The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-07-18
A COLD FLOODED MURDER.

well-known in this vicinity, having resided here
Just previous to going West, about one year
ago. He was shot by desperate named s.
f. Beebe, while lying on the ground asleep
We gather the following facts Of the murder
from the Yanktop, Dakota, Press and Dakota
ian Of July 10: ..,f....
AZ was Indicated in yesterdays Press and
Dakotaian special from White Swan, another
murder has been committed within the 1uris-
dicton OF the court which sits at Yankton. The
man Charged with the murder arrived last night
in charge OF James Somes and the two witness
es to the bloody deed, and was turned over to
Deputy Marshal Edmunds and placed in the
county Jail. From the two witnesses, w. ii.
Williams and George Camuack, who came
through with the prisoner, we have obtained
the following particulars of the tragedy:
Some two weeks agoa party consisting OF
George Landphere (the murdered mani, 5. +.
Beebe (the prisoner), w. II. Williams and Geo.
Cammack (the witnesses), started from Belolt
Iowa, for the Crow creek country, with the
purpose of establishing a ranch near the mouth
of that stream on the Missouri river and TAX
ing possession of claims. II is stated that from
the beginning OF the journey Beebe evinced a
dislike for Landphere, and even objected to his
becoming a member OF the party. They man
aged, however, to get along without much
trouble, and, on the 4th OF July the party
reached Crow creek and camped on the bank,
some twelve miles above its mouth. Here they
fished and hunted for while and cooked and
ate their dinner after which Landphere laid
down upon a quilt spread on the ground and
went to sleep. Beebe was sitting on the ground
and the two witnesses named were leaning on
the wheels OF the wagon. Suddenly Beebe
arose, and without word took his rifle, aimed
it at Landphere's head and fired, with probable
immediate fatal effect, as his victim did not stir
after the rifle was discharged. Williams and
Cammack witnessed tho act, but say that the
murder was so quickly and unexpectedly exc
cuted that they had no time to interfere, even
had they possessed the means for preventing
IL 1t was, to use their own words, as much
out Of their power to interrupt the shot as 1t
would have been had Beebe fired on them IN
stead. They we're unarmed and stood in con-
siderable fear Of the assassin, who belongs to
the desperate class. After shooting his help
less victim, Beebe turned to his two compan-
IONS and boastingy said, Talk about sand,
I've got IT. He then asked Williams and Cam
mack to help him put the body out OF sight.
This the horror stricken men refused to do IN
the most positive terms. They were almost
mute with terror, the suddenness of the trans
action completely unnerving them. They could
not, however, be brought to touch the bleed
! ing body OF their late companion and Beebe
went about the task Of concealing it himself.
Approaching the bloody morsel OF humanity
which his heartessness had so suddenly robbed
OF life, he was about to lift it IN his arms, when
he started back and exclaimed, "he amt dead
yet With this remark Beebe drew his re-
volver and shot Landphere again. He then
rolled the quilt upon which it was lying about
the body and carried it down the bank the
creek. where he concealed it in the bushes and
weeds. Neither Williams nor Cammack III
spected the remains closely enough to ascertain
where the shots took effect. They did not go
nearer to it than where they stood while the
shots were being fired, but they have every
reason to believe Landphere was dead when
Beebe carried him down into the bushes and
laid him away. After this was done Beebe hid
all Of Landphere's clothes and had about COM
pleted his work OF concealng the evidences Of
his crime, when it suddenly occurred to him
that the quilt he had left about the body be-
longed to one OF the other members OF the
party. He sail, it won't do to leave that. 1t
will give US away" Then he went down into
the bushes, unrolled the quilt from about the
body Of Landphere and brought it to the wagon.
After this the party packed up their traps and
started away from the scene Of slaughter TAX
ing the direction OF Brule City, which place
they reached Saturday night. Along the road
Beebe didn't say much about the murder. ex-
cept to caution his companions not to give hum
away, which was repetition OF request made
by him just after he had concealed the body
Williams and Cammack kept their own counsel
and on their arrival at Brule City the former
sought the advice OF James Somers. an old &C
quaintance OF his. After listening to the de-
tails of the case Somers declared it to be his
intention to arrest Beebe and take him To
Yanhton, Williams and Cammack agreeing to
accompany him and assist in guarding the pris-
oner and to appear as witnesses against him.
Meanwhile Beebe was preparing to escape.
having procured horse for the ostensible Dur
pose OF riding over to Bijou Hills and back
Somers, however, put an end to the excursion
by arresting Beebe early Sunday morning.
Somers told Beebe that he was wanted in
fankton under charge OF completely in an IL
linois bank robbery which occurred a few
months ago. This information seemed to be
great relief to the prisoner, who said he could
easily get clear Of that charge. 1t was not un-
I'll the party reached Springfield on their way
down to Yankton, that Beebe was informed
that be had been arrested for the murder of
Landphere. The information impaired to him
by Mr.. Somers, had q distressing effect on
Beebe, and in fit OF remorse he told Somers
that he was not ft to live and that he ought to
be tortured to death. He said that hanging
was too good for him. He admitted that he
bad killed Landphere. The evidence against