Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-07-11

i invites, and incur the heavy resroa-
siti3rty -vh:cl.sis impose. ! have no.h-
thS q T. .ddsSa, the kprc.sion Of INV
,b K. for6e hone 90 unexpectedly
col kerre upon me, Ind my co,disl &C.
kdowiedg menss fosvhs -A2ssering terms
in which have been notified Of my nom
inat,on. Whatever may be Lcnosably
done ! shall checriully do 10 mainta'"
the iutegrayi Of the party aud u e
triumph OF iss principles.
john kepAart, The Aeusdesss Of mrs. Jase
G.WiIlis, hks sos aAA Daashass' =
THEORY OF THE MuRDER-rHE MOTIVE.
Kepha,t was = professional preacher.
WAS rather good looking, had good sd-
dress, was plausible and gracious In
conversation, was = jealous exhofter.
positive aud prompt in manner, talked
much about duty and honesty with ap-
parent sincerity. find in the trunk
belonging to Mrs. Willis hymn book
published by the United Brethren, and
It is not unreasonable to suppose that
she has been member Of that Church ,
her name is written in the book.
Kephart's ruling passions were avaricc
and lust, all his euds aud aims were to
crafty these. An alien aud outca-t
from bis own family, for years he ha.
been on the hunt for house-kecpers, and
when be could find one to live with
him would then hunt mdnst'iously for
another, under pretcnce to keep her com
pany. lie perhaps under gn.se OF a
minister Of her church formed tho ac-
auain,aIce OF Mrs. Willis and family
they, we may believe, took him to be a
good, piou., truthful man, believed him
and upon his representations moved TO
Missouri, where kepart rcnted farm,
they keeping house for him. Here his
object would be to get rid Of Willis ;
in this he succeeded. Willis is gone.
Kepbart repre-. ents that w lille left his
family destitute-took all they bad-he
then Processes great friendship for the
unfortunate woman and children, he
will support them-be their protested
friend; but in that peighborhood there
might be some unpleasant prcjudlces-
some might think and even say that he
had poisoned Willis or had been the
cause of his departure. Under these
circumstances be would naturally wish
to leave Cas- county and 60 where
these circumstances we're unknown, and
he moves to Washington county, Arkan-
sas. to live among strangers, the poor
woman was in his power, helpless and
dependant, what could she do with six
or seven helpless children. Mrs. Willis
owned in Iowa 100 acres of land and
Kephart's dparice coveted that. She
gave him power of attorney to sell it +;
to influence her to sign this he no
doubt let her Lave the $500 in gold
found hidden in the soap grease-he
could borrow or steal it back atany time.
The land he deeds At once to his son
"for and in consideration of the sum OF
two thousand dollars to him in hand
paid" (the title is imperfect, but he
knew it not.) Remember, he dared not
hold property IN his own name, BECAUSE
be had a living wife who might claim
an interest. He now had the woman in
his power, he had her land, but she had
the gold, he wanted that too. The wo-
man had no doubt, ere this, wished t.
get loose from his meshes, and was de-
termined to keep the gold hidden to buy
bread for her children so soon as she
might be SO fortunate - to escape his
clutches, and no doubt she urged, en-
treated and begged him to take her
back to Washington county, Iowa, and
let her live among her old neighbors
and friends. lie had no doubt consent
ed to take her home he could find an
other house keeper, but the gold, the
gold, he wanted that He starts North
in May, gets to Fort Desmoines, stops a
few days, but cannot find the gold /;
next to Pella and Oskaloosa, where
he stops also q few days. The
gold is not found. If be had found
the gold he would have no doubt left her
to 60 to her friends, but he dare not
take her to them, for there she would
have had protection, and then perhaps
gold and land would have been all lost.
He, no doubt, hunted day and night for
it, coaxed and threatened by turns, but
ell in vain-tbe gold was hidden. At
Eddyville he formed the murderous pur-
pose-if she is dead he can find the
gold. James he would not kill, for be
knew where the gold was hidden. He
seemed to have gotten the idea of the
place Desmoines river-the man
ner of killing aud the way to conceal,
from the Ottumwa murder. After the
deed is consummated he drives into
the river, but where he forded the water
was shallow and he crosses at another
ford, this is Ike the first then he seems
to think of Cedar Creek-he knew the
road and the place well, but after the
murder is committed lie has no wisdom
aud seems given up for destruction and
is now on his way TO the gallows and
grave.-Ha,ckeye.
F'om .hs Burlington Hswkeye.
The Execution OF Kephart.
At an early hour If .Jnlv 9Th tho moo.