The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-05-08
A DAsTARDLY DEED.
Details Of Terrible Crime Conn.,
mitted Near Audubon.
An Old Man Lynched by Masked Men.

An Old Man Lynched by Masked Men.
Dcs Moines dispatch gives the following
account Of one Of the most horrible affairs
In the criminal annals of tho State:
About 2 o'clock In the morning, most
County, n few miles from the county seat,
the victim being an old man named Hiram
Jefferson. Hc was scrupulously honest
man, a cripple, but not very strong mentally.
At the hour named the old man and his wife
were sleeping in bedroom opening from
tho front room of the small house In which
they lived, ard facing the street. Around
the house Is row Of trees, inclosing per-
haps, about two acres, but the lot Is not
fenced. Three horsemen rode up and tied
Their horses to tho trees near the southeast
corner Of the lot or garden. The old lady
testified that she was awakened by their
boistcrous entrance into the house and bed
room. and 1t was so dark that she conll not
sec their faces, and could only distinguish
tho outlines of tho figure of il large-sized
man. She asked them who they were and what
tod her to keep still, and tncn she felt the
hands Of a man on her face. just then her
husband, who was lying on the back side OF
the bed, was seized and violently dragged
from the bed onto the foor, she also falling
out on tho floor underneath him. The old
man cried for help, and said they were pull
his whiskers out ana putting rope around
his neck. The murderers pulled his shirt.
the only garment he had on. up and over his
head, and, pulling it down over his face
slipped ropc over his head, the latter being
completely envclopcd by the shirt. They
dragged him $40 feet to maple tree at tho
southeast corner of the lot, and throwing the
end of the rope over limb about eight feet
from the ground. drew him up SO his feet
barely touched the ground and rinioning his
arms with tho end Of the rope. they mount
ed their horses and started east.
The old lady says that when they took him
from the house she jumped up from the
floor and ran to the door and called for one
Of the ncighbors, who resides perhaps 40
yards distant, when ono Of the murdercrs
camc back and told her to keep still or they
would put the rope around her. She says
that two men were dragging the naked body.
One was following after. She then went to a
neighbor, A. ID. Petty, and told him what had
occurred. but, strange to relate, she wont to
bed and laid until daylight, as did the Pet y
| family, but she says she did not go to sleep.
At daylight Petty aroused the neighbors, and
| in passing the Jefferson place he saw the old
| man hanging naked to the tree, as above
stated. He procure help, and the hody was
taken down and carried TO tho house.
messenger was sent to the city for Sherin
| Herbert who notified the Coroner, who, with
| several other citizens, repaired to the scene
| of the murder. An inquest was held, and
| the Coroner's jury returned verdict that II
their opinion Jefferson met his death by
| hanging at the hands Of his son Cicero. and
his sons-in-law, John Smythe and John J
| Wilson. The testimony directly implicated
| these parties. Warrants we're issued for the
arrest Of these parties, and they were taken
| in custody. Cicero Jefferson, shortly afte,
his arrest, confessed that he, John smythc
and ]. J. Wilson, his brothcrs-in-law, killet
his father. Hiram j. Jefferson, near Hamln
| They Travelled distance Of twenty mile.
| from the southeastern corner OF Carol
4 County to the center of Audubon County
murdered his father, and returned before
daylight. The son-in law tied hangman'i
knot in a rope, purchased for the purpose
two weeks before, and arranged it arount
the old mans neck. The son then seized it
and, with the other two, dragged the old mar
to tree and hanged him.
At hts preliminary examination young Jel
lerson reiterated the story, cor rohoratin.
every detail OF the results Of the Coroner
| inquest, identified cap found in the deat
mans bed as John Smythe's, and butto,
found rs of the great coat of Wilson, worl
by him that night. Tie coat was produce,
In evidence, with the button missing. Jeller
son was rcmandcd to Jail, where Smith an
Wilson are, but is kept separate from them
He has since the trial told the same story
and expects to hang for 1t. He says tn
cause of the deed was the incestuous con
duct OF his father with his sister Lucy. VII
sons wife, In October, 1852. Jcllerso
learned that his father had violated the per
son OF his sister Lucy and removed her fror
home. He then caused the facts to be pat
| nSnCu III u local paper. JcllcFsOu ana wlfC
however. went back to plttsfeld, Ill, and tn
matter was allowed to crop. Tn Feb II
1884, Wilson married Lucy, the daughter
who had accused the deceased OF inces,
About three weeks since she told Wilson q
the abuse of her father, and Wilson the
commenced arrangements to murder the oil
man. He purchased a rope, and after con
ferring with Smythe both interviewed youn
Jefferson and told him of their intention:
The latter refused to participate, but wa
told that II he did not accompany them h
would bc killed. The plans were laid nearl
two weeks before the murder was committee
Young Jefferson believes his father was gui I
OF incest with Wilson's wife. Wilson an
Smythe still protest their innocence, thoug
Wilson says his wife had told him of he
fathers relations with her. lilo felt very bi
ter toward him, but had no hand In the muI
der. Wilson Is 80 years old. Smythe is
good-natured fellow. but very reckless All
easily led astray. Young Jefferson says b
took part in the murder under threats OF viz
lence, and knows now that II he and the
were free he would he killed by them. Th
rest of the family, he said. were innocent Z
any completely. J. J. Wilson was, he elaine,
the leader In the whole affair.
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State Items.
CLINTON has five building associations.
| nUpuoue claims To have the cham nian |,