Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-08
THE ST PAUL DAILY GLOBE SATURDAY MORNING. MARCH 1879
THE AUGUSTA, ILL. MURDER.
riot to Lynch the M4rderers Who We're
A9reSteG In Dfinnesntn

A Plot to Lynch the MMrderers Who We're
arrested In Minnesota.
lQuincy, ILL.,, Special (March ~ Chicago Times.
Leroy Workings, John Alvey, Jr., and Ed
Ferguson, the parties under arrest for the
murder Of DR.. Pierson on the night Of Nov. %,
arrived at Augusta from the North, and were
Immediately locked up under strong guard
together with Marion Hettrick, who has. been
under arrest at that place since Saturday last,
Yesterday there was considerable excitement
about town, and some fears of mob violence
We're entertained, the friends of Hettrick. Avey
and Workings arguing the immediate hanging
of Ed Ferguson, colorcd, who confessed the
whole affair, and whose testimoney they are of
course anxious to suppress. To guard against
any outbreak the sheriff of Hancock county
telegraphed to Gov. Cullom asking for military
aid, and the Governor promptly gave him an.
thority to call out the military, if necessary,
and the sheriff accordingly took posse of the
tho Carthage guards with him to Augusta to
assist in taking the prisoners to the county
jail at Carthage. No outbreak occurred, how.
ever, and the prisoners were placed on the train
last night and are now safely lodged at Carthage.
Aspecial to the Wing to-day from Augusta
contains the following additional facts con.
corning the killing of DR.. Pierson: The par
ticula,s of the murder, as reported by Ed Fer
guson, revealed one of the most cold-blooded
and brutal crimes which ever occurred in this
section of the country. It was deliberately
planned and as deliberately executed. Fergu.
son states that it was first talked about by the
four parties under arrest, himself among the
number, two months before it was consum.
mated. The details were repeatedly talked over
and arranged before they were finally fixed to
suit all concerned. A night was appointed two
weeks before the deed was committed. but fol
some reason it was postponed. 1t was at last
decided that Ferguson should call upon the
doctor and send him out to Mrs. Garmaad, who
lives two miles and half from Augusta
Workings and Alvey were to secrete themselves
IN fence corner about two miles from town,
on the road which the doctor would take, and
Hettrick was to follow the doctor on horseback
and at the place appointed was to ride up and
XII him. How faithfully all parties full
filled their respective agreements the murder
clearly shows. After killing the doctor, the
nurderers searched his pockets securing over
300 in money and small open-faced gold
watch. DR.. Pierson was left in the road, Avey
and workings returning to Augusta as did also
Hettrick. The latter met his brother John and
Charles Yates in town, and the three started 70,
home, the Hettricks living about 100 yards
from where the murder occurred. On the way
out Marion Hettrick seemed to be in good spir
it's and talked freely with his brother ano
Yates, who were, of course, Ignorant of the ter.
rible crime which had transpired less than an
hour before. When the party arrived at Het-
trick gate, Marion said he thought he heard g
voice, and the three proceeded to where Dr.
Pierson was lying. John struck match and
remarked that the man was stranger and was
badly hurt. They took him to Griggson & Pit.
ner's drug store, and DR.. Griggson identified
him as DR.. Pierson. After the murder Marion
Hettrick attempted to cast suspicion upon one
or two parties, but did not tasten the crime
Workings and Avery about two weeks ago went
to Valesceca. Ed. Ferguson asked the other
three several times for the $40 which was
his share of the proceeds of the murder, but
they put him off. until the night they all met
by appointment back of the postoffice, where
Workings was employed. They then Offered
Ferguson the DOCTORS gold watch, but he OBJ
jected to taking it, preferring the $40 promised
him. He was persuaded to take it, however
the parties telling him that he could get $50
for it. Two weeks ago Ferguson and another
colored man named Williams left for the
North, saying they were going to look for gold
At Minneapolis Ferguson left the watch at.
pawnshop, and it is this fact which probably
furnished the first substantial evidence of the
guilt of the parties named.
In order to understand the confession of Fer
guson fully and to get at the motive of the
terrible crime, it will be necessary to review
briefly the events which have taken place dur
Ing tne pasG TWO years. IL appears that nearly
two years ago John Hettrick, who was at thai
time a brakeman on the Quincy coal train, was
shot in the knee and Pierson was called to at
tend him. The doctor sent for DR.. Byrd, OF
Quincy, to assist him in extracting the ball
The operation was successfully performed, but
it left the knee joint stiff. A lawsuit followed
for the fee, the Hettricks refusing to pay it
Marion was particularly bitter at the time OF
the trial and has since, it is stated, made
threats against DR.. Pierson. As to the motive
which prompted Alvey and Workings, it is
claimed to have grown out of DR.. Persons
action on the liquor question in the
town board. a member of which the
doctor was elected last fall. Workings
kept cigar store and sold liquor contrary to
law, and DR.. Pierson made objection to it in the
board, threatening to close him up. Workings
sold out to Alvey. and the place became so
troublesome that the doctor again made COM
plant. This made Alvey argry, and he has
been heard TO say that he wished the doctor
was out of the way. In fact, according to
Fergusons confession, the crime was first ar.
ranged in Avey's, the four men meeting there
one evening by accident. Alvey said he could
make plenty of money if it were not for Dr.
Pierson, and he wished he was out of the way.
Hettrick observed that he had a grudge against
him, and wished So too. Workings also ex-
pressed a similar DESIRE and before the party
broke up that night the whole plot was thor.
oughly arranged.