The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-08-02
ln Accused Man TindIcated.
rDes Moines tIowa) Register. July SAL

TDes Motnes tioWa) Heetster, July Sd.l
About the middle of January last, an
individual giving the name Of William I
McKinsey, came to the residence of |
Thomas t.. Hahn, in Madison Township, |
q few miles out from Polk City, and en-
tered into contract TO work for Hahn. |
Shortly after that time-three days, we
believe - MeKinsey disappeared, and |
Hahn, who lived in secluded place,
would not or could not explain the dis
appearance of his workman. The sus-
picions of neighbors was aroused, and
finally the excitement became so great as /
to lead to information being fled before
Sheriff Lendrum, who investigated the
matter The Sheriff found Hahn at work
in the timber some distance from his
residence, and when questioned concern
ing McKinsey he turned deathly pale,
and was so confused as to be unable to
make any Ineligible reply for some
time, when he stated to the Sheriff that
| he and McKinsey had spent the evening
previous to the disappearance playing
euchre, and during the game McKinsey
laid down his hand and commenced to
pack his clothes, announcing his deter
mination TO leave the house, but refused
to say where he was going. This was at
i nearly 1lluulKut, AiAu 11dLAA 1l0 1A5 WI AAO
| thought to watch which way he went,
but heard no footballs after getting q
| short distance from the house. McKin-
| sew had bargained to work for year
with Hahn, and gave no reason for break
| ing his contract.
After securing this information from
| Hahn in the timber, the Sheriff thought
to visit Hahn's house, and interview the
wife before Hahn could see her, and
| thus find ont If their stories in relation
to the matter agreed. On getting in
sight of the house, Lendrum saw Hahn
driving at furious rate from another
direction, but the Sheriff reached the
house in time to elicit enough from Mrs.
4 Hahn to show serious difference in the
stories told by husband and wife. She
stated that it was shortly after dark that
McKinsey had left the house, and after
answering a few other questions, the
/ husband came In, and she referred all
interrogatories to him, refusing to an
swer any herself. After that both par
ties seemed very reluctant to talk about
the matter, either to officers or neigh
bors. Subsequently correspondence
with parties in Missouri elected the in
formation that McKinsey's parents lived
there, but that he had been absent from
home for three years, and no knowledge
had been had of his whereabouts till he
went to Madison township.
Some time afterward Hahn came into
the Register office and had inserted an
advertisement offering reward of $25
for any information in regard to McKin-
sey, but this was regarded at the time as
blind, measures having been taken for
his prosecution.
| On the 10Th Of March Hahn was
brought on trial before Squire Helpren,
at Polk City, and Mr.. G. Bowen, of this
city, his attorney, secured o change OF
venue to another Justice. Several wit
nesses were examined, and some very
damaging circumstantial evidence
against the defendant was adduced. 1t
was proved that MeKinsey had worked
for Hahn for some time, and that he dis
appeared on the evening of January
18th; that on that same day, Sunday,
.. Hahn had sworn to have his heart s
blood before he slept that night. It also
appeared that Hahn had tried to per-
suade some of his friends that McKinsey
had been fugitive from justice, and had
. left suddenly because he had learned
. that officers knew of his whereabouts.
The Justice, however. discharged Hahn
on the ground that the evidence was in
sufficient. About the same time an
effort failed to have him indicted on the
same grounds.
Meantime Hahn has been working en-
ergetieally to discover some trace of the
missing man, and a few days ago who
should come to the house of Hahn but
William McKinsey himself, and Tuesday
last Mr.. Hahn marched him triumph
antly into Polk City, exhibiting his long
lost hired man in great glee. The gem
eral impression among Madison town
ship people had been that Hahn had
killed the man and secreted the body.