The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1877-05-29
EXECUTION OF SAM ORR AT MT.
> III VERNON
An Account of the Crime for Which He
Suffered

throughout South. West Missouri he hay-
ing been engaged in the principal towns
in the capacity of bar tender. He was
in his twenty fifth year. aud an unccp.
tonably
COOP LOOKING YOUNG MAN.
His residence, previous To the murder
was in Springfield, where he was employ.
ina Baoiiesiliel street saloon as bar kee-
per. His father is now confined in the
Springfield Jail, charged with being an
accomplice in the same murder. His tri
al will. take place in the, Greene county
circuit court, next week.
Sam. was born in Marion county, Ar
kansas, and his mother s.il resides in
Ozark in that State
CAUSE OF THE MURDER.
CirpNstances drought TO light in the
trials OF Orr aud Cox, as well as in the
trial of others implicated in the bloody
work, show plainly that the murder was
committed solely for cons dcration of
money, which was paid afterwards. There
was no.. ill feeling existing between the
Inlirderers and their victim, and in fact,
no acquaintance,
THE NATURE OF MS CRIME.
On the lIth day Of September, 1878,
Sam. Orr and Al Cox. in the most brutal
and 4cawardly manner, murdered Geo. w.
Davis. in cold blood, on his own thresh
old, in Christian county, near the Greene
countylina. The mnrderers rode up to
thedweling house of Mr.. DAYS about
dark and assumed the appearance of be-
ing strangers, seeking a place to lodge
over night Seeing little boy about the
house, the murderers asked for the pro
pretor, and the boy replied that his faith
or was ut the stable. feeddg stock, and
thereupon went to inform him of the ar
rival OF strangers The murderers then
dismom,ed, and followed the boy to the
stable, where some conversation was
held relative to their being kept over
night, and Mr. Davis started to the house
to make provision for their comfort, the
murdercrs following When short dis
lance from the stable, and without the
least warning on the part of the victim,
these men. who had come for the purpose |
simultaneously pulled out pistols and
fired, HI 5Efs
u KILLING DAVIS INSTANTLY.
The murderers then instantly mounted
their horses, and rode hastily away. The
news Of the murder spread rapidly, but
no clew was found at the time as to who
committed the bloody murder.
Orr soon returned to Springfield, and
was not even suspected OF beng IN any
way connected with this horrible affair,
except by his own foolish acts and asser
tons lie exhibited on more than one
occasion, quite sum OF money, and re-
marked that 1t was
BLOOD MONTY
AS circumstances connected with the
murder began to come to light, the pros
poets for Sam became more darkening,
and, acting on the advice that was con
Seyed to him by some one who knew
what was in store for him, he suddenly |
slipped out Of Springfield, and when he
was wanted to explain his absence from
that city at the time OF the murder, his
familiar voice answered not to the call
ingrooca r-1utia Els
,IfliiiiH HIS ARREST. ~Nff
A thorough search throughout this
part of the country, as well as in the
neighborhood of his mothers home in
Ozark, Ark, failed to reveal his hiding
place, and not until May, 1874, was he
arrested. b. H. Langston was then con
stable of Campbell township, and he de-
voted considerable time to Orr's case,
He found Sam. in St. Joseph, Mo, and
arrested him on the 4th Of May, and re.
turned with him to Springfield, when an
indictment was found against him for the
murder Of Geo. w. Davis He was
Iodced ia the county Jail to await trial
before the circuit court of Christian csun.
ty. but took change Of venue to Barry
county, where the case was continued
from term to term without trial, a. d
finally another change of venue was taken
To Lawrence county, where the ease came
tn trial in March, aud he was found gull
tv of murder. in the first decree by an in
telliyent Jury, He was sentenced by
Judge Cravens, to be hung on the third
of MAY, but an appeal to the supreme
court necessitated a postponcment of the
execution, and til court affirmed the de
cision of the lower ceurt, and fixed TO
day as the lest of Sans life.
He has been attended, night and day
by the various ministers of Mount Yer
non, and four days ago experienced con
version, and since that time had been al