Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-03-19
arrest or q M urderer Four Years A 4.
ter the Com mi ssion OF the Crime.


Yesterday afternoon Captain Egbert,
Marshal Means and officer Severance ar
rested at small saloon on Brady street,
opposite the Post Office, notorious VIII
lain and murderer, who, among many
other crimes, is said to be guilty of the
shocking murder which took place near
Ottumwa, WappelIo county. in this State,
some four years ago, the victim of which
was young girl whom this man, Nc.
Combs, and an accomplice named Law.
renee, had abducted from her home in
Rockford Illinois. The circumstances &C.
companying this atrocious crime are vet
fresh in the memory of many Of our citi-
zens. Large rewards amounting to So, 600
in all, were at the time offered for the
apprehension Of the criminal, but without
avail Although he was at different times
tracked by detectives very closely, be al.
ways managed to escape, and the hopes OF
ever getting him had of lato almost van
ished. The circumstsn noes that led to his
discovery and arrest are somewhat singu.
lar and were purely accidental. A yong
soldier who is at present stationed a.
Camp Mcclellan. and who knew this mau
McCombs previous to the commission of
the murder referred to, happened to meet
HIM in the city and recognized him. Nc.
Combs has been in the employ of this
young soldiers father for three years, near
Rockford, Illinois, and was recognized by
him instantly. The young soldier being
cognizant Of the details Of the murder
and the fac. that McCombs and the girl
left Rockford together, Immediately in.
formed Capt. Egbert, who, accompanied
by the young soldier, and the two officers
above mentioned, started out to find the
individual. He was found at the saloon
just as be had concluded trade with
man for horse for which be paid $3.50.
When arrested, he quietly asked "what
for7' but made no resistance. He was
then taken before Justice Wheeler and
ordered committed for examination. The
man who sold him the horse agreed to
give him back $40 and re.ake the horse.
which was agreed upon.
McConbs seems flush with money. and
when arrested eviuced not the least unea-
siness. He said nothing about the affair,
and only remarked that all he wanted was
a fair trial. His business Of late is said
to have been enlisting and deserting. He
would enlist at a certain place, receive the
bounty and premium, and then desert as
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 looks, he
seems capable Of doing almos, anything
but good action. His examination will
probably take place as soon as necessary
witnesses can be procured.
His accomplice, Lawrence, haa not been
heard from since the time Of the murder.
1t was a: one time reported that he had
also been found murdered somewhere but
of this there is no certainty. The young
woman whom these two scoundrels abduct.
ed from her home, sedaced and then mur,
dered, was the daughter Of respectable
parents at Rockford, III. She fell into
their meshes by meals best known to
themselves. The trio travelled together in
light spring wagon from Rockford
through Illinois and Iowa, and were last
seen together at Ouumwa in the early
par. of April, 1860, where at the hotel
at which they stopped one of the men
pretended that she was his sister. Shortly
after their departure from that place she
was found in the Des Mcines River, a
short distance from the village, and an
inquest holden over her body revealed
the fact that she had been brutally mur-
dered. Her skull was broken in and other
marks Of violence were visible abou. the
corpse.
1t is indeed to be hoped that the perpe-
traitor Of this horrible crime has at last
been apprehended ard that he will receive
the punishment the enormi,y of the deed
deserves. Davenport Gazette.
1t is better to tread the path of life
cheerfully, skipping lightly over all the
obstacles in ahe way, rather than sit down
aud lament your hard fate. The cheerful
mans life will spin oa. longer than that
of man who is continually sad aud des.
ponding. If distress comes upon us, de-.
lection and despair will not afford relief.
The best thing to do when evil comes up.
on us is not fermentation, but rise and
make vigorous effort to seek a remedy.
- . -
A preciouse boy being asked what they
raised in South Carolina, rcplicd. atbev