Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-30
A DASTARDLY DEED.
The Fatal Shooting of Thomas
McCausland
The Murderous ScoundI ell Arrested
and He Makes A Complete Confess
sion--.-Infuriated rmers----Lou
sardine Captured---Othe Works of
Sin!


mention of the probable fatal shooting in
his own house at McCauselsud, twenty
miles north of Davenport. By burglar. of
Thomas McCausland. one of the best
known men in eastern Iowa and western
Illinois A Davenport Democrat Gazette
representative visited the scene of the
shooting yesterday and f, und the resi-
dents of the village up in ar ms and sur
rounding the house. while searching
parties made up of farmers who had hur-
ried in for miles around were securing
the country for the burglars and vewing
speedy vengeance upon then if captured.
The facts were shown in the case to be
not entirely dissimilsr to the sensational
Schnell tragedy of Chicago. At about 2
O'Clock yesterday morning the night
prowler. who it was subsequt ntly learned
had a companion, entered the house, and
the one who did the shooting, removed
his shoes and assembled to the room of Miss
McCsusland, who gave the alarm to her
father, and The burglar attempted to
escapes Ga the stairway h. was over
hauled by Mr.. McCsusland. and the
sounded fired three shots at his pur,
surer, one of which entered the left
shoulder. striking the collar bone and
going downward. imbeddng itself in the
region of the heart. The wounded man
returned the fire, but without effect.
The burglars fed and Sher a Leonard,
of Davenport, started for the country in
pursuit The would be murderer left
his shoes on the inside of tie house 10
his flight, and early yesterday morn
ing he was traced by his bare
foot printing on the frosted
ground and toward noon was captured
eight miles away and just over the Cliu-
ton county line. He was still shoeless
and on being confronted with the evil
dence of his guilt, made an open and
clean confession. acknowledging the
burglary and the shooting by him and
duplicating an sccomplice. He gave his
name as John Webb, a man who had
been employed as a section hand on the
railroad in the neighborhood the past
summer.
The Democrat Gazette of this morning
contains the following additional facts
concerning the case:
Sheriff Leonard and Deputy Sheriff
Jones left Clinton at ) O'Clock Tuesday
afternoon in charge of the pris oner John
Webb. They were advised be iore start
ing that lynching parties had organized
To intercept them at the Dew II bridge
and also at the lower bridge over the
Wspsie. Sheriff Leonard was equal to
the emergency. The crowd reached the
lower bridge AT s O'Clock, but the officers
by fast drive got there an no II earlier.
They saw nothing 20 alarm them until
they got to Princeton. At this point the
sheriff saw DIR. John kuox who bad at
tended Mr.. McCausland during the day
and urged him TO return to Nc Causlsnd
station and obtain il possible sn ante
mortem statement from the diving man.
While ut Princeton CROWD of men
gathered and acted in threatening mans
ner, but the sheriff made a sudden de-
parture and by rapid drive 90. to Dav.
export at midnight and lodged Webb in
the Jail.
Sheriff Leonards stay in Davenport
was q short one. Within half su hour
he in company with Coroner Bswden
started for the McCausland station TO
pursue the search in the light of informa.
ton they obtained from WEBB, who gave
them valuable pointers.
The danger is not over. Public senti-
meDt in the community of -McCsusland
station and all through the NORTH ern part
Of the county is ripe for vengeance. II
an arrest is made and there is certainty of
the right party or parties, there will be an
execution without legal form.
Soon after he had fallen into the hands
Of the sheriff Webb made a confession.
He admitted that he was in Minnie Nc
Csusland's room Tuesday morning He
admitted that shots were fred, but
claimed that the shooting was done by an
sccomplice. There is every reas IN to be-
lieve that Webb gave the name q his pal
and that he also disclosed the operations
and deeds of a gang of villsn rs with
headquarters in Chicago who robbed the
few days since, and also the pos office at
Martins. four miles west OF there. More
of this will be known in a day or two.
Minnie McCausland. daughter of the
wounded man, made the following senss
tional statement:
II was between / and O'Clock this
morning when the burglars entered the
~ /
sleeping up stairs in the southeast room.
The first thing | remember was the hear.
ing Of footsteps in the adjoining room.
II was dark, but heard q man walk into
the middle of my room. began calling
for papa as loudly US ! could yell. The
man stood still for as much as five min
utes, and then he went to the bureau OF
my bed and rubbed his hands over the
top of il. He stood at the edge OF the bed
an instant and then put his hand under
the pillow. / tried TO get out OF bed, but
the man seized me by the neck and
hands The man told me to keep still
and that he wanted the combir alton to
the safe in the store where ! stay during
the day. told him that | did not know
! it. lie wanted To know if ] owned the
| business. He kept telling me to keep
| quiet and said he would not hurt me.
The burglar told me nv father was not
| in the house for he had searched every
room He said he wanted money and
must have it. l gave him % in silver
taking it from under my pillow. He
| told me not to show up, meanir z not to
tell papa. began crying and he again
! said he would not hurt me. There was
| something white over the mans cad and
he was strongly perfumed. When the
man went out he stopped al the door and
did something to his clothes and then
went down stairs. He bid me goodnight
and told me TO lie down and 80 sleep.
About this time | heard papa get
ting up. Papa started after the mat
with his revolver in his hand and over
took him at the foot of the stairs. Tn,
burglar said. who is thisS" and psp'
answered, who are your" At this sec