The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-14
SQUIRE Jony RoBrRrsON's FATE
The Ungoyernnbic Temper Of :. Weii-To-Dc
Illinois Farmer.

HARRINGTON. Lake County. H. Sept 10
Nothing in the whole history Of Lake county
has ever produced little of the excitement
that has been Developed Nv The killing Of Squire
John Robertson 10y Peter Davidson. wcll-to-do
Mr John Robertson, a hale. strong man Of G5
years, had lwen farmer in Fla sine" the
Year 1897. and WAS one of the oldest settlers.
lle came from Nrw Hampshire at the agr Of 70.
tion to make his way in the world. Beginning
10y doing tenming for others. he soon hecamc
possessed Of land Of his own. which he obtained
az government prices when this country was n
wilderness From time Ia time ne added to his
pu--, s=ious. and at the time Of his death he
owned nearly 1000 acres of good land. In adj
diiion o. this hc was practically tn" banker for
this end Of the county. and held mortgages on
many pieces of property in the neighhorhood.
His SONS and hurried daughters were all
wealth was variuusly estimated at from 100000
crt-"n received his death wound. was another
very old settler. his arrival auteda,ing that OF
his victim 10y n year r two. He owned turn
~ q hundred ncr.s or So. with "a very comfort
nhl" house, garden. ana orchard. and was in
fair circumstances. He Is iliy-one years Of age.
married and has one son. who shares his cnp-
murder. A paltry quarrel over few rods Of
scrub land vnlucless. or nearly So. an ungoy-
brief. the history Of the tragedy.
Dnyidsons :. farm ahuts that u James II. Allen.
m" rond To- Honey Lake dividing them. Some
two Scar- ago Davidson sold Allen fifteen acres
90 land 10y tho side ot this ronl and Immediately
south of II. The road had existed Tor nearly
iorty years, being first located on Government
land when the neighhorhold wis first settled,
About two years ago petition was circulated
10y Davidson asking the Road Commissioners to
divert the road little south which would have
run It over Aliens land. Davidson claimed
that the existing road ran through his orchard.
Tho tumm s-ioner- decided adversely to the
petition. and an appeal was taken by DAVIDSON to
ne SupeMlsors 81 the threef towns Of Fremont
appeal hut the Commissioners again decided
that there was no necessity for the change
which would require the purchase Of land. for
no apparent good reason. Alter that time
Davidson WIS IN continua tumoEith persons
WHO attempted Ia Ms" the road ann finally the
troubles hnN" eliminated In what Coroner's
Last winter party = harTowers attempted to
pass over the old road, and Davidson laid logs
across it. which they removed. He had the
whole party arrested and held to the Grand
Jury on "a charge If riot. hut the hill was ig
nnrrd. COMPLAINTS were frequent about the OBJ
~truction to travel and on several occasions the
Commits sionor- hnN" removed tn. m Davidson
immediately replacing them. He built "A rail
| fence across the lower end II the road. and n
board fence higher NJ, and secured the gate by
means 81 chain ana paddock. a few weeks
since the supervisor Of the town decided
that III" matter was not worth quqrrclling
about. and ordered that the new road should be
/ opened The Board OF Auditors drew an order
/ Tor the necessary expenses. but the taxes are
/ nnt collectallr Tor SIX months 70 come. ana IN
/ the m,an time Il was necessary that some road
should be kept open. ION saturday morning
last the three Commissioners visited the place TO
/ Davidson and his son Charles lad Of 10.
| who mad threatened their lives If they attempted
/ 10 demuli~h the distractions. were there ON the
hoard fence. and were making threats Both
! Davidson and his son We're armed with clul :.
I anl Mrs.. Davidson had a long piece 4 fence
rail. There was a man named Ho'hmaStrr
/ there hut he was only looking ON. though he
symputhiz"d with the Dnvidsons Me-srs.
/ ku"ggo and Bees gave the orders. and Landau
4 began q pound the fence with an axe Mr.. Da-
/ Xidson then drew his revolver and pointed ii at
/ Errs, saying. See that p AMI shaking the
/ weapon In his face The boy drew his revolver
and pointed II AT Landau, and Mr. bees told
/ them 10 uuit for awhile. The Commission
] consulted together aud Mr.. Robertson advised
/ that they should take out warrants for the ar
! rest of the Davld-un- for resisting them. He
/ WAS very quiet and conservative throughout.
| bat Tho other Commissioners wanted to 70 on
| wiki tie work. saying that they had already
] been There sew raj times aud that the road
| must Dee opened. Mr. kuegge told them 10 70
| ahead with the work, and when Landau adj
/ Nanr"d a. do 50, young Davidson struck nj him
! with a club. Landau wrestrd this from him
and then the bo> called cut | am assaulted.
and drew his revolver.
Mr.. Robertson stepped up 10 Davidson ana
! saint; Now. Peter this IA very foolish. The
! town L. responsible, and If any damage Is done
! passage through here until the new rond L.
| built. We ar here in discharge OF our duty as
| officers Of the town"
~ this Davidson turned around. took dclihor-
/ atn aim, ana ilrcdnt Robertson, who had stepped
/ back a few feet. Mr.. Robertson staggered. and
| WIS supported by the other Commissioners
| Tho woman ana the boy ran IN 10 tho house
! and Davidson went 10 the barn. and uit-rward
| t. the house.