Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-01-22
AnIOWa E0rrOr.

An Iowa Horror.
The st. Joseph (Nlo) Herald, Of the 18th
inst, gives an account of terrible tragedy near
Albany, Mo-, euactel just across the line in
Iowa. The paper says:
About one year ago man by The Dame OF
Phil Anes moved 10 that oeigbborIiood, bring.
ing with him wife, little child and his sister,
10 law. He secured a small piece Of land and
erected upon it neat two story dwelling. For
a time ell things appeared to 60 On nicely n-
side the family mansion, but it soon became
evident to those who grew Intimate with the
Ameses that there was skeleton in the house,
aud that all was not as lovely as it should be,
or, 10 other words, the love of the household
was scattered around among too many women.
There was coldness growing up between hus-
band and wife, only equalled by an apparent
warmth existing between the husband and the
sister in.law. The neighboring women noticed
that the vile appeared often 10 tears, was neglec-
ted and left unprovided for, while her sister re-
ceved the smies and caresscs of the husband.
Whole days the wife passed alone, having no com.
pany save the child, bright, golden haired girl
| of five summers, who chung to her, and 10 whose
existence she appeared TO live and have her
| being. At length, on the 10th of November,
! the little child sckened aud suddenly died. 1t
was buried the next day-a rude country
burial, bitter cold north wind, leatless trees
and 4 cherries grave crushed the mother
spirit aud broke her heart Then it was that
the spirit OF the first born Cain appeared TO
take possession Of the husband. lie frequently
beat his wife, drove her from his bed and
forced her to occupy miserable straw and
husk pallet on the kitchen floor, while the sis.
ter occupied the place which belonged to her.
At length the vile, driven to despair, told the
story Of her wrongs TO Mrs. Rosa McGulre,
and she laid the situation in the Ames house
hold before her husband, and be soon had
the men Of the neghborhood worked up
to point Of ynchlng the unnatural hus:
band. They visited the house, and would
have hung the monster but Tor tue plead
ngs OF his wife, who went down on her
knees before tho angry crowd and begged
the life Of the man who had so WroDged
her, while her sister, at the FIRST sound OF
danger, had sough salty 10 flight. The neigh.
| bors listened to the poor woman's appeal. re-
moved the rope from the man neck and set him
| free. TO any but man possessed by a devil this
would have proved warning that would have
turned him into better ways. But not 50 with
Amcs. Scarcely had the crowd dispersed when
| he went to the barn, saddled his horse and re
turned TO the house with a heavy curb bride.
| Up stairs knceling and at prayer, with photo
| graph of her dead child 10 her hand, he found
| bis wife. 10 an instant he had struck her to
his feet with the curb bit, dragged her 10 the
head OF the stairs and thrown her to the floor
| below, where he continued to beat her with the
bride until life had departed 10 the mean
time The sister had returned from her hiding
place. Another horse was saddlcd, the body of
the dead woman was thrown across the saddle,
and the sister riding one horse and leading the
other, Ames walked alongside and held the body
10 position until they arrived at the river, where
hole was cut 10 the ice and the body thrust out OF
sight. A young man returnin home saw the
parties iourneying TO the river, and When ne
reached the settlement told what he had seen.
| A number of armed men started in pursuit, and
| arrived at the river bank just as the murderer
| and his psramour were mounting their horses.
| They were called upon to halt, when Ames
| drew revolver and tired into the crowd. The
| fire WAS returned by volley, and To, guilty
| woman fell dead from her horse. shot through
| the neck. The man put spurs to his horse and
| attempted to escape in the dark, but fortunate
| shot brought his animal down and the murderer
| YVES captured. a rope was provided and all tho
necessary arrangements mado for q frontier Id
| neral, wnen the wretched man made COMES
sion, tho chief points Of which arc Incorporated
| in the above statement and he further stated
that The sister of his wife had administered pos-
on to her little niece in order TO &c: her cut Of
the way, and that they were planning tho mur-
der of tho wife that they might live unmolostod
| together. In this they were prevented by the
mob of u few hours before end that he then
| killed. the wic rs above stated. The rope was
thrown over u limb. strong men pulled ut tho
end of it, and the next instant qulvcring body
was suspended in dir. A number Of logs were
then rolled together, brush was piled upon them
and the bodies of the two inhuman beings placed
in their midst. y match was applied to the pile,
and ali that nov remains to mark the spot and
the tragedy is q bed Of ashes. The body of the
| murdered woman was recovered on Saturday
aud buried by the side Of her dead child.