The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-04-05
A Terrible Tragedy---A Y0ung
Woman Murdered

O'clock, our community were startled by the
report that the body of a woman had just
been found in the river opposite the city. In
very short time, large crowd had collect
ed near the Ferry landing, TO which spot the
body had been conveyed from the 9th n side
of the river It appeared that Mr.. Aumack,
the Mil'i-man," had discovered the body Il
few feet below the lower ford, at the upper
extremity of the tow-head, at the point where
the channels, flowing each side the Island,
divide; that it had apparently washed down
from. above, and coming in contact with a
root, lodged there. When found, it was
nearly covered with water, and to some ex,
tent by sand.
Mr.. Aumack saw the body as soon as he
came in sight of the river, and having ascer
tanned that it was female, he shouted to
some persons on this side of the river for as
sistance; but the distance was too great to
be understood, and he procured the assist
ance of Mr.. John Prosser, the fsrryman, and
some of his men raised the body into
skiff and conveyed it across the river, where
it remained a short time, awaiting the arri-
val of the Coroner Mr.. c. G. Packard, by
whose direction it was conveyed to an unoc-
cupied building, corner of Front and Court
Streets, and Jury consisting of James
Hawley, D. F. Gaylord and Erastus Wash
burn, e,npanneled, who proceeded to holdian
inquest amid an intense excitement of the
public, which continued throughout the ex-
animation, and up to the present time null
titudes coming in from different parts of the
county. A very large number of witnesses
were subpened and testified. The body
was subjected to a preliminary and post
morton examination by Drs. Thrall & Will
hanson. These and other proceedings occu-
pied from Friday morning until Saturday
afternoon, when the Jury rendered the fol-
lowing verdict:
STATE OF IOWA, - ..
Wapello County,
..r An inquest holden at the city
OF Ottumwa, wapeo county, State Of Iowa, on the
8Oth and 31st days Of April 1860, the body of fe-
male to unknown, there found and lying dead in
the Des Moines River by the Jurors whose are
hereunto subscribed the said jurors upon their OATH
do say that the deceased to her death by blows
inflicted upon her head, by person persons US
unknown.
In testimony whereof the said Jurors have hel
to set their Names the day and year above written.
Sworn and subscribed to JAMES HAWLEY,
beforeme, this the 81st day D. +. GAYLORD,
OF March, 1860 ERASTUS wAsHBURN.
C. G. PACKARD, Coroner, wapello Co.
The testimony before the Coroner's Jury :,
which is very voluminous, aided by reports
from other sources, diScloses the following
facts: The woman came to her death by
violence. She was pounded on the head,
and choked in such manner as to produce
- .-si,. She was dead when thrown into the
river, none of the evidences of death from
drowning being present. 1t was also appar
cnt that she did not commit suicide. The
wounds on the head were severe and fatal:
one eye was black and blue, and much swol-
en-, and on the throat were marks of fingers
deeply indented, enough SO to choke a per-
son to death.
The deceased may be described, generally,
as of short stature, rather full person, large
head, dark auburn hair, small and very del
licate hands, indicating exemption from ha-
bitual labor, and must have possessed con-
siderable attraction. She wore reddish
Qarge striped calico dress, high morocco
shoes, and small gold ear drops. .
Very good lkenesses Of the deceased have
been preserved by Mr.. Bird, Ambrotypist,
and Mr.. johnson, Painter, of this city. The
body, at the time this article was handed to
the "compositor," "wednesday evening"
had not been inferred and measures have
been taken to preserve the same as long as
possible. 1t was deoently laid out, and
placed in a neat coffin, and is now at the
Court House.
Who committed this terrible deed? The
testimony, and other authentic information,
clearly disclose the fact that this murdered
woman, or girl, was one of a party first heard
of, in this region, on Monday night last, at
Oskaloosa, where they stayed all night at
the Oskaloosa House. The party there con-
sisted of three men and this aooma'a. They
were travellers, ostensibly from Chicago, by
way of Rockford, H., where they stopped
some time, and they were bound for Califor-
MIA. One of the men, who appeared TO be
the leader Of the party, the owner Of the
property, and the husband of the woman,
was German, about feet or inches
high; dark complexion; brown hair; short,
thin whiskers extending under the chin, and
wore dark brown coat, and dark vest and
pants. TIE other two men, who will be des-
ssrio.l hereafter, were apparently only trav-
cling in company. The German and woman
lodged in the house; the two men, in the
wagon. The German contracted for the en-
tertainment, and paid the bill.
They left Oskaloosa Tuesday morning
and were seen during that day on the divide
road from 0skaloosa to this city, by several
persons, but the German aoos not NTH them,
A man was arrested at Burlington said
to answer his description; if it was not
him, the German has not been heard of
since he left Oskaloosa They enquired for
farms to rent at Alexand .r's, and were re-
ferred to Alvin Lexis, of this city.
They arrived in this N,;ty Tuesday night
and put up at the jefferson, House put
their horses. (three in number,) ose dark