Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-12-24

mouth, Warren county, Illinois. They were
communicated to the Beacon by gentlema,
who was in Monmouth at the time of their oc
currence: ..~
Mr. VIM. Crozer, a very respectable young
man OF Monmouth, man of good character
good morals, and member of one of the
churches, became deeply attached to daugh-
ter OF Mr.. Vim. Fleming, Of the sane place,
which attachment was rs strongly reciprocated.
But alas for the young man, although possessed
OF an excellent character, he was poor. This
was sufficient to array the father, who was re-
| puted to be wealthy, and the SONS against him.
They all bitterly opposed his aspirations for the
! hand and heart of the young lady, and sought
every opportunity to show their feelings and ex-
press their. contempt for the poor young man.
1t is reported that he had been accosted by the
old man Fleming even il the streets, and taunt-
ed with his wanto wealth.
"Ah! young man, you are getting up in the
world you would like to marry old Fleming's
daughter, and get some of old Jennings money
wouldn't your" SIS z<,a ss.
The young man, though stung to the very
quick of his sensitive soul, would put up in 81
lenee, with the graceless insults, and not taunt
back again, restrained by the deep affection for
the daughter. To stlfe, if possible, the love of
the young lady, her father determined to send
her away to Pennsylvania, SO that by absence
and distance, he might estrange her acknowl-
edged affection for the young man In accor-
dance with this resolution she was sent, but on
taking the cars, she was heard to express her
intention yet to marry Mr.. Crozier, inspite of
the unkind efforts of her friends to prevent it.
After the young lady had been gone some
time, there were some movements on the part
OF Crozier, which led the Flemlngs to suspect
70 int 6od tnfn llo H.. ~.
they had provided for her. This led to the hor-
rible tragedy.
On Thursday morning Dec. 11th, Mr.. William
Fleming, with his two sons, Henry and John,
and lawyer, who was employed by them for
the occasion, proceeded to the Baldwin House,
IN Monmouth, where young Crozier boarded,
and between the hours of eight and nine in the
forenoon, requested an Interview with him ut
his room. He went with them as requested
and when he had entered the room, the elder
Fleming locked the door. There they remained,
our informant said, from about o'clock A. NJ,
to o'clock P. NJ, locked in. During the time
they were thus locked in, every effort was made
by the Jennings both father and sons, and by
the lawyer, to induce Crozier to sign such
writing as they should dictate, renouncing the
young lady IN question forever. This he reso-
lutely refused to do in spite Of threats and per-
suasions, which were freely used A sort of
compromise writing was finally agreed upon and
signed, which was satisfactory to the father but
not to the sons. They declared hey would have
revenge by lashing him with a whip they had
brought for the purpose, which they according
ly proceeded to execute.
After they had struck six or seven blows Gro
zier determined to resist with all his might. A
desperate scuffle ensued. One of the Flemings
drew pistol and fred at Crozier with intent to
kill just as he fred, however, the lawyer struck
the hand which held the pistol up and the |
charge lodged in the ceiling instead of the
head of the young man. Crozier then assaing t
the assassin with jack-knife, stabbed him and |
instantly killed him. Meantime the report of I
the pistol alarmed TIE house, and the brother of |
Crozer being there rushed to his rescue. Find
ing the door locked on the inside, he burst it
open, and with one blow knocked down the eld-
er Fleming, who opposed his passage. AS soon
as the door was burst open, the brother who was
last wounded, passed down into the bar room,
fell and expired. The blow which feted the ell
der Fleming left him for time senseless.
Thus in attempting by force TO compel young
Crozier to accede to their syranical demands,
two brothers were slain by the person assailed.
and the third person was roughly handled
When the deed was done Crozier voluntarily
surrendered himself 10 the proper officers for
examination, and was, we understand, acquitted
On the ground of ajustifabIe homicide in self.
defence.
When it was suspected that Croxier was GOING
10 follow Miss Fleming TO Pennsylvania. anothe1
brother was dispatched post haste, 10 bring her
acme, and when the fatal tragedy had occurred +
hey had not returned. ss, -