The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-07-12
, The Murder, The Mob, &c.
OF Tue COURIER

you some facts In regard to the murder
which was recently committed near Eddy
vile, in your county ). of the arrest of the
Murderer by the Sheriff of this county and
his posse; of the proceedings of the lawless
mob from the western part of the county, the
eastern part of Wapello county, and the
southern part of Keokuk county, which ell
tered our city or Thursday last, broke into
our jail, took the prisoner from his cell, con-
veyed him to the place where the dead bodies
were found, and hung him between the
heavens and the earth Of the action of our
citizens in regard to the outrageous proceed
ings of the mob; my private opinion, &C.,
&c.
Late on Saturday night, June 30th, the
news was received in town that the dead
bodies of woman and two children had
been found in Cedar Greek, near Batavia, in
this county. Sheriff Robb and Coroner
Barnes Immediately started for Batavia, the
bodies having been removed from the Creek
to Batavia Aninquost was held over the
bodies by the Coroner, and Sheriff Robb,
in company with David r. Huffstetter,
Harrison Smith, William A. Tegarden, H.
A. Miller, Andrew Smith, Lewis Spurlock
and Samuel Espe, started in pursuit early on
Sunday morning, and tracked him to four
miles south of Upton, Scotland county, Mo-,
where they arrested him, and brought him
to this city On Monday evening at o'clock
and LOGGED him in Jail. The name of the
hoary headed wretch was John Kephart.-
When he was arrested, small boy, nine
years old, named James Harvey Willis, a
son of the murdered woman and brother
of the murdered children, was found with
him. The boy ran to Mr.. Smith, crying,
and asked for protection. After being brot
to this city, the boy was taken to the house
of Mr.. w. S. Lynch, where he was kindly
cared for till the next day, when he expressed
a desire to 60 and live with Mr.. Smith, and
was allowed to 60, and is now with him.
On Tuesday at about 2 o'clock P. NJ,
Kephart's wagon arrived in town, when the
most intense excitement prevailed. Hun
dreds of people surrounded the wagon, and
as the goods were taken out they were held
up and exhibited to the crowd The cloth
ing in the wagon had been washed, and the
stencil arising from them vas sickening.-
No blood was visible on the clothing, but
was plainly visible on board on the side of
| fhn had nj ha
side board ofthe wagon bed streaks of blood
could be seen. An unsuccessful attempt
had been made to shave the blood off of a
loose board on the side of the wagon bed
with drawing-knife.
HANGING HIMSELF.
On Tuesday evening the prisoner attempt
ed to put an end to his miserable existence
by hanging himself, AMI fortunate, under
present circumstances, would it have been
for the good name Of the county, if he had
succeeded. But he did not succeed, and
the consequence was he was hung by mob
THE MOB.
! At about 9 o'clock on Thursday morning
last procession, on horseback and in wag-
ons, numbering about $50 persons, marched
into town, as coolly and deliberately as if
they were going to funeral, and proceeded
to the Jail. Very soon a large number of
oul citizens were on the ground The crowd
collected on the north side of the Jail. The
county Judge wished to be heard and was
attentively listened to, while he made state
ment of the case. He said that when he
heard of the preparation of the murder, he
offered. without authority of law, two hun
dred dollars Of the peoples money for the
apprehension of the murderer or murderers.
[cries from the crowd, Fright, Right ~ "You
did right" &c. He said that the murderer
had been arrested and was now safely lodged
in Jail that having guard over him by
day and by night, it was impossible for him
to escape, &C., &C,
After the Judge was through speaking,
Hon. James f. Wilson was called up, and
made most eloquent appear to the mob
imploring them to desist, and let the law
take its course.
After Mr.. Wilson was through, Mr.. Slag'e
was called for, but had to give way for the
time to Mr. A. Collins, of Batavia, who wish
ed to make "a statement" Mr.. Collins said
he had been misrepresented and wished to
set himself right. He said that he had re-
marked, when he came back from the banks
of the Des Moines, where the woman and
children were murdered, after having seen
the muscle shells that the little girl had gath
cred and played with them on the bank of
the river where they had camped, if he had
had Kephart there at the time, he would
have ''cut his heart out !" This expression
was loudly cheercd by the mob, but allow
me to say that did not consider it very
elegant expression for a Methodist preacher
to make
After Mr.. Collins was through, Mr. Ache.
son spoke, then Mr. Slagle Negus, Lamson
and others followed. Mr.. Slagle wanted
them to appoint committee of their most
excited men to go in and examine the Jail,
and if they thought the prisoner was not
safe. to pursue whatever course they thought
best But they did not seem disposed to
listen to this proposition. Mr.. La'nson Of
fered to advance one thousand dollars to pay
a guard to keep the prisoner from escaping.
Other wealthy citizens offered to advance
money, but it had no effect upon the infuria-