The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-11
THE MIIRnERER.

THE MURDERER.
Sylvester King Mackinson. was born in
Belmont County, Ohio, April 18th, 1858,
and was consequently 20 years and 26
days old He was a man of medium
height and Their slight frame. His feat
ures were small, with all the animal pas
sions strongly developed. He had dark
hair, small, black mustache, and eyes of
a darkish hue, with restless, rather eva
sive glance. His language was good, and
he had not the appearance of murderer
When arrested robin Hood revolver,
with the chambers empty was found on
his person
HIS VICTIM.
The murdered woman Mrs Maggie A.
Copeland was the wife of Joseph Cope
land and was aged 81 years. She had
been married six years, and was the moth
er of four yea old boy. She had4lived
in the vicinity of Kewanee since 1874,
having moved there from Ohio. All who
knew her speak of her as an exemplary
woman, and whose kindness to Maekinson
had often been commented upon. She was
of medium size, full form and progresses
ing.
A CONFESSION.
Pinkcrton's detective agency ut Chicago
having received notice of the murder. sent
man to Kewanee, who had himself ar
rested in the guise of Welch one of the
bank robbers, who had cracked Il safe
short time before. The detective was
put in the same cell with Mackinson, and
succeeded in getting his tongue loose.
''Welch" told the murderer he had robbed
the First National Bank of $50, 600 and
had gagged the b0ok-keeper. He said
they were both in pretty dangerous quart
ers and WEIGH suggested that they
send for VIM O'Bren, the wtll-kn
criminal lawyer of Chicago. which Mack
inson agreed to. Pinkerton dispatched
another picked detective to personate O.
Brien. who arrived and gained the pairs
confidence. "Welch" Matched up a story
about the robbery, and Mackinson made IA
clean breast of the murder, which was
substantially as follows
AT 1870 o'clock he went 20 Copeland's
house, and found no one at home but Mrs
Copeland with whom he talked for half an
hour. She asked him to bring in some
wood and he did so, throwing an armful
into the box. Mrs Copeland took up a
stick, and as she stopped to put it in the
stove he struck her with piece of wood
he retained in his hand That broke her
skull, and in the words of the confession,
S'As | hit her she raised up saying. oh!
don't strike me again, and started for the
door. | followed and hit her again As
she got TO the door | shot twice, and she
fell outside of the door | walked up to
her and saw she was not dead We. Then
| got the money ont Of Bells trunk, about
$40, and a note he heldagainst me for $50. |
l went to the clock shelf and took un a |
pocket-book, and finding it contained 81 |
or SO / took it, This money | hid by the |
side of n post in n corn-tield near Kellogg's |
farm. As high as God is above me |
never attempted to rape her
Since then however. Mackinson told a |
different story, which was undoubtedly |
made up as last hope from escaping
death. Here it is:
"The night before the crime was COM
mitted / slept all night at Coles. In the
Joe Cole and | was going to
shell corn, and | told him that T did not
like to work in the corn with the boots
had on, as they were good ones and
would get spoiled Joe said he would
trade boots with me, and that he wouldn't
get them spoiled, as he would be riding
on the wagon all day; and so traded with
him. When | got to the barn found there
rDtTtd tNa Il I /
| would go to Kewanee and see
f there was a letter for me. | went to the
post0f1ice. then went to Tom Bradv's and
got a glass of beer, and then started back
% Coles 10 change my clothes, intending
% come back to Kewanee and take the
rain for Galva. | met Joe Cole little
distance no. of the Copeland house; he
vas hauling load of corn, and he asked
ne to hold his horses while he went in
md seen the man who was working for
Copeland / we ted some time, about an
lour perhaps. and while Cole was at the | ]
house | heard the sounds of pistol shots.
The first thing that Cole said to me when
he came back was to offer me ten dollar
,ill which he held in his hand, telling me
must never tell. [ told him that could
,eep a secret without being paid for it. |
tut he insisted that | should take the
money, and L took IL. Cole then told me
hat he had murdered Mrs. Copeland, but
lid not tell why. nor did he give any ,
eason at all for his crime. He then gave
ne back my revolver which he had bar-
owed that morning, and he also pulled of
ny boo.s which he had been wearing since
nornIBg, and gave him his. A fter had Z
ot the revolver in my possession, and
ot on my feet the boots which Cole had
n when he committed the murder, he
old me that | would probably be arrest
for the murder, but that il they proved |
he murder on me he would take my place. /
told him | would not allow the blame :
rest on me, put he coaxed so hard and
AID | would be running no risk after the q
rst fuss was over, and so | let the whole
hing go as he wanted me 10. So he told
,orles all around that looked bad for me,
nd the result of the whole affair is / must ;.
lie for another mans crime"
NO INTERFERENCE. p
On Tuesday Sheriff Goodel received a il
Dcument from Governor Hamilton, which a
anished all hope the condemned man =
'uld entertain of escaping the penalty of n
lie law: Il
STATE OF ILLINOIS,