The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-03-09
A MURDERER HANGED.
Dan. MCCOmh, The Assassin Of
Miss Laura j Harvey. Of Rock !.
ford. III, Executed ~ OttMm W q
Iowa. February I7lh--HltstOry
Of the Murder, the Criminal, I,
the Arrest, rrialai, Etc.

/ BOrO. Ill, Executed ~ OltMm yv0
Iowa. February I7lIs--HltstOry
Of the Murder, the Criminal, !,
the Arrest, 'rrtalai, Etc.
From the Ottnmwa (lowa) Courier.
FIRST APPEARANCE OF TIE PARTY IN
orTuMvA
On Tuesday, March 9th, 1850, a
party consisting Of three persons, two
men and a woman, arrived in this city
and put mp at he Jefferson House, then
kept by John Potter. They came in a
common two horse wagon with an extra
horse tied on the bark of it. The team
was rnt up at Mr.. Blodgett's livery
stable while they remained here While
at the jefferson House, they attracted
the attention Of Nj. Potter's family, as
the conversation between the party was
any thing but friendly towards the
young girl While here the men did
n =, express themselves very fecly in
regard to their destination or designs
but did on 'everal occasions cay that
they thought they would locate some.
where near here as farmers, without,
however, coming to any definite con-
c'usion. They remained here till Wed
resday about two o'clock, when the
party left for Eddyville, where they ar
rived the same evening. Here, also, the
suspicion Of the landlord was aroused
by the conversation heard in their
room. The girl was heard to say that
she wished 10 return to her mother from
whom she had been stolen. We might
here say, however, that before they lrf
this city the men, called al Dr.. Taylor's
drug store and requested him to send
for the Rockford Uh) Daily News from
March 10Th, FIR two weeks, and copies
Of the Rockford Registcr. TO be for
warded to E,ayvile. They hesita,ed
to give heir names, but finally gave the
name Of William Moore. They LET,
Ellyvi'le on Thursday morning eros
sing son'hward. Before leaving they
said they were going A lew miles into
the country to look at o farm. iI,out
II o'clock they were seen on the Chill.
cothe road leading towards tie city.
Nothing more was seen or heard Of
them. until about IL O'Clock the same
night, when Mr.. John Prossor, the pro.
prietor of the ferry, Mr.. Barnes and
two others were going home from
town; they had crossed the river and
had gone some twenty rods-or about
fa'fway to Mr.. Prossor's house, when
a wsg IN drawn by two horses, aud one
horse following, and two men abord,
passed rapidly quite near the party,
driving towards the ferry; Prossor sent
his son to the boat to cross them over
if they desired. The boy went, but
they had already driven into the river,
and saw The two men STOPPING over The
side Of the wagon and looking into the
water, as if they were throwing seme.
thing into the stream. 1t being quite
dark he could not see distinctly wha;
the men were doing. The team drove
on in few minutes, and the boy went
home. Abou. an hour afterwards a
wagon was heard passing Prossor's
house, and as they could not be found
next morning, it was supposed they
had re crossed.
THE MURDERED GIRL FOUND.
On Friday morning. March so,h, the
body Of the woman was found few
feet below the lowe, ford. When
found it was nearly covered with the
water, and to some extent by sand. II,
was thrown in the channel of the river.
coming in contact with root it lodged
there. Mr.. Anmack, the milk an, first
discoverd the body. He, with Mr..
Prossor and others placed it in a skifr,
and brought it to this side Of the river,
where it remained until the arrival OF
the Coroner. It was conveyed to .
building in town, when jury waA i'm
paneled, and an inquest held. A large
number of witnesses we're suhpnned
and testified. The body was subjected
to post mortcm examination, which
proved that she had not committed
suicide. There were wounds on the
head which were both severe and fatal:
one ego was black and blue and much
swollen, and on the throat warc marks
Of fingers deeply intended, enough TO
choke a person to death. The Jury
after hearing all the testimony, etc.,
returned verdict that the disc ascd
came Q her death by blows inflicted