Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-04-14

Dstsilo1 Accounts or the Blood y
& AHair and the Causes
which Led to It.
Beaten Out Of His Money and
Thsn Slaughtered for As-.
serting His Rights.

Beaten Out Of Ht1 Money And |
Thsn Slaughtered for As-.
sertiug His Rights.
CsvsyAly 0esAses q sAsuensaAss "
ne Murdered Ass.
Special cs,rs,pol sses Presses Dsk,tsiaa,
FT.PIEnns, d. T.. April11. 1877.
I send you by the steamer Carroll hnr
risdly gathered particulars Of murder
which occurred q the landing opposite this
point yesterday afternoes. David Rauck
was the vlclim and George Knowlton the
slayer We were quietly waiting for the
Carroll TO return from Chsysnne Agency
10 ferry us accross the Missouri, when We
were startled BY number OF revolver shots,
fred In quick succession, the reports com
ing from ihs upp.r camp, which is near the
postoflce 4 few mansnts afterwards Red
Cloud. scout, rode rapidly INTO our camp
shouting "a min has bscn kil,ei dad rs
HI" We could sss over near the biuH,
three quarters Of mile awsy,s man on
horseback, ridjsR st . break ueck pace.
We Afterwards learned that he was the muir
camp and ON our arrival there found the
murdered man stretched upon the ground
which was saturated with his life blood.
He Was shot in the left side of the face, an
inch 10 frUnt OF and two inches a,oie the
ear, the ball 10 lgisg In his brain, producing
instant death.
/ have been able TO ascertain the facts
connected with the sad afflIr and they run
about u follows: A week or so sgo
George Knowlton and Mike o. Nall cana
here from Ysnkton aud started themselves
in the gambling business, three esid monte
taking precedence over o,her games con-
structed TO capture unsophisticated pilgrim..
| They did fair business, leaving some
OF their customers destitute Of m.ans for
the further prosecution Of thsir Hills Jour-
ney. Rauck and other friends left Yank.
ton With Dillon's train. but had trouble
and With thirteen others seeded
from the balance of lhs outfit
and cams on ahead. Near Pierre they
wers met by knowllon and his partner,
the former representing himself TO be i
herder and that hts posses sons of about
i 1900 bead Of cattle were located near by.
He stated that be was at tha. tins looking
! for fourteen head of stock that had strayed
away from the herd. Operating fnin THIS
at Al
party and finally succeeded in d;spotilng
ono Of fts rn-mbrrs of twenty eiit,tiuts Hi
j money and 4 rod watch. There VA.
naturally considerable indignation in the
camp Of the fourteen whsn this transaction
!. came TO the ears OF tho comrades Of the
victim, which was augmented on their ar
rival there by converslliony with man
Who hac yielded up his thirty ave dollarl
to the gamblers. The party hnaly con
cluded to attempt recovery OF tbs watch
and money and intent upon this puFposl
5 Rauck with five others started In search o.
the gamblers. The latter " re appriset
of the situation by the scout Red Clout
and on the approach Of the party tho,
/ were prepared to gives lively reception
Angry words passed between Rauck ~,
Knowlton in regard to the watch and th
!, money, Rauck beinR in advance Of his par
". Fanaily two Of his friends ap
pcared with rifles in their hand
and when Knowlton saw th:m he com
menc.d firing with q revolver As th
party came up to him Knowlton walke
forward aud took revolver frcm one
them and returned to his former posi,io
near wagon, when he turned to Rancl
and the others and remarked that be va
not afraid Of thom or their guns, and III,
. they could not scare anybody. R,acl
told knowlton that he was not afraid G
him, either. During previous convsrsat,o
Rauck Was seated on wagon tongue wi,
his rifle BY his side, but at this jnnc,ure b
Z lifted the weapon up End placed /. ac.os
his lap, with his hand upon or near III
n trigger. knowlton told him To put hi
10 rife down, but Rauck declined 10 obsy Ii
ts order. knowlton then raised his pisii
:. = aud fred. killing RaucK tie first sho
n: Tbs murderer then said be WIS willifg
n, give himself up, but instead Of waiting +:
if some one 10 accept his proposition he nr
= = harncssed- his horse and lef. the seen
n leaving the corpse If his victim lyin
er Where It had fallen. Rauckss conrad,
:. = stood BY during this mur,lerous t,ansa
ton and made no etfor. 10 defend him OF
avenge his death. Knowl,ou escaped al
d. is probably as.ll At large
A II c..