The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-13
GRAND JUNCTION, Iowa. }
IHoh OOtb 1874 {

Feb. 20th, 1874.
Mr.. Enron Having for many years
read your paper and for that reason feel
quite an interest in it, will give you an ac-
count Of a terrible and also mysterious MUIR
der, which took place at Long Grove, (Win-
field township, Davenport Co., Iowa.)
The victim was Mrs Lizzie Brownie, wife
of w Brownie, a farmer, we'll known
throughout the county, and daughter of
Hon II Nj Thompson. The circumstances
are as follows; Mr. Brownie left his home
at halfpast seven o'clock accompanied by
a hired man, and went to the house of his
father Mr. James Brownie, halt mile from
his own home, to get medicine for sick
horse. He obtained the medicine, talked
awhile with his parents and brothers and
then returned to his home. lie went to the
kitchen door as usual, opened it, stepped
forward and stumbled over the body of his
wife. lie held his lantern down to it, (for
there was no light in the room,) and there
was his partner literally wcltering in her
blood, Her left arm seemed to be nearly
torn away ut the shoulder, and her right
breast in Il similar condition; her clothes
on that side were scorchcd and appeared as
if gun had been held close to her and dis
charged. When Mr. Brownie arrived, his
children, tour in number, came forward
from hiding place in the house and told
him how the murder of their own dear moth
or occurred. I names of their children
are, Sarah, aged eleven, Willie, aged eight,
Harry aged six, Andrew aged four. / he
house is a story and half one, the kitchen
on the east and Il sitting room on the west
side. The mother sat close to the kitchen
window working with a sewing machine,
the attack came, first by a brick through
the window and instantly two discharges
from n gun followed. right at the same win
dow, Mrs Brownie shreked and fell to the
floor cXclaiming, go, Sarah q. Sarah
Then all WAS still. In moment more the
daughter noticed fire on her mothers dress
and she stopped and extnguished it. Then
these children remained the room crouching
on the floor in darkness and in terror, wait
ing the return of their father. They were
J thus alone more than half an hour 1t
would seem rs II rouuvfy sI.s --L;.., .. .
the murderers, for discovered that the low
er sash Of one of the windows had been
broken to pieces, frame and all, and that
some one had entered the room and rum
aged the drawers of bureau therein.
Whether money or other valuablcs were
taken was not know at midnight for the
husband was nearly beside himself though
his agony was silent. Mr. Il Brownie and
I
inform the father ofthe murdered wife, Hon
Hugh NJ Thompson, of the tragedy. | will
draw veil over this scene. His terrible
grief did not express itself in cries or means
but he seemed to lose consciousness, for
the time of everything about him. The de-
ceased was 80 years of age. She had been
married about twelve years, having lived at
Long Grove from early girlhood. She was
a lovely woman in all that pertains to the
duties of wife, mother, and neighbor, and
was regarded with affection by all the neigh
borhOod. Speculation as to the real motive
of the bloody, heartless deed is in vain.
One can only hope that the murderer or
murderers may be caught.
j. II. L.
[Our correspondent, who says he former
y lived in Chester, doubtless forgot to give
the date on which the murder he describes
occurred. lie says the family in which the
murder occurred, are well known to many
of our readers in this section.