The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-08-16
Excitement at Bellefountaiu.
A SeccSsiOmist Killed.
FULL AND RELIABLE PARTICULARS

A SeCcSS1OM1St AlIle0.
FULL AND RELIABLE PARTICULARS.
Morgan Wade. son-in. law of" old Billy
Long," was killed at Belefountain, in this
county, on last Friday. The following par
ticulars, which We consider entirely reliable
we obtain from five or six trustworthy and
well known citizens Of Bellefountain, who
are well acquainted with the circumstances
and who were present at the time of W AIDES
! death
Wade left Bellefountain twelve or fifteen
months ago for Kansas, and from there went
to Missouri He returned last Winter and
at the house Of John Doughman said that
he had seen as many Union mems tbroats
cut as would An that room Mrs. D. asked
him if it did not make him feel bad. He
said it did not, that it was the most pleasant
sight he ever saw. And further said that
Urion man. Soon after this he went ba TX
to Missouri and did not make his appear
ance at Bellefountain again until one day
last week In the meantime his wife wrote
back to her sister that Wade was jaybawk-
ing for the rebel army, and that as soon as
he could move her to place Of safety he
would join the regular rebel army.
When Wade came back last week he was
accompanied by two or three suspicious
looking Missourians. The citizens of Belle
f'untain were naturally indignant and de-
termined they would not suffer Wade to
stay among them. He passed through
there, on Thursday, making some very Of
fensive and disloyal remarks, and the citi-
zens gave him fair warning that he must not
repeat the offensive. The next day he re-
turned with his two Missouri associates and
his wife, the latter being in the wagon with
him and the former on horse back. The
men were all armed. They came into
Bellefountain swearing and cursing very de-
family and demanded Of a crowd ofcitizens
collected what they would have. He was
told that he was a disloyal and suspicious
man, and the proof to sustain the charges
was Immediately produced. He finally ac-
knoyledged that the letter spoken Of above
was written by his wife and that it was cor
rect and true. The citizens then command.
ed him to give up his arms. He refused.
He drew revolver and cooked it, and at.
tempted to shoot young man who ha ] by
this time taken holl Of him. Wade's arm
was caught and in the struggle that ensued
his revolver went off the ball passing direct
ly into his body and killing him almost in
stantly. Wade's comrades were then dis
mounted and disarmed, and kept until next
day, when no evidence appearing against
them, they were released. Wade's body
was taken west of Bellefountain four or FIVE
miles, and on Sabbath was buried in the
neighborhood of Attica.
We give this full statement Of facts from
the lips Of half a dozen sober and reliable
eye-witnesses because various stories and
rumors are afloat in reference to the matter.
The loyal citizens of Bellefountain and vicin-
ity are Thoroughly in earnest and are fully de-
termined that no rebel jay-hawker or rebel
sympathizer shall have an existence among
them. For the purpose of effecting an or
ganization they held meeting on Saturday
Of which John Rouse was chairman and A.
Y. Thompson Secretary. F. H. Boyer, DR..
J. NJ Roberts, Hiram Harlow, DR.. e. A.
Boyer and Dan'l w. COUNSEL were appointed
a'committce to draft resolutions. They re-
ported the following which were adopted
Whereas it is notorious fact that there
is in our midst class Of men who are inim
ical to the peace and harmony Of society,"
class of men who are prowling about the
country for no good purpose whatever
those also who live among us who are dis
loyal to our Government and seek to take
advantage Of the distracted condition Of our
country to give aid and comfort to rebels by
sympathizing with them and in many other
ways, contrary to law, good order and the
peace and safety Of society: Therefore the
citizens of Bellefountain and vicinity think
It proper to organize Home Guard for the
purpose of protecting ourselves and proper
ty from such obnoxious persons and it is
resolped
l This organization shall be called the
Minute Men of Belefountain and vicinity.
2. The officers of this company shall
consist of Captain, 1st and I'd Lleutenants
and Orderly,
8. A committee of five shall be appoint
ed to investigate all charges against persons
that may be suspected of disloyalty, horse
thieving or other acts prejudicial to the in
terest of this community, and who shall de.
termine the character of the punishment
necessary to be inflicted upon such obnox-
lous persons that may be reported to them,
and SAID decision shall be final, and they
shall report the same to the Capt. of the
Minute Men for execution.
E. A. Boyer.
Hiram Harlow.
F. Ii. Boyer. Committee.
ID. w. COUNSEL.
j. NJ. Roberts.
The Committee Of Five consists of
Thompson Smith, Hiram Harlow, F. H..
Boyer, A. Y. Thompson. Alex. Sandiland.
The officers of the Minute Men are, William
Moore, Captain; John Mason, 1st Lieut. !;
Jacob House, I'd Lieut.; 0. Counsil, Order.
ly. This company already numbers over
hundred men and will probably soon be in
A. A..