The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-01-13
PRISONERS PLEAS.
The Criminals Arraigned In
Circuit Court.
HeiIwagon the Murderer and
His Indictment.

4
/ raigned in the Circuit Court before Judge
Smith. The feet became known that the
criminals in the jail were to be brought in
to the court room, and as result the lobby
/ and even the portion set aside for the
/ legal fraternity were filled with interested
spectators and members of the bar.
i The first batch of prisoners filed into the
court room hand-cuffed in pairs, and by
| their demeanor and general behavior testi-
| fed to the fact that release from the con-
fnement Of Jail was not totally disa-
greeable nor repugnant to their feelings.
The majority of the prisoners were quite
young men who appear for the first time
| in criminal case.
As soon as they reached the benches
prepared for them the hand-euffs were re-
moved from their wrists, and they were al
lowed the free use of their arms. The
Sheriff and his deputies maintained a
close watch over them, and when the for
NAL notification of their several crimes was
given them, they were again hand-euffed
and marched back to the Jail,
THE FIRST CASE.
was that of Uriah Whorton, indicted for an
saulting his foster parent, Elijah Whorton,
with razor. The prisoner was handed
the indictment, list of Grand and Petit
Jurors, but he failed to comprehend the
use of the papers, as he was unable to
read. He is boy about twenty years cid,
and belongs to band of Gypsies, who
| lately camped on the. Milan road. He
Informed the Court under oath that he did
not possess any real or personal estate, and
his only article of value was q wagon
| He, when asked if desired counsel, stated
| that he did not know whether he did or
not, as he had no money, and left the Inn
preston that he considered attorneys, ex-
pensive luxuries. The Court appointed
Peasants & Hill as his counsel
OTHER CASES
George Bion, Oscar Wiley, Richard
Coleman, Daniel Curry. Thomas Hatfield
and J. B. Clark all stated under oath that
they had no money, no personal or real
property, and were unable to employ coun-
sell The first named is on trial for larce-
ny, the second for assault with intent to
commit rape, the third for malicious mis-
chief, and the remaining two for larceny.
They were given counsel by the court.
W. Reidell, who was indicted for an as
sault with intent to commit murder, had
| already secured attorney, while nj.
| O'Connell, up for larceny, had some real
estate located in New Hampshire, which
will probably be mortgaged to secure legal
counsel during his coming trial.
THE MURDERER,
William Heilwagon, attracted General at
| tention as he was brought into the court
rnom. The atrocious crime of which he
stands accused made him an object of more
than passing attraction The details Of
the crime are briefly as follows:
On the 9Th of last September Dora He'll
wagon, the daughter of Otto Heilwagon,
was missing from her home. The de-
the accused murderer and lived with her
two children in a little shanty near the
farmhouse of her father-i in law, in Hampton
township. For two days the neighbors
looked for her without result, until her de
composing remains were discovered in a
cornfield, Immediately West of the two res
licences. The inquest developed the fact
that Mr.. Heilwagon was the last person to
visit the deceased on the night of Der dis
appearance. His own daughter Annie
4lo
bed. He was accordingly held over on n
coroner's mittimus, and his case
was fully investigated by the
Grand Jurors who returned an indictment
of murder The old mans behavior the
morning after the crime was committed,
also excited suspicion, as he did not sleep
at all that night, but was engaged in wash
ing his shirt which was clean the day pre-
vious. Tue old man is about fifty years
of age, and stoutly asserts his innocence
He is German, rather thick set, wearing
chin beard
+ HIS CASE.
When asked by the court if he had en-
gagged counsel he stated that he had engag-
ed Mr.. Beardsley. Mr.. Kenworthy, of the
firm of Kenworthy & Beardsley, however,
stated that the arrangements had not been
perfected by which the firm was to repre-
sent the prisoner. He also stated that it
might possibly result in the court being
called upon TO appoint counsel.
This case is the first on the trial docket
for next Monday, and Mr.. Kenworthy
stated that he thought it would be probable,
as so short time was permitted counsel
to prepare the defense, that continuance
would be asked for
Mr. Parmenter stated that he should OBJ
ject to any continuance, as the prisoner
had been in jail since last September and
had had ample time, not only to employ
counsel, but also to enable the counsel to
n AXE out their defense.
It is thought that the case will be tried
at the present term of court and viii no
doubt attract general attention. The evil
dence is said to be wholly circumstantial
which viii prevent the plea of temporary
insanity from being part CT the court
records.