The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-09-10
RAPIDS CITY.
Detailed Account of the Shooting.
RArns CRY, Sept 9th, 1879.

here, since the murder of Peter
Nelson by his wife, three years ago, than
did the attempt by Mr.. Thornton to shoot
his wife. The facts Of the case so far as
your correspondent could learn, were that
Mr.. Thornton had been away for the past
three or four weeks, and was accompanied
by his sister.in- law, Miss Laura E. Long,
a plump and attractive young lady of about
20 summers, and that he came home on
Friday night of last week accompanied by
her. Nothing was then out of the way
between them, so far as can be learned,
on the contrary, everything seemed to be
all right, but on Tuesday he either pro
cured or already had small keg of beer
in the cellar, and commenced drinking it,
and also began quarreling with his wife,
accusing her of circulating false and
scurrilous stories about him. This she
denied, and referred him to Mrs. Lides,
near Deighbor Of theirs.
He went there and secured denial Of
any thing of the kind, and also was ad
vised that when be got sober be would be
in better condition to talk. The matter
over, he went back to his wife and falsely
told her that he was right; that she had
been circulating these stories, and then
and there gave her severe beating;
they were out in the potato patch. From
there she ran to her neighbor house, Mrs.
w. Sides, and he went to his own home,
and from there came over to Mrs, Sides
and renewed the quarrel.
Mrs. Whitehead, Mrs. Welsh, Mrs.
Reddiu, Mrs. Thornton aud nephew Of
Mr.. Sides, George Herfer, were present.
After some words between them, Mr..
Thornton made the threat of shooting her
and pulling out his revolver fred
The ball missed her and buried itself in
some of the neighboring houses. The
women and Herber all made the best time
they could into the house and Thornton
cody pocketed his weapon and went home,
yowing he would yet kin her.
| Mrs. Reddin, who was nursing or had
completed the time Tor confinement, was
by these actions taken with labor, and was
soon the mother Of a ten pound boy
both of whom at the present writing are
doing well.
| Thornton was not arrested then but il
about 3 hours came back TO Mrs. Sides
after his child, a little girl or years OF
age, whom he claimed was at Sides house
and threatened TO burn the whole thing
down if his child YES not glVen to hin ana
carried an ug y pair OF reviewers in bis
hands to make it hot for any one who
linterfered with him. He left for home
and leaving bis reYo!vers came back again
and began quarrel with the family and
was then arrested by Constable Riesher
who. after the papers were made out NJ
one being found to 20 his bail, placed hin
in charge of couple OF men to guard hin
and allowed him to go home. At his exami
nation Tuesday morning he done his best Il
get the witnesses not to testify
against him and even went so ia
as u plead with his wife to say tina
he was only trying to scare her. and tina
he shot over her head, but she would no
consent to DO this and gave her evidenc
that he would not have shot her had no
he intended to kill her. He was b0un(
over by ESQ. Shurtlef to appear before
4 the grand jury and his bail fixed at 81 so
and failing to get bail was taken to Rocl
Island for safe keeping.
1t is claimed by parties that know tina
this storm has been brewing Tor loni
time and that everything is not asst shouit
be between him and Miss Long, his sister
in law, and some even go so far as 10 sa
their trip away together was only to be s
they could crafty their unlawful passion
fully.
Mrs. Thornton claims that this is no
the first time he has threatened to shoe
her, and that he has often treated be
cruelty.
: Mr. Thornton is 10 the business Of
} travelling jeweer, and has built himself
very comfortable home in the time sino
be came here-some seven or eight year
ago. His wiie's TWO sisters. Laura, tn
eldest, and Mamie, the younger, hav
lived with them tor the past four or fv
years.
Mrs. Jane Thornton, bis wife, has al
ways borne q good character while here
and has the name of being an judustriou
and hard working woman,
/ It will be remembered that some year
q ago, Thornton, was. by persons VII
claimed at the time to have seen him, &C
cused of trying to burn his property, whic
since did burn.
Il Mr.. Webb, Mr.. Adams, and others wer
: asked to go his bail, but they prompt
/! ~ refused claiming that he had violate
tho public peace,apd should suffer til
z consequence.
Thornton is an Odd Follow and tie
to work sympathy 90 that score but coul
= not succeed, as he had too hagrantly yiolat
D ed the principles OF the order TO be heede
S in the least. 1t is to be hoped that thi
/. worthy and noble order will at once ri
itself OF so unworthy a member TIL
sympathy CT the entire community is wit
= the unfortunate wife IN this matter. an
t universally against the unworthy siste
t whom it is claimed is the cause of ali tn
+ trouble.
Ell The political outlook here at present
!. very quiet the Greenback eonventio
o having been held and the DIR" haviu
S been sold. at least SO it is claimed by on
t of our prominent ones, who ought to know
r Everything and everybody now is waitin
e Micawber ike, for something to tur
: up" D, j. Morris, the statesman fror
s the upper end, has not been quite s
e prominent and outspoken, only so far tbs
+ he has gone to several prominent Demo
Gratis aud asked them that they must nc
lmeaning the Democratic party nominal
any one but go 10 for the Greenback nom
7 oeeS, anu neip cIeaD out the AepuDlican
! promising to help the Democrats nez
u year. This is pure Republicanism, "Yo
{ help us noso and we'll help you next time.
T. We earnestly hope that no Democrat wi
i allow himself to be caught by any sue
trash as this, and the claim that it is a
>, fixed up between Silvis and the Demo
!, cratic managers aad 10 general all around
is mere cIaptrap and we do not believe Nj
Silvis ever authorized Mr.. Morris to us
his name 10 any such manner either.
is about equal to the claim of the Col.
r on certain man here, who ordered hil
! to send the Rock Islander to certain pai
L. Il.