The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-13
General E. s. McCOok, Territorial
Secretary Of Dakota, Killed.
TERRIBLE ENDING TO A NOBLE CAREER.
The Gallant General Shot Down In
Cold Blood by Banker.
THE ASSASSIN IN CUSTODY.
Intense Feeling Of Indignation in Yankton and
Sioux City-Coroner's Inquest and Verdict
Of the Jury-The Body En- Route
LA to Cincinnati = Sketch Of
80 General McCook.


MA to Cincinnati = Sketch Of
&c General Mccook.
YANKroN, Dakota, Sept IL, 1879.
Last night, between eight and nine O'Clock,
General E. s. McCook, Secretary OF Dakota Terri
tory, was assassinated by p P. wintermute.
banker Of this city. The particulars are as fol-
lows:-In the early part of the evening McCook
and Wintermute had an alteration in the billiard
parlor OF the St Charles Hotel, in the course OF
epithet which rejected upon his parentage.
M'CooK RESENTED THE INSULT
by Furnishing Wintermute severely before the COM
batants could be separated. After they were
separated wintermute washed the blood from his
face and went out Of the house, while General
McCook went to his rooms. At the time Winter
mute was washing himself he remarked to those
around "McCook can whip me, but can shoot"
A public railroad meeting had been called to be
held in the court room in the st. Charles Hotel
block that evening. and convened soon after the
ARRAY above related, and it seems that Winter
mute, after having washed himself, went five or six
blocks and procured o revolver.
THE ASSASSINATION.
ing was being held, and stationed himself near
the entrance, which he know McCook would pass
through on entering the room, and there awaited
the arrival Of his prey. He had not long to wait,
for McCook soon passed through the entrance to
attend the meeting, and as he did so wintermute
rose to his feet, drew his revolver and, advancing
to McCook, took deliberate aim and fired upon him,
the shot taking effect in the left breast, passing
under the collar bone and out under the shoulder
blade, severing vital artery in it's course.
M'CooK SEXES THE ASSASSIN
No sooner had the assassin fired upon McCook
than the latter dashed upon his assailant, seized
him and threw him violently to the door. In the
melee which followed, and before the combatants
charged three times, one Of the shots slightly
wounding bystander. McCook was unarmed.
The parties being separated, the General was
taken to his room and medical assistance sum-
moned. On examination it was found that he was
shot as above described, ana that the wound was
mortal one. He fingered through the night, hav-
ing full possession of his reasoning faculties beng
sensible of all that was going on around him, and
DIED PEACEFULLY AND WITHOUT A STRUGGLE
at seven O'Clock this morning
wNTERMUTE
is man forty-fve or 1lty years Of age, OF medium
height and light complexion. He came to this
Territory from Minnesota about two years since;
was an aspirant for the position to which McCook
was appointed and which he held up to the hour
Of his death, and has been bitter personal enemy
OF his from the day McCook received his appoint.
ment over him; which fact, connected with
sundry local difficulties trauspiring within the
last year, was no doubt the germ from which has
grown the brutal encounter.
PROFOUND SENSATION CREATED.
The affair has created the proIoundest sensation
in this city and aroused feeling Of condemnation
which 1t has taken the best and wsest efforts of
Governor Burbank and his immediate
friends to control The city is shrouded
in gloom, nags are at halfmast and universal sor-
row Is pictured on every countenance. General
McCooE the deceased. was q man thirty-eight
or. thirty mine years of age, stood about
six feet high, was large and portly
parsonage, weighing about 200 pounds. He was
the youngest son of the famous fighting McCook
family OF Ohio, the history Of whom is too well
known all over the country to need recaptulation.
His remains now lay in state at the st. Charles
Hotel in this city, encased in metallic CONN, the
body being clothed in q brigadier generals uni
form-that insignia OF rank TO which the deceased
fought his way on many holly contested battle
field of the civil war.
THE Rxn.ss SENT TO CINCINNATI
At twelve O'Clock tonight the remains will be
conveyed to special tram OF the Dakota South
ern Railroad.
The conn, being enshrouded with the starry folds
OF the American nag and accompanied by Governor
John A. Burbank, Hon. W. A. BurleiRh and Major
Joseph R. Halsen, will be taken to Cincinnati and
there deposited in Spring Grove Cemetery by the
side of other members OF this illustrious and patri
otto family.
AN INTENSE FEELING AGAINST WINTERMCTE.
The feeling here against the perpetrator OF this
most foul and cowardly crime is most intense
among the masses. Yet let it be said to the shame
Of those to whom the allusion applies, there are
few persons 80 lost to deeency and depraved in
manhood as to justify the foul deed. wintermute
is now under arrest, and is CHARTERED at the Mer.
chants Hotel in this city, where, understand his
Bacchanalian appetite for strong drink has been
fully gratlfied by select party of friends who
clandestincly rejoice over his dastardly deed.
He win doubtless be arraigned for trial at our
next term Of Court. which meets the third Tues
day in october, but whether he will be tried is