The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-12-10
Atrocious Murder.

-
An old man about sixty years Of age, ma
med Joseph Mcmillan, from Montgomery
county, near Pana, Ill.,. was NJ this time in
Idaho, and on learning that Mr.. Townsend
was about to return home, he begged the
privilege Of riding with him, representing
and no way to get home. NJ. I. had d
COED team Of mules, and being q kind
hearted man he was touched Ivy the old
mans story, and told him ne would take
him along free Of charge. About the las3
Of August they started out on their long
journey across The country, intending 70
cross the Mississippi at Dubuque. Mr..
Townsend treated the old mAn very kind
" on Ike way home, always addressing
him as father"
On the Sth Of October they reached Story
county, Iowa, aud, as night came on, they
called III house just beyond the village Of
Nevada, where Mr.. 7, purchased cab
these vegetables, together with some corn
ed beef, which they had in the wagon,
would make them \ fne breakfast. They
then drove along, and the people OF the
house noticed that, before reaching the vii
iage, they drove out short distance from
the road, to the bank Of = creek, where
they ca mped for the night. Tire next morn
ing they saw the old man hitch up the
team and drive off alone, which awaken
cd suspicion that all was not right. The
old man pursued his journey alone, offer
ing all along, to sell the team OF two mules
ard one good horse, together with the re-
mainder OF the outfit, for $500. AS the pro-
perry was worth about $500, those to whom
he offered it refused to purchase on the
superstition that he had stolen II.
About ten days subsequent TO the time
that the parties cnmpel al Nevada, gen.
tleman being near ihe-ipot hunting, saw,
just a, dae edge Of the creek, mans whis-
kers and the toes OF his boots sticking out
Of the ground. He at once removed the
earth fronl the body and found the head
almost split IN two from blow which
mashed in the left side of the skull and
cracked it nearly around. A rope was
uout the neck Of the corpse, which had
been used in dragging the body from the
scene OF the murder 70 the spot where lie
was buried.
Further search was made, and within
five rods of where the body was dcovered
they found where the two men had camp
ed. A shovel ": also found here, and the
axe with which the damning deed was
committed.
As soon as these facts were brought TO
! light, the people Of Nevada sent two men
IN search Of the murderer and the team.
They also had two hundred photographs OF
the murdered man taken and sent To all
| parts Of Iowa, with the hope they nigh;
| meet the eye Of some one who knew him.
MIR. William II. Ankeny, Of Clinton, acct.
dentnlly saw one Of these photographs, end
a. once recognized il ~ that OF $. 3. Towns
end, with whom lie had been well acqualn-
ted. He Immediately telegraphed 10 Mr..
IL. S. Townsend, who. on the receipt OF the
news, started with his brother. G.. n.
Townsend, for Nevada. At Clinton they
were joined by Mr.. Ankeny, who went
with them to assist in indentifyirg the
body
| TIE v,ooy,1o ~ Noyo.1. rvo x-o tp,orv, n re
scription Of the murderer which Mr.. An
keny said answered exactly to the descrip.
! ton Of an old man from near Pane, who
went 10 Idaho last Spring in the same train
with himself. The Townsend BROKERS los.
no time In hnrrying 10 Pana, where they
found McMHlien and had him arrested.
| He owned that he started from Idaho with
| Townsend, but said that they parted at Des
Moines, which is thirty miles beyond Ne.
vads, and that be did not see Townsend
after wards. Mr.. Ankeny with an ofIcer
/ took the prisoner to Nevada, and while on
his way there hs confessed his guilt. AT
Nevada be was examined when he again
confessed the whole, ard was COMMITTED,
to jail'lo await his trial at the District Cour,
! il that cnnnt- next April. He confessed
| TO Mr.. AnNeny tha. he had been in the reb-
e. service. and his neighbors supposed him
To have been Missouri bnshwhacker.
The brothers of the murdered man received
letter from NeVaua, lew GAYS ago, ssA.-
ing that the team had been recovered, aud
that the man who purchased it, paid but
$3.50 for it. Mr.. Townsend is supposed to
have had about 81, 900 on his person at the
Time the murder was committed. This the
murderer has sqanderel away, and none o:
il y i'll ever BE- recovered.
Mr.. Townsend WAS IN honest, upright
citizen and a man Of considerable property.
He was native Of the lead mine region,
md wits nearly forty years Of age. He
leaves wife and IN adopted son about ten
Years old. 10 whom he wliled his property
before starting to liaho.-Gaicna Gazette.