Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-03
MORNING LEADER.
HISTORICAL.


! The first and the only murder committed with
10 the limits Of this city, $50 far as we know, }
occurred nearly sixty years since, at some cab.
ins under the hill The parties were Indians.
There are three persons now living who were
10 Cleveland at the time, and saw the combat
ants. They are Allan Gaylord and Alonzo CAT
ter, of Newburgh and Julius G. Huntington,
Of Painesville. As to the precise time when it
was committed, they DO not agree, but place il
in the year 1901 or 1902.
Nobsy, MeDObsy, or Menompsy, alias Big
Son, was a medicine man, either Chippsway
or an Ottawa. Among Indians medicine man
is coDjurer priest, prophet, and warrior,
as well as doctor. Monompsy had prescribed
officially for the wife Of Big Son, who was Of
the tribe Of the Senecas, and she had died.
Big Son, alias Nicksaw, was brother to Sen.
eca, noted Indian and friend to the whites,
sometimes called Stigonish or Stignonish.
at that time the city consisted chiefly Of
some huts on the river, between St. Clair sta Get
and Superior, west of Union Lane, Here the
surveyors had built cabin in 1906. and a
small store house at spring, few rods south
of the junction of st. Clair street and Union
Lane, Afterwards, in 1897, Lorenzo Garter
built house just north of this junction.
At the time Of the murder, David Beyout
had erected a small still for making whisky, on
the bank of the river, which was supplied from
this spring. af,r .-......
Alexander Campbell had also built trading
house, that must have stood in River street,
opposite NJ. B. SCOTS warehouse
In the dusk OF the evening, both Big svn and
Menompsy being somewhat elevated by the fire
wster Of Beyouts still, they had an alteration
respecting the case Of NAL practice, by which
Nicksaw claimed that his wife had been killed
Retaliation is the Indian law of justice Nick
saw had threatened to kill the Indian DOCTOR
but he always claimed that he was charmed
man and no bullet could hurt him. Me no
iraid," said Menompsy, only few minutes be-
fore they walked out Of the store and took the
trail that wound up the bluff along Union Lane
The Seuecas were encamped on the east side
of the river below CarteE's, and the Chppe-
ways and 0ttawas on the west side, part way
up the hill.
As they went along the path Big Son put
out his hand as though he intended friendly
shake, after the manner of white men. At the
same time he drew a knife and stabbed Me-
nompsy IN the side. The blood spirited from his
body, which Carer tried to stop with his hand
as the Indian fell. "Nobsy broke now, yes,
Nobsy broke" were his last words, and in a
few minutes he was dead. The Chippeways
took up the corpse and carried it to their camp
on the west side.
Major Carter knew full we'll what would hap
pen unless the friends Of Menompsy were ap-
peased. During the night the valley of the
Cuyahoga echoed with their savage voices, in.
furiated both by liquor and revenge.
The Chippeways and Ottawas were more nu-
merOus than the Senecas. In the morning the
warriors of tho first named nation were seen
with their faces painted black, certain symbol
ol wal ""''t"Vt h""vl"5 sVii sesiI~1 49, -
that time, and Amos SpaffOrd, who with Major
Carter, constituted the principal men of The
place. The murder of Menompsy was by them
compromised for gallon OF whisky, which
BeyOut was to make that day, being the next
after the killing. One Of the stipulations was
that the body should be taken to Rocky River
before it was "covered OF mourned for with
the help Of the whisky. BeyOut was busy and
did not make the promised gallon of spirits.
The Chippeways waited all day, and went over
the river, decidedly out Of humor They were
followed and promised two gallons on the COM
ing day, which reduced their camp halloo to the
tone of mere sullen murmur, But Carter
and his party well knew that in this sup
pressed anger there was as much vengeance as
in the loud howlings Of the previous night
They fulfilled their promiSe, and upon receiving
their two gallons the Chippeways and otta.
was took up the corpse, and according to
agreement, went to Rocky River and held
their pow WOW there. Carter did not sleep
for two nights, and probably few Of the real.
dents enjoyed their beds very much until the
funeral procession was out Of sight
Such is the substance of tho statements Of
Capt, Gaylord, Mr. Carter, and Mr. Hunting.
ton "a son of Gov Huntington,) all Of whom
remember the event CIV.