The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-02-15
Mnrfue - nnaasdno

q M0nAoe ia Suicide
Il "a ~ 4 1s...g . D'''''''
Tuessly norsleg eoma asisy were sh.ckcd
ssse;c' 1psntS - II I ~ 80 1spsgysss
ITS go Aaleen are - Ssnd. r fhs
een< Ref - = that 60 rend tk ~
1nn = - 49, nss in 60 id+t; 80 mn
I'd es1 - sseeeA Nc ~ -
aselv xan& Abouss vi miles 80 of
Nswtob, on ths farm 81 Mr. T. Sins Repairing
- Qnce TO the scene OF the murder We we're
G1oWn the room in which the murder was CON-
nitted-s very email, low room, n which we're
found thc bloody axe ana blood staIned bed. ol
which probably III deed was doaa4 Thence,
following the clearly marked track around
small barn - spot where The dead body ofthe
wife evidently lad bsen hid down. into : Low,
strau thatohsd stAhle, which wAs seaehaA sshrO'
: low, marrow passage, We camc upon such a
sight o. God forbid we should ever again wit
ness Immediately In front OF Ne, us We enter
60, lay the head OF the wife and mother, partial
y wrapped in an old stocking and laid up in
the straw; near BY, in a roagh log meuger, lay
the headless trunk, wrapped in blue-fgured
silk dress and bloody sheet. the legs skilfully
severed at the knee joint, and the stomach open
ed just below the breast bone. Within 4 few
feet Of the headless and tangled body hung the
lifeless body Of the husband and father, his feet
resting firmly on the ground, bis knees bent,
and his hands hanging carelessly by his side
He had fastened > strap = rail in the low roof,
had then slipped his head through moose, and
in the most determined and deliberate manner
had launched himself into the presence Of bis
God He could have saved himself, either by
grasping the rail above him or by merely
Strengthening himself - he rested upon the
ground. Surely he must have welcomed death
- relief from the torments Of his poor tortured
soul.
An inquest was held in the afternoon which
ELECTED the following facts: The deceased,
HARVEY COPELAND and LUCINDA COPELAND, we're
about 30 and rs years Of age, respectively
They came from Henry county, Indiana, where
the deceased wife has mother and other rela-
tives living. Their married life had been un-
happy. For awhile they lived near Fort Des
Moines, but separating, he went 10 Missouri
some nine months since, and she came into Jas.
per county to live with her friends. A short
time since he came. back and sought a reconcil-
iation, which she for some time refused Final
~ asserting, Monday they moved into q small
on the place Of Mr.. Sims, he saying to-
Others that he bad determined to do better. and
hoping she would. The building was some five
or six feet distant from Mr.. Sims dwelling
Monday night loud talk was heard--principally
the wiie's voice, for some two hours. Then
some one was heard to go out and return in 4
lew moments, after which noise as Of blow
and she was heard to cry ou., "Oh don't Hary!n
Several other blows followed quickly. and all
was still. About two hours before day the
child, bright little boy three or tour years old.
was heard crying and calling for its mother, but
nothing strange was thought or these things IN /
u in the morning the little fellow came to Mr.. |
Sims door crying, with. his blood stained shirt |
n his hand. Search was inn ediately made.
md the bodies soon found as described above.
post norton examination OF the BODY OF the |
wife showed three severe blows. on the skull,
wo OF which were sufficient Of themselves to
nave caused instant death. Her stomach was
ound to be opened by missions made ut right
'ngles to one another, and pair OF fine CATERS
,ut within, one of which was almost torn to
'ieces, though evidently new.
The deceased husband was butcher by
rade. He did his work Of dissec;ing with a
azor found in his pocket. His Object appears
i first to have been to destroy the body and
'ther evidences of his guilt, but fuding it i'm
possible, put an end to his Observation-Disclosures
,ounty Free Press.