Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-08-17
[From the Press and Tribune
.asaOfhsr krtghfftAl TragedN.
A Cold Bl00ded and Deliberate
Murder
IN BROAD DAYLIGHT AND IN A PUB
Lie STREET, in PRESENCE OF
A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
FATHER AND SON ARRESTED.

One of those frightful murders which
have become 80 common in this city Of late,
was committed yesterday, in one of our
NEST public streets and at an hour in the
day when they are more filled with people
than any other. The murderer is a young
msn, named Francis Busch, son Of John
Busch. an old and highly respected citizen
of large wealth and influence. The victim
is an lrishman, a carpenter by trade, named
James Magee.
The circumstances are these MIR. G. T..
Boggs, master carpenter. is erecting
brick building on the West side of state St :,
just South of Van Buren,. The building,
South, is two story frame one, occupied
as a dwelling house, and below as lager
beer saloon, by Jacob Rome. Mr.. Boggs
claims that MIR. Buschs building encroaclres
upon his land, some four or five inches, and
heiwas requested by Mr.. Boggs to have it
moved but Mr.. Busch refused to do so. Mr..
Boggs sought the advice of counsel, who
told him to proceed and cut down so much
of the building as stood on his land and that
he would be protected by law in doing SOL
Yesterday morning Mr.. Boggs set men at
work taking off the clap. boards from
Buch's house on the side which encroached
upon his, and soon after they commenced,
Francis Busch, young man aged nineteen
years, and son of Mr.. James Il. Busch, ap-
preached the men who were at work and
threatened to shoot them if they did not de-
sist. They stopped work and shortly after
had young Busch arrested by the police,
who had been previously sent there by or
der OF Mayor Haines, in anticipation Of
disturbance, and he was taken to the police
Office, where he was soon after bailed out
by his father recognizing in the sum Of $500
and he returned to the scence OF the d,stur-
buance. Further trouble being apprehend.
ell, officers Wood, Cleaves and Knight were
sent there also. shortly after young Busch
returned, he commenced making manifesto.
tions of some evil designs and lie was con-
sequently watched closely by the officers,
but finally he went into the beer saloon
kept by Jacob Rome, and which il in
the building from which the workmen were
tearing off the sidings. got Colts revolver
from Rome. it being previously loaded for
the purpose. went silly out to the platform
OF Boggs' building and up close to James
Magee, who was on a ladder engaged in
putting up platform, and shot him through
the body, the ball entering his left side JUS.
below the ribs, passing through his left
lung, and lodging near the base Of the ninth
RIB. He was taken to the drug store nearly
opposite where he died in about hour
ionng Busch was Immediately seized by
the officers present. who had great difficult
" In preventing the other workmen frt m
killing him on the spot. lie was brought
to the police Office and locked up. Hi,
father James b. Busch, and Jacob Rome
were ALEC soon after arrested and locked nm
as accessories in the fearful trgedy.
Magee, the murdered man, lived with his
parents at 20S Buffalo street, and was. We
should judge, about thirty years Of age
His aged father arrived soon after the ter.
rible occurrence. His lamentations were
most p'table.
Francis Busch lie young man of fine tai.
ents, recent graduate o! the Jesuit COL
lege in Indiana, and has been until within
about two months past student in the law
office of Wilkins, Thomas 4 Roberts H.
has been very generally esteemed a. Quiet
honorable, inoffensivs young man.
The Jury. after consolidation. rendered =
verdict that the deceased cane 70 Bic dssth
lteen the easets q . veusa saaaed So 4
J pistol ated b Tie had . ttaaeiI noish.