The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-07-24
Gold Blooded and Brutal Murder
in Norway.
TWO AssAssINs BUTCHER BENEDIcK sAR-
ENS0N.
And Barely Let Jacob Peterson Off with his Life.

and wanton brutality would have made fitting
climax to the career OF the Kansas Blenders, was
committed in this county on Saturday night
The locality of the murder is onc-quarter OF a
mile east of the village of Norway, a large settle
inent of Norwegsns, at the house of Mr.. Peter
son, man 20 years of age, resident of the
county 40 years, possessed of large amount OF
property, and universally respected and esteemed,
The old gentleman had for several days prior to
the time of the outrage been hauling grain to
the town of Sheridan, and was supposed to have
drawn large amount OF money on Saturday,
which is the only cause to which the murder can
be attributed. On Saturday evening friend by
the name of Benedck Sarcnson, residing in lro
uuois county, came to visit Mr.. Peterson, and
was sleeping with him that night The scene OF
the tragedy was the front room of Pcterson's
farm -house--a room some II by Ii feet, to gain
access to which the tends broke open the kitch-
en- door, and passed through the remainder OF
the house At about half past II o'clock on
Saturday night, Mr.. Peterson was aroused by u
sound in the room, and on raising up in bed, was
confronted by two rufans with lantern, each
placing a revolver to his head, and demanding
his money The old man sprang from bed, and
was Immediately knocked down, receiving scvere
cuts about his head and face. The scuflle arous-
cd Sarenson, who, in attempting to rescue Peter
son, was shot through the breast and brutally
cut and mangled about the head After shoot
ing their victim, the barbarous brutes dragged
him outdoors through the mud and pounded his
head almost to Jelly, Despite their efforts, the
victim lived and conyersed for nearly an hour.
Other inmates Of the house were aroused, and
came to the rescue, Just in time to see the muir
derers take fight On following them outdoors,
it was discovered that prior to committing the
act, they had secured Peterson's team and pre-
pared for hasty flight. Mounting the horses,
they were soon lost in darkness.
, general alarm was given, and as many as 500
men went securing the country in search of
them. The team was found early in the morn
ing some three miles northeast of the scene of
the tragedy,
On Sunday afternoon an inquest was held up
OH the body by Deputy Coroner James ingalls,, |
and verdict in conformity with the above facts
was rendered. The murdered man was buried
on Monday forenoon. Mr. Peterson is badly in.
1t is reported that Mr.. Peterson had sccretcd
in the house some $500 in gold and silver and
that this also was another cause of the brutal
assassination. This report is, however, without
confirmation.
Another report is to the effect that Sarenson
had come TO purchase tract of land adjoining
his farm in lrOQuois county and that it was his |
money they were after Be it as it may, the dcs-
pcradOe5 were compelled to flee without secur-
Ing any booty and left articles behind them
which, it is hoped, will aid in their identification
On Sunday Sheriff McIntlre was notified Of
the commission Of the crime and immediate
ly repaired to the scene of the tragedy, where he
collected the remnants Of weapons left, and all |
the information possible to obtain, when he re.
turned TO this city and brought into service the
telegraph. Dispatches were sent to all points !
where it could be suspicioned the parties might
be headed for, and TO all the principal offices in
the northern part Of the state An efficient
force OF deputies and detectives was immcdi-
atey placed in possession Of all the facts and
circumstance aud started over the country with
instructions to arrest and hold all persons who
could give no reasonable account of themselves
and who bore resemblance to the parties dc.
scribcd.
Sheriff McInlirc in this demonstrated the best
Of judgment, and is laboring night and day in
hopes OF capturing the guilty parties.
On Tuesday morning dispatch was received
from officer Hamilton at Blackstone, Livingston
county, 10 the effect that he had arrested parties
answering the description Of the murdercrs.
The Sheriff Immediately instructed him to bring
his men to Ottawa. Soon after the receipt of
the above dispatch, another came from detective
Barnes, stating that he had arrested two tramps
west OF Strcator whom he had trailed from near
The scene Of the murder He, too, was ordered
IN with his men. Both officers arrived with their
prisoners on the $40 train on Tuesday and i'm.
mediatcly lodged them in jail
On the arrival Of the prisoners in irons excite.
inent ran high Hundreds of people flocked to
The Court House yard, all eager to catch a view
OF the dcspcradoes. None save the officers and
Nkorn' were admitted to the Jail The examipa.
lion was made by the Sheriff and drew forth the
following in regard TO the men arrested in Black.
stone; They were from Marselllcs; stayed there
on Saturday night in a hotel; were in search of
"oih "Aeh arrested, but were glad the Sheriff
was cndeayorng to hunt down the murde-ers
were willing to go TO jail until they could prove
their Whereabouts.
Ihey acted fairly and honorably, and notified
thc sEcrlh that they had stayed with Can't. Will
!am5 at MarsciIies on the night of the murder.
The Sheriff immediately telegraphcd and soon
ai.er received reply fully corroboratiug thlerI
statement and they were discharged.
The statement Of the two men arrested by
detective Barnes was also very straightforward
they giving the locality from whence they came.
where they had stopped; and claiming that they
were in search OF work. Their admission that
they stayed in a vacant house on Saturday night
which turned out to be but about two miles
from the place Of the murder together with q
desire to ferret out the whole matter. csusaa tbc
Sheriff to hold them
On Wednesday dispatches were received from