The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1853-05-07
Murder Trial In Bureau County.

In the Barcau Circuit Court was tried lest
week the cases Of the People vs.. William W.
Williams. The prosecution was conducted by
States Attorney Wallace. assisted by Hon. B. C.
Cook the defence by Messrs Buck, Ct uennepin,
Gallagher Of Henry. Peters Of Princeton. and
Richmond Of Lacor.
The facts elieted on the trial were abou, these.
Some time last October, Williams came to the
house OF Mckee, (for whose murder he was tried
in Henry, and staid all night, Mex. keeping q
sort Of boarding house and grocery. Next day
Mckee and Williams hired buggy and started
or about noon, in pursuit Of Mr.. Jones, who,
Mckee said, owed him for board, and had run
away. Before they left town, Williams stopped
and purchased jack knife. They drove oil in
the direction Of Peru At l o'clock they were
from Esq. Bacon's, some four miles north Of Hen.
~. About o'clock, same day, Esq Bacon saw
man leaning against a tree-then Oh his hands
and knees He wentup to him, and found it was
Mckee. Saw his throat cut. Took him to Lis
home, and sent for physician. Asked him how
he came to hurt himself so, to which Mckee said
"man did it. ran into the timber TO get away
from him.. Mckee died in about three hours
without having been able to give any further &C.
count Of his murder. About dark same evening,
Williams was again met by the boy that had seen
him at o'clock. He was then about five miles
from Henry, going towards Henry. Boy asked
where he had left Mckee. lie said he had left
him little back in the woods, and that he was
pretty eight" About s o'clock, DIR. Baker, who
had been called 10 see Mckee met Williams, still
in the buggy, two miles farther from Henry on
the same road, still headed towdrds Henry. Dr.
B, asked il that was the same buggy Mckee had
got. lie said "ye." The Doctor then told him
Mckee was at ESQ. Baeon's, hur. some, but not
much, and asked him to 60 back to Bacons Will
Jams refused. The DR.. then told him he should
go. Williams then said. when he and Mckee were
riding along, two men passed them; he received
blow in his left side, just after passing the men
and he fell out on one side Of the buggy and
Mckee on the other. That the last words he heard
Mckee say was II have no money" That he
knew nothing afterwards, till nearly dark, when
he found himself lying on the ground cold and
wet, the horse grazing near by, and could see
nothing Of Mckee The Dr. examined him, but
could find no wound or mark en- his side, or any
where about him. Williams was taken back to
Bacon's house.
This was on Thursday. On the following Tues
day Esq. Bennett, found about f We rods from the
road, and mile and half north Of Esq Bacon.,
McKee's ovsrcoat, . whip, and the knife pur.
chased by Williams in Henry, all Of which were
covered with blood The ground where they
we've found for about rod across was trampcd
up. Us fboys bad been wrestling there" There
was buggy track up to the spot The track
left the spot. aud went abou, twenty rods Into the
woods over logs, DC, showing that II had not been
driven by man. then took short turn back into
the road.
These are substantially The facts as elected on
the trial. Williams gave several entirely different
versions Of the matter at different times, so that
no reliance whatever can be placed in his state
msn,s. The sase was submitted to the jury, who
returned verdict Of guilty Of murder"
On the affidavit, Of the council for the defend.
ant however. that thVy had been called to the
defence ouy on the morning Of the trial. and tina,
they had net been able to give tie circumstances
Of the case that investigation which was ncces
sary to do ]. justice. q new trial was granted by
the eouIt