The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-12-03
The Longworth Murder Trial.

On Friday morning Il Let ~ssk ~ ossss
met, and the eupannslias 4 jary vsssoaes-
cd The Jury are a. follows: joshua HsCsAy,
Josiah S Hall, Thos B. stumph. Chas. Bsssrs.
ChaA L Eaton, WI. Bsrger, Ransom Rdnss.
Jas Foster, jacob CAristnsn, Jso. Elst 4
Gsdaldig and E. W. Bossermas.
OPENIEo SPEECHES.
Mr.. Blanchard stated the case in bekslf Ut tie
people and said Substantially: Il
The offence vas committed on IL 7th Il Osee.
Der last and the indictment presented this tern.
The deceased, Robinson, and Loogwerth. tAe q.
eused, had adjoining farms. y.ly 4tA. -.
Longworth purehssed Of one Gallagher one TOD
Of laad to enable him to make lana. The e.
nainder of the quarter section was su6seq1eaay
purchased of Gallagher by Robinson, and The
dispute arose a. to the ho1ndary liae-rhey
became bitter enemies; had repeated quarrels
BY words or by alteration, and lasssits had
grown out of it.
At this time Longwor had got fesce viewers
TO view the fence-they reported it iasulicisnt.
and Robinson commenced to rebuild it-snd on
the old line. but few feet from it bat the old
fence was not on the line. Robinson had had it
surveyed for the purpose ct establishing The line,
and while surveyor was there he knew nothing
OF the controversy between these mel Long
conversation with surveyor, hut not about the
line. Robinson commenced building his fence
near that line, but little within it. He and
his hired man were doing this for a few days be-
fore that-one day intervening in which the
ropes marking the line we're cut and the post
holes filed up. On the merning of the killing
Robinson and his man were there, and Long
worth weRt down thereiwithahis hired man, and
the boy followed in the same detection with his
-ha pt ha hunt ho hoA
no ramro3 nor ammunition. Lonyworth walked
with guide stake towards Robinson. Robinson
asks il he is coming to make fuss. and requests
his hired man to take him of This was refused.
He then threw the stake oyer the fence and
shook his fist in Robinsons face. He the
aggressor, and whatever Robinson said was in
consequence OF Lougworth's threat. Longworth
retreated to where his was and then return
ed, and other words were uttered. Robinson
had gun in kis hand Longworth and he had
scutfie about it, and they ell,-while they were
there Lougworth called Willie, aud the boy i'm.
mediately cooked his gun. Parrish, a man who
had come with Robinson, told him not to FIRE :;
he said he would fire he did so: the charge
went through his body and killed him instantly.
Longworth, his boy and hired man went to his
home Parrish and sister Of Robinsons took
his body away.
The defence will be one of self defence. The
killing will not be controversial. The question
will be whether it was iustifable homicide You
will reCo!lect the men were not friends, but
bitter enemies Longworth knew that the sur
voy had been made and line established, and that
Robinson was constructing his fence thereon.
Was IL right or prudent for him to 60 there !?
LongWorth knew he was building the fence !;
knew about the filing up Of post holes and all
ttfhr CIRCUMSTANCES. ttzJuEW0Trf 0UEht to know
that Robinson had right to use force enough to
put him oil his promises, and if Longworth il
resisting him, killed MIN, he is guilty of murder
He had said 70 several persons that one or the
other would have TO die--at such times he was
intoxicated but it demonstrated the fact that
they were enenies--that they had troubles
Law of murder was well understood in La
Sale county; 1t was the unlawful killing of cur
fellow man. There one exception, and
that was when it was in self defence, and to save
your OWE life, you have a right to take his 1t
was not Tor every provocation or il Jury that you
had this right il 1t were so half dozen men per
day might have their lives taken in this city
the circumstances must be Sc urgent and press.
ing that, rs a man of reason, you think you have
right to take it.
CONSUL gave statute on the subject, and de-
fined malice aforethought. To be guilty of the
crime or murder, man must be guilty of the
act, and lie must have malice.
1t will be coutended that the discharge Of the
gun was absolutely necessary to prevent Robin
son killing or iudlcting great injury upon Long.
worth. Keep in mind that these parties did
not come together under circumstances that
would cause him to fear Injury from Robinsoa
tie sought the difiiculty--he did not attempt TO
evade it. The difficulty as to the fence was one
to be settled by the courts. If he thought Ro-
binson was = dangerous man it was the more his
duty to rely upon the law.
1t may be argued that the boy did the deed,
and there was 40 connection between them about
it. Longworth knew that the boy was there
with the gun, and after the alteration he got
thrown down, and then he called upon his boy,
whom he knew 20 be armed with loaded gun.
and able to do this deed
Mr.. BULL stated the case for the defence.
lie produced plat of the land, fences, build
lngs, NC, near the scene of the alleged murder,
and gave a lengthy and elaborate explanation
thereof to the jury -
The road alluded to was bought In 1857, 1.-THE
deed on file, however, was filed in 1867 Gal.
lagher, and Pilson and Mitchell, who owned the
land, fenced the road ont, except few feet, and
gave Longworth possession, and he has remained
10 until Robinson built the remaining few feet of
fence on different line to the other
The locality of the alleged crime WAS in the
town OF Dimmick, neighborhood which, uutil
Robinson moved into it, was one of the auistest
and most orderly communities in the state. A
quarrel between neighbors wss unknown until
Robinson moved into it, ii years ago, and from
that time 1T was hell upon earth; there was
scarcely a netghbor with whom he did not quar-.
rel there was scarcely person who did not nc.
tually fear him. When he bought this property
ne was told by the then owners that they had
sold this rod IN width To Lon. but MA hin
deed did not contain reservation Of the sps rod
ne conceived the idea that he would hav. th.