The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-05-28
MOB MURDER IN IOWA.
The Killing of George ~. KirLnsn Ina
story County, Iowa. Ds-sardiy
Cfinse--l'Aretcular.o OF the Anatr.

Sunday morning our Coroner Mr. 4. II.
Robinson, was notified that Dir. George
N. kirkman had been hanged by mob at
his resideaoe i'm Indian township the nghf
previous. The Coroner impaileled jury
and repaired TO the scene OF the tragedy,
and proceeded 10 hold an inquest. They
found the body badly bruised and man
gled, and that he had come 10 his death
~ hanging at the hands OF mob. only
four or live of whom directly participated.
but rs TO who the guilty parties are
nothing was developed.
This ends the klTkman trouble, so far
rs he i concerned. short history of
which may not be out of place. George
n. kirkman. the deceased. was one OF the
pioneer settlers Of Story County, having
settled on the farm upon which be resided
AT the time he was murdered In 1892, be-
fore the county was organized. HE was
then poor man, but by hard knocks and
close attention To business he amassed
property 10 the value of S25, 900. lie was
repu6ed 10 be prompt aud strictly honest
in all OF his dealings. To his friends. who
were many, he was kind-hearted and gen.
erous to his enemies, who were compar-
atively few, he was outspoken and bitter.
He had OF late years turned his attention
somewhat 10 fine stock, and took great
pride in his short horns. which, was the
beginning Of his troubles. la the spring
of 1874 he had fine blooded ball which
he valued very highly, and ~ rhe month
OF June in that year some PARTIES entered
his stable one night and performed an
operation which rendered the animal use
less for the purposes for which be was in
tended Mr.. Kirkman became highly en-
ragged at this, and devoted the most Of his
time for the next two years In trying TO
lind and convict the guilty parties. John
b. Merryhew was indicted for the offense
and had a trial one year ago. the jury fall
ing 10 agree upon verdict.
About the time of this trial. or directly
afterward. his family troubles began. He
had a son. young man, who did not like
TO work on the farm, so the father con-
cluded 10 give him An education. and gave
him $500 and sent him to the State Uni
ycrsity at Iowa City. The son remained
a month. spent all of the money, and then
returned home; but his father was not sat
isfied with the arrangement ami would not
let the son remain nj home. but sent him
out To shift for himself. The old lady
sided with the son, and finally matters be-
came so hot that the two old folks con-
cluded TO divide the property and live sep
arately, which arrangement was carried
out. a part OF the family took sides with
the old lady and a part with the old gen
tleman, and a family war was inauguratcd
which ragged fearfully for awhile. Two of
the sons -in-law. Fisher and Zinsmaster.
became very bitter. and matters grew
worse fast, till the night of Dec. IL. 1874.
when the barn belonging to Zinsmaster
was burned, with all It's contents, and
kirkman was accused of setting il on fire.
The next day. while kirkman was at work
on his farm. he was visited by about fifty
men, headed by Zinsmaster and Fisher.
who exhibited a rope and invited the old
gent TO take walk 10 the timber close by.
TO which invitation he responded with
alacrity, but on the way thither parley
ensued, and they concluded to = give the
old man a chance" and instead Of hang
ing he was taken before justice OF the
peace, where he waived examination and
gave bonds for his appearance AZ the next
term OF the Polk County District Court.
and the case was considered by the grand
jury at the present term of that court and
dismissed
About the first of January. this year,
kirkman had William Zinsmaster, John
Mclaughlin, Nj. M. Mclaughlin. Daniel
Sanford Fisher, William
Parr, Glenn Davis, George Tilton. Simon
y
sault with intent 10 commit murder, and
they were all required TO give bond tor
their appearance at the next term Of our
District Court, which convenes at Nevada
next week.
About this time Kirkman made his will,
giving all of his property to one son and
daughter. who remained at home, and
leaving out those who had taken an active
part against him. Mrs. kirkman remained
with Zinsmaster until about six weeks ago.
when she sent word to her husband that
she desired an interview, and he went TO
see her. She told him pitiful story
about how she had been treated. and the
interview terminated with an understand
ing that they should live together here
after.
Now, right here is a suspicious circum-
stance. Fisher and ZinsInaster's wives
were disinherited under the will. and of
course had kirkInan been murdered while /
the will was In existence they would have
received none of the property. One OF
the conditions imposed by the old lady in /
OF her returning home was
that the will ,hould be destroyed, and on 4
arriving at Nevada, on their way home.
kirkman called at the Clerks office,
where the will was deposited. and took il I
away, and the old lady was greatly pleased I
thcreat. They stopped in town with a
friend several days. and when they went /
to leave the lady of the house presented
Mrs. Krkman with lot OF shrubs and
plants. but at first she refused 10 take
them, though finally she consented, say
ing she guessed she would take them and
put them out and make the old nan be- |
iieve she intended TO live with him.
The people here are greatly excited
over the occurrence. and are determined
to put stop 10 such performances.
Additional Particulars.
Prom the Nevada Representative.
To the west of the house, and n little
north, is the barn. The gate through |