Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-10-27
a Murder at Beetown.

On Thursday evening oflast week, man
irving his ma me as THOMAS E. LLOYD, of
Defiance County, Ohio, arrived at Bee
town, and called Mr.. G. Lampson, the
Postmaster, to the door, saying he aad
seme business Of a private nature and not
wishing it known that stranger had come
to town. He told Lampson that DIR. FL. L..
Tawny of that place was living with his
(Lloyd's) lawful wife, and that he wished to
call there for some property Of his that the
aduIterous parties had taken with them and
were now in possession of. Lloyd said he
wished for some citizen and the constable
TO accompany him as evidence that all was
Fight. Lampson refused to go, "saying
some difficulty may arise" and asked, "are
you armed, Mr.. LIoyd?" Lloyd said, "no,
only with a sort Of half worthless pistol, but
DR.. Tayney is coward, SO there is no dan
gerp or words to this effect. 1t was then
50 arranged that Mr.. Holloway and Mr..
Wells, the latter constable, should 90
along With Lloyd. They went TO DIR. Taw
ny's house about 8 o'clock, and knocking,
were invited in by the Doctor. who said
"How are you, Lloyd" when the latter said,
"where is my wife!' the Doctor replied,
sin the room abed" whercupon Lloyd rails
ed his pistol and shot Tawney, the ball en-
tering about the liver and lodging in the
spine. Dr. Tawney fell to the floor, NOR
tally wounded anG died the third day about
IL o'clock. immediately after the shooting,
LLOYD turned TO the constable, saying, "Im
at your service" and was thereupon taken
before Justice Rockefeller for examination
which matter was postponed till morning;
next morning the excitement being very
great, it was thought best to send the man
to Lancaster to await the fate OF Tawney,
when, if be should die, Lloyd would be
examined upon charge of murder instead
of attempt to murder A partial examin-
alton was bad on Wednesday before Esq,
Burr, Dist. Atty. Mills for the state, Bar
Der for defendent, but by agreement the
trial was postponed to allow palties to send
to Ohio for witnesses, Lloyd going tojai
And now few words, not in view of
expressing any opinions as to the merits of
the case, for that would be improper and
could not but be misohievous, even to the
side that we might desire to benefit, but TO
the public; equally as wrong would it be
for any citizen of this county TO express any
opinion upon the merits, or even TO forman
opinion upon our statements or of excited
pers1 AS matters stand the difficulty
must be very great to procurea jury in this
large aud populous county for the trial Of
Lloyd at our next or any future court. Let
each and all therefore avoid making up any
opinion upon this case or this class Of cases,
the most exciting of any that can come
before court. All willremember the, tri-
al Of Dan. Sickles, Of A. M Wheeler, and
Che difficulties in procuring ipries and i'm
partial triala. The excitement in such cas-
IS OF revenge for deep felt wrongs usually
s4tends beyond county or even State lines,
as well as beyond the lines Of state of
prudence. Worse still, such cases are la
Bile TO mix in with politics, as we fear this
one may, having started in that direction at
Beetown,
Mr.. Lloyd appears like hard working
farmer, and no doubt is man of consider
cradle fortune; he has been justice Of the
peace for many years, and may be a good
enou III citizen. He had been the husband
of l rs. Lloydfor about twenty years, all Of
which time till since June last theyhaye lived
together, whether happily is to be proven.
They have two children, one son who is
in tie army, and daughter grown up
He speaks well in general for Mrs Lloyd,
except for going away with Tawney, aud
says that some months or years ago she
teok TO spiritpalielp and reading books on
the affluities-or free-love hesesv, and that
she seemed particularly devoted to the idea
that marriage is but legalized prostitution.
This he affirlns to be the prime cause Of
her ruin, She, however, denies her con
version to such principles. She is a good
looking woman and quite intelligent. Dir.
Tawney, Ii is agreed by Lloyd and bis wife
vas good physician, and always conduct
ed himself we'll enough, except with the
women. He was for a time a deacon IN the
Baptist Church, but went off to live for a
time with the wife Of the minister of the
same church to which he belonged The
Doctor feeling that he had the worst of the
bargain, surrendered her MP TO the preach
er. after living With her some four months
in Dane County, Wisconsin, and returned
10 his own wife, she granting him a full
pardon. DR.. Tawney, at the time he took
lup with Mrs. Lloyd, left a wife and four
children in destitute circumstances. and for
unjust cause, except that she had fewer At.
fractions than Mrs. Lloyd. tie was prob
ably a respectable adulterer in many cases
and would doubtless soon hake left MIS-.
Lloyd for some Other. but for the shot
which Lloyd gave him and which may
prove the means Ivy which one or more
other families are t. be saved from disgrace;
by which assertion, howeter, weare not to
be understood as justiying the murder,
DIR. Tawney was having good practice At
- ffSI a