The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-04-19
The Murder-.TIac Parties

possession of some details in relation to the
history, character, relations and motives %
the three principal actors in the sad dram,,
enacted near or in this city. on the nj int al
the 9th ult., which, as it ca mot praiulca
the arrest the murderers, we do not feel AT
liberty to withhold from our readers.
Laura J. Harvey. the young lady murdered
was the daughter of Rufus j. Harv ", Of
Rockford, Illinois. She was the eldest OF
three daughters, and was about Is years OF
age. Her Father was native of New
Hampshire, lived subsequently in Maine,
and was lately Methodist preacher in I'll.
He is now an Attorney, of the firm of Bar
nap & Harvey, at Rockford. The family
consists Of seven chillren, fur sons and
three daughters, and though not aff1lent, are
respectable.
George Lawrence, the supposed husband
and one ofthe mur larers of LluraJ. Harvey.
has resided some six years past near Rock
ford, engaged in cultivating rented land
Some five months ago, he was introduced to
the Harvey family, by means of professional
business with the father, and occasionally
stopping there when in town. 1t seems
that he made use of these opportunities to
pay his addresses to Laura. His character
at this time, was good, but owing to Laura's
youth, and something the family did not
fancy about him, his addresses were opposed.
Mr.. Harvey finally forbid him the house.
He managed, however, by some means, to
meet her occasionally, sometimes taking her
out to ride, meeting by appointment at places
away from home for this purpose. By such
means he succeeded in gaining her conf
dencc and affections. as romantic Young
ladies' confidence and affections have often
been obtained before. Some two weeks
before the final elopement, Lawrence and
LAURA with the knowledge, but against the
will, it seems, of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey, went
together on visit to an uncle's of hers at
Durant, visiting at the same time Beoit,
Wis, at which latter place they were mar
ried, as was ascertainej afterwards. On her
return, Laura brought note from her aunt,
apologizing for her to the family. The
marriage, however, was not suspected until
just before they finally left Rockford.
Lawrence, among some other personal
property, was possessed Of span OF h,rses
and sett ofharness. and had in his possession
hired wagon. The horses had been mort
gagged, and the time expiring the party sought
to take possession, but Lawrence repevied
them on the ground that the time had been
extended verbally, and one VIM. Moore, a
farme. near Rockford, for whom Lawrence
had worked, and with whom he was then
boarding, signed the bond withhm. Law
renee had sold quantity Of wheat and corn,
and held the warehouse receipts for the
same, amounting to some 5000. These he
passed over to Moore to indemnify him from
loss in the repevin suit.
Not very far from Moore's, lived notori-
GUS family named McComb, very old settlers
in the region. One of the sons, Lanson,
called Liant, the third party in the tragedy
"ee I'teSS, oSiNSi fttiS III tilc lIlltlOlS
Penitentiary, for robbing the mail, from
which he was released only some eighteen
months ago. Another son is said to be now
in the States Prison of Missouri. Lanson is
said also to have scduaaI girl, and, after
wards, so disposed of her that she has not
since been heard Of
Lawrence had worked in the vicinity of
McCombs, and it is likely became acquainted
with Liant, soon after his return, at any rate
they were seen together lattery quite fire.
quently, and no doubt concerted together a
plan to run away with the horses, and Laura
Harvey. Lawrence by some means found
out where Moore kept the wheat receipts,
and one day when he saw the latter in Rock
ford, he rode out to his house, and cnder
pretence of seeking needle AMI thread to
mend his pants, went without exciting sus-
picion to Moore's room, took the receipts
from trunk, present d them, and drew
most of the money on than, some 5000.
Sometime on the day he stole the receipts,
Lawrence probably obtained Laura's consent
to elops with him. On the evening of that
day, at any rate, in the absence of Mr.. Har
vey, Laura conveyed the astounding intelli-
gence to her mother, that she was going
away with Lawrence, that she was married
to him, and must 60. She exhibited now for
the first time certificate Of their marriage.
Mrs. II. tried to divert her daughter from
herprrposes, urging her at least to wait I'M :
til Mr. II. came home, for whom she immed
ately sent messenger; but the girl replied
that it was almost time for the cars, and she
could not wait. She embraced her mother,
and appeared deeply affected. And then, n
few moments after the first intimation Of
such an intention, the dcluded girl left the
homo of her childhood. and boating parents
and fond brothers and sisters, to q, forth
into world she knew 50 little of, with on
ofthe most hairless AM abandoned villains
that ever wore the shape of h imanity. Pur
suit was made that night, hut no things were
obtained It was only le,rned that Law
renee purchased two tickets for Bcvdere
They probably joined McComb, who disap-
peared at the same time with Lawrence :
team and wa yon, and two horses of his own,
at some point on the Mississippi They
were next heard of at Ioka, Keoku,s Co..
whare thav stoid all nj rht Monday M,rcb