Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-02-27
Terrible Tragedy Near Daveu port

from the davenport Democrat, Feb. 10.
The neighborhood of Long Grove
in Aliens Grove Township, this
county, was thrown into state of
great excitement last evening by the
report of the murder of Mrs. Eliza
beth Brownie, wife Of a. w. Brown
lie, a well known farmer of that sec
ton. The tragedy occurred at the
house of Mr.. Brownie, near the
northern border of Sheridan Town
ship.
About I o'clock last evening, Mr..
Brownie left his home and his fam
lily, consisting Of wife and four chill
dren, to go over to his fathers house
about a mile distant. About a half
an hour, or less, after he had gone,
the tragedy occurred. Mrs. Brown
lie was sitting at window, sewing.
Beside her, Oh stool, was the
youngest child, Andrew, four years
old. The other three children were
in the same room, playing upon the
floor. Soon Mrs. Brownie heard a
noise at window in another room.
She listened and said "Hushw to
the children. That was the signal
for her death. In an instant large
brick was thrown through the win
dow, crashing through glass and
sash, and falling upon the floor.
Then followed a dcafening report,
and shotgun was discharged from
outside the window, the entire
charge entering the left shoulder,
and almost tearing the arm from
the socket. The murderer saw that
this one shot was not fatal, and in a
moment, before she could get away,
another one followed, the contents
Of the gun striking the poor woman
in the left breast. She gave one
long agonized shrek, fell to the
floor, and in minute was corpse.
The last saot had been so close
to Mrs. Brownie that her dress was
set on fire. Willie, next to the old
est child, noticed this, and, going
forward, extinguished the flames
with his bare hands.
A large portion of the shot that
killed his mother, struck the face of
the little boy Andrew, cutting it so
seriously that death or distigure-
ment may result. The child to-day
is under proper medical care, and
may possibly recover.
The father returned home in about
an hour after the murder took place,
at about half-past 8 O'Clock. The
first thing he saw was the dead
body Of his dear wife lying upon
thei floor in a pool of blood, and
blood all over her clothes, face and
breast. He gazed at the awful sight
in AFFECT horror. The oldest child,
who with the others had been hid
ing in terror in 4 corner, came for
ward and told the story of her moth
er's death.
Two men, at least, were concern
ed in the murder. The prime object
of the Williams must have been either
robbery or something worse. A
window in the sitting room adjoin-
ing the kitchen, where the tragedy
occurred, had been broken in and
the sash removed, one man doing
this while the other stood guard
over the unguardcd woman. The
removal Of this sash was what Mrs.
Brownie heard 1t had probably
been arranged between the men that
if the alarm was given, Mrs. b. was
to be shot by the man who was
watching her at the window where
she was sitting. She heard, and
she was therefore killed. The chill
dren declare that no one entered the
room, and they saw no one whatev
er. 1t is certain that no one entered
the house at all-not a single arti-
Gle being disturbed or taken, the
bureau not touched and no tracks
of mud on the carpet. No one can
imagine what was the real object of
the murdcrcrs, or who they are.
Some of the neighbors started off i'll
pursuit, but nothing farther was
learned of them. 1t is thought that
the perpetrators belong in that vi
cinity, although nothing is known
as yet to justify such belief.