The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-01-18
The Mur0er of, Richard a
Pierce.
ICOMMUNICATED.l

Sc'A
Richard A. Pierce, son offs. L. Pierce,
Esq, formerly a resident of Preble Co.,
and now of St. Paul, MINI, was tru-
tally murdered, it is supposed, in that
city on New Years night. The Daily
Globe of st. Paul of the 5th inst, gives
a long account of the fearful tragedy
and the mystery surrounding the case.
His body has not yet, it seems, been
found, but his clothing, pocket book
and watch chain were found the next
morning near the river, and also parts
of the clothing, overshoes, etc., of his
assailant, With whom he must have
had a desperate struggle. Young
Pierce, it seems from the Globe account,
had come down from Minneapolis on
the late train Monday night, January
1, Swallowed, it is supposed, by two
men and stopped at the freight house,
in which, we gather from the account,
he was employed.
The Globe proceeds to give its theory
Of the murder as it had been expressed
in a former issue, as follows:
"The theory, among others, was that
on leaving the freight house, Pierce
started up the track; that, according to
his custom, he carIi led his knife in his
overcoat pocket with the blade open;
that he was attacked on the track by
two or nor men near the elevator;
that their intention at first was only |
rot berry; that when assailed the young
pan,, ,,.ln m rnnny, dnfapo N . that
seeing he was about to be overpower-
ed, he attt mpted to tear himself away,
and in SO doing his ulster (Which fitted
him loosely was slipped off; that the
men hen closed in OH him and infict-
ed the slabs in the back and throat,
and that he was Immediately dragged,
if not right at the spot at this time, to
where the clothing was found, near
the river and sewer; that during the
melee or struggle, which must have
been terrible, one or both of the thugs
received several cuts or wounds which
were bleeding; they took off the young
mans oat. and tore off the sleeve of his
shirt to staunch h blood from Hell
wounds; that the oody was then search
ed and his effects stolen; that about
this time the late train for Minneapo-
lis came along, and lat being afraid
of discovery the murderers hurled the
body into the river and ran off, as it
will be remembered that the place
where the clothing and blood were
found is only a few feet from the track,
and that the fireman or engineer could
have seen any person from the locomo-
tive.
The facts of the clothing being found
as stated, would carry out this view,
which is also fortified by other circum-
stances. These are that the bloody
overshoes found on the narrow path
way on the bluff near the loot of Min
nesota street, were worn by one of the
men who did the deed. That after
throwing away the pscket book, watch
chain, etc., rs they proceeded down the
track, they assembled the narrow and
steep pathway running up the bluff,
before crossing the street, the man who
was wounded and still bleeding, as the
place where he halted shows, u
have taken off the tell-tale rubbers and
thrown them to the place where they
were found.
On being questioned yesterday, Mr..
Pierce, father of the young man, stated
that he did not believe his son wore
rubbers on MonCay night, but on the
contrary that his rubbers had been left
In the zeal office, to su~bstantiate which
the reporter was shown \ pair of rub
bers which Mr.. Pierce was quite conf
dent belonged to his fon. This proves
that the bloody shoes had been worn
by one of the assassins."
Young Pierce, it further appears
from the Globe, was Of studious and
quiet habits and highly educated, and
was at the time the terrible affair took
place, engaged to an estimable young
lady Of St. Paul.
1t is to be hoped that the assassins
may be ferreted put and punished.
We sympathize with the father and
mother in their great bereavement.
RM