New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-08
TIE FORT MADISON MURDER.
Correspondence OF The Gate City.


FoRT MADISON, June l. 1859.
The Coroners jury were engaged during the pllr-
cipal portion OF Yesterday in examination OF the cir
cnmsiances attending the murder OF Samuel Hendcr-
son, by II. b. Straw, Captain of the Saracen. | sub
nit brief statement of the affair as II appeared in
evidence before the Jury yesterday.
some difficulty occurred between the mate ard ~
coOred pantryna connected with the boat. The
latter jumped ashore and tied to stable in the real
of Front street closely pursued by the mate who held
a pistol in each hand, and threatened 10 " blow hin
Though il he did not stop. When r. Miller, former
Sheriff OF the County, reached the stable, Tue
negro was dRwn and several OF the boats
crew were standing over him, some beating
him and Others with drawn knives. He was torclbiy
hurried aboard the boat, where the mate brandlsbed
a KNIFE. about his throat, compelled him % strip,
and then tied him up to a post for the purpose Of
hoggn 2 Here several of the citizens asked the cap
tain to and the negro over to the proper author
tiles, if he was guilty OF crime that ne
might be punished according Ia law. IL rttOrted by
calling them damned Niger thieves and ordering
hem to leave the boat. When they reached the leyee
aud Turned about the captain stood with revolver
presented at the crowd and several guns appeared on
the lower dee k. DIR. w III. Davis, who IL Justice of
the Peace commanded the citizens "a peace officer
to prevent the boat leaving until the negro was re-
leased Several men seized the bow line which the
crew were drawing aboard and made IL fast 10 post
Some one on the boat took ~ cut the line, while
another stood by his side with gun leveled at The
crowd on shore. Thomas Slack then pointed a gun
which had lust been given him by some citizen AT
the boatmHn who attempting to cut. the rope,
and threatened 10 fire II he did not deslst gun
was then fired from the boat into the crowd
The captain up 10 the hurricane deck
and commenced fling Lis revolver ranging d.
rectlv toward Henderson. witness named Davis
testifes that he standing within three feet OF Hen
derson when he shot. lie says III his testimony
that Henderson hal been on the leVee but very ie"
minutes had spoken 10 no one, and had taken no part
in the attempt Ia stop the boat. On the second Ot
third discharge OF the revolver he put his hand on the
night side OF bis face, and the witness asked HIM II
he was shot," and he said he was. Blood began %
run over his hands and he turned about and walked
ND the levee To Front street. The next man shot was
james II. ndersOu, brother OF the deceased Ihe hrng
continued from both les until the boat pushed I'll,
and kept up from the boat until 1t was IN the md
die Of the river.
Leighton testified that he heard the captain boast
while the Saracen was lying at Pontoosuc, that he
had laid one man to the land, that he shot another
three tine but did not Kill him, aud that he would
I'm the .herf ON sight: would send him out Of the
world before his Maker ready for him, etc. This
evidence shows that Straw believed lie had Killed
Henderson and aso that he was resisting not an Or
rauized mob ~ the citizens, but an sftcer OF the
reacr Davis is a Justice OF the Peace, and not
a sheriff as Straw evidently supposed. lie saw an
ATTEMPT 10 abduct a man tom Iowa by force
in violation Of Iowa laws, and very prop
erly. interposet his authority az al officer
Of the peace 10 prevent il. Had Straw believed
that the people improperly interfering 10 detaln
his boat there would be some pIeteN fOr resort 10
violence, but his statement shows that ne thouSnt
Justify The continued fire kept up On the citizens on
Front street. About fft-en persons were wouiiI'd
Will, stauuue Oh the sidewalk Or IN the doors along
the ,treet several of whom had not been neT the
boat The wonder expressed by all who pass along
the street and witness the shot and ball marks On
the doors AID windows, H. that more were not Killed.
The VERDICT II the jury il, Substantially. that the DE-
ceased came hi. death by pistol shot IN the hands
Of the CAPTAIN Of tie steamboat Saracen, II. H. Sfaw
II also IN Caes the inst mate who 10 tie captain
br, Their end other persons CONNECTED with the DOat
whose nan 80 were 10 the jury unknown.
Samuel Henderson was buried yesterday afternoon.
The Saracen passed Burlington Saturday night,
about Oclock but did not land. understand that
.he tied up about three miles below, ind seat her Pr
D., up 10 the city ascertain ii any atemps would D.
made 10 arrest the officers that be returned - the boat
and advised TIE captain pass. The FhsS H.s wa
not in readiness n follow because the Ssarh VI De-
M0ines CouIty did not see prCpr 10 engage her, al
though Authorized 80 10 DO By the Governor. Tw'
reason, were reported Tor this failure l., that h'
captain refused 20 rk collision Of tAe boats and tn
ether hat the N srf feared tLet i've VI six nor
might be killed" have DO means Of knowing whiCl
| i The correct yer.iOn # the matter.
| The County Jsdge has made al appropriation +
rav he expenses 81 the officers who are low in pur
suI Of the criminals ana the Mayor and Board u Al
dermen have Iered a reward of $50 for the appre
henson q toe captain and first mate OF 800 for either
The excitement i still intense. But one feedng PEI
| yades the entire place.