The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-02-27
Mrs, Sears Slain with y Hnnd-Saw -Iht
Aged Woman Horribly Butchered
by Her Husband.

by Her Husbahu'
Saturday afternoon, the little village o
Troy Grove, probably better known as Ho
tnee, in the township Of Troy Grove abou
20 miles northwest Of this city, was thu
scepe OF the most horrible murder ever per
netra,ed inside the limits Of La Sale county
No. since the diabolical outrage and murder
Of poor little Maggie Cuddy, some years ago
near Utica, has such q fendish crime
wrought CONSERVATION in the hearts of the
people Of this section. This brutal and un
provoked murder by an aged man on his
still, more aged wife is, indeed, almost toe
chastity and sickening in its details for pub
location. The ages Of the parties to the
bioedy transaction is given by one OF our
correspondents and others differently
One places the age of the murderer at "a and
his wife at 70, while another has the age OF
,he former 66 and his wife IS, which is
probably the more correct.
In little farm building on the outskirts
Of The village, there came to reside, two
months ago. from Harvard, this state. Hi.
am Sears, Sr., and his wife, the murderer
Ind his victim, together with his son,
Hiram Sears. Jr.. and the la'tcr's wife and
i've or six small children. Hiram Scars was
-iven employment by the Spring Valley
road as foreman of the section gang. No
forebcdings OF the dreadful calamity which
hanpcned Saturday afternoon, cast their
slightest shadows over the little household
Hiram Sears, though somewhat exacting and
ot very Jealous disposition, never evinced
ny such murderous traits MS 10 make MIN
lreaded by the family. For tho past three
years, however, slight domestic quarrels oo-
.urred at intervals, but even these we're
inheedcd. The direct cause which led to
sne bloody tragedy happened during the
week preceding the murder. Hiram Sears
accused his aged wife of the practices OF
~itchcrae, that q man by the name OF
Squire Moloney had put tho "s'ut into her
oead and tina, she was endeavorlng to be-
witch him. Mrs. Sears aid not think the
matter worthy of dispute, and when on Sat
afternoon between the hours of three and
four O clock, lie entered the house with
clrpeuters hand saw and made the same
accusations which the woman did not deny.
rncn followed this most bloody and inhuman
nr,chery. Sears attacked his wife with the
NV which has short thin blade and is as
leal,z n weapon in the hands Of an lnfurla-
ed man as a kecn-cutting sabre Mrs
sears cried to him to stop but he replied
ha, he would not, and that he was going to
,.ni,h her She Ted toward her bed room
While he continued striking her, and getting
inside she locked the door but he soon
forced his way through and deliberately
occurred the door from the inside, and then
began his work Of murder amidst the agon-
ding cries OF his aged and invalid wife for
mercy, which fell cold on the brute's heart,
As he slsshed and carved her until satisfied
'ba, his fearful crime was complete. lie
,sr fed towards tho woods near by. While
his bloody tragedy was being enacted in
lie bedroom, the younger Mrs. Sears ran to
% nciyhsorinr house with her children for
rejection and calling for assistance, which
was too late when it arrived. There scene
hich would horrify the stoutest heart net
lie gaze Of these who arrived at the niue
nc story house. On the bed room floor lay
he roor woman, her gray hair floating IN
roci Of blood. There was blood on the walls
.nd on the bel, and the room had the ap-
rcarsrcc or vcritahlc slaughter house.
The yor,sn's gLrll was smashed in 10y the
Az blade in several place. There were
tour deer and distinct gashcs on the head
md one on tAc seek, while the lower "a"
bone vas broken aud one car cut OIL. inc
.houldcrs and uppor portion OF the body
we're also fcarfully muti'atcd. The hands
which tie poor woman threw up in mute ap-
neal iha, her Nle might be spared were man
lied In the most shocking manner. II was
'-uiy eight to appall tho stoutest heart.
The victim was, Of course, unconscious and
-craired SO tor about two hours after the as
-a1it, when she died shroudcd in her blood.
brspattcrcd garments.
The Murderer Was placed under asiest hy
Constable john Stevenson, Of the village at
Ten clock that night, who found his man at
Mr.. Ticrst.ucs's boarding house. There be-
ing no calaboosc in the village, the prisoner
pas handcuGcd ADD guarded in Stevcnson's
g1srl An inquest was held Sunday after
r7osn. Tic jury rendering verdict in accor.
lance oith the above statements Of the
nrr1cr. Sunday nigh, the prisoner asked
Nis. Stevenson b truthfully answe: one
question which he would put to him. The
1fFoer rcvled tina, If he answered him at all
r., would be the truth. The prisoner then
said. els she dcad?" and being answered
in the Affirmative, replied: 1T can't be
hci-ci hou; am ready to dictoo.' Whom
he oas arrested by the officer he denied all
E,p.algigc OF the ira gely and that his name