The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-03-10
ssMURDER WILL OUT"


liant McC omb, the Mmrdcrcr Of
Laura j. Harvey, al OtiumWsa
March Goth 1860, has been Ar.
rested. IL new In the Oltmnl.
wa Jatl.
Amer diligent search for McComb, the
reputed murderer Of Laura ]. Harvey, Of
almost four years, the law has finally 60,
hold Of him, or Of party who answers very
we'll to the description Of him. and he is now
safely lodged in the Jail at this place. He
was arrested in Davenport on the I'd day of
March. The Davenport Gazette, Of the 3d.,
gives the following account Of the way in
which it was done:
Yesterday afternoon Capt Egbert, Mar
shall Means and officer Severance arrested at
a small saloon on Brady street, opposite the
post office, notorious villain and murder
er, who among many other crimes, is said
to be guilty of the shocking murder that
took place near Ottumwa, Wapello county,
this State. some four years ago, the victim
of which was young girl whom this man,
McCombs, and an accomplice named Law
renee, had abducted from her home in Rock
ford, Ill. The circumstances accompany
ing this atrocious crime are yet fresh in the
memory Of many Of onr citizens. Large re-
wards, amounting to $4,000 in al, were at
the time offered for the apprehension of the
criminal, but without sv.il. Although he
was at different times tracked by detectives
very closely, he always managed to escape
and the hopes Of ever getting him had Of
late almost vanished. The circumsta noes
that led to his discovery and arrest are
somewhat singular and were purely acci.
dental. A young soldier who is at presen
stationed at Camp McC lellan. and who knew
this man McCombs previous to the commits
sion Of the murder referred to, happened to
meet him in this city and recognized him.
McConbs had been in the employ Of this
young soldiers father for three years, near
Rockford, IN, and was recognized by him
instantly. The young soldier being cogni-
can't Of the details Of the murder and the
fact that McCombs and the girl left Rock.
ford together, Immediately informed Capt.
Ward, at Camp Mcclellan Of these facts, and
. messenger was sent down to Capt. Egg.
bert. who accompanied by the young soldier
and the two officers above mentioned, start.
ed out to fird the individual. He was
found at the saloon just a. he had conclud.
ed trade with man for horse for which
he paid $3.50. When arrested he quietly
asked "what for 2" but made no resistance.
He was then taken before Justice Wheeler
and ordered committed for examin.i.---
The man who had sold him the horse
agreed to give him back $40 and retake
the horse which was agreed upon.
McCombs seems flush with money, and
when arrested evineed not the least uneasi-
ness. He said nothing about the affair, and
only remarked that all he wanted was to
have fair trial. HIS business Of late is
said to have been enlisting and desertng.-
He would enlist at certain place, receive
the bounty and premium, and then desert
a. soon as possible. in order to re-enact the
proceeding at some other place. He is also
reputed to be dealer in counterfeit money,
and to Judge from his locks he seems caps.
bic Of doing almost anything but good &C
ton. His examination will probab ly take
place "A soon IS necessary witnesses can be
procured.
The prisoner was brou ght here on the
4th inst, BY officers Means and Severance,
and quietly conveyed At once from the De-
pot to the Jail, where he WAS placed in .
cell and ironed. He seems cheerful, and
converses freely with visitors. He admits
that he is the McConb they are after; that
he lived near Rockford, Ills; that he has
besn here before and that he knows George
Lawrence, but does not admit that he was
one Of the party here ct the time Of the muir
der. denies all knowledge of the Harvey fam.
lily, and says his name is Lansing B. Nc.
Comb. The Indictment has his name Ben
jamin A. McComb. a@
The facts Of this murder, as they were
finally settled down upon by the public. 70,
sstfirst there were numerous reports sur.
misses, are briefly - follows:
Late in the afternoon Of the 9th Of Narcl
1860. party of three persons, consisting o
Q young woman and two men, travelling in
light spring two horse wagon, and lead
ing an other horse behind. arrived in this
city and put up At the Jefferson House,
then kept Of John Potter. The woman VA.
claimed by one of the men Is as his sister
and two beds in tho same room were de-
manded, but not furnished. They spent
the night here attracting attention of Mr.
Potter and family and such citizens IS came
in contact with them by their singular con
duct. They left next day for Eddyville
where they spent the night Of the 2sth.-
Here also their department was singular
and suspicious. They lett Eddyville on tn
morning Of the 29th. crossing the bridge in
to Monroe County. They were noticed
that day on the road leading from Eddyvill
TO this place on the south side of the river
Sometime during the night Of the 29th tn
body OF the woman was thrown into tn
river opposite this city. At al events. !
was found sAsly in the morning Of the 30th
bv o. AusnAck, Milkman, lodged against
tho upper end of tow-bsad, then in tn
liver, and Just below the present lower Fer
nv. Assistance was procured, the body re-