The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-10
Horrible Murder I'm IliinOis-A Man
Murdered and his property taken
posSesSicn GE-Arreat Of the Muir.

/ derer.
From tie Pee. ia Tl.nsc i. Il, Augusta.
A correspondent furnishes us with the
following accour! Of horrible tragedy at
Dclayan
A few days ago, Mr.. j. II. Mckinstry, OF
Delavan, had his attention called to the
fact that German by the maine of Koch,
with whom he formerly lad business rela-
tons, was missing, and man named VIII
hanson, of IIopcdalc, had taken possession
of Koch's farm. Mr.. McKinstry knew at
once there was something wrong, and
began to ventilatc the matter. William
son immediately dccampcd; and upon
search of the premises, the body OF the
unfortunate German was found but par
TALLY buried in an adjoining corn-tield.
This Williamson seems 10 have most de-
liberatcly planned and executed the whole
thing. The neighborS say that for some
time he has pretended to be DESTROYS of
purchasing the farm, and on the night of
the murder remarked in the hearing of
some one that Koch and he could not trade
until he got bottle Of whisky. Two days
attcrward he called at the nearest neigh
boris, and protcssed to have bought Koch
out, aud taken him off in the night to Pc
oria, putting him aboard the cars for Chi
cage, ON his way to Germany, and since
that time he had cleaned up the house, and
chad hard time Of it, as the house was
very dirty"
1t seems that Koch, who kept "bache-
lor's hail." had been killed while lying on
his cot. The wall was scraped in several
places, and newspapers pasted over the
bloody spots. The floor had also been
well cleaned, but the stain of blood could
not be oblitcratcd. Williamson hid the
! corpse beneath the floor. \ desperate
/ fellow named Shilycr now moved in, and
! for three weeks this Williamson and this
family of Shilvcrs lived, ate, drank, and
slept above the murdered man. The body,
/ however, began to give evidence Of its
whereabouts, and Shilver's wife, who was
a nervous woman and had been well rear
ed, became sick, and was seen by the
ncighbors often in tears. She was speedily
confined to bed, died, and was buried as
quickly as Il coffin could he procured.
Two ncighbors who accidentally heard OF
her illness volunteered to sit up, but were
told that they might as well GO home, as
they were not wanted. An hour after, the
woman died, or was dispatched to prevent
developments.
The Germans body was then removed
to the corn-icid, hastily buried, and the
whole crew, by this time thoroughly
alarmed, took flight.
After the murder, Williamson delibc.
ratcly proceeded to thrash and draw tc
market the corn and wheat that had been
stored on the farm. Next, he sold cows,
mules, wagon, &C., and finally decamped
Shilver and a fellow named uarkett have
been arrested, and there is good prospect
of the tiend Williamson being caught, as
officers are close on his track.
We may add to the above that the man
Williamson has been arrested. He was
followed by Marshal Stone and James Mil.
ner, of Pekin, and ovcrhauled in Sanga.
mon county. He had hired out to Howc's
circus. Williamson carried of a pair OF
mules belonging TO his murdered victim
one of which lie had sold. The mules
were recovered. Williamson has been com
mittcd to Jail at Pekin.