The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-09-20
The Wife of a Young Railroad
Contractor Murdered bya
Former Lover.
A Bullet From the Husbands
Revolver Lays the Murderer
at His Victims Side.

Langdon, of IIangdoR d Co, contract
Ors, who has contract for the work,
had secured board and lodging for
himself and wife at the house Of afan-
ily named TwogoOd, at Grand Mound.
On the 18th inst there arrived in
the little town man styling himself
j. W. DeavOn OF Chicago. He met
Landgon. The two proceeding to the
boarding house, had a conversation
with Mrs. LangdOn, aquarrcl followed,
when, drawing revolver, DeavOn
shot Mrs. LangdOn dead.
In an instant bullet from the
husbands revolver struck the mur-
derer dead beside his victim. Lang
don at once surrendered. Deavon is
said to have wealthy relatives i'll
Chicago. Nothing was known at
Grand Mound as to the cause of the
tragedy.
SHOCKING MESSAGE.
Special Telegram, Sept. l5.-"Ella
will go to Madison tonight in cas-
ket Bevan has five bullet holes in
his head. Will is safe but may be ar
rested. will come with the body.
(signedl c. A. Langdon.'
This was the shocking message that
was handed to Mrs. George W. Smith,
who resides in Madison, that evening.
1t was the first announcement she had
received of a beloved daughter S death
OF daughter whom she supposed to
be in the enjoyment of perfect health
up to the very moment that the terri
ble intelligence" came. No facts III re-
gard to the manner of this death are
known but the telegram il suggest
i've OF an awful tragedy.
June 13 last Miss Ella Smith, daugh-
ter OF Mr.. and Mrs. George w. Smith,
was happily welded to William II.
I4angdOn, whose home is at BarabOO,
but who graduated at the University
in 'S9 less than one month before his
marriage. Mr. Langdon' sfather, c. A.
LangdOn, is heavy railroad contraC-
tor, and is now engaged in building q
lin" in Clinton county, Iowa, not far
north of Dubuque. His sou was with
him as an assistant and the two had
their headquarters at Grand Mound,
Iowa. 1t was there that the terrible
tragedy occurred at a farm house, so
an unvertied rumor places 1t.
FIRST MET HER MURDERER.
Last winter Mrs Langdon, who was
then unmarried, was attending a sem
mary at Valparaiso, Ind. Her broth
erin law, Rev. Otto j. SCovllle, now a
| Presbyterian pastor at Marshtield,
this state, and his wife were also at
! Valparaiso. There Miss Smith met a
young man named J. W. Bevan, good
| looking and about twenty-five years
old which was about her own age.
He was an Englishman, blonde, rath-
er short of stature and quite intelli-
gent He was a bookkeeper. The
young people became warm friends
and it is supposed that theyoung man
besought the young lady to marry
him. At any rate they passed as low.
ers and were very often i'll each 9th
er s company. For a year or more
before going to Valparaiso Miss Smith
had been engaged to Mr.. Langdon
then a student in the Wisconsin uni
versity. While absent they had grown
somewhat apart in their affections
1t was at this time that Miss Smith
and Mr.. Bevan became such fast
friends. The young lady came home
in the spring and there was a happy
reconciliation between her and Mr.
Langdon, and Bevan was cast off will
az much gentleness as was possible,
July /, in the morning, Bevan call
ed at the Smith home and ther
for the first time met his successful
rival, who was also at the house
Eugene c. Rowley, a well knownyouni
lawyer of Madison, whose nuptials t
the remaining unmarried sister o
Mrs. Langdon is set for the 18th in
stant., was also present. Bevau wa
ugly, denounced his former love il
language for casting him OIL. anC
capped the outbreak by trying TO pul
~ revolver from his hip pocket witt
a the supposed intention OF
n. SHOOTING MISS SMITH.
Il Mr.. Rowley jumped and caught hin
by tho arm ere his hand could b
1 withdrawn from his pocket. He be
N came cooler soon afterward and wa
" ealier at the house once in the after
Nkoon OF the same day. He also too
Anner there, but left that evening 70
w Ecago, where he was book-keepe
INA. Il. Bullen, malster. He wa
I'm Suent writer TO Miss Smith, an
ore letters extant in which h
Aat very dark things III cas-
n continued to be denied hin
M Aer marriage, Mrs. l4angdo
M ery much afraid of him, an
IN swent to Iowa, three week
NV her husband, she avoide
Nough Chicago for fear {
w Mt On the 9th inst, Beva
Nilsson, thinking, no doubt
:. :. Ngdon was there. II sh
A\ is the best Of reason {
# @ ASded to commit a cru'
AZ NJ time. But Mrs. Ian,
AM gone to Iowa. b,
A Nome, however. III
I'D inextinguishab
~ # s YAK Npf it TO at least or
y who it connecte
Som he also unb'
Mint to point OF
x ~ Alonger fosteriI
|,s IN Ns Needless an
u. he had bee
v N bs in the hoI