The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-07-14
The Murder at GreenVIIIe, Illinois
Confession of the Murderer.
ST.. LOUIS. July Il

The excitement at Greenville, Illi-
nois, and vicinity, over the atrocious
murder of Mrs. McAdRms, by John w.
More, still continues, but 1t has sensl-
bly, decreased since the confession of
the miserable criminal. Many threats
OF lynching have been made, but the
better feelings and the law-abiding dis
position of the people have prevailed.
and justice will be allowed TO take its
course.
The funeral OF the victim OF lust and
murder took place at Dudleyville,
about a mile and a half from the scene
of the assassination, on Wednesday
last, and was attended by people from
all parts OF the country. The ceremo~
MES were very solemn and impressive,
and the scene was affecting beyond de-
scription.
More was born in the city of New
York, May 1, 1915. His father died
came to St. Louis, and lived here some
time, giving her son kind and religious
training. More subsequently went to
Bond county, Illinois, and has resided
there ever since. He has a wife, said
to be a noble woman, and one child, a
bright little girl.
The following is the prisoners con-
fession, taken from his own lips:
ION Monday afternoon, July 9th, 1
went to look at my wheat. When re-
turned got off my horse at the house
of Jesse McAdams and went on to the
porch, where his wife was. She was
alone and washing. 1 decoyed her into
the house by asking some questions
about bureau and some books.
then went up to her and put
my arms around her and tried to
violate her person. She resisted. l
threw her down, and she struggled
so that L released her. l begged
her not tell OF 1t, and offered her money,
but she insisted she would, and l left
her and went to my house, about one
fourth of a mile east of there; and when
got there sent my wife away, and
went and got my clothes and tied them
up, and then thought I would leave the
country. But after ] started, the idea
of leaving my wife and child seemed
more than 1 could bear, and went by
Mrs. McAdams' house again, to try
and persuade her to keep my secret.
When 1 went in at the yard gate she
saw me and started to run. l followed
after her and begged her not 10 tell, but
she refused, and / found something
must be done, and / struck her and be.
gan to stab her, and 1 finally ended by
cutting her throat.
Il then went home and went for my
wife. Went TO the wheat field and
pulled some shocks of wheat apart and
set them together, aud pretended TO
hear her scream, and ran to her assis-
tance. l ran over more to assure my
self that she was dead than L did to
hide my guilt. l then ran home and
told my wife that 1 had found her
murdered, and gave the alarm TO the
men in the tield.'
The following is the culpit's appeal
addressed to the people of the State OF
Illinois:
know ali persons, that l, John W.
More, arrested on suspicion for the
murder of Mrs. Louisa McAdams, do
this day acknowledge and confess that
I did do the horrible deed of which
have been accused; that I hereby make
confession to the fact, and pray that no
violence will be attempted, but that
may be dealt with according to law. L
also desire that all Ministers of the
Gospel will come and pray for me, and
all Christians are requested to come
and talk with me. If there Is any for
giveness Tor such an awful crime, l
sincerely and earnestly desire it, and
shall pray for 1t. LSignedl
JOHN W. MORE
The excitemet Of the people had been
very much heightened by the remem-
Drance OF an event which occurred dur
ing the war, by which another member
OF the McAdams family was killed. s.
q. McAdams, an uncle OF the husband
OF the murdered woman was soldier
In the Union army, and while in De-
Gem Der, 1863, he with several others
were in pursuit of deserters, many OF
whom were harbOred in Bond county
by the enemies of the Government, he
was shot and killed. Great excitement
followed this event, and man named
Sanner was arrested, tried and acquit-
ted. One v eek afterward n man on
horseback rode into Sanner's yard,
called him out of his house and shot
him dead. From that day TO this the
perpetrator of the deed has not been
discovered. The occurrences, coming
fresh to McAdams' friends, have cre-
ated high state of feeling, and have
had much to do with keeping up the
excitement against the prisoner. But
good councils have prevailed, aud Nc
Adams advice to do no violence TO
More has been needed.