The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-05
A DIABoLICAL CRIME.
History of the Murder for Which the Three
Men Were Lynched.

hlSCOry OF the Murder Tor Wnlcn tne 1nree
Men Were Lynched.
DEs MONIES, Feb 4-The history Of the
Jefferson murder is as follows:
About o'clock on the morning of April 26
1884, occurred one of the most brutal outrages
known in the history of western Iowa. At a
point three miles southeast of Audubon, resided
Hiram Jefferson, an old man, who was the
victim. He had resided there eighteen years,
the family removing from Pittsfeld, ILL., He
had raised family of one boy and five girls
About three years prior to the crime, John
Smythe from Green county, married one
of the girls. He was rough, drinking
character, and soon made trouble and
arrayed the mother and children against the
father. He accused the old man with incest
with one of the girls, and threats were made by
Smythe and others against Jellison. Smythe
moved to Carroll county, and induced Cicero,
the son, and the girl Lucy to go with him. Jel-
lison was cripple, and was not strong mentally.
| but was strictly honest in all his dealings and a
kind husband and father. Cicero and Smythe
| so harassed him that at times he was partially
insane
On the morning Of the murder three horse
men rodeup to the house where Jefferson and his
wife were living alone, and boisterously entered
| their bed room, where the victim was sleeping
| The wife, at the inquest. said it was too dark to
/ recognize who they were. She asked what they
| wanted, and rough voice told her to keep STILL
The old man sad What are you here for9'
and he answered, at is not Cicero,
| but it is John Smythe" Jefferson was
then seized and violently dragged from his bed
onto the floor, Mrs. Jefferson also falling
out of the bed Jefferson cried for belp, but the
murderers put rope around his neck, pulled his
shirt over his head, dragged him by the rope $40
feet to a maple tree, threw the rope over limp
about eight feet from the ground. and drew him
up Pinioning his arms they mounted their
horses and rode away. The old lady started for
Eeighbor's to give alarm when one of the
men rode back and told her to keep quiet or they
would string her up.
At the inquest verdict was returned that
Cicero Jefferson, Jno Smythe and another party
committed the deed. Lucy, who was accused
OF incest with her father, was also implicated.
She had married a man named Joe Wilson.
In the room where the deed was commenced
was found cap covered with dry clay from
well-diggng, handkerchief with hole
cut in for the eyes and also coat
button The sheriff started at once to
arrest the suspected parties. Smythe Wilson
and Cicero Jefferson were soon brought in
and when they were taken back to Jail Cicero
| asked to make confession under OATH which he
did. He detailed all the incidents of the crime
| from the time they left Wilson's house on horse
back; how they stopped and completed their
| plans before entering the house; what was said
IN the house; how the rope was put
on his fathers neck, Cicero taking hold
OFT the END. and with Wilson and
Smythe behind him. dragging the body
along naked over the frozen ground. While
being hauled by the neck. his father spoke, and
Wilson stepped back and tightened the rope.
Smythe put the rope over the limb, while Wilson
lifted the body up Smythe and Cicero pulled
the body clear off the ground and then wound
the rope around the body and left it. Said
CICERO: Il think father was dead when we left
him, as he kicked only once or twice
after being hauled up Wilson tore up
the old mans shirt, and wrapped it around
his head" He also said Wilson planned the
whole murder
Cicero had not seen his mother since the deed
was committed, but his story was exactly the
same as hers. so he probably told the truth. 1t
appeared by Ciceros statement that Lucy had
married Wilson through heinfuence of Smythe,
the wedding taking place about two months be-
fore the murder 1t seems Wilson suspected
Lucy had not always been virtuous. and he ac-
cused her. when she admitted that she had been
compelled by her father to submit to him re-
peatedly This ineensed Wilson, and he said he
would leave her or kill the old man. She want.
ed him to do neither. 1t was the prevailing
opinion of neighbors and others that Smythe was
the leader in the commission of the crime, and
that he had got the girls into trouble and
caused them to charge it to the old man. They
were all three bound over for trial. but the
judge granted a change of venue. and this so in
censed the people of Audubon that they deter
mined justice should be meted. out to the Grim
lnals, and the end of the tragedy has been
brought about.