Year: 1872




and smote his conscience so that he was
not conscious of what be was doing. lie
stated that Williams followed the Ormes
family from Minnesota for the purpose
of numbering them; that the cause of his
hate was an old love affair between Kim
self and Mrs Ormes that Williams had
sworn to clay Ormes. his wife, and their
pos,erity that when the parties We're
murdered they had the wagon in which
their bodies were found, two yoke OF OK
en- and some loose cat!le. He sail he
had traded the cattle just before be ar
rived at Cicarmont, and that he had also
hid the 500 in sack.


After having made the above confcs-
sion he was given over into the hands of
some of the leading citizens of the Noda
way valley to take charge of him. They
then Immediately started courier for
Maryviile to report the matter to Sheriff
Wray. They also sc.t back on the
road he had just traverscd and found
that he had told ths truth regarding the
J sale of the cattle. but the money could
not be found


sheriff Wray left for Kansas at once.
to have uoltnn, Osburn's professed &c
complice. arrested. The bodies of the
FIVE victims have all been buried, and
Osburn is heavily ironed and strongly
guarded so that escape Is impossible. He
will certainly stretch hemp.


The parties sen, out on the back track
to see if any clue could be found to the
murder. after inquiry and thorough sfarch
learned that the deed had been commit
ted in Nodaway county, one and hall
miles northeast Of Burr Oak Grove, and
some sixteen miles west of Maryville.


The finger Of Providence seemed to
have guided them to the exact spot
where the fearful crime had been perpc-
trated The ground was covered with
blood. and they found the false teeth of
the murdered woman.


Sufficient evidence had now been col
lected to prove tue previous statement of
the prisoner false. and leave little doubt
that he WAS the murderer They then
FASTENED back to where the prisoner MAS
confined. and confronted him with the
danning facts. When assured that he
had not long to live. he said. with The
rasst perfect Indifference Proceed
gentlemen. you cannot hang man but
once He was then asked to reveal he
particulars of his crime, when he made
in substance, the following confession -
He gave his name az Tarzey, and
said it was not Osburn, as stated in Ei-
frs. confession. That his home was at
Mount Aver, Iowa. where lie had wife
anil one child. The pariie. he hid mur.
dered were five in number \ nan with
his wife and two children aud another
man who was unmarried. lie said they
were travelling in lum er wagon, and
that they were returning from Kan sas to
their home in Minnesota lie met them
first last ThUrday, the 18th. Having no
money and travelling iu the same direc-
tion, they kindly asked him to join them,
which he did. The wagon being large,
they all, six in number. s!rp. in it. The
married man. his wife and two children
the wagon. while the remaining two slept
in the bottom of the led below.


Last Sunday night they camped within
half a mile of a house near Burr Oak
Grove. AT this place the wretch con
ceived the plan of numbering them and
making way with their horses and wag-
on, their cattle (lhrea or four in nunbe').
aud whatever money they might have in
their possession. After having murdered
them he intenced to secre,e them in the
brush or Clear creek, near by.


That Sunday night, little dreaming of
the black hearted wretch they had taken
under their shelter, and the awful fate
tha: awaited them. they l.y down IN the
wagon for the night. aud all save the
murderer were sound asleep


Satisfying himself that all were asleep,
he took loaded pistol which lay in the
wagon, and placing it at the head of the
man who was -l-rping by his side, fired.
lie instantly killed him.


The married man being aroused by
the report OF the pistol rose up. ana
thinking Fancy had fi,ed at strange
dog which had been Annoying them dur
ing the hight by barking. said ''Go"d /!
Good I" The assass n Immediately
turned and shot him, and then jumped
from the wagon to the ground.


The wounded man attempted to follow
him, when Tanzey SEIZED an axe and
despatched him at once. The agonized
wife of the murdered man wis now run
ming around the wagon II tering fearful
cries, and, fea ing that she would alarm
the people at the f,rm house near by. he
also killed her with an axe or club just
which he does not remember


/ The two in ant babes aged three and
and fifteen months. now alone remained
living, and it seems he did not dispose of
them until some time after the rest had