The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-24
OTHER ExRCnrInNs

4
Rock Island county has during its brie,
existence witnessed the legal hanging Of
five criminals on the conviction of 9nr
der.
The first execution was on the Doth 81.
October 1845 when John Long. Aoron
Long and Granville Young were bansod
for the murder of Col George Davennore,
on the 4th of July of the same year. Tho
murder was committed when Col. Daven
port was alone in his house on the Island
the members of his family being in attend
ance at picnic in Warren's grove within
the present city limits. The murIorer.
secreted themselves about the premises
and gained an entrance to the house which
was locked when Col. Davenport passed
out to the well for the purpose of drawing
some water. One of them shot him ana
after thus wounding him, they bound him
hand and foot and compelled him to dis.
close the hiding place of what ready mon.
ey the house contained which amounted
to some 5000. They left him still liying
His death occurred the same night
John Long, Aaron Long. Granville
Young, John Baxter, Birch and w. Fov
were all arrested. Fox escaped from
custody at indianapolis, Birch took a
change of venue TO Knox county, and while
awaiting for trial effected his escape from
the county Jail. Baxter was sentenced To
hang, buthad the death sentence commuted
TO Imprisonment for life. He served few
years in the penitentiary and was released
for good behavior.
The triple hanging the first in the his
tory of the county occurred in a hollow
near the present line of Bird avenue and
between 18th and 18th streets. 1t was Of
public character, and fully 1000 peopIe
were assembled to witness the event.
People came from far and near and camn-
ed out so as to be readysfor the fatality.
The rope which held Aaron Long sepa-
rated and the criminal fell to the ground
without injury after the trap had been
sprung. The excitement was intense, as
someone started the report that the NOR
mons were on hand to liberate the murder
er and to punish the people of Rock Is
county for iDfiicting the death penalty.
Long was placed on the scaffold, second
time and his second attempt was pro-
nouneed success. He died almost instant
". This same prisoner when asked if he
had any statements TO make on the
scaffold, desired to know whether man
by the name of Bonney, who had worked
up the case, was present. He was inform
ed that Bonney was not in the crowd,
he said that Benney's absence
deprived him of the excuse for talking
and he would not make any statement.
The second hanging was that of David
Stoddard, which transpired on the 18th of
July 1855. Stoddard was engaged in the
boat yards and lived with his wife near the
corner of 21st street and end avenue. He
vas very jealous of her, and imagined that
'he was not true to him. The trouble arose
=
lad forbidden. She prepared herself to
attend, and while leaving the house, he re-
urned. A few words passed between
hem, and he lifted his AK which was near
oy, and gave her blow which crushed
ler skull and produced instant death. He
was arrested and placed in jail, but man
aged to make his escape and was recap,
tured over in Iowa and brought back 10
his city.
His execution occurred in what IL termed
Oavenport's pasture near the new second
ward school huuse. The prisoner was
placed on his coffin in a wagon and thus
1araded from the jail to Exchanging ground
An immense crowd had congregated on the
pot to witness the fatal drop. He refused
o make confession until induced to do
% by his brother, who was present and
Headed with him after he had mounted
he gallows. He confessed his crime and
led without a struggle.
On Friday the 5th of May 1857 Samuel
ngraham expiated his crime of wife muir
er on the gallows. The execution took
lace on the same spot as that where
toddard had swung some two years pre-
ious. The murder was committed az
ieasant Valley, and was most cold
looded affair. His wife was shot 5y her
usband while she was en- gaged in some
work without any warning.
he motive for the crime was supposed to
e domestic unhappiness
The murderer pretended that it was an
ccident, and never made any confession
pom the gallows.