The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-04-26
Great Excitement iN st. Clafr..A
ScOundrel at Large.

ScOun0rel at Large.
From the Missouri Republican of Wednesday
Swiss named John Lehman, who had been
at work tor Mr.. Peter Hill, near the town of
Urbana, St. Clair county, H., seized his oppor-
tunity, while the male members of the family
were away from home, to rush into the house,
drive the women away, and rob bureau drawer
OF n small amount of money. He next pro-
ceeded down the road, when meeting a young
lady named Delilab Waterman, OF very res .
peetahle connections, he choked her, threw her
to the ground, tied her hands togeihe with
strap, and, Notwithstanding her screams, per-
petfated his devilish purposes. Then taking the
Young lady,s jtwelry from her person, the
scoundrel took to his heels and disappeared in
the woods, where he rema ned concealed few
days, when, returning to Mr. Hills place. he
stole a horse and vamosed.
The whole neighborhood were greatly exas
perated, and turned out in large numbers TO
hunt the desperate villain down. About noon
OF Thursday last, he was caught in possession
OF the stolen animal, at place called Freedom,
on the dividing line between St. Clair and Mon
roe counties. 1t was with much difficulty tha,
the ncensed people could be kept from lynching
the scapegrace ON the spot. He was, however,
finally allowed to be taken to Belleville. where
he was put in Jail, the friends OF MISS Wilder
have al immediate trpl. Court was then in
session, but the grand jury had adjourned. A
new grand jury was empanneed Saturday morn.
ing, the last day OF Court, and at once found in.
dlctments against the accused for both the rape
and the larceny. The same day Lehman was
tried, the outrage on Miss Wiiderman and the
stealing OF the horse concusiyely proved and
the case submitted to the jury, who, after an
absence OF not more than ten minutes, returned.
finding the culprit guilty OF horse stealing, and
hxlng the punishment at eight years imprison-
DeIt in the pententiary, aud also finding him
guilty Of rape, and fixing his punishment at
Imprisonment for life.
The Court room was crowded to suffocation
many ladies being of the number present, and
when the result of the trial was announced. il ia
said that the building almost trembled with the
shouts OF the bystanders appreciation of the
verdict. The prisoner was Immediately taken
to Jail, followed by hundreds of persons.
At three O'Clock on Monday morning. the
Sheriff OF St. Clair Fred. Mayer, accompanied
by Coroner Kelly. started in a hack with Leh-
mann and two other conyicts to tale them 10
Aiten. little before day break, when about
one mile east OF the bluffs, between Belleville
ana this city, the Sheriff got out for some Dur.
pose, leaving the three prisoners to the care of
the Coroner. Lehman was bandcuffed and had
MS elbows pnoned, but was in no way attached
10 the vehicle nor to his fellow conyicts Az
soon, therefore, as Mayer disappeared from
sight, Lehman leaped from the hack and
started to run with all the heetness which might |
De looked Tor in one fleeing for his HE, Coro. |
her nelly, AS soon he saw that the man had |
escaped, d'sregarding the other fellows. ran in /
pursuit. but soon finding that he was falling be. |
AND, whipped out revolver and fred twice
ne fugitive paid no attention TO this but ken,
'unning and finally disappeared in the timber
y hen word Of this was conveyed to Belleyille.
he excitement Is represented to have been
most int nse. Every man who could command
! horse and piece Of irearms, mounted ~
'nce and was on to aid in the search. vhil.t
hose who could not, congregated in knots in
he streets. commenting on the transaction and
eyising plans TO recapture the runaway. The
onduct OF Sheriff Mayer was severely apjmad.
erted upon. II is impossible to describe the
tate Of feeling which is said have existed. A
eward Of $3.50 was offered by the Sheriff, which.
necessary, could have been increased 10
1000 or S., 900 in y very little while BY the
itlzens. A large party rs still on the look out
Dr. The refugee, but up to last evening he had
OF been found, or any trace Obtained Of his
rObable whereabOuls.
negro on being examined, was asked II his
laster wss . Christian. ''No, sir, he's men,
% OF Co0grsss.' vas the reply. !