The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-12
Capt. velzer Shaw,y Formerly Of Rich
land Grove, Charged with Murder.
From the GrinneH (ToDa) Herald, July 22d, 1875
Strange Similarity Between an Old and
New Mystery,

ing in Marshall county Kansas, wherein
there is suspicion of murder, having so
close resemblance to an incident equally
as mysti6ed that transpired in our neigh
boring c,unty Of Poweshiek, six years ago,
that all residents in this section at that
time will surely be reminded of it when
their attention is called to this late trans
action. Especially so when it is observed |
that the name, an uncommon one, of the
person suspected of crime in one instance |
is just the same as in the other, added to |
the fact that soon after the former incl |
dent the supposed criminal removed in the |
direction of the place where the last re- |
port comes from.
The account in the papers is to the er-
feet that Chas. Wilmer, Kansas home
steader, suddenly disappeared on the 9TH
of January last. and the suspicion became
general that the cause of his disappearance
was owing to some foul proceeding on the
part OF neighbor named Velzer Shaw,
with whom he was last seen. Shaw main
tanned that he started to carry Wilmer to
Marysville, where the latter was expected
to take the train, but they were ovcrtakne
on the journey by another person having
| the same destination, who took Wilmer
with him and permitted Shaw to return
home. To change the existing state of
public feeling Shaw published the copy of
letter purpOrting to come from Wilmer
on Feb. 9th. wherein he assures all that he
is alive and we'll and requests Shaw to take
care of his property which had already to
some extent been appropriated by him.
The people were not satisfied, however, and
after searching the premises in vain for
any clue to Winners strange disappear
ance, the circumstantial evidence of foul
play was deemed strong enough to arrest
Shaw on a charge of murder and he was
committed to Jail.
A few days ago a former citizen of
Poweshiek county, now living in the cas-
tern part of the state, received from an
unknown source a report of this affair
clipped from a newspapers and he forward
ed the same to Mr.. Huntoon, jcweer of
this place, from whom we CLEAN the fol-
lowing relative to the tragedy which &C.
CURED six years ago in Poweshiek county
near Montezuma, and has to this day been
enshrouded in mystery
i A man named Felzer Shaw rented and
lived upon the farm of Jno. Martin. The
latter was upon the place good deal OF
the time, making many improvements,
"HAAO Ills Ad"lS WClO Ill AAC WCut
to see his family at one time, and brought
back with him about $1,000 for the pur-
pose of building a new house, Leaving
the money with a merchant named Titon.
in Montezuma, and taking a penciled re-
ceipt therefor, he set out one Saturday for
} his farm. He was seen there on Sunday
! never been seen or heard from since, A:
| ha hooa,oo ,,,iccol oC
concerning the disappearance of Martin
: aud be replied that early Monday mornin.
/ Martin left his house for the main road
about one and half miles distance, to in
:. tercept the stage and take passage to Oska
oosa for the purpose of purchasing lum
= Der for his new house, Here no trace O
!, began to suspect foul play. Thorough
- search was made in the house and all owe
= the farm Considerable excitement pre-
vailed: the whole country was arouse
y and 800 or 400 men engaged in the search
but all in vain, with the exception of find
ing the penciled receipt, and some othe
trihing articles which Shaw explained in
plausible manner. The feeling was so il
J. tense at one time that there was DANCE
.e Of Shaw being lynched, but it finally quie
% ed down, and soon thereafter Shaw r,
= moved from the county. The widow
II Mr.. Martin, we are informed. is still livir
IS in the same locality.
K. The recent occurrence in Kansas,
r. which Nelzer Shaw is suspected of a lii
terrible crime under circumstances so sin
T. liar, renders it highly probable that it
he the same man, and that there is sou
lc- foundation for the suspicious resting upC
he him. A comparison OF the two cases IN;
. serve to clear up the mystery Of both al
L. prove that Shaw is another Bender.
to guilty we hope it may lead to his detecti
es. and punishment.-Ti Victor (Ioaoal Inder.
his
RS. The above article was received by Sh,
is if Huesing, Wednesday evening, enclos
he in letter mailed at Blue Rapids, kans
August 10th, directed go. Sheriff, Re
,ou Island, Ills" and of which the followina
ne copy:
BLUE RAPIDS, Kan,
Marshal Co. Aug 9th,
Dear ISr.-Enclosed | send you cl
ping from an Iowa paper. My reason
-ed so doing Is that have heard, from pal
ing living near neighbor to the suspected p
nos Ity, ". Shaw that about ten years ag'
~. similar occurrence took place at or NJ
est Milan, wherein the same party as is No.
he toned in the clipping was the same til
me suspected. The party that gave this
formation lived about there at the time
o,o the sudden disappearance of a certain II
VIC whose name | have not ascertained. So
of the neighbors think they know m,
ig- about it than they choose to tell; being p
he badly, restrained through fear of Shaw.
~ feel it my duty to send this commu
=, cation to you, hoping that you will Civ
the some attention, if such an affair occurr
me there about that time, and this man
her be identified as the party suspected. L
%. does no more good, it will at least est
'o,' fish his character beyond doubt
mo You will confer a great favor on the
rm liens here by communicating with me,
,ss any party out here, in regard to any
A. coveries you may make,
'"0 1t probably would be goad idea to hi
oes the clipping l send copied into one
lii more of your papers, and SO give public
d. to the affair, With necessary comments
bo. regard to the suspicious which / h
l"' named. Yours respectfully,
the VIM. EKINs
ny
ers REMARKS BY THE ARGUS,
he We knew Capt, Velzer Shaw more tt