Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1856-12-24

LOVE, CoURTSHlP AND NURpER.-Ihe
Aurora Beacon 5rings US the causes
leading to the dreadful homicide AZ Mon
mJ1th, Warren county, which was brief
~ announced by telegraph few days
ago.
William Cr0LIer, very respectable
Young man OF Monmouth, Of good char
ac,er became attached to daughter Of
Mr. William flemisg Of that place, which
attachment vas fully and warmly recip-
rocated. The young man, though other
wise an unexceptlonab!e person, was
poor, and that circumstance operated 20
create fierce hostility towards the
match, on the part Of Fleming and his
two sons. They took every opportunity
Of insulting bim, and tauntlbg bim with
his poverty.
To stte, if possible the love of the
young lady, her father determined to
send her away to Pennsylvania, 50 that
By absence and distance be nigh es-
TRANCE her acSnowle lodged affection for the
young man.
In accordance with this resolution, she
was sent, but on taking the cars, she was
heard to express her intention yet to
marry Mr. Lrozier, IN spite OF the I'M
kind efforts OF her friends to prevent 1t.
After the young lady had been gone
some time, there was some movements
on the part of Crozler, which led the
Famings to suspect that he intended to
follow her to the seciusion they had pro-
videi for her, This led to the horribio
tragedy.
On Thursday morning, Dec. l4th, Mr..
William Fleming, with his Two sons,
Henry aud John, and q lawyer, who was
employed Is them for the occasion, pro-
ceeded 10 the Baldwin House, in Mon
mouth, where young Crozier boarded,
and between the hours Of eight and nine
in the forenoon, requested al Interview
with Linn at his room.
he went with them, as requested, and
wuen they had all catered the room, the
elder Fleming locked the door.
There they remained, our informant
SAYS, from about , O'Clock, \. NJ, to
T.. ~. locked in.
During tho time they were thus locked
in, every effort was made by tho Elem
jngs, both father and sons, and by tho
LAWYER, 10 induce Crozler TO sign such u
writing as they should dictate, renounc-
ing the young lady in question, forever.
This he resolutely refused TO do, in
spile Of threats ami persuasions which
we're freely used,
a sort Of COMPROMISE writing was IL
nally agreed upon and signed, which
was satisfactory TO the father, bu, not
to the sons. They declared they would
have revenge by lashing him with whip
they had brought fer he purpose, which
they at once proceeded to execute.
After they had struck x or seven,
blows, Crozier determined to resist with
all nia might. 4 desf crate scnthe en-
sued. One Of the Jennings drew u pis-
toi aud tired of Crozier with the intent
TO kill. just as he fired however, the
lawyer struck the hand that held the PTS
toll IN, and the charge lodged in the cell.
ing instead OF the young mans head
! Crozier then assai.ed the assassin with q
Jack knife, stabbed him and ,nstane ly
killed him. Then, turning upon the 9th
er brother, be stabbed him.
Meantime the report OF the pistol alsr
med the house, anu the DrotbeC OF Cfo
lier being there, rushed to his rescue
Finding the door locked Oh the inside
he burst i. open and with one blow
knocked down the elder Fleming VIII
opposed his passage.
As soon as the.door was burst open
the brother who was last wounded pa.se
into the bar room, fell there ana expired
The blow which feiled the elder Elem
ing, peeled the skin from his forehea
and left him for while senseless.
Thus, in attempting by force, to com
pei young Crozier, to accede to their ~
ranical dictasion, two brothers were slai
by the person they assaulted, and tt
third was roughly handled.
When the deed was done, Crozies vol
unfairly surrendered himself TO til
proper officers for examination, aad wal
We understand, acquitted on the groun
Of jasti6sble homicide in self defens,
When II was suspected that Crosi.
wss sboas 70 follow Mics 9lsniss