; he was de.
ltermned, with his children, 10 return to
California, and she might remain where
she was, and do the best she could with
hers. She continued unreleniing, evinc.
ing no sign oil remorse or repentance,
when be left her, Raparng TO The resi-
aonce Of Que of her paramours for The ayow.
ed purpose Of obtaining satisfaction, he
found that worthy dignitafy seriously iu
disposed, for which reason along he astc.4
10 postpone the contemplated settlement
Wednesday last, in company with a
friend who took his team. Mr.. MCoy went
II the residence Of his fa,her.in-lsw, SOM.
times called Montpelier, about II miles q
hove this place, on the riser) where bis
wife resided, to obtain his children. Mr..
Nyc being absent, he experienced but lit,
lie difficulty in getting the children tfre
in numbcr) from their mother and grand.
mother. Sam after their departure, Mr..
lNye returned. who, an learning what bad
taken place, !urionslg started in pursuit
bis son in-law (Mr. Piitersen) accompany
llng him.
FROM the testimony, we learn that, IS
Mr.. WCoy wns returning from the mouth
Of Pine, with his children 10 wagon, he
wns oycrtal,en, near William Chambers,
bv Mr. Me aud Mr.. Patterson, who inter.
ceptcd bis path ~ driving around him.
Mr.. Nye jumped %. Of his wagon, and,
while advancing, demanded the instant re-
lease Of tho children. MIR. M'Coy told hin
to stand back-declaIing if no touched
them he would be shot. Mr.. Nye still IN
sisted, however, expressing determination
to have them or die; be was again warned
to stand back several times, which he heed
ed not, but came up to the wagon and took
hold q the oldest child BY the arm, when
Mr.. M'Coy sho, him. Mr.. Nye then pick
ed up club and struck at Mr.. M'Coy. VIII
sho, him twice in succession. Mr.. M'Coy
was in the wagon nj the time, standing
over his children. Mr.. Nye came at hia
again with his club, aud was shot fourti
time. Mr.. Patterson then took bold o.
MEOW, and Nye again came at him, str,k
ing him several times with his club
Having lost bis pistol, M'Coy, after Olsen
gaging himself, drew bowie knife. spran!
towards Nye, and stabbed him in the breas
I-Nye still endcavoring to strike with hi
club. lie was stabbed three times-,ht
third took effect in the shoulder. Whel
tho knife was removed, Mr. Nye fell to tn
earth and expired nlmos, instantly.
/ Witnesses describe the conflict as shor
bloody, and decisive--c each comb atan
seemed firmly resolved TO conquer or die
and their movements were so rapid and il
such quick succession ms to preclude th
possibility Unsuccessful interference by ,h
spectators.
Messrs. M'Coy aud Patterson both re
ceived Sigh, injuries-ibe latter by receiv
ing blows intended for the former.
This case is now undergoing an exami
nation before Chief Justice Williams; D
c. Cloud, prosecuting attorney, and Ste
phen Whicher and ]. Scott Richman, at
,orneys for defendant