Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-07-13
Rorrible Tragedy in Iowa.
j1ce Of Tie Burlington laNASJV<
EAsRrfHn. July 2, 1860.

FAIRFIELD. July 2, 1860.
Late on Saturday evening last our citizens
were startled with the report that strange
family fed been murdered near Batavia, in tbs
county-fhat the bodies of a mother, soa and
daughter had been found in Cedar Creek IN the
afternoon bv fishermen, half mile north of
Batavia Our Sheriff Ro5b and others start
ed Immediately fer that region, where be learn
ed that R,as a1zi boy. with two yoke efoxeE
with cfoceg covered wagon, had passed along
the read near where the bodies were found late
Friday evening. His singular. strange, excit-
ed manner attracted the notice Of those who
happened to see him, and suspicion at once
marked him as the nserierer. Sheriff Robb,
David L. Hufstatter aud others promptly fol-
lowed after him, and found that he had crossed
she Des Aoasecs above Portland. thence 10 Leb-
anon. tiIe1ee four miles from Upton. Scotland
cesaty, No, where they overlook him in the
prairie on Sunday evening, and returned 10
this place with the prisoner about 4 O'Clock
P. NJ today.
; John Kephart is tae name Of the hoary-
headed villain. Ee formerly lived near 1reu-
ton, in Henry county, and is well known in
Washington county, where be has lived since
be ieA Trenton 10 or II years ago.
gather an imperfect history OF the acts of
this old villain from the little boy who is found
10 his company: William Willis, lcarpcnterl
The boys father, formerly lived in Muscatine
Iowa, The boy remembers that john ker-
hart came to Muscatine to move the family
South. On The journey they stopped two
months in Cass county, No, at widow Sny-
.der's, where Kephart helped to husk corn
One morning. soon after breakfast, his father,
who had eaten breakfast well, took sudlenly
sick and died In less than an hour. The boys
mother, the murdered woman. Jane Willis,
told hinl.tEat kephart gave his father strych-
nine in his food After the death Of Willis it
seems they went to the Cherokee country,
where Kephart kept grocery and sold whis-
key to the Indians. Tnis simmer they r.oved
near Fort Das Mo.nes. After living there
some weeks or months. they started for Kan
sas City. On last Ihursdav they stopped
near the bridge at E liyYiile, and eamped ont.
Mrs. Willis cooked supper after which, com
plained Of being sick, laid down in TIE wagon
and went to sleep. II the night sometime, the
boy awoke aud saw that she had deep cash
In her head. The three children all got out of
the wagon and Kephart chased Joseph r.,
aged 2, and Maria Jane. nged Z. about half
an- hour, under and around the wagon with the
ak in hand, until they too were killed He
then placed them by the side of the mother
and pounded their heads with The wagon ham
mer.
He left Eddyvile soon after the murderous
deeds were finished, and Travelled over 80 miles
to the place where he no doubt hoped to hide
the unfortunate victims from human eyes. A
grey headed old man, over 6 years old, travel
ing day and night with an OK team 80 miles,
with the dead bodies of mother and two chill
dren in the wagon, to find place Of conceal
nent the living boy, james Harvey Willis,
by his side-and then when the place was
found, he stripped his victims, put their gar
ments into the wagon, took the mother first
and then the children, and hid them under the
water, placing log upon them 10 keep them
down.
The boy, James, says that he has brother.
Sylvester Willis, living in Louisa county. On
Friday; after leaving EddyviIle, he looked a.
gain for his wagon hammer, aud found it stick
ing in the boys head The clothes of the VIC
tins were all found in bis wagon. Kephart
and the woman had gHarreled about some mon
ey. He charged her with stealing his money.
She claimed that the money in dispute was
given to her By her son. The mon;y was
found BY the officers hid in keg Of soap
grease in the wagon.
On the 5th inst. Kephart was forcihly taken
from Jail by mob of 25o perzons, conveyed to
the pace where the murdered bodies were
found, and hung on a scaffold prepared for tie
occasion.