The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-06-12
FROM LELAND.
THE PIERCE MILLAY EXCITEMENT.

THE PIERCE MLLAY EXCITEMENT.
This village has been more or less exercised
for the last two or three years on account of
family quarrel between two prominent G1 cia-
zens-N. S. Pierce and J. J. Millsy. Many and
acrimonious have been the law suits between
them, sometimes one and then the other the
VICTOR often stirring the whole village into strife
by their quarrels. The principal bone Of contsn-
ton was q piece of property well known here
abouts as "Fort Nillay." A recent suit before
Esq. Lockwood, in Ottawa, having given Pierce
legal possession OF the property, he undertook,
on the last Friday in May, to fence 1t in. Mil
lay appeared on the ground to stop the work
Nathl. Pierce, Jr., seized an axe and went for
jim But he wouldn't scare worth a cent. Then
revolver shots were exchanged by the bellise-
rants but, though they were but rod apart,
nobody was hurt. Millsy however got badly
'1iquored" Considerable excitement arose in
the village over the affair, and in the evening
quite knot Of citizens gathered in front of Job
Dawscn's grocery store, in the midst of whom
were young Pierce and Millay. A hot dispute
and tussel followed between them-Jim was
down, when a pistol held in his hand went of,
hitting Job Dawson in the groin, but the ball
luckily striking his pocket knife he was but
slightly bruised
Millay was now lodged in the calaboose, and
next day brought before N. j. Whitney, police
magistrate, who held him to bail in $500 to ap.
pear for examination on the following Wednes.
day The excitement in the village continued
to increase, and on Monday came to focus Mil.
lay was taken to Mendoza on warrant issued
by Esq. Guy of that city, on the same charge on
which he had entered bail for his appearance be.
fore Mr.. Whitney. Accordingly, at Mendota,
he demanded his discharge on that ground. Gil.
man, attorney for the people, however, was
equal to the emergency. He moved tho dismiss
al of the proceeding before Whitney, and Esq.
Guy granted the motion! Millay then waived
On examination, and gave bail for his appearance
before the circuit court.
In view of all these proceedings, number Of
our people met on Tuesday, and, determining 70
get rid of these broils, and that Leland hence.
forth should have peace, came TO the following
resolves, Rev. Frank. Dale being chairman of
the meeting ana Daulel hlcnOlSOn 8ctlnR Is Sec
rotary -
WHEREAS we, the citizens of Leland, lovers
of law and order, believing that the peace and
harmony Of the people have been interrupted
and violated. their rights inteTfered with, and
their lives endangered by the improper use Of
firearms by one j. J. Millay; and WHEREAS, the
said J. ]. Millay 10 now living in open adultery
with one Harriet, formerly his wife, but now
divorced from him. Now, therefore, believing
it necessary TO rid the town from the stigma
necessarily brought upon it by such conduct, and
for the protection of the lives Of its citizens, We
do pass the following resolutions:
1st That J. ]. Millsy is a nuisance to this
community, without one redeeming quality in
his character. and that no decent persons should
countenance or associate with him in any way
whatever.
I'd. That the woman Harriet r., with whom
J.J. Millay. according to his own statements il
now living without being married, is no better
than he is
Sd. That we will take any or all legal and
moral means in our power to rid this community
of such obnoxious persons.
Next day Mllay was arrested and brought
before Esq. Whitney on the charge Of fornica-
ton, but after three days trial was acquitted
Four more law suits between Millay and Pierce
have since then been tried: ]. w. Browne TO,
Millay and n. J. Whitney for Pierce,-Pierce
coming out victor in each suit.