Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-07-12
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY!
Murder and Suicide!
LOVE AND JEALOUSY THE CAUSE!
Probable Solution Of the Shooting At
fair Of Last February.

For nearly year past it may be truly
said that this community has 'supped
upon horrors" The feverish excite
ment created by one appalling act of
self-destruction, or desperate attempt
at murder, has hardly subsidized before
some other startling crime has come to
renew it, until people are beginning to
ask with CONSERVATION: "When shall we
see the end of this?" 1t is our painful,
and, under the peculiar circumstances,
delicate duty to lay before our readers,
this week, the particulars of horrible
tragedy, more shocking in it's details
and more mournful in it's attendant cir
cumstances than any that has preceded
it, and seldom equalled in the annals of
crime.
The chief actor in the scene was Clar-
ence Shaw, young man of 10 years, son
of Joseph H. Shaw. the boot and shoe
dealer. He was printer, and worked
in the Conservative Office. His charac-
ter and department, as it appeared on
the surface, was that of quiet, gentle
manly, reputable young man, of good
habits. Beneath this calm exterior,
however, as the sequal shows, he carried
a heart in which headstrong passion,
cruelty, revenge and murderous pur-
poses held resistless sway. He is shown
to be capable of planning monstrous
crime, and to be possessed of the nerve
to execute 1t pitilessly.
His victim, Miss Matte Sherwood, was
of about the same age, and young lady
of most exemplary character. She was
possessed of an amiable and affectionate
disposition, a light-hearted, joyous tenn
permanent, and was the idol of her fami
ly and acquaintance. An overpowering
passion of love in the breast of Shaw
for Miss Sherwood, together with the
fact that he had rival as it appears,
an accepted one,-was the impelling
cause of the bloody tragedy that en-
sued. The facts are as follows
Last Saturday afternoon, Miss Minnie
Van Orsdol, daughter of the Sheriff, in
vited Miss Sherwood, John Evers and
Clarence Shaw to a croquet party at the
official residence, in the Court House
square. 1t appears that the invitation
of Shaw was at the suggestion of Miss
Sherwood, but that she afterwards ex-
pressed hope that he would not ac-
cept, saying she feared something would
happen. Nothing unpleasant occurred
during the afternoon, except that Shaw
was noticed to act strangely, and that
his mind seemed to be preoccupied.
After tea the young men returned, and
in the evening it was proposed to attend
the rehearsal at the Baptist church.
They started with this purpose, Shaw
escorting Miss Van Orsdol and Evers
Miss Sherwood Before reaching their
destination, Shaw proposed boat-ride
on the river, and asked Evers for the
key of his boat, which was given him.
On the walk toward the river Shaw act
ed strangely, even threateningly, toward
his companions, and developed the pur-
pose IN his heart Miss Sherwood was
impressed with the idea that he contem-
plated taking his own life, and probably
hers, and begged Evcrs to keep close to
him. Afterwards the girls changed es-
corts, and Matte, probably prompted by
Shaw, who seemed to have complete
sway over her by means of fear and his
imperious will, told Mr. Evers and Miss
Van Orsdol not to follow them longer
for it was mo use of four dying
Shaw approached Miss. Van Orsdol, and
taking her aside told her that she would
never see Mate and him again, and when
she would have cried out, he put his
hand upon her mouth and told her to
keep still, upon pain of the conse-
quences; repeating this performance
So impressed were Evers and his com
panion with the desperate purpose Of
some nature indicated by Shaw's con.
duct, that they left, and hurrying down
to Reitlers store, communicated theil
fears to. Charles Sherwood, brother OF
Mates. He. with the others, FASTENED
to the river, where they found Shaw and
Matte seated in boat, preparing to
push off, This was about o'clock p
NJ. Charley asked, Who is there?
but received no answer He then tolC
Mate that she must come home. Shaw
demurred, and making a motion as
though to push off, Charley sprang into
the water and pulled the boat ashore
They disembarked and started for home
Charley in the rear and watching them
Matte had left her parasol at Van Ors
dolls, and they went there after it. Ar
irving at the gate, Matte went up the
steps, and turning to Shaw said, Come
in" He replied, "No, he will not lei
me-" Charley said, GO in and get YOU
things, and will wait for you" Shaw
entered the house. About 5 minutes
after, Charley heard two shots in quick
succession, and rushing into the house
found his sister and Shaw lying across &
bed in room at the end of the hall, in
sensible, and yet bleeding from pisto
shots in the head. 1t appears that whe1
they entered the house, Shaw asked tt
wash his hands. Miss Van Orsdol con
Quoted him to the room above mention
ed. Both the girls entered with him
but Shaw expressing wish to be alone
with Matte few moments, Miss Val
Orsdol retired, shutting the door
Scarcely had she got six feet ava!
when she heard the first shot. Starting
back, she opened the door just as tn
last was fred, and saw Shaw falling OF
the bed. When the others came in boil
bodies lay across the bed. Shaw witt
the pistol-a 32 calibre revolver, he hat
taken on trial, of Kenyon Il Tabor, tn
same evening-still in his hand. Mis-