The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-06-28

O'Brien on Sunday evening, and put
ting two and two together, concluded
that this woman and O'Brlen had been
! implicated in the murder. The wo'
man was soon in custody, and search
was at once instituted for O'Brien.
AT about four o'clock the police and
deputy sheritfs We're in possession OF
valuable cews and Mrs. Ford was
taken over TO Allen Park in order that
contact with the scene of the murder
might so shake her nerves that she
would make a full confession. She
was piled with scores Of questions as
to where the money and valuables
taken from the murdered man were, but
steadily maintained that she possessed
no information. She was taken back
to Jail and after having been subject
ed TO what is known as the sweat box
process" which is no more or less than
telling a prisoner that some other per-
son had confessed, she was induced TO
tell the
Revolving Story OF Crime.
She stated that she had met Moore
at the north end of the Illinois river
bridge early on Monday morning and
that he had agreed to meet her at the
south end of the Illinois river bridge
at 8 o'clock in the evening He was
elegantly dressed, wore a fine gold
watch and chain, a diamond ring, a
diamond stud. and wore the air OF a
man of means.
She was fascinated by this display
OF wealth and upon going home in
formed her husband of the appoint
ment and both planned how they
might gain possession OF MoOre's
jewelry and cash in the easiest possible
manner. They decided to call TO their
aid Billy O'Brien, a local tough, and
his mistress, worthless female named
Minnie Winderling. 1t was decided
that the four should proceed together
to the place of meeting at the hour
agreed upon. Ford, upon the appear
ance of Moore, should walk away and
enter Allen park from the rear, while
Moore was to be led into the park by
O'Brien and the woman. Once in the
park, O'Brien and his mistress were to
separate themselves from Moore and
the Ford woman, and, when the latter
were alone, Ford would appear and
Levy Blackmail.
This program was carried out to the
letter 1t was diabolically planned
and tiendishly executed. Before start
ing, O'Brien secured an old coupling
pin and, wrapping it up in a copy OF
the Daily Times, placed it in his pocket
for use in case ''de bloke showed fight"
Moore came at the appointed hour and
all went well. When alone with the
woman, Ford grasped him by the col
lar. O'Brien and his girl were in a
clump of bushes on the hillside. Mrs.
Ford and Moore We're ia a few rods Of
the residence of Matthew Brown.
Ford had sprung from the bushes near
OBrien. Ford accused Moore of Sc
ducing his wife and SwOre that unless
he handed out $500 he would kill
him. Moore said that Ford was
a dirty blackmailer and that as
for the charge of seduction he would
refer him TO his wfe's character. Ford
then knocked him down and a scutfle
ensued. Moore finally getting the bet
ter of his assailant. O'Brien, who had
Jumped out Of the bushes upon hear
ing The struggling, ran down the hill
side with the coupling pin in his hand
and went to FOrd's assistance. Rails
ing the terrible instrument O'Brien
brought it down with all his strength
Upon Moore's Head,
telling him like an OK. Fearing that
he was not dead, O'Brien fairly rained
blows upon the mead Of the PROSTATE
man while Ford kicked the almost life
less bOdyto make death certain.
1t was then, when the awful enorm-
ity of the crime dawned upon Mrs.
Ford, that she screamed,
"Oh William, why did you do it :"
Il wasn't going to See de bloke lick
Charlie :" was the reply of OBrien.
Fearful lest the taking Of the jewel
ry and money Of the murdered man
might lead to the discovery Of the
crime,t he woman begged that no
robbery be committed, but Ford and
O'Brien remarking that it was money
they were after, stripped the corpse OF
its jewelry and money, emitting only
the $40 in the Inside vest pocket. The
sum taken is estimated by States At
torney Blake. at $1,000 The: watch.
ring and stud were probably worth
5000.
The body of Moore was allowed to
remain where it fell. and while O'Brien
and the Winderling woman returned
W UutIl IlDllltS. EoiNi anu IiIS WIG
Slept i'm the Park
until daylight, when Ford went to his
work at the factories of the Pioneer
FireprOof Construction company. Mrs.
Ford walked the streets in abject fear
of discovery, not daring to leave the
vicinity of the body for even an hour,
but her conduct led to the discovery
which she sought tOavOid.
The corOner'S inquest had been set
for 2:30 o'clock, but as, at that time,
the murdered man had not been iden-
titled by members of his family, though
no doubt Of his identity exists, and as
the evidence was incomplete and I'M
satisfactory, the inquest was post
poned until to-day at the same hour.
On account of the Importance Of the
case, it was decided TO hold the inquest
in the supervisors room.
When the relatives and employers of
the murdered mau had been fully adj
yised as to the situation the remains
We're given into the hands of the under
taker.
During the afternoon an unremit-
ting search for O Brien had been main
tanned and just before o'clock last