The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-08-12

January last), VIC are aOlc W give tuc particular
OF the murder of Mr.. and Mrs. W, ID. Nefl, late
OF this city. The article is from the Jacksonville
Florida Union, of Sunday, the day Mr. Libby left
the state, and is a complete and correct state.
ment OF the case, except that Mr.. Neff lived
about five miles from Spring Garden Center,
instead Of De Land as stated. We quote In
full;
We published yesterday an account OF the
burning OF the residence Of Mr.. Netf, some four
miles northwest OF De Land. We are able to
give below some additional particulars obtained
from DR.. j. Hammond, Of Orange City, who was
called by the coroner's jury to make post NOR
TEN examination of the victims. When the Doc
tor arrived the jury was sitting, ana the remains
had been removed from the positions In which
they were found, and were as neatly laid out up
on table rs was possible IN their mutilated con.
dition. The following facts were developed De-
fore the jury:
The nearest neighbors lived some half a mile
away. Several persons heard the report OF two
guns, one apparently shot gun and the other a
pistol, in that direction, just after dark. ihey
thought strange OF 1t at the time, put paia no
further attention to it till they discovered, an
hour or two later, that Mr.. Nett's house was in
flames. On reaching the house the neigh6ors
found that it was just falling in. There was no
trace Of ihe unfortunate occupants discoveraple,
and the horrible conviction that they had been
And such was found to be the terrible truth AIR.
Nef 3 body was found In the kitchen, and his
wifes in the front room near one corner. Mrs.
| NeF's right arm was raised over the head as II
| to protect 1t from blow. The wrist ana hand
were gone. The LETT arm and legs were burned
OFF, Her features were recognizable to those
who knew her, although badly burned Inc top
and back of the skull were broken in as II by
blow on the head while standing. As she was
lying face up when found the blow could not
have been delivered after she had fallen.
Near where Mr.. Neif S body was found in the
kitchen we're found knives, forks and broken
dishes, as though he had been at supper when
he was shot The bones Of the head were found
several feet from the body. The legs ana arms
were gone and had been probably burned OIL
The body was badly burned, and the heart, lungs
and liver were exposed, but not destroyed The
shoulder blades showed, upon eXamination,
| three bullet holes the size OF buckshot, ana the
thoraX beneath the heart and lungs was hlled
with unburnt blood showing that he had been
wounded and had bled internally. 1t IL the Opin-
ion of DR.. Hammond, and also of the Jury, that
Mr.. Nef came to his death by buckshot wounds,
inflicted by a shot gun in the hands OF unknown
parties, and that Mrs. Ne1 came TO her death
I by blows upon the head, inflicted by some heavy
instrument, probably an axe, as one was louhu
lying between the two bodies. They believe also
that the parties then set fire to the house TO GOV
I er up all traces Of their crime.
The neighbors say that Mrs. Nef usually wore
j a gold watch and chain around her neck. Ihcse
were nowhere found, though a gold breast-pin
was found near the body. The knife and steel
spectacle case which Mr., Nefi usually carried
/ were found near his body, but no coin, though
q one of his neighbors testified that he had had
some dealings with BIN at o'clock that after
noon, and that he had some specie In his pocket,
which, of course would have been found near
the body with the other articles II they had moi
been removed. The irons Of a trunk and yalise
Iwero found in the kitchen, their usual place be-
ling in the front room. All the facts Indicate tina,
,|they were murdered for money which they were
supposed to have about the house.
The house had previously been broken into In
the absence of Mr.. and Mrs. Neti and robbed
Z Among the things taken was breach loading
shot gun. 1t is thought that the same persons
!, came back for further plumber and committed
this further crime. The theory is strengthened
by the statement of Mr.. Neff to neighbor q
short time since that he had got on the track Of
the robbers, and thought he wouM soon be able
to bring them to justice.
1t is one OF the most horrible crimes we have
D ever been called upon to chronicle, and we sin
cerely hope that the fends who perpetrated II
may be discovered and punished as they deserve