The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-08-22

FATAL AFFAIR-A DEsERTER SHoT,-A
sad and fatal affair occurred in Peru town
ship, about four miles northwest of Sage
vile, on Wednesday evening last, while an
attempt was being made to arrest a deser-
ter, in which the deserter was killed and
another man severely wounded. The name
of the deceased is Wentlin jacob.
1t seems that he enlisted in Bellevue for
the 9Th Iowa Cavalry, some two or three
months ago. He was sent to Camp McClel-
Ian, in Davenport, and was soon after
wards arrested for stealing and put into
the camp prison. On the I'd inst, he, with
thirteen others, escaped from prison and
Immediately made his way to his home i'm
Peru township. The post commander i'm
mediately forwarded an order for his ar
rest to Provost Marshal Adams, who very
soon took measures to ascertain if jacob
was in this vicinity. It was soon ascer-
tanned that jacob was at his mothers resi-
dence, and Capt. Adams ordered two Off
cers-one detective and the other Mar
shal-to go there and arrest him and bring
him to Dubuque. In pursuance of their
orders the officers went to the house, arri-
wing there little before shutdown. They
knocked at the door and when it was OPEN
ed, they saw Wentlin jacob and his two
brothers seated at supper. They told him
that they were officers of the United States
and had orders to arrest him as deserter,
at the same time telling him to make no
reslstance-that he would be well used and
receive no injury from them. jacob said
he would go. He was then told that he
must allow himself to be hand-cuffed. Ja-
cobb raised to his feet as also did his broth
ers. One of the officers then attempted to
put the handcuf on his right wrist, when
he pulled it away. The left hand was then
taken, and the officers succeeded in fasten-
ing the cuff upon it, and asked him to hold
out his right wrist, which he refused to do
| L. -. -szA-
At this moment the two brothers stepped
| forward, and the Marshal, with pistol in
each hand, told them to offer no resistance,
and not to interfere in any manner. just
then jacob tore away from the other off,
Ger, and striking him on the head, called
upon his brothers to help him, and drew q
pistol and shot at the officer who had hold
of him. The brothers advanced and the
| Marshal fired to intimidate them but one
of them pressed forward and the bullet
struck him, entering just above the right
key bone and lodging under the shoulder
blade. At the same time jacob sprang
upon the Marshal and grasped one of the
pistols. During the struggle which follow
ed, the pistol, which was cooked, exploded
and it's contents entered Jacobs left side
and came out of his right side. He imme-
diately turned, walked up stairs, laid down
near window, and soon expired. The Of
fcers followed him, took the handouts,
| and left the premises, after informing the
family that he was dead.
| The above is, we believe, the statement
Of the officers, and is probably correct
Butlthe evidence before Coroner Leist and
his jury, yesterday afternoon, given by tho
mother and three brothers Of the deceased,
tells different story. They all testified
that the deceased made no resistance ex-
cept to struggle to keep the cuffs from his
hands, and that the brother was shot just
as he arose from the table. Then the de-
ceased pushed the Marshal towards tho
door and the Marshal shot him.
| One of the neighbors, however, says that
on the night of the occurrence, the young
est brother told him that the brother
fought the officers, and that the deceased
had the officer nearly down when the pis-
tol discharged and killed him..
There was no evidence than that of tho
family, taken, and the jury rendered the
verdict: "Came to his death by being shot
with pistol in the hands of an unkno gn
person, wilIfully."
The deceased had twice deserted the ar
my, the first time from the 4th Missouri
Cavalry, and the next as above.-Du5mqmc
Times. -E