The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-02-05
MYSTERIOUS AND BRUTAL
MURDER.


which throw suspicion of having committed
the crime upon one Roger Kahoe. It seems
that Kahoe is in the employ of Nivens' son-in-
law, Mahoney, with whom both resided, about
five miles above Fort Smelling, on the Shak-
opee road. On Thursday the old man
and Kahoe went to Minneapolis with
wheat and other produce, Kahoe driving
an OK team and the old man with one
horse and a wagon. Upon Thursday night he
was so late in returning as to excite uneasi-
ness, but not alarm in the family. The young
man employed in the family went out frequent
ly to listen and watch for his coming. At o
late hour in the evening, the horse and wagon
came up to the farm house door, and Mr.. Nj
vens was found lying upon his back in the
wagon, his feet up, and his legs over the seat.
His forehead was cut in deep broad gashes.
one CT which had penetrated through his skull
to the brain. His pulse was yet beating strong
and regularly, but he was quite speeches., AMI
when carried into the house and placed upon
bed, lay with his eyes closed and his tongue
protruding, bitten and blackening, so remain
ing until Saturday morning, when he died. In
the mean time messenger was sent to St..
Paul for medical assistance, and some of the
old mans friends, accompanied by priest,
also went up to see him on Friday evening,
finding him in the condition described.
On Friday morning, NIvens' cap was found
on the road, less than half mile from the
house. The cap had been cut, as smoothly as
if by razor, through the vizor, probably by
the same blow that reached to his brain.
Blood was found upon the inside of the wagon
box, spattered upon the side boards, and also
near crack in the bottom of the box through
which it likely ran out to the ground. It is
said, Also that pool of blood, or the stains
thereof, was found on the road near where the
team would turn from the Shakopee road to
go to Mahoney's house. The old mans knife,
spectacles and money, were found safe in his
pocket-it is certain he was not robbed. His
knife was peculiarly sharp and heavy one.
His cane and the tail board of his wagon are
missing.
Roger KahOe, the hired man who, with an
OK team accompanied Nivens to Minneapolis.
says the old man passed him, on the road home,
near the Minnehaha House.
1t is not known or suspected that Nivens
had any enemy or enemies who would seek to
harm him, and as he was not robbed, there re-
mains but one solution of the crime, and that
rests upon the basis of a quarrel, leading to
blows and the murder. A quarrel-with
whom? Probably not any chance traveller on
foot-certainly not any passing teamster. Who
then?
Kahoe is a ferocious looking fellow, whose
native hideousness is increased by the loss of
one eye. MorOse and surly, with forbidding
aspect, and an unfortunate influence that arous-
es fear if not dislike in all the people around
him-such facts may account for suspicion
turning upon him, but certain it is, he
is suspected of the murder, and those
nearest interested only hesitate to complain
against him through AFFECT fear of what he
might do to them if the law should not sue
coed in holding him. He is known to have
been upon the road with the old man: his
story of having passed by him at Minnehaha
is not believed, and is not substantiated: he is
a man Of irascible disposition, likely to commit
a brutal deed in mOmeut of sudden passion
if not on generalization and he exaggerated
a little scar on his forehead, Friday morning
by big patch covering it, TO sustain story
of having received it through his oxen run
ming away.
At our latest accounts, no arrests had been
made, and it was not known by our informants
that any investigation had been undertaken by
the Hennepin county authorities.
Mr.. Nivens will be remembered as having
traded some years ago in st. Paul, bringing
supplies of various kinds from below, for
families here, in which business he acted as
purchasing agent for several of the most prom
inent of the early settlers remaining now in
our city. He was also one of the first settlers
upon the Fort reservation, and was widely
known and liked among his countrymen here
Although eighty. one years of age, he was yet
quite hale and hearty, and contemplated max
ing q trip toIdaho the coming season.
COPY-RIGHrED.-It cannot be considered in
vidious, no names being given, to relate the