Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-06-04
From the st. Paul Pioneer 4 Democrat. May 26
The Murder ON the War Eagle.

The Murder ON the War Eagle.
A difficulty occurred on the steamer
War Eagle, on Thursday evening, few
hours before arriving at st. Paul, which
resulted in the death Of James Merely,
at the hands of John Doran, both OF
whom we're employed as deck hands on
the boat.
The circumstances, as developed at
the Coroner's Inquest, showed that there
had been no previous difficulty between
the parties, but that there was a Ger
man girl, deck passenger, OH board, to
whom John Doran had been very atten-
tive during the voyage. and that on
Tuesday evening, about dark, she came
out on the guards to get some water,
and was followed by Doran, who caught
hold other, kissed her and followed this
up by taking other liberties with her
person, to which she seemed TO make no
particular objection, as far as known.
The deceased and the deck sweeper
we're watching him, and AS he proceeded
were laughing at him. This annoyed
Doran very much, aud after the girl
came in, Doran walked up to Morely,
who was leaning on the capstan, and
commenced abusiog him, with most dis
graceful epithets. Upon Morely's call
ing him liar he struck him several
times with his fist, and knocked him
down, and afterwards kicked him. Ed
ward McNillis, of this city, who " as
on board then pulled Doran away. saw
ing: do you want to kill the man Z"
to which Doran responded, that he had
better mind his own business" and then
picked up a capstau bar. McNellis
thought Doran intended to strike him,
but he proceeded to Morley, who was
sitting down, and struck him two blows
on the head, when Morley dropped
senseless.
After Merely had lain for few min
utes, Doran became alarmed, and got a
bucket and filled it with water, and
dashed it on Morely's head-follo wing
it up, as he did not revive, with several
more buckets full. After while the
deceased arose, and took the bar,
brought it inside aud remarked only,
that 1T was shame to strike a man
with such weapon as that" He pro-
ceedcd to take OF his shoes, and without
assistance, climbed to the highest berth
and lay down.
Doran, it appears, was not thoroughly
aware that his blows were fatal, and
frequently rcmarkedltha Morley mustbe
spoken to often and aroused. and not be
allowed to so to sleep.
The murderer was arrested on the
arrival Of the boat, and an inquest on
the body had aud the virdict was in ac.
cordance with the above facts.
The physicians, at the post norton
examination, found Morly's skull very
badly fractured, sufficiently so as to
cause death.
The girl, who was probably the limo.
cent cause of the difficulty, was not
present, and had most likely left the citv
as she was supposed to be an emigrant
and bound for the country.
THE New York correspondent of the
Philadelphia Ledger writes the follow
lug:
The incidents connected with the
fight OF the defaulting Postmaster,
Fowler. still afford much gossip among
his friends, aud those who helped 10
smuggle him out OF the city. 1t comes
ont now, among other things, that Fow-
Ter had actually provided himself with a
pistol for the purpose of committing
suicide, and was only prevented from
carrying his purpose into effect ty the
earnest entreaties OF the two or three
friends who were constantly with HIM
on the night he left his apartments at
the New York Hotel. At IL O'Clock
on that same evening, to one of his
friends he said, with great emotion. 81
do not Intend to live. want to write
some farewell notes in the morning. but
my nerves are unsteady, and if YOU can
come aud act a. nv am.nnen.;e vo, ,,,;II