The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-07-19
MnBDER AND LYNCH LAW.
Particulars of the Terrible Tragedy in lro-
qaois County, Illinois,
A Boy Whipped and Roasted TO Dea'h D.!
Els Father.
THE CORONER'S INQUEST.
Confession OF THE MURDERER
The FieEd Taken from The Jail by a. Mob
AID Hanged,

We cory IS follows from the Peoria i,
Review of the 9th
4 Jew days ago we gave bret state ,
mcut If = brutal murder near Onarga,
in this State, in which a father killed
his own son. Tie prominent actor in
,,,;s dreadful tragedy was named Mar
Tin Mera. an Irishman by birth, about
forty four years of age, FIVE feet eight
inches in height, thick set and muscu-
lar. with a forbiddiDg countenance, a
restless, impatient eye, and deep,
cultural voice. He owned place con-
tanning eighty acres, about two and
half miles from Onarga, in lroquols
copntv. His house shows a consiiera
BILE degree of refinement, and the num-
her of books and papers indicated that
its owner was person of considerable
Intelligence. He was known among |
his neighbors as honest, q prompt pay
master, aud hard working man. But
he had q dreadful temper, and when
under its influence would whip his
horses numerically. cut out the eyes
of his hogs, and indulge in other acts
of fiendish and brutal passion. His
family consisted of his wife, an intelii-
gent lady aged about forty, and six
children, the eldest IA years and the
Youngest about 20 days. The eldest
boy was named Martin, and he was ii
years of ago.
On the 18th of june, Mera came to
Gilman and posted two written notices,
stating that his boy had run away from
home, and offering a reward for his re-
turn. He stated loosely that he did
not know why the boy should leave, as
he had always treated him well. A
few days after, some of the neighbors
began to suspect that something was
wrong, and on the 30th, Messrs. Nc
Courtie and G.. B. Winters, of Onarga,
and others swore out a warrant and
started for Mera's house. On their
way they stopped at school which
Mera's oldest daughter was,attending,
and questioned her. On promising to
protect her, she said her father had
beaten her brother, and after beating
him had put him on the stove, and she
had never seen him since, but believed
he was dead.
Armed with these facts, the party ar
rested Mera. He was perfectly calm,
and insisted that his boy had run
away. ,.g--r---.
He was released and eight men
watched the house in hopes that he
would visit the grave and give them
clue to the body, but be did not dc
this. The next day he was taken tt
Onarga on a warrant for murder, and {
large party went out to look for tli'
body of the murdered boy. The searcl
was continued all day without success
but finally, late in the afternoon, MI
John Barnes, of Gilman, found nea
the hedge south Of the house a piece Q
clay subsoil that had been cut with
spade. A stick WAS forced into tn
ground about three feet, and on beln
drawn out it smelled of decayed mat
ter. The ground was removed and th
body of the boy Martin was found bu
ried feet inches deep. He was er
veloped in Sheet neatly pinned abor
his body, and he had on his shirt, pant
and cap, the latter pulled over his eye
The body was very much decompose'
but the feet gave evidence of haviu
been burned.
The news quickly spread, and M
Courtie went to town to see Mera. Z
his approach Mera was saying to tt
crowd, "If I've killed the boy, WI
don't they fnd the body ?" McCou
tie responded, "Martin, they have four
the body, and you must submit to the
haudcutfs.''
s'Wherc did they find it, Mc.?"
"Close by the hedge in the garden
"Have mercy on me, Mc.e"
elbow can you ask for mercy, new
having shown it while your boy pie
for it9 No, sir, do not ask me
mercy"
81 did, Me. 1 did whip him =
DEATH" said Mera.
The excitement in Onarga was
tense, and large crowd gathered, e
pressing their determination to Ign
the prisoner. During this time Ne
seemed perfectly cool and even c
pressed his regrets that he did not
the work more thoroughly. He was
nally put in wagon andNremoved
Watscka, the county seat; where
was lodged in jail. This was last S.
day. On Sunday the coroner imps
eIvd a jury and held an inquest, I
facts of finding the body were given
above.
The mother and sister of the boy t
tilted as follows:
A TALE OF HORROR.
Mary Mera, the wife and mother.
peared i'll court with child twowee
old. Mrs. Mera, notwithstanding
bursting heart, told the tale of h,r
calmly:
live two and half miles fl
Ouarua. Martin Nora IL INV