Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29
Horrible Double Murder Occurred
in Ottunwa so Years Ago Tomorrow

would use it with great effect if
necessary One of the leaders of the
mob rushed up, and wanted to know
by what authority they took McComb.
This is our authority replied Osborn,
pointing Smith and Wesson right at
the face of the spokesman OF the mob.
McComb was rescued and taken back
to jail a much frightened man but
thankful that his neck was not
stretched.
The Escape.
ever since the incarceration OF Nc
| Comb he had been model prisoner,
and was especially kind and generous
to one of the sheriff's boys, George
Derby. aged II years, sending him out
in town to get cigars, tobacco, etc., for
him. each time giving him from ten
cents to a quarter to spend for HIM
self. BY this treatment McComb soon
had the boy thinking he was the best
fellow on earth.
During the year 1864, George A.
Derby was sheriff, and the late Hosea
B. Jones was deputy sheriff, the
sheriff and family residing in the jail.
The sheriff and deputy would take
turn about at nights, watching the
prisoners to keep them from escaping.
On Wednesday, August "a, 1864,
Sheriff Derby was absent from the
city, and Mrs. Derby was on her way
home from Ohio, where she had been
visiting. McComb was acquainted
with these facts and knew it was now
! or never so giving young George
Derby some extra money, and promis-
ing him a pony, he induced him to get
| the keys and unlock the cell door and
back door of the jail, and permit him
and a horse thief by the name of Tay-
lor, to escape.
"They took young Derby with them.
leaving the jail about 7 o'clock, going
up over Court Hill. About 8 o'clock
the sheriff and Mrs. Derby came home,
and after while Mrs. Derby went into
the back part of the Jail to see the
prisoners, and 10 and behold they
were gone and their son George was
also missing. Mrs. Derby was frantic
with grief believing that after Nc
Comb had gotten into the woods lit
tie ways he would murder George.
"The Catholic and Congregational
church bells were rung, the citizens
were aroused, and great numbers
started out in pursuit of the prisoners.
Up on Court hill they met young
Derby coming back home crying. Nc
Comb had threatened to kill him If he
did not return home. The following
Saturday McComb and Taylor were
captured at a farmers house near
Iowavile. They were sleeping in the
woods at nights and taking their
meals with the farmer. A reward for
their capture had been offered and
the farmer notified the authorities
where they were and assisted in their
capture when they came in to get their
breakfast Saturday morning, August
81, 1854, on which day McComb was
landed Back in Jail.
."The state supreme court converting
in December affirmed the decision OF
the Wapello county district court and
the governor fixed February IT, 1865,
as the day on which McComb was to
be hanged, and on which day he was
hanged at 1890 o'clock.
doctors Williamson and Hinsey
were the physicians in attendance and
the twelve persons summoned by the
sheriff to witness the execution as pro-
vided by law were: E. H. Stiles r. w.
Boyd, J. w. McGlasson, Charles Dud-
ley, Thomas Foster, A. Melick, B. D.
Baker, John Newman, William A.
Nye, N. J. Williams, T. J. j. collars,
and Thomas G. Harkins.
.McComb was the only person who
was ever legally hanged in Wapello
county.
"Major John S. Wood who was one
of the best marshals Ottumwa ever
had and one Of the best. courageous
and fearless officers that ever wore
star was not here at the time of the
McComb mob, as stated in the prev
ious article in 1854, but was major OF
the Seventh Iowa cavalry and was
located at Fort Laramie as commander
of the post and was fighting hostile
Indians whenever he had the oppor-
tunity. He was marshal in the city OF
Ottumwa in the years, 1867, 1868, 1869
and 1870.
"The remains of Laura ]. Harvey
were found in the Des Moines river
Friday morning, March 80, 1860, by a
Mr.. Aumack, who resided on the South
Side but sold milk on this side of the
river. He and Mr.. Prosser who owned
and operated the ferry, brought the
body to this side of the river In boat
and when the coroner arrived the re-
mains we're taken to a vacant build
ing at the corner of Court and Main
streets, where the coroner's inquest
was conducted.
"A Young Old Settler"