The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-08-12
The Crime Epidemic.

Our country is at presen. afflicted with all
epidemic of crime. Open what newspapers
we will, and from one TO halt dozen OF great
crimes stare Us in the face Whether, ike
the itch or small pox, crime is catching, so
that persons reading the mirute details Of one
great crime, catch the rage and rush into an.
other like it; or whether there is some malig-
nant conjunction Of the stars, or some poison
IN the atmosphere that causes the phrensv.
there Is no doubt that crimes, like the choler,
or Russian pague, are epidemical, and sweep
over country at certain seasons in wave
as resistlezs a it is terrible and un2ccouut-
able.
To show how fearful this epidemic is ging
at present, we coudense, from a few papers
before us, the detail OF, not by a'.y rneaus al,
the great crimes which they chronicle in
few days. We have no doubt should we pur.
sle the business through our entire exchange
list for whole week we could extend this
list to thrice its length. Let these, however,
suffice for the present.
TRAGEDY at FoE- WAYxE.-At Fort
Wayne, Ind, On Satur la last, returned sol
der named Cunningham, on arriving at hi.
home, found that during his absence in
the army, his wife had turned his
peaceable home into den of iniqut-. In
his house be found his wife. her two sisters,
and several men at ore clcck in the night
under circumstances leaving no roon to
doubt the character of their occupation. He
Cleared the house at once OF all but his wife
and told her he would conduct the house
hereafter as an honest citizen. Nexi day 4
man named Fisher, who was one of the
elected, with others. went to the house and
tried TO force their way in, VIXEN Cunning CHAM
fired his revolver and shot Fisher. infic,ing
mortal wound. 4 number of Fishers
friend, then gathered about TIE house threat.
enlDg to kill Cunningham, and in attempting
again 10 force al entrance, Cunningham shot
another named Tim Murphy, who also died
of his wound. Cunningham, then gave hi n
self up TO a mag ;Strate. and his hou:e has not
since been mC.csted.
In Sullivan county, Indiana, on Thursday,
paro ed rebel prisoner beat Mr.. Gregory, of
Louisville, neatly to death, and robbed him
of his money and watch The people of the
vicinity captured the criminal, and hung him,
without benefit of Judge or jury.
AT Dcer;own, near Cincinnati, on Monday.
q Young man named Irwin, bru,ally murder.
ed bis father and mother, i, is supposed to
get few hundred dollars in their possession
At Oakland, near Hartford, Conn, on the
morning of the lst inst. Mrs Benjamin
Starkweather and her daughter, aged Ii
years, were found in their bed fouIy murder
ed while asleep Both were horribly cut
across the face with an axe, the edge pene-
trating to the brain, causing instant d. attn
apparently III both cases. The murderer i,
supposed to be Mrs. Starkweather's own son.
who is described as a % fast young man. or
rather loose character, and on whose person,
some 1875 were found which are known To
have belonged 10 the mother.
Near Holly Springs, Miss, last week, a
man named Aldriise, formerly Sheriff o. Ne.
Nair county, Tenn, killed three men in cold
blood, one Of then, 60 aud the other 20 year,
old. The crimes were perpetuated to CRAFTY
some private grudgc.
Another Harris case has occurred AT Wash
;aaton, soldier being shot by a yourp
woman on account of his having proved an
inconstant lover His wound is severe if no,
fatal.