, 1873-05-10
MURDER IN ILLINOIS.

Trial OF David n. Drake and John M.
Cassiday for the Murder OF Mary
Easter, q Girl II Years Old.
Charleston I'll. tHay 8, Correspondence St. Louis DEM
In order to au understanding Of tho case, and
to chow on what grounds tho terrible cTime was
charged on these parties, it will be necessary to
give statement Of what Was preliminary to It,
Fire miles south of Nation there lived, up TO
the 4th OF March last, old lady by the name OF
Nancy Langston. Some years ago her husband,
Nathan Iangston, dice, leaving her with two sons,
John and William. John VAS idiotic, and died
few years ago, leaving the old lady and William
sole owners OF Q beautiful 120.acre, farm, in
Bill, "a be was usually cal1ed-is shown to have
been kind and obedient to his mother. Whom ha
became man, he proved to be fellow OF very
ordinary intellect, harmless and kind as child.
There was living in this immediate neighbor-
hood one John II. Cassiday, who had-at the
time tho foundation Of all the troubles began--a
wife's sister visiting him, from Ohio, by the
mime Of Miss Frank Drake. Through Casniday's
influence, Frank Drake and William LsngBton
we're married, soon after which trouble began
in the family, between Frank and the old lady.
One year ago last December old Mrs. Langs~
ton was brought before the court in this city,
charged with Insanity, at the instance OF William
aud Cassidy, who prayed the court to appoint q
conservator for tho old ladys property: On that
trial it WAS shown that an attempt had been made
to poison her through her -four and the water in
her well. 4 sack Was drawn from her veil con-
tanning green coffee and q box Of extract OF lye.
Suspicion rested on Frank Langston and Cassi-
day, who we're shown to be on most inti-
charged. all going back to their homes in
the southwestern part OF the county, where
they have lived about as before, until March 4,
1873, the old lady living in house alone, not far
March !. the old lady and neighbor's little girl
who WAS staying with her, we're fou11y murdered,
while In bed, By having their throat cut. Detac-
tives were put to work by the outraged commit
Langston, Frank Langston. David Drake, q Sec
ond cousin, and John II. Cassiday. They were
arrested, thrown into prison, where they now arc
under separate indictments, Cassiday apd Drake
being tried for the murder Of the little girl.
Tuesday, May s, tho case was called, Judge
prosecution aro States Attorney James Craig,
assisted bv Col O. 3. Ficlin and Messrs- Wiley
md q, Parker; for tho defense, Horase S. Clark
At o'clock a. m, the prisoners were brought
in, Cassiday walking upright, as man would
who feels conscious Of bis innocence, followed
BY Drake, who came hobbling up the aisle as if
Ills feet had never been together.
dressed in snuG- brown frock coat, hair of light
auburn color, neatly combed, sandy chin-whis~
kerd, being about feet II inches high, in ap-
pearance about So years Of age, not looking Like
the criminal the crime charged would make him.
David II. Drake is man Of more than 80 years
heayy-set, dark, shaggy hnir, short chin-whis-
kers, largo gray eyes, the whites Of which.
largely predomlnating, gives the appear
ance OF a bold stare when he looks
you in the tace-upon the whole, look
ing like one competent to perform this,
ono Of the most atrocious murders recorded in
modern times. The fret two days Were largely |
in impaneGng a jury. Fnty-sesen |
witnesses we're called BY the prosecution and |
twenty by tho defense.
The line Of defense was the usual plea Of a]ibi, !
"a to Drake. The friends Of law and order have
serious fears that should an alibi be proven, +
Drake will be handled by force which has very I
little regard for technicalities and sometimes not
much for innocence. Yet it is hoped this COM
nunity may not again fall under the disgrace Of
hanging hY mob.