The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-04-17
THE BR|GANDS OF THE WEST,
JOHN LONG,
The Wolf Of the Prairies.

1 1QC ucWt VI LUG uOIIlDlo VI but Qu-
fortunate Miller, and the probable assassina-
tion OF Leicy, reached the town Of Montrose,
n Iowa, about 10 miles distant from the scene.
at 10 o'clock, on the following morning, and
there, as everywhere else, the utmost excite
ment was produced by the dissemination of
the particulars. The houses of the place seemed
deserted, and everybody turned, by common
consent, into the streets 70 sympathize by
questions in the common horror.
Among those who seemed most deeply in
terested in al the minutest features Of the
tragedy, was man of some 80 years OF age
and who, though he moved from knot to knot
Of agltated gossps, devoted himself rather to
listening to the general discourse, than to
taking any part in II by personal suggestions
This person was at least six feet high, Of spare
but muscular frame, and marked with that
ease Of manner, which springs from a con-
sciousness Of ability, and large intercourse
with the world. IN feature and expression he
Was fortunately endowed the projecting fore
head and active blue eye denoting intellect and
a quickness Of perception, while the firm mouth
and massive portion OF The lower face, indi-
Gated courage and perseyering spirit Joined
to these points a fair skin, fresh color, and
hair which had not yet in It's maturity, lost It's
early faxen gloss, made up general presence,
which insensibly prepossessed the beholder,
and entitled the possessor 20 the credit of be-
ing fine looking man.
The name Of this person was Edward Bon
ney. He was a native OF Essex county, in the
State OF New York, and the active portion Of
his life had been devoted variously TO agricul-
tural, mechanical and mercantile pursuits Be-
ing Of sanguine temperament and restless
disposition, much Of his manhood had been
spent IN travel, and he had gained great ex-
perience in mankind, by that habit Of self-pos-
session, the fruit Of frequent hazard which
enabled him to calmly study the passions OF
Others without being blinded in the common
perturbation himself
This man, as we observed before, walked
about among the crowd Of cackipg citizens,
listening with the utmost care 10 everything be
could gather, and occasionally testing a repre-.
sentation by few cool questions, IN order to
see that the statement was not exaggerated OF
dlscolored. There seemed nothing extraordi.
nary IN this course, on his part, but keen oh.
server, with knowledge Of character might
have detected in his method OF sitting the af.
far, purpose more serious than mere cuuos-
ity. There were others, who slid in and out
among the crowds, with silent mouths anc
open ears who seemed equally intent in bar.
vesting al the grains OF news which fel! from
the agitated gossIps, and in gathering all the
suspicious and plans TO track the perpetrators
but these people were actuated by different
purpose, and It was plain to see from the keer
glances which bonney now and then bestowed
on them that he regarded them with mlstrust
He was not amiss II h!s estimation Of the
object they were all secret friends of the ban
cltti Of the prairies, and as be had privatel,
resolved to track down the perpetrators O
this bloody deed, he viewed these eayesdrop
pers with natural hostility. When the da,
had worn away, and the horror had been siftet
in all its details, he called upon the Sheriff 0
the place and communicating to him bis de
termination 70 search out the doers OF tn
deed, asked 70 see the cap Of the robber whic
had been found on the scene Of the catastro
phe. On looking az the waIf, he recognized
a. one he had seen worn by young man II
Nauvoo, whose name he had casually earne
was Hodges, but whose character he had no
at that time taken pains TO ascertain. tn
sheriff informed him, however. that the Hodge
were suspicious people and thus encouraged
he resolved al once to so 10 Nauvoo, and {
use Lis own words track up the fatal cap"
On the afternoon Of the next day. Bonne
went TO Nsuvoo and set 10 work at once wit
his inquiries. He learned after brief effort
that the three Hodges, Amos, William an
Stephen, we're living together in a retired par
o Of the city, the two latter boarding with tn
first, but all being without any visible mean
OF support. His next piece Of informatlo
vac, that man named Thomas Brown VIII
was pointed out to him as bad fellow, at
tavern hard by the Hodges house, had bee
| seen with William and Stephen Hodges, o.
the afternoon preceding the murder, in a ski
passing by Devils Creek. AS this would b
the direction they must take from Nauvoo +
Mlller's house, the suspicious OF Bonney wer
confirmed, and were extended 30 as to embrac
Z Tom Brown a. one Of the assassns. Settin
/. a man TO work therefore TO watch the move
ments OF Brown, be diligently proceeded IN hi
7 pursuit. At length he heard Of grocer
where Stephen had stopped the night OF tn
l1th, and on sitting the occupants as to his de
pertinent and language on that occasion, b
learned that some one IN the store had notices
/. he had a drop Of blood upon the bosom of hi
shirt. On beng asked what brought It there
lie made no answer but left the store and in
4. few minutes after returned wearing clean one
These were strong circumstances. but Tn
great fact Of all came a; last, and that was
that William lodges had been seen gon
from the river on the morning Of the 11th, to
wards bis home bare headed, and that sine
bis return be bad worn hat, though he ha
previously worn cap.
Bonney could no longer doubt that he ma
: tracked up the fatal cap, but it remained TO
him to take such measures for the arrest OF th,
. desperate hnsmen as would be effectual, an
: likewise take such precautions as would pre-
vent their elusion Of the powers OF the law
y There we're many things to be considered n
this latter regard. The crime was commltte,
= in an adjoining State, and the brothers were 4
the very sanctuary Of the Mormon power