, 1864-07-23


CAIRO. July 20. 1881
An incident which occurred on the 10TH
inst, not far from the residences of at least
TWO OF the principal actors, has freshly
brought to mind the Coles county murder.
which took place at Charleston, in this State
some four months since The particulars of
this event hare perhaps been sufficiently
dwelt upon by the public press, bat the nu-
merous attempts on the part Of the secession
prints to create capital out Of the alleged kid
mapping OF Bplriting away Of a portion of the
gang engaged in the bloody deed, and the oc-
currence Of the late tragedy cousin german.
to It, lead me to briefly recapitulate some Of
the facts connected with the murder.
The 54th Illinois volunteers, most of them
residents Of the vicinity, were at home en-
1o}ing their well-earned furlough. There
we're several Of this command at Charleston.
hating with bitter hate the noble defanders
OF thdr country, to put not to fine point
npon the matter, resolved to seek occasion
70 murder these veteran soldiers, A
Pnnhc enss 1n%n meeting f919tshed nI9 the e; =
OF Coles county, as was subsequently, shown,
to meet at Charleston, get up al armed mon
and then make an attack upon the unarmcd
and unirepared military. When blood had
once been spilled, they confidently auticipa-
!cd 1hat their friends would ra1ly from every
direction, md q Kind Of miniature civil war
would be the result. But the prompt meas
urts taken by the military prevented their
coTardly allies from coming to thelr assist
hnce. But the murder was committed-
blood did How in the streets Of Charleston.
Men came to tue place with guns and rcyolv-
Of their wagon boxes. Many had pistols and
knives upon their persons. As many as
tour or I've guns were taken from one
wagon. The assailing part5 were some
thirty or forty In number. There vas con-
ccrted plan: the plan was in a measure car
John ii. o'Hair, the Coppe.head m ae sheriff @
Nelson Wells, John and Vim. Frazier, and
others. In addition to these, come 200 more
Wire reported, ready armed, at Jasper, a few |
miles south Of Charleston. Nine victims Of !
this bloody conspiracy sleep in their green
Gtay5ess, 5s,h hamm,o9ng them Dr. York, Surgeon Of
Or: York, witnessing the fight between
one Nink1er and Col. Mitchell, essayed to 70
to the rescue of the latter. He Was shot in |
the back By one Ellsb1rg Hauck. This was
inside and near the Court House door York |
ran near the JUDGES seat, where he fell, |
Welief1ng IN his blood, and in q few moments |
expired.
This is the story in brief of the Charleston
rotor more properly termed Coles co3nty |
murder.
Nine men-good, loyal and true-were
kh!ed oJ traitors to their country-murlerei |
outright by Copperheads.
here is . part opls Of the sequel: bohu q. |
O'Hair and John Frazier, two CT the pattici- |
PANTS In this rcd-handed outrage, With a |
brother OF the latter named William Frazier,
made their escape, as was supposed, from !
the m country and made tracts for Canada
This was the surposItion, I say, for every
HXEfTt1n f1F INV 1,t /
without success. But the arenger Wis upon
tht1r track. On Sunday last, the 18th inst,
rifle shots were heard in the vicinity OF |
UHhir's settlement, five OF six miles from
Charleston. Upon repairing to the spot the
rlghtened neighbors found two dead bodies.
oHnir, the late Sheriff and murder
e. and his accomplice and friend.
Joho Frazier. No one could be found |
upon whom to charge their execution. The
place was clear. OF 3 certainty some one had t
gas no record left to lead to the identity Of |
the man who had thus fearfully avenged tha |
murder Of tue soldiers Of the 54th O'Hair's /
body was pierced By seventeen bullets, John |
Frazer had received nine, and their death |
neous- 1t would appear that O'Hair aud |
Frazier Ind been for long time secreted in |
the vicinity, where they both owned GOOD /
farms. ana had families relatives and friends, I
hn1 hqd been traced ont By the avengers, aud
thus sum nar1ly punished for tleir crimes.
ho VI over this Af1air and 6tlgmatke it, as they |
hare stigmalized the Coles county aff4ir, as
10 uncailed for and bloody murder. Let them
howl. r ri Il
NATION, III, Friday. july e2.-0n yes
[erday, when the pay car OF the Terre Haute |
Id Alton Raiiroac was due, near Ashmore,
'ome nnkpo ~n rcprobates tore up the truck
n the hmm. nf rnhhiur II uf rn,1 rnaa ,,,1or
% nuke a raise to carry on their pefatIous
91ots. However, they were too iguorant to
It successful. Affer the car had passed over
be torn rails, It was stopped, and the would
1e robbers were seen ekulkfng of, too f.st
% he caught The tools used were captured.
'ud some Of the men arc known, but as vet
: o arrests have been made. 8hould there be
lny more trouble here, ne thlnk the leaders,
..-.vss 70 excite thieying, ignorant mob
against peaceful community, who possess
he determination to protect themselves.