Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-30
THE M'COMB CASE
MORE ARTICLES ON ATTEMPTED
LYNcHING OF oTTUMWA
MURDERER. .lal
Articles in Courier on Murder of Laura
Harvey and George Lawrence in 1864
Interest Old SettIers-Two More
Communications.

Harvey and George Lawrence in 1864
Interest Old SettIers-Two More
Communications.
The articles concerning the double
murder of Laura j. Harvey and George
Lawrence by Benjamin McComb in this
city in 1864 which appeared in recent
issues have been widely read by the
old settlers of the city and county and
| by many of the younger generation
who have learned of the tragic occur
ence from their elders. In the Satur.
days issue Of July is OF the Cou-
rier an article was given over the
signature of "a Young, Old Settler"
and this week communications have
been received from Rev. J. M. McElroy
and A. M. Boyce of this city. Mr..
Boyce's version of the capture of Nc
| Comb from the mob which was trying
| to hang him is different in some minor
| details from that published previously.
| Rev. McElroy's letter is an interesting
| account of McComb's imprisonment.
| The articles are as follows:
Rev. McElroy's Account.
t'The arrangement of McComb for
| the murder of Laura Harvey was OF
more tragic interest than any other
| trial in the history of Wapello county
The prisoner was defended by Morris
]. Williams of Ottumwa and ]. G.
Knapp OF keosauqua. The prosecut-
ing attorney was, Amos Harris OF
Centerville who was assisted by Mes
srs. Hendershott and Burton. These
five attorneys were all occupants OF
the bench, later as judges of the dis.
trict court and all have since passed
away.
81 was present at the trial, and was
also present when sentence was pro-
nounced by Judge Trimble A more
miserable looking object than Nc
Comb | never looked upon. The bravo
do that he had maintained during the
trial now forsook him. and if he had
not been supported by the sheriff and
deputy sheriff think he would have
gone down limp on the floor.
Visited at Jail.
"There was one incident of the trial
not readily forgotten. Judge Hender-
shott when addressing the jury sud.
denly uncovered and held up the soul
of Lawrence, producing at the same
time heavy wagon wrench which fit
ted exactly the break in the skull at
the back of the head. But the prisoner
never.winced nor moved a muscle.
Two days after he was sentenced
called to see him at the jail Mrs
George A. Derby, the sheriff's VIE,
told him who was and set chair for
me by his cell door He put his fingers
| through the iron grating and l shook
hands with him. suppose 1 surprised
him by speaking kindly to him. Prob
ably he had not heard any kind words
i for good while.
Accepts a Bible.
Il said, Mr.. McComb did not com,
in here to reproach you with youi
faults, real or supposed. !, W nether you
are guilty or not do not know; YOU
know, and God knows. /, But you are q
fellow man, and / perceive you are in
a pretty tight place, and ! came to ask
is there anything can do for you?
And that wretch bowed his head on his
/ arm and wept like child. He con
versed with me freely, answered all
the questions that saw fit to ask, and
/ accepted Bible that | brought to him
with seeming gratitude. When l called
again he was on his guard, did moi
want to break down again, and probal,
was by that time hoping to escape, by
appeal or by breaking Jail.
Motive Was Robbery.
CAS- to the motive for the murder
there was at first much mystery ane
i doubt. After the remains of Lawrence
We're found, however, and after the
trial there was little doubt that thu
motive was robbery. Lawrence hat
\ some money, perhaps as much as 500
and the wagon and two horses wer,
worth three or four hundred. That wal
! the price at which those two lives were
4 valued"
l Mr.. Boyce's Version.
Having read in recent Satur
day issues of the Courier of the Nc
4 Comb murder, must tell my version
of the attempt to lynch McComb. saw
4 the whole transaction from the time
he was taken from the jail Sheriff
i Derby pleaded with the mob to let thu
law have its course and Capt. McRud
els and Bird Baker also pleaded will
the mob. but to no avail. The 'Youn,
/ Old Settler gave complete histor,
OF what TRANSFERRED until they left ST
Mary's Catholic church. man b,
the name of Veach seemed to be th,
leader of the mob when they left tn,
church. Veach and Bent Umbel LEI
McComb by his arms down Cour
street to Main street. They walked il
the middle of the street to Greer
street. Then William Hill stopped
i wagc~ and they put McComh into it
There was a small box in the wagon
They sat McComb on it, Veach ant
Umbel keeping hold of him. Hill drov,
the team to a place near where tn,
Franklin school now stands under
tree that had a limb projecting out
Then they gave McComb five minutes
to speak.
Puts Rope Around Neck.
"Veach tied an ordinary slip-knot il
the rope and put it around McComb'
neck. He tried to throw the rope owe
the limb, but it was found to be too
short. Veach then climbed the tre
and had hold of the rope. Just at Thu
time Bird Baker, who was then Unit
ed States marshal, and Sheriff Derb,
with posse of men appeared. Bake
was in the lead. They came up to tn,
rear end of the wagon and Baker Gale,
to McComb to jump out of the wagon
McComb jerked the rome out O