The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-01

From the Detroit Free rross. jane 10
We yesterday learned the particulars of
another iiendlsh aud cold-blooded murder,
occurring near Hastings, Barry county, in
which, like the last, u woman is the victim.
Mr., James A. Sweezey, Prosecuting Attor-
ney of Barry county, was in the city during
the day, in pursuit Of the murderer, who is
named John Dillin, and from him, having
become aware of his business, and sought
him out, we have learned the following par,
ticulars:
The murdered woman, who was killed by
blow on the head from a club, and srteen
s,abs with dirk-knile. is Mrs. Jane Hard.
ing, of Napoleon. She was formerly, with
her husband, n resident Of Barry county,
and lived near to Dillin. About three years
ago, three grain stacks belonging TO the lat
ter, which stood near Mrs. Hardng's house,
were burned. This occurred in the day time
and was attributed by Dillin TO Mrs. Hard
ing for what reason We are unable TO say.
At all events he considered the proof sub.
stantial, and having collected together q
party Of five, consisting Of a relative named
Amos Dillin, friend named Isaac Devoe,
and three brothers, named Theophilus James
and Henry Hyde, they proceeded to the
house OF Mrs. Harding, took her cut by
force, tarred and feathsred her, and then
burned her house TO the ground. For this
act they were arrested, and having forfeited
their bail once. and delayed the prosecution
which was for burglary and arson--for
some time, the matter was finally settled by
the payment of 5000 on the part OF the de-
PENDANTS. There the matter rested for the
time being, aud the Hardings moved away
aud settled in Napoleon, jackson county.
Some little time since Mrs. Harding went
back to Barry county to visit her relatives
residing there. About two weeks since she
determined upon going home. Previous TO
doing so she had occasion to visit n post
Office mile or two distant, aud started in
the morning for that purpose. Stopping at
the house of neighbor, she said she desired
10 see John Dllin in regard To fence which
enclosed "a half acre lot in which her child
was buried, from which he had taken and
carried away some rails. A this time Dill
lin passed by the house, and she joined him.
the two walking into dense piece Of woods,
on their way 10 the post Office. Having ur-
rived at the center OF the woods, he knock.
ed her down with u club, dragged her into
the wOode, and stabbed her no less than ak.
teen times. lie then threw her body into a
cavity in the ground, caused by the upturn
ing Of the roots of tree, and threw u log
upon it. together with some bark. and other
materials calculated to conceal it. The
place where be left the body was abou, twtD.
ty.two rods from the roads
Suspicious were excited at the time, from
the fact that he wa. known TO have entered
the woods with her, aud TO have arrived at
the post Office, much excited aud with mud
dy and torn clothes alone. II being known
that bad blood existed between them, some
Investigations were made, which resulted iD
no discoveries, and il was supposed that she
had found an opportunity 10 ride 10 the
nearest railroad station aud gone home. a
day or two since, however, intelligence was
received from her husband that she was no,
at home and the inhabitants at once turned
out TO look for her. They scourei tie w0oda
eiiectuaily, and on the second day iound ber
body in the same POSITION "a il had been eIt
IN by the murderer. One leg and arm wa
uncovered in the rubbish. bat the body was
untouchcd. The persons engaged IN the
search were attracted To the spot by tie
stencil arising from the decaying corpse.
DIlin. who had rcInainei IN the neigh
borhood during the two weeks intervening
between the murder and the discovery OF
the body, left as soon as b. received inieIli.
gence Of the search which wa- being iu.titl.
ted. Ii was ascertaiDed that he WAS making
direct for the nearest station on the Detroit
and Milwaukee Railway, and officers Sub.
bu. and Carpenter were immediately d.s-
patched after him. Mr.. S.euzy al the
same time started for Detroit by the M.chi.
gan Central Railroad. with view 10 inter
cept him. Upon the arrival u tbs train
last evening be learned through the coDiuc.
tor that Diiiin was arrested at Lowell. On
the Detro; aud Milwaukee Railway, aBd
taken back
The coroner jury rendered verdict Of
wIllful murder against DiIiin. The deed
was brutal ard cold-bIOO'iod oDe. and
equals any thing which has ever happened in
our state 10 the horror Of its detaI!s. These
awful crimes are becoming too prevalent tOr
The safe,y or well being Oi the eOuairy, and
demaDd the most rigorous means Tor their
snpprass'0n and Punishment. Two daboli-
cal murdrs baye besn committed within
the last tso weeks, aud s.ycra. more with.
10 few months. Wba, ere We coming 10 :