The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-04-10

was the blow SO stunning as to prevent the one
who received it from springing to his feet, and
graphing with his assailant A death strug-
gle then ensued, and as il promised to be fierce
aud violent, the man who held the lantern
wishing TO give his armed companions the ad-
vantage closed OIL the light, and drawing bis
knife jumped TO their assistance.
"For several minutes" says the chronicle
from which We write, =" the struggle continued,
amid the cries and shrieks OF the terrified wo-
men, while the groans of their husbands as
they .elt the deadly plunges OF the bowie
knives OF their ASSISTANTS, added TO the horror
of the murderous melee. 1t was fearful con-
test against fearful odds, but we'll and bravery
were the murdereTs met and at length MI.
Miller succeeded by desperate effort in press
ing his aotagonIst to the door, and thrustipS
him from the house. Hope sprang for an In
slant in his breast, but vain was it's cherished
power for as he turned, the knife OF the re-
morseless robber entered deeply in bis side
With single groan he reeled, staggered and
fell another victim to the Bandltti OF the Prai-
aies.
In the meantime, Leicy, on his part had sue
ceeded in throwing the ruffian with whom he
was engaged upon the floor, but while IN the
act OF choking him, the knife Of the man who
had descended from the table was infctlng
deep gashes on his head and frightfully pierre
ing bis back Desperately he battled, but con-
fused with pain, and weakened by the loss of
blood, lie felt himself unequal to the struggle,
and with one last effort he wrencEed himself
from their hold, aud sprang to his feet Seiz-
ing club which rolled against his fingers as
he rose, lie dashed at them, and succeeded by
the desperation of his attack in driving them
through the open door. One moment more.
and could he but close it he would be secure.
But, alas, while Oh the point OF safety, pistol
flashed III his eyes, and pierced by bullet he
sunk helpless to the floor"
Ii was the last effort Of the rufiians, and hav-
ing administered 1t as parting salutation OF
revenge, they fled through the shadows OF
the night, bloody with carnage and as empty
handed as they came.
During the whole OF that terrific struggle"
SAYS Bonney's chronicle, the third man re-
NAMED tamely in bis bed, crouching under the
cover, and like coward and a craven, allowing
his two friends to be cruelty murdered without
a single effort to aid or rescue either OF them"
Ia the morning the alarm was spread, the
neighborhood was aroused, and the news reach
ing West Point the Sheriff accompanied by
large body OF excited citizens, came down TO
the scene OF the murder to take cognzance OF
the horrd deed.
They were witnesses to sickenlng spectacle.
In the front yard, and within few feet Of the
door, laid Mr. Miller cold and lifeess, his head
inclining to the right, while the trampled earth
was stained for a considerable distance with
his blood Entering the house they found Mr..
Leicy weltering in gore and apparently in the
agonles of death. The room was one scene OF
slaughter and while the eyes of the spectators
were wounded with the profuson OF the blood,
their bosoms were pierced with the heart-rend-
ing shrieks and means OF the afflicted and des-
olate women As Mr.. Lecy was still alive,
surgical AID was at once procured, but an ex-
animation Of the wounds dispelled the feeble
hope which had summoned scientific aid. His
skull was pierced and broken, the heavy bowie
knife had buried itself deeply in his back,
while the ball which lie had received in his
body, was extracted from the side opposite
where il had found its fatal entrance. The
only hope which could now be built on his con-
dtion was that he might be kept long enough
alive to identify the murderers, should they
perchance be caught
The news OF the murder spread like wild-hre
and soon all the details;of the appalling tragedy
we're In everybody's mouth. The citizens of all
the surrounding country turned out almost en
7adSSe: every ravine, bluff and thcket was
searched and every man questioned his neigh
Dor as to who had recently been seen in that
quarter. upon whom doubt could lodge. On
his part Mr. Jas. l.. Estes, the Sheriff OF Lee
county. left no means untiied to find clue.
He made it his first care to examine the prem
Uses mlnutely, and to scrutnize every foot OF
ground within half a mile around. HIS en-
beavers we're not entirely without reward, IN
the room where the deed had been committed, |
a cloth cap was found, which Mr.. Leicy identi-
fed as the waf OF one Of the bloody visitors
and tracks we're found leading across ploughed
field in the direction of Nauvoo. These were
followed to within few miles Of that city, but
as they neared tue river they were unfortunate
ly lost. There was nothing left then for the
hopes of justice but the cap, and that was
carefully laid away to abide some chance which
might direct discovery to the owner.
We shall see, IN our next, how those hopes
were seconded and carried out