The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1857-11-04
Prom tho Undertook Rough Notes Extra, Oct. IL.
HORRIBLE MURDER.

a most cold b,ooded and atrocious murder,
rarely equallcd, was committed in the central
part Of this village in the broad light of day on
Monday aft rnoon, by dissiratcd, drunken
wretch named Dennis Tanner, upon the person
of his wife, an old lady Of 60 years. an indus.
trious, frugal and temperate woman, and tho
mother of nine or ten children, by cutting her
throat with butcher.knife. As far as We have
been able to learn, Tanner has had it in con-
temptation to murder his wife for some time
On Saturday he packed up his clothes and bid
his friends good by, stating that he was going
to leave in a few days. A large butcher-Enife,
with which he committed the deed, was also
noticed by his wife on his desk, and fears mani.
tested to her by a ncighbor alarmed her. Hav-
ing, no doubt, his mind fully made up, he now
seized on the most favorable opportunity to
accomplish his purpose. On Monday afternoon,
between 3 and 4 o'clock, Chere being no one
named Hannah White, who lived on the second
floor, Tanner and his wife occupying the rooms
in the third storyD Miss White, hearing sup
pressed cry Of murder, went to the window,
supposing tho c:y came from the street, but
could soc nothing The cry still continuing,
she ran to her door leading into the hall, and
upon looking up saw Tanner and his wife in
the upper hall just coming out of their room, he
having one arm around her neck, and choking
or stabbing her. (she was too much frightened
to tell which) with his right hand, his wife in
the meantime struggling to get away from him.
Miss White Immediately ran up stairs, took
hold Of Tanners arm and released his wife,
who ran Gown stairs to the head of the first
fight Of stairs pursued by Tanner, where no
caught up with her, and finished up the horrible
tragedy by truttally knocking her down stairs
into the back yard, where death rut an end to
her sufferings. Tanner, having kicked his wife
down stairs, ran up into his room and locked
himself in. The rumor Of the murder created
great excitement, and collected around the
house a large crowd who manifested disposi.
ton to hang the murderer on the spot. A rush
was made, headed by Sheriff Acklcy, who upon
arriving at the door Of the room where Tanner
had secrctcd himself, demanded admittancc,
and upon being refused admission, smashed in
| the door and arrested him, he still holding the
fatal knife in his hand. When arrested and
| taken to view the mangled CORPSE Of his wife,
he manifested the most hardened indifference,
and remarked that he felt happier now than he
had for some time. He does not deny com.
! uniting tho murder, but pleads Justification
His bedroom, where the fatal stabs were no
doubt indictad, presents horrible spectacle
Large clots Of blood stain the floor, and on the
sides Of the door leading 10 the hall finger
| marks are visible indeed, the whole house
from the top to the bottom is smearcd with
| blood.
Coroner Rusk. Of stuyvcsant, held nm in
| Guest in the evening, and rendered verdict
that the deceased came to her death BY being
stabbed in the neck by a knife in the hands Of
her husband, Dennis Tanner. .........
| The prisoner is about 10 years old, and ha,
led dssipated life. JAN. =