The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-07-29
An Iowa Tragedy.
From the st. Louis Republican, Jul,

An Iowa Tragedy.
From the st. Louis Republican. July Is.
There is scarcely record of lawless-
than that of tale of blood which start
ed all Davis county, Iowa, in 1864, when
William Wallace was murdered, and an
attempt made to take the life of his son
John Wallace.
Wallace was a farmer living in peace
with all his neighbors, who We're few
and scattered. No thoughts of ever be-
ing u victim to desperate ruttianism dis
turbed MIN. He had a considerable
amount Of property, which got to the
knowledge of some of the members of
Bill Anderson's notorious gang. One
day one of these Williams attempted to
steal number of his horses, and Wal
lace, looking on his property with a
jealous eye, endeavored to prevent him
from taking them off. The scoundrei
seeing the resistance which was being
offered, determined to carry out his in-
tention, even IL bloodshed was the con-
sequence. The result was that he shot
and killed the elder Wallace. and seri-
ousIy wounded the younger. He then
got Off with his plunder. The affair
caused great excitement and II man
named Francis Marion West was acrus-
ed OF the crime.
West could not be found, and the
tragedy ceased after time to be talked
of, except 10y few. Lately it became
known that West was living on farm,
which he owned, some twenty five
miles southeast of Mexico, Andrian
County, Mo. He had been living in the
town, but bought the farm amd went on
it.
Sheriff Bradbury, of Davis county,
Iowa, upon Il requisition of Governor
Merrill, of Iowa, upon Governor Ne
Clurg, obtained IA warrant for his arrest
and on the 10th inst came to st. Louis
and presented it to- Chief of Police Lee.
Captain Lee forthwith detailed Oni-
Ger w. Il. Noris, a we'll known member
of the detective force, to accompany:the
Sheriff and arrest the accused. The sto
ry of the arrest is one which reflects
great credit upon the officers for the
skill which marked It. 1t may he stat
ed that an Indictment for murder in the
first degree has been found against
West.
Voris and Bradbury left on Saturday
to arrest him, both being well armed
They first went to Mexico, and there
found where he lived. On Monday
they procured horses and started for the
locality, and stopped that night ut the
house of Mr.. VIM. Ewing, which was
within five miles of Vests farm. Here
they were joined by young man who
stated that his fathers house had been
plundered during the war 10y the person
they were going to arrest. On the fol-
lowing morning the three rode up TO
Vests farm and represented them
selves as land buyers, they having
learned that West desired to sell his
farm. They succeeded in imposing on
West with this idea, and it was evident
that he had not the least suspicion of
them. He invited them to allight and
get drink of water, which they were
not back ward in doing.
West was then a short distance from
the house, and began to climb over the
fence inclosing the yard, and while on
it Vors caught him by the arm and
pulled him back ward. He got him off
the fence and told him he was his pris-
oner the Sheriff at the same time slip
ping pair Of handcufis Oh his wrist
This unceremOnious proceeding took
West by surprise, and he found he had
nothing to do but to submit. They set
him astride horse, and started im,ne-
dately for WellsviIle, the depot nearest
that point on the North Missouri rail
road. When they had got about hall
the distance, West, fearing rs he said
afterwards that they were going to take
him into the woods and lynch him ,
made break and attempted to escape.
lie jumped from his horse and took to
the woods. The party pursued him, and
the young man accompanying the otfi-
GERS was particularly agile. and being n
good shot, without ado hepulled out his
pistol and shot him in the thigh causing
a serious flesh wound. This brought
West to, and he was again placed on a
horse. No other difficulty occurred,
and the officers rode into Wellsville
with their prisoner secare. Here they
obtained surgical aid for him, and the
ball was extracted. He was sutiring a
great deal of pain.
sheriff Bradbury took the next train
going north, with West in custody, and
Officer Noris returned to tn" city, arriv-
ing Yesterday evening. West will he
| tried on the charge against him.
| When on the train, Major w. ,. RAJ
| linS, of Boon county, Mo. recognized
the accused as Il person who robbed him
during the war, of gold watch and
chain in stage coach.
West is single man, about 30 years
of age.