Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-04-10

chant there, became dissatisfied with his
book keeper an procured the services Of Geo.
Sect, Of this city, in bis place. When the
later arrived 10 commences bis duties, the
former book>keeper became SO irate that he
drew . revolver aud attempted 10 shoot Mr.
Palmer, but was fortunately prevented from
20 doing. He was placed under arrest and
10 now held TO bail to answer the charge Of
assault with attempt to Hill u the next term
Of eoars 10 Buchanan ccu IT,"
throp I clip from the Dubuque Times OF
March 10th inst, which think does great
injustice TO the young man referred 10. The
facts in the case are substantially as follows:
In August last Mr.. J. II. Palmer took into
his employ young man by the name Of
Geo. A. Locke as book-keeper, who contin>
ued to act as such up to the 4th Of the press
ent month without any intimation from his
employer that his services were not satisfac.
tory. On the 4th inst. young man by the
name Of Scott came into Mr. Palmer's Office
and wantad to look over the grain account
Of Reed 4 Boynton, grain deslers in Dubu>
que, and while Mr.. Locke was At this inves-
tigation his attention was called to notice
in the Dubuque Times Stating that Geo.
Scott, former clerk Of II. Markell, had that
morning left the city 10 take up his residence
in Winthrop a. book keeper for Palmer.
This was the first intimation Mr.. Locke had
that he was to be displaced, or that his SER
vices were not satisfactory. However,
Palmer said nothing that evening to Locke,
but early the next morning Palmer inform,
ed him that Scott would take his place at
the desk, and he accordingly Strengthened
up the books, balanced the cash account
and handed over 70 Palmer the keys 70 the
desk and safe aud started for Dubu-
que.
So FAR there had been no words or sx..
pressions OF displsasure by either party. On
the return o. Mr. Locke the next day, Palm
er called him into room, and presented for
his payment bogus account, either in whole
or part, und told him II il was not allowed
and paid he would tear bis id heart out
Of him. This rough assault Locke thousht
very unbecoming in his former employer,
and respectively demonstrated against L, and
further informed Palmer that he would news
er settle or pay asything whalsver under an
act Of intimidation, and started 70 leave the
room, and to his surprise he found the door
locked, and himself prisoner in the room
alone with Palmer with the threat Of having
bis heart torn out, still hanging over his
head, and no weapon to defend himself with.
He however found . why ofexit through an.
other room, and then asked for his trunks
containing his own and his wife's clothing;
for be it understood that himself aud wife
had boarded with Palmer during his sesvies
as clerk. Palmer refused 10 deliver them
up, telling Locke that he had attached them
for debt, which on investigation at that time
proved to be utterly false. Mr.. Locke then
procured help and went mp to his room and
brought down one trunk, and ~ he was
passing out al the door he was met BY .
constable who politely informed him that b
bad warrant Tor him, end on examination
il was found that Mr.. Palmer he'd swora
out warrant and held him arrested for the
crime Of larceny, which was afler abandon
ed and acknowledge false. Locke had iust
berore attempted settlement, but was un-
successful, q Palmer would not settle unless
he would allow tho bogus account which
was all gamuron. During the reading of
the warrant, Palmer, bis wife, aud woman
who lives with them came into The room,
standing near the door, aMd % Locke q
somewhat near-sighled, and co0ld hardly
that be was really and truly NC
cused Of the crime Of stealing, drew his
spectaclss case from bis pocket for the pur.
pose Of using his glasses 70 examine the pa>
per, when Mrs. Palmer gave shrek and
tainted, saying she or hcs husband was shot
or both, she could hardly tell which. AT
any rate the trio suddenly disappeared,
and Mr. Locke aud his friend we're IN In
the quiet and peaceful poscsslon Of his
trunks, and retired Ike good cittixens, not
ever dreaming that he had shot one, and
probsbay two persons, with no other wssron
than his speciacles cass.
Alas, for misplaced coufdence! The
next day he was arrested for-murder, was
about 70 soy, but belieye Il was for IN y.
sanlt with Ne iaiene to comma murder, aad
was taken before our worthy Justice NJ. A.
Chamberlin Of Winthrop and m invesiiga.
lion was in due time entered into for the par.
pose Of finding out whether Locke was
safe person to run At large with such form.
liable concealed weapon in his pocket as be
had drawn on the trio Of palmcr's family on
the memorable night that they all got killed
or badly ecAysd. Mr.. Palmer in order 10
make biz ere sure and strcng, engaged the
services Of The lieutenant colonel ofthe 9th
Iowa infantry. Well, the school was dis
missed, and the school hovse, for the time
being was converted into court house, and
early in he morning the people from the
country cssne hocking into
Winthrop, and long before " moment
arrived for he mars6sliug Up sfths accused
for trial, he house was crowded 70 overfow>
ing. At length the court was opened, and
bur prision1r was mArshaIcd into the awful
presence q tie assembled mul,ituds. He
was defended BY L. w. Hart, OF lndepen>
ieEce, q COUNSEL. Palmer, HE wife
and the woman wers sworn on the pass Of the
PalnAer said he saw into the
barrel 81 tie pistol, bis wife saw about IN
inch Of IL hut mono heard . report Wit.
nesses were sworn on the part ofihe defence,
but saw - pistol or heard . report Of one,
and saw nolhiae in his hand but his spsctas
cles casa. TIE case Vas ably argucd on the
part ofshe defence, by Mr.. Hart, and the
ieutenant colonel had the closing plea.
It was 6nalIy submitted to the justice for his
decision, who decidsd that the prisoner had
not killed anybody, or attempted 70, and vas
therefore, honorably discharged. The decis.
ON was recelssd with applause BY ths null.
itude, but With great disgust to the LiuseS-
mt colonel and his client.
NJ. Palmer had previously attached the
trunks belonging 70 NJ. Locke, containing
his and his wife3s wearing apparel, before .
ustice Of the peace, and the constable still
,eld then. in his possession, but At the terms
nation Of his suit mentioned above, he and
lis counsel stat1ed for Independence, and
here procured an attachment for the same
FOODS in the distsict cu1re-ssadin the sher>
Il down to taxa them out Of the officers
,ands a Winthrop. The result was that
hey were rerletied before the sheriff could
get away with t6en. Then they 70 and
lunt up an obscu justice Of the psaee,
name unknown TO me, AID swear out war
rant for the purpose Of arresting him on the
same charge that he had been honorably
discharged ffomrby he uagistsats 10 VIVA.
hrop, and he was accordingly taken again,
md on hsaring - evidences, be decided 10
,old him to bail IN TIE penal sum Of $500
for shooting Jobs Palmer and his wife, and
soaring the widow with his spectacles case.
Mr. Locke readily gave bonds for his appear.
,nee TO answer those grave charges, 10 be
ret established before the grand jury. Mr..
Palmer wAs subsequently, arrested on .
charge Of purjury, Ind was obliged to give
bonds for his Appearance to answer the
charge before ths grand Jury. So much for