The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-07-14
Tragedy i'm COMPETING Town.
shiD.-SuttOn Legget Killed.


stlip--SuttOn Legget Killed.
We have the unpleasant duty of announ
.ing painful and tragic event which &C.
CURED in Competine the North Eastern Town
ship in this county, on the morning of Fri
day last, the sth inst In the Southwestern
part of that Township have lived several
years near neighbors, Mr.. Sutton Legget
and family named Overture, Father and
we believe two sons, one of them named
Benjamin The farms of the two families are
only separated by narrow lane, Lcggetts
laying west and Uverturff' east of the lane.
For two or three years past a bad state of
feeling has existed between the families and
frequently they have come into collision; on
one occasion Leggetts arm was broken by
a blow from Benjamin Overturff, which was
the foundation of suit in the District court,
and which was not calculated to allay the
i'll feeling on both sides. es ~ ,
It seems that recent cause of difficulty
was the herding of cattle by the Overturffs
around the farm, Of Leggett, the cattle being
occasionally driven through the lane dividing
the farms and past Leggett's House.
On the Friday morning mentioned above,
between and o'clock, the Overturfs, Fa-
ther, two sons and fourth party, came along
with large drove of cattle, Benjamin being
towards the head Of the drove, the others
I,aI,;oJ oorot+ n NAV -ox,,o sn ,,oorc or
age, was standing at the time in front of his
stable, some distance from his house and on
the same side of the lane. As the cattle
were passing Leggett started forward to pre-
vent them from throwing down the fence
against which they rubbed as they past,
whereat Benjamin Overturff threw club at
him. Leggett called for hoe to be brought
him at the same time jumping over the fence
near where Benjamin Overturff Stood The
hoe and pitch fork were brought by one of
his boys one of which he took turning round
to do so, but was almost instantly struck
over the head by Benjamin OVERTURE with a
fence stake and felled to the ground, and
was struck again after he was down, also on
the head. Two daughters and the wife of
Leggett Immediately fastened to his assist
ance, but could not get him to the house
alone, and one of them went for assistance,
the OVERTURE party seeming to stand aloof
After some delay the wounded man, who
from the first was irsensible from the effects
of the wounds, was removed to the house,
and medical assistance procured as soon as
possible, Drs. Hinsey & johnson of Dab
lonega, being called subsequently, but it was
found impossible to do anything for him, and
he died about - o'clock on Saturday, and
was buried on Sunday.
Benjamin Overturff was arrested and
brought before A. Lotspeich Esq, Justice of
the Peace Of this Township on Saturday,
before the death ofLeggett; but considerable
time being necessary to procure witnesses
of whom there were large number, the ex-
animation did not commence until Monday
at L O'CLOCK, P. NJ. the prisoner in the mean
time remaining in custody. AT the time APP
pointed, the examination, promising to be
a protracted one, was commenced before
Justice Lotspeich, S. NJ. Bonnifeld, special
Prosecutor, s. w. Summers and H. B. Hen
dershott, conducting the Prosecution, and
Williams & Hamilton, the defense, large
number of spectators in attendance. "
Since the above was in type, the examina-
ton has been concluded, but the decision Of
the court has not been made. 1t is due to
fairness to say that the testimony for the
defense, which had not been rendered when
the above was prepared, conflicts, very ma
teriaAy with the foregoing statement offacts,
and we caution the public to make the nee
essary allowances. ,...-.-.-...... ....r.g