Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-03
THE AUGUSTA MURDER.

Confession of One of the Wa1rderers Befo,,
Leaving minneapolis.
The GLOBE of Saturday morning contain
ed an account of the arrest by George Tarr
detective from Augusta, ILL.,, assisted BY
detective Hoy, of Minneapolis, of two
negroes, Edwin Ferguson and George Will
liams, on the charge of being the parties
who, on the 22d of last November, enticed
Dr. David Plerson, of Augusta, Hancock
county, ILL.,, from his home in the evening
on an errand of mercy, and took his life, an
account of which appeared III the GLOBE the
second day following. DR.. Pierson being an
old respected citizen, his tragic
death produced profound sensa-
ton in Augusta, more especially from
the fact that no reasonable motive could be
assigned for the deed. The day succeeding
the murder George Tarr, resident of Au.
gusta and detective, was employed to hunt
down and bring to punishment the perpe-
traitors of the terrible crime.
From the peculiar circumstances connected
with the tragedy, and especially from the
absence of any known cause, Detective Tarr
commenced his hunt on 'sa blind scent.n as
a hunter would say. Glue after clue was fol-
lowed without result. Finally, about The
10th of last month, two colored residents Of
Augusta, Edwin Ferguson and George
NJ. Williams, suddenly disappeared.
From certain remarks made and
proceedings had before their departure
Detective Tarr felt satisfied that he had at
last got on the right track, and that in Fer
guson and Williams he would find the MUIR
derers. Not knowing the direction taken
by the fugltives he commenced shade wing
the mails, his labors soon being rewarded
by the discovery of a letter from Ferguson
to his wife from La Porte, soon followed by
a letter from Minneapolis. With this basis
to work upon Tarr left Augusta "Wednesday
last, and the result is told In the arrest as
narrated in Yesterdays issue.
After the negroes had been arrested Fer
guson made full confession of the murder.
duplicating three men of the town and him
self, of which the following is brief abb
stract: DR.. Pierson, it appears, was
strong temperance man and member of
the town council, and it was principally
through his efforts that the sale of intoxi-
eating liquors was prohibited in the town.
Three saloon keepers of the town, whose
names are Withheld from publication for the
present, came to Ferguson and told him
that they would give him $40 to 90 to DR..
Tlersons mouse on the night of October 23d, |
and tell him that woman living about two
miles from the town was very sick.
Ferguson did SO, and the doctor started on
horseback to visit the supposed sick woman.
Four men, including Ferguson, started after
the doctor, one of them being on horseback.
They caught up with him about half a mile
from town, and while one of the men held
the horse, the man on horseback struck
Pierson on the head three times with an iron
bar, about three feet long, crushing in his
skull and knocking him from the horse.
The Williams then robbed their victim of
about 5000 and watch. and then left him
in the road. The doctor was shortly after
wards found and conveyed to his residence.
but died in an hour without regaining con-
seriousness.
A number of persons were suspected, but
no direct evidence could be found against
any of them.