Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-07-25

"TH1 NEWS.
An lrishman about thirty five years
of age, q carpenter by trade, was killed
opposite St. Louis on Monday after
noon. From the accounts we have it
wa . most outrageous and ~dastardly
murder. The circumstances are as
follows: The Irishman, who, with his
wife, had been travelling some distance
on foot, stopped at the house Of David
w. Hill to get a drink Of water. The
woman was first sent in, but vas met
by . dog and returned. Her husband
then advanced, and seeing NJ one
about, took a dippcr which was in the
yard with the intention Of going to the
river to drink. Before getting away,
however, Hill spoke to him in rough
terms, telling him to bring the dipper
back. The Irishman retortcd likewise
in strong language, and perhaps rcfu-
sed to obey Hill then picked up a
large club, four or five feet long, and,
following the other man, went up be-
hind him and struck him terrible
blow in the back of the neck, which,
though apparently sufficient to knock
him down, only staggered him. The
person assailed picked up a stick to de-
fend himself, and again spoke in I'M
measured terms of his treatment,
whereupon he was assaulted right and
left by Hill, and two white men and a
negro who ran up from the ferry boat.
The beating is spoken Of as most bru-
tai a. well as cOwardly. lie was
struck in the breast and neck, and in
deed scarcely any portion Of his body
escaped His face was horribly multi
ated, and in this awful manner he was
beaten to death. His wife, too, in at
tempting to get between her husband
and his assailants, received some pretty
severe bruises.
Hill was formerly an engineer on
one Of the ferry boats. but latterly, we
believe, he has been acting as super
intcndent Of the machinery Of all the
boats of the company. We arc unable
to say whether all Of the parties have
been arrested. 1t is presumed, how
ever, that they have.
A few days ago Major Rawlings Of
st. Louis was telegraphcd to, from
Leavenworth City. Kansas. to look ont
his wife, charged with setting fire to
the Theatre in that place and from
which spread so dire a conflagaration.
Accordingly, officer Orr was detailed
and Swallowed" the parties to a board
ing house down town, where all their
movements were watched. Tuesday
evening, John Kendall, Marshal of
Leavenworth City, arrived, and about
IL o'clock that night officers Orr and
Apologize arrested them. The parties
are still in st. Louis awaiting a war
rant from Gov. Stewart in answer to a
requisition from the Governor of Kan
~
We are unaware Of the evidence ex-
pected to be adduced against the accu-
sed. They appear to be confident that
a fair trial will result in their acquittal;
but from the tenor of an article we see
in the Kansas Ledger, just at hand, it
would seem that there are strong cir
cumstances against Easton.
The parties belong to the profession
of the stage, and acknowledge to being
in the theatre at the time Of the fire.
The woman says she was engaged for
two or three hours in passing buckets
and otherwise assisting to extinguish
the flames. Easton and his wife inten-
ded to leave for Paducah, Ky.
We are happy to announce that N.
A. johnson who SO cruelty murdered
Ostrand at Dubuque a few days since.
has been arrested, In taking
proceedings for his arrest the
Sheriff very sagaciously and
properly thinking that the murderer
would not be likely to take the rail-
road or any other public thoroughtare
till he had thrown pursuit off the track
Immediately procured horses for the
officers, and gave them pcremptory in
structions to follow him down the riv-
er onthis side, as it had been ascertain
ed that he had crossed the mouth of
the Catfsh-and also supplied them
amply with money and letters Of credit,
to pursue to st, Louis or farther if
necessary.
Capt. Morehiser proceeded to Gale
ma, aud Marshal Evans to Bellevue
Officers Swivel and O'Lsughlin pro-
ceeded Immediately down the Iowa
side OF the river, and soon got on the
track Of the murderer, which they
tracked with the greatest difficulty
through by-paths, underbrush and
rucks. Upon getting heal to Tete De
More, they by enquiry found that he
had passed and was about two hours
ahead Of them. They then left their
horses from the difficulty of the paths,
and about II o'clock Tuesday night
reached the ferry house and found the
murderer asleep in it. They brought
him up to Dubuque on Monday, secure
~ fastened by . rope, and through an
excited and large crowd Of citizens led
him down to the jail. His stories
we're confused and excited. He
acknowledged his being with Ostland
bat denies killing him, He il q pow
0lhl ,hsAvy4set swsde, with much o
~ bsstar epspeesity in him.
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