The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-06-16
70 70 saa@T kIALqtDF
BENJAMIN "A. McC Comb,
sGffiEl39}B elsaaH x5E22SA :
.,;-a -. FOB TEE MURDER OF
LAURA y. HARVEY. 'Rl
TuEspAY, June Z, 1884

LAUhA y. HAhHEV4
,atiss TUESDAY June 4, 1854.
.Tsfbr years ago, on the soth day of March
.1t5shodyof e5oung woman was found IN ths
Dss Moines river in thus city, 1t was at frs
Thought that She had committed suicide, by
drowning; - poat mortem examination, how
ever, disclosed the fact that she had been
brutally and afouIly nASdsred. She was rec
eg6ksd q having be N in this city some two
days previous, in company with two mem
. sSAzpicionsat once rested npon them. The
utuetT s4sitsment prevailed ell over the
country;, the citizens Of this city offered a res
ward Of $500 for the apprehension Of tbs
.aAss1issJ ths eedsssnof tsf ahis Essste Of
fered like reward, while the Supervisors Q
Winnebago county, ILL.,. where the murdered
girl formerly resided did the same.
1t was ascertalned that her name was Lau-
ra J. Harvey, that she was the daughter Of
respectable citizen of Rockford, H., tina
she had been enticed away from her home by
one George Lawrence, that a mock marriage
had been performed by some person, that
she believed herself legally married to him,
and so stated to her mother but short time
previous to her leaving home, showing at the
same time q marriage certificate. Soon after
they left Rockford they were joined by Ben
jamin A. AcComb, who had but recently
served out 3 term Of years in the peniten-
tiary of Illinois. He continued to travel with
them, riding in the back part Of the wagon
and leading his horse; this was the manner
in which they arrived in this place on the
27th day Of March, 1860. They left here on
the 2sth, went to Eddyvilie, where they re-
naihed oil night; and started away together
the next morning. That was the last that
was seen of George Lawrence or Laura j.
Harvey alive. Her body was found as has
already been stated in the river and the body
Of Lawrence was found some two months af-
terwards in deep ravine about three miles
below the city. But very little doubt re-
naircd in the minds Of the people, that Nc
Comb was guilty of a double murder, that
he had murdered Lawrence for his property
and money, and had murdered Laura 10 pre-
vent her exposing his crime. ID. +. Gaylord,
OF this city, succeeded in tracking him to
Iowa City, where he found the horses
and harness, but could not find Nc Comb.
Some three months ago he was dis
covered by an old acquain ance of his
at Davenport. lie was at once arrest
ed and brought to this city, when he
uoo M a oa1 IN an,sna,no,+ !, o,,o,. l.; :;
trial under an Indictment for the murder
of Laura j. Harvey.
When the case was called he appear
ed by his counsel, NJ. J. Williams, of
this city, and Hon. ]. c. Knapp, of
Keosauqua, and fled his plea of 'not
guilty" Two applications were made
for continuance, one of which was
oyerruled and the other granted, but
the continuance was avoided ON the part
of the State by admitting that he could
prove the allegation set out in his afii-
davit. A special venire was then issued
and hundred persons served to attend
As jurors. The subsequent proceedings
will be found below. There was some
excitement attending his trial, but it was
not of such a character as to prevent
his having fair, impartial hearing
The verdict of "guilty" rendered by the
jury, is regarded as righteous one, and
but few, if any, regret that he must suf-
fer death for the double murder.
Amos Harris, Dist. Pros, r.. a.
III. 3. Hendershott, ST. 80, 'he
E. L. Burton, state
). c {. i kaspp, @ '','"'' For Dsfsndsns
ORGANIZATION OF THE JURY.
"A large anmbey persons were
called as jurors in this case. Those
who had formed no opinion were passed
for cause, while the balance were ex-
cused, some for the reason that they
had formed an opinion, and others for
other causes, while othess were excused
peremptorily by the State or the de.
PENDANTS ~
Tne jury was not organized until
Wednesday noon, having occupied one
day and half in its organization.
A question then arose for the consid-
Grafton of the Court, in relation to the
statute the case should be prosecuted
aHder, the indictment having been found
on the I'd day OF June, 1850, prior to
the taking effect Of the Revision of 1860.
The question was argued by Judge
Knapp for the defendant, and Amos
Harris, prosecutor; f. L. Burton for the
prosecution. The court decided that
the prosecution must be conducted UNI
der the law in force at the time of find-
Rg the indictment.
The jury were then sworn. ana the
statement of the case made to the Jury
by the Prosecuting Attorney, Amos
Harris, Esq.
Sec. Tucker, E. E. iMastie.
s. B. Fuller, Henry Wheeler,
J. Al. Hartman, e o. Motif, H
John Montgomery, 4. II. Mccormick,
q. Y. Gates. James Van Vleet,
Il. D. Hall, f. Gaylord.
The State then introduced her testi.
mony as follows:
John Prosser, sworn, and testified as
follows: t.Ff' tsa f.
] was present and assisted in taking
. young woman out of the river, whom
TO all appearances had been thrown in
the river the night before. I helped
take her out in the morning; we found
her lodged on a stump in the river, near
tbs remains Of an old tow-head, where