Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-09
MURDERED eoR MONEY.
An Entire Family Blottcd Out OF Ell.
tcnce by a Band ofRobbers.

An Entire Family Blottcd Out OF E.is-
tcnc- by a Band Of Robbers.
keokuk, Iowa, August Gate City re
porter just from the scene bring further
particulars OF the murder of Lewis Spencer
and his four children, near Leroy, in Clark
Mo-, night before last. From ,he
condition Of the wounded when the ply
were called in, it is thought that the
massacre was committed just before daylight.
The murderers procured the axe from the
woodpile and evidently went first to the
stable and climbed up a ladder on the out
side to the loft where Mr.. Spencer and his
son Willis, age ten, were sleeping, and com
menced the bio dy work upon them, dealing
heavy blows upon the heads of each. Mr..
Spencer had in his possession at the time
about $1,000, which the as assins secured.
They then proceeded to the house, crept in
Al the kitchen window and forced open a
door into a BID room on the first floor, in
which were aleeping the daughter Jane,
aged eighteen, and the son Charley, aged
seven. JaIa m to have been struck dead
while asleep, but the boy was partially awak.
ened, aud in his struggles fell across the
body of his sister. and was found in that
position. The other daughter, Alice, aged
twenty, wa sleeping up stairs alone and did
not appear to have moved after the fatal
blow was struck.
The murder was first discovered BY a
brother in-law Of Mr.. Spencer named Willis
james, who went there to work. He gave
the alarm. and the neighbors soon congre-
gated at the ecene. The father and both
son were still breathing when found, but
were in an Unconscious condition and remain
ed 20. The father and one son lived about
two houra, and the other son a little longer.
All five Of the victims were killed with an
axe, receiving from one to three blows each
upon the head, frac,uring their skulls aad
mangling their faces frightfully. The axe
was found under the back part ofthe house
beneath the window through which the muir.
derer had fed. II vas a very heavy one
and was besmeared with blood. Nothing
in the house was disturbed or carried away,
except . water bucket, which, it is supposed,
they used in washing the blood from their
hands and clothes.
The tracks leading away from the window
indicate that there were ,wopersons engaged
in the daughter. Nj. Spenoer's father, who
is 80 years Of age, and lives in the neighbor-
hood, on learning the fate Of his sons fami-
~ was stricken with grief, and will proba-
bly, not recover from the shock. The news
Of the massacre epread rapidly, and soon
hundreds Of people were gathered At the
scene. Vigilance committees we're formed,
and the day was sptnt in securing the coun-
try in every direction. Before night was
over 1000 men on horseback was engaged
in the search; but no trace Of the murder
could be discovered. During the night Wig.
ilAnts were stationed on all the roads
Meantime . c~oronere inquest upon III
bodies was commenced. The principal Wit
neN was Willis James, the brother.in-law
During the inquest . few drops OF blood
were discovered on his clothes. He "a.
questioned about this, hut accounted for i
by saying he had the nose bleed a day or s
previous. The conclusion had already beer
reached, that the decd was committed b,
some one familiar with the premises. ane
knowing that MI. Spencer had q larr
amount Of money with him, the presence q
this bsupi aud utncr circumstances led L
the superstition that james vas the guilt,
party. Al last accounts The vigiiants In.
takca charge Of him and another nauaes
Rrsdy and hal rome or in the weeds viii
them. There y no positive evidence aRaine
them but il he guilt caa he fxed apo,
thesn. tAcfe !. no aeuA tina, tAey viii ssiaa
= the rnpalsre ass In = yssEscs fs1asy owe
tAs Aaasahle sstmes. The fssessl u u
victWs tapA Fasr< - day aAd x~ aisaaAr
~ usAl-SO f~sSae. TIE AaAi~ ass 4
49, - nU