Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-10-08

out in search of his companions, who had
been missing for two or three days, passed
McGuires hut, and observed a Blue farmy
overcoat in the stream. He rode into the
7 water, which was only three feet deep,
drew up the coat and found in Il the body
OF man. A grindstone was attached TO
his neck, and his coat was heavily
weighted with lead On drawing the
body out of the water he recognized tins
that of James Mcclure. The body was
subsequently identified by a leather belt
on which the initials were cut, and letter
in the pocket, recognized as being in the
murdered mans, handwriting Two
wounds were found in the body-onc
made by bullet, the other by charge of
buckshot News of the murder soon got
abroad, and the hunters met and solemnly
buried the dead.
At this time there came upon the scene
a young man whose face indicated the
most intense suffering. His manner was
strangely impressive. He said little, but
listened eagerly; and his pale face and
bloodless lips, the vengeance in his eve,
aud the cold, decisive movements which
characterized all his actions, told plainly
that he was the brother of the murdered
man, and that liis one aim was to BRING
the murderers to justice. Whispers grew
to accusations; and two men, w. II.
ohu w dlttl WHO were
known to have started for McGuire's hut a
few days before the finding of the body,
were charged with the murder. Peter Nc
Gulre started on their trail. Armed with
| TfnU dnu rCyU1ver, anu mounted upon q
good horse, he pursued them for two days,
picking up information here and there,
stopping only TO rest his horse, and snatch
ing sleep in the saddle, till he reached the
town of Wallace, Kan. Here he learned
that his victims had been seen with a wag-
on and horses whose description tailed
with those of James Mcclure Peter Nc
Guire still kept on his pursuit, following
| their trail until he reached Grenada, a
village over the bOrder-line of Colorado.
Here he learned that they had been appre-
hended on the charge of hOrse-steaiing
and taken back to Wallace, whittier he
again followed them. His arrival was
most timely. The murderers were on the
| point of being released on a writ of hdbeds
c0rpus--the theft having been committed
in Nebraska, and the court having conse-
quently no jurisdiction. Mcclure stated
his case and caused their detention until
he obtained a requisition for their sur
render. In his absence the two murder
ers succeeded in breaking Jail. McGuire,
on his return, set himself once more to
the task of avenging his brothers. muir
der. They were unarmed. Hewas armed to
the teeth. He rode with relentless energy
from town to town, over miles and miles
OF lnnospltable prairie, living upon the
slender provisions his rifle could bring
him-learning of the Whereabouts of his
victims at one settlement, only to hear that
they had two or three days start of him.
But his courage never gave way. Ven
geance was his object 1t was meat and
drink to him. 1t was life and purpose,
and it gave him the endurance to bear the
fatigues and disappointments which such
chase compelled him to suffer. 1t in
splred him with superhuman power, and
wrought out for him ultimate success.
After one hard days riding he learned
that he had made up the time on his enc.
mics. He was within few hours of them.
He looked to his weapons, and, with his
teeth set for the worst rode out after them
for the last time. Two hours riding
brought him face to face with his brothers.
butchers. They had not heard of his
relentless pursuit. but they felt he was on
their trail. He burst upon them suddenly,
and their coward knees shook with terror
as they recognized in him their fate. But
Mcclure did not mean to dispose of them
summarily. Indomitable as was his pur-
suit, and bloody his purpose, he respected
the law. In a loud voice he told them to
lay down their arms and walk ahead of
him at the muzzle of his rifle. They saw
Dlat r0si gtannn Iuniild lan liaa alasS and rnoar -
nizing his purpose, obeyed. In this way
he marched them back to the village he
had left, where they were secured by the
authorities and placed in Jail to await their
removal. He constituted himself their
jailer. He scarcely slept, seldom spoke,
and always with the vague, dreamy man
ner of man with but one object in life.
His thirst for vengeance still supported
him. He had lost flesh in those long,
weary weeks of his pursuit; and gaunt,
and grim, and silent, he looked like a
spectral warder, the shadowy reality of
vengeance.
AT last his long vigil was relieved. The
State authorities took charge of the
prisoners and they were conveyed to Ne
braska City, where he continued TO guard
them, with the assistance Of the proper
officers. The day of trial came slowly
round, and on Saturday, Sept. IL, Dodge
was taken from his cell and placed at the
bar. The story of the brothers vengeance
was told far and near, and the whole coun-
try felt personal interest in the case.
The courtroom was crowded The testi-
mony was crushing though entirely cir
cumstantial. The defense was impotent.
The jury retired at six o'clock, and Just
before midnight the Courthouse bell
tolled out TO the city the information that
a NOiuiCt hdu Dttn dBTtcu upon. a SOIL
tary lamp shed pale light through the
room. The formality of calling the roll
OF the jury was observed in silent dark
ness. The Judge asked the usual ques-
ton: Gentlemen of the jury, are you
agreed upon verdict?'' and the foreman
replied affirmatively. "What is your
verdict?" asked the Judge; "is the pris.
oner at the bar guilty or not guilty of tho
murder of james Mcclure, as charged in
the Indictment" The foreman replied:
"The jury find that w. III. Dodge, the
prisoner at the bar, is guilty of murder in
the first degree"
All eyes were turned upon Peter Nc
Guire, who stood silent, his gaze upon
the scarcely-discernibl face of the pris-
oner. Not muscle of his face moved.
He took one long breath and left the
rOOm.'
On Monday it was announced that
Walter Harding had pleaded guilty of
murder ipthe second degree. Sentence will
be passed upon the culprits on Tuesday.
The hunters of Nebraska will await with
eagerness the execution which will end
this strange, eventful tragedy-Nebrdska
CITY, Neb, (Sept. 49, Ger. ChicGgO Tri6-
uRe.
The proposition for having Presiding
Elders elected by vote of the ministers,
instead of appointment by the Bishops, is
now being discussed in the Methodist pa
pers Another change is also proposed by
DIR. Potter, in the New York AdU0cdte, that