USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 86
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HOMICIDE IN CHATHAM.
On the night of Tuesday, January 17, 1860, a dance was held at the house of Joseph Newland, on Lick creek, Chatham township. George S. Pulliam, Mr. Newland, and another person were in a room talking about a fight which was to occur the next day, when Pulliam offered to bet a certain sum of money on his favorite. At this point, Richard R. Whitehead came into the room. A dispute immediately occurred between Pulliam and Whitehead, and the lie passed be- tween them. Blows were also passed, White- head striking with his fist, and Pulliam with a bowie knife. Whitehead was struck three times, twice on the head, and once on the breast, the last stroke cansing his death in a few minutes. Pulliam was arrested and lodged in jail. On Thursday, May 10, 1860, Mr. Pulliam was ar- raigned for trial. J. B. White, Prosecuting At- torney, W. H. Herndon and J. E. Rosette ap- peared for the people, and Stephen T. Logan and Matheny & Shutt for the defense. The case was ably argued, and at its conclusion, after an absence of two hours, the jury brought in a ver- diet of guilty of manslaughter, and Pulliam was sentenced to the State's prison for seven years. Subsequently pardoned by Governor Yates.
TRAGEDY NEAR CAMP BUTLER.
In October, 1861, six soldiers went to the house of a German living near the camp, and while four of them were on the outside, two of them entered the house, and it is alleged, at- tempted to violate the person of a thirteen-year- old daughter of the owner of the house, when he seized a billet of wood and made an on- slaught on them, killing one outright and badly using up the other. Coroner Hopper held an inquest and the jury returned a verdict of justi- fiable homicide.
FATAL AFFRAY.
Two rebel prisoners at Camp Butler, named Dawson and Kendrick, got into a quarrel Satur- day, May 3, 1862, when Kendrick seized a large stick and struck Dawson a heavy blow, from the effect of which he died in about two hours. Kendrick was delivered over to the civil author- ities of the county for trial. An indictment was found, and he was tried for crime. The jury failed to agree, and the case was subse- quently nolle prosequied.
SHOCKING MURDER.
On the morning of July 4, 1862, a man was found dead on the sidewalk on North Sixth street. Upon examination his face was found to be fearfully mangled, and an unloaded single barrel pistol lying near by. The presumption was that the man had committed suicide. An inquest was held and the body identified to be that of Charles Remsey, a German. The body was buried but subsequently disinterred, and a more thorough examination was held, the ver- dict of the Coroner's jury being that he came to his death by the hands of some person or persons unknown.
TRAGEDY AT CAMP BUTLER.
Thomas Vines, a teamster in the employ of the United States Quartermaster Department, was killed at Camp Butler, Tuesday, November 4, 1862. He had been engaged in hauling baggage from the camp to the railroad, when an officer ordered his arrest on some pretext. The team of the man became frightened, and run- ning through the camp, an order was given to fire on him Some fifteen or twenty shots were fired, one taking effect in the neck, killing him instantly.
KILLING OF WESLEY PILCHER.
On Tuesday, March 17, 1863, as Lieutenant Emery P. Dustin, in company with a friend, was conducting two deserters to Camp Butler, while near the St. Nicholas Hotel, in Springfield, he witnessed an affray between Wesley Pilcher and a man by the name of O'Hara, the former un- mercifully beating the latter. O'IIara was call- ing for the police, when Dustan interfered, Pilcher then turning upon him began to admin- ister the same punishment to him, when Dustan backed out, at the same time warning Pilcher to cease his attacks, or he would be tempted to injure him. Pilcher being enraged followed Dustan for some distance, when the latter pulled a revolver and shot him dead. Dustan was at once arrested and taken before Esquires Adams and Hickman, who, after hearing the case, bound him over to the courts. The military authorities interfering Dustan was taken out and tried by court martial and acquitted.
SOLDIER SHOT.
William Keily, of Company K., Tenth Illi- nois Cavalry, while the company was encamped at Camp Butler, in company with another sol- dier, was creating some disturbance in the board- ing house of Mrs. Horry, on North Fifth street, having broken one of the windows, when the
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provost guard went to the house and arrested the two men. On their way to headquarters, and when on the north side of the square, Keily, who had been drinking, drew his revolver and fired two shots at one of the guards, one of the shots cutting the hair on the side of his head. Two of the guards immediately fired, killing Keily instantly, one ball passing through his breast and the other through his hips.
ROBBERY AND MURDER AT PAWNEE.
On Tuesday evening, March 7, 1865, a man called at the residence of James Bodge, a mer- chant at Pawnee, and requested him to go to the store as he wished to purchase some tea and coffee. Mr. Bodge complied with his request, and while doing up the articles John Saunders came into the store and purchased a can of oysters and soon left. On going out he was fol- lowed by the man, who stepped out of the store and spoke to his horse, as though he feared it would get away. As he did so, another person, an accomplice, stepped into the store, and point- ing a pistol at Mr. Bodge, with an oath, told him to surrender. Mr. Bodge replied, "I do surren- der, but don't shoot me!" The robber then de- liberately took Mr. Bodge's pocket book, con- taining $500, walked out of the store, mounted his horse, and, in company with another person who was with him, rode away. As they left the store one of the party shot and instantly killed Mr. Saunders.
While some of the citizens were gathered around the body of Mr. Saunders, the robber who first entered the store came near with re- volver in hand and inquired, "who did it?" and immediately mounted his horse and joined his accomplices. The desperadoes acted with great coolness and deliberation. The citizens of the place were so astounded at the hellish deed that the murderers were permitted to escape.
After a few months had passed Barney Van- arsdale was arrested in Iowa, and confessed to the crime of killing Mr. Saunders. He was brought to Springfield. In his confession Van- arsdale accused Nathan Trayler and Hezekiah Sampley of being accomplices. They were both arrested, and on a preliminary examination were bound over to the Circuit Court in sums of $2,000 each.
James Lemon was afterwards arrested for the same crime, and at the May term, 1866, of the Circuit Court of the county, both Vanarsdale and Lemon were arraigned for trial. Milton Hay was assigned by the court to defend Lemon, while James H. Matheny was employed
by friends of the accused, to defend Vanarsdale. The defense was such as could be expected from such eminent counsel, and everything that could be done was done for the prisoners, but without avail. Twelve good and true men found them guilty by their own confessions, and they were sentenced to death.
On Friday, June 1, they were brought into the court room, and Judge Rice, after a solemn and impressive prayer had been offered up by Rev. W. S. Prentiss, pronounced the sentence of death, and sentenced them to be hung within the walls of the prison or the enclosed yard, on Fri- day, June 22, 1866, The Judge concluded his address to them with the awful sentence: "May God have mercy on your souls. No earthly hope now remains for you; may you direct your atten- tion to Him who alone can save, and who spoke pardon and peace to the dying thief upon the cross."
In the absence of Governor Oglesby, Lieuten- ant Governor Bross granted a reprieve till Fri- day, July 20, 1866. Before the arrival of the day the sheriff made all preparation for the exe- cution, hoping meanwhile the Governor would commute the sentence to imprisonment for life. But it was deemed best by that officer not to in- terfere with the sentence of the court.
All hope of commutation of sentence having passed, at their request, the sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered to the con- demned, after which the black cap was placed over their faces, shutting out their last sight of earth, a prayer was made, the drop pulled, and the souls of Vanarsdale and Lemon went out to meet that of their victim.
FOUND DEAD.
On Sunday, January 21, 1866, as two boys were playing near the northeast part of the city they found a pocket-book and a man's coat cov- ered with blood. Giving information to their father, James Minsel, the latter, accompanied by a friend, repaired to the spot, and while ex- amining the coat noticed a dog standing over a man's body a few yards away. On approaching the body, they found it lying face downward, partially covered with snow, and giving evidenee that it had been foully dealt with. The dead man was frozen and had evidently been killed a couple of days. A jury was summoned by the coroner and an inquest held. An examination of the body disclosed the fact that the man had been murdered in a manner horrible to contem- plate. A ball from a navy revolver had passed through his neck, severing the jugular vein, and
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another had entered the back, passed through the body, and came out near the nipple of the right breast. Either of these wounds would have caused his death. Three other bullets had entered the body just below the right shoulder. In addition to these wounds, six stabs were found from a large knife in the back, one in the right arm, two in the breast, and another in the back of the head. More than one person must have been concerned in the murder, as the wounds showed the attack to have been made in front and rear at the same time. The man's name was afterwards ascertained to be Henry Aholtz, a member of the Second Illinois Cavalry. His murderers were never known.
KILLING OF JOSEPII WARD.
Joseph Ward on Wednesday, November 20, 1867, visited a saloon on Jefferson street, and being slightly intoxicated, soon got into a quar- rel with Fritz Triever, the barkeeper of the es- tablishment. During the altercation, it was re- ported that Ward drew a knife, but without at- tempting to use it. Triever, on being informed that Ward had a knife in his hand, took up a club and struck Ward several blows over the head, from the effects of which he died the next morning. Triever was arrested.
MURDER OF WILLIAM MORTAR.
Zachariah Brock had been drinking, and on Saturday, August 1, 1868, came to the shop of William Mortar and began to quarrel with him. Mortar picked up a wagon spoke, probably with the intention of defending himself, but on second thought threw it down, and began trying to pacify him. Brock advanced, picked up the spoke, and struck Mortar over the head. The victim was carried into the house and died the following Tuesday.
DOINGS OF A DESPERADO.
On Saturday, May 28, 1870, one of those ter- rible tragedies, which for a time throw a com- munity into a state of excitement, occurred at Springfield. For some days previous, the sur- veyors of the Northwestern Railroad had been engaged in surveying a route through the city. On Friday, the 27th, Coburn Bancroft, becoming desperate at the thought that his mother's prop- erty would be taken for railroad purposes, fired a revolver at the surveyors two or thres times, but without effect. A warrant was sworn out and two or three policemen started to arrest young Bancroft. The police soon found him and attempted his arrest, but the offender backed into a corner of the room and swore that he
would kill the first man who attempted to lay hands on him. Finding the man desperate, re-in- forcements were sent for, when another effort was made to effect his arrest, but Bancroft defied them and stood his ground. Not wishing to injure the man, the police retired, hoping to effect his arrest at another time when it could be done without endangering the lives of any.
On the morning of the 28th, Louis Souther, local editor of the Register, went to the house of Bancroft for the purpose of securing his statement, and was met by Bancroft with an oath and a threat to kill him. Knowing the desperate character of the young man, Mr. Souther retreated, but was followed by the des- perado, who fired upon him, wounding him in the arm.
About three o'clock in the afternoon, Bancroft left his house, and returning about four o'clock, he met Alonzo McClure, the man who swore out the warrant against him, accompanied by a friend. Addressing McClure, Bancroft asked him if he was the one who swore out a warrant against him, and having satisfied himself, step- ped back and picked up the lead of a brick- layer's plumb and threw it at McClure, who re- treated a few steps and then drew a revolver and fired five shots at Bancroft without effect. Bancroft then drew his revolver and fired four shots at McClure, two of which took effect. He then proceeded deliberately to his mother's house, went to his room, and commenced load- ing his pistol.
Several men witnessed the fight between Ban- croft and McClure, and the news rapidly spread and soon a large crowd was collected around the Bancroft residence. The young desperado sat by a window, and playing a violin, defied the crowd. The sheriff and a number of police officers were present. After trying in vain to get him to surrender without farther trouble, he was fired upon by the Chief of Police, of Spring- field, D. C. Robbins, the ball taking effect, and from which he died in about fifteen minutes.
The Coroner called a jury, and investigated the case, fully exonerating Captain Robbins from all blame. Notwithstanding this, the grand jury found a bill of indictment against him, and he was subsequently tried and ac- quitted.
MURDER OF SHARON TYNDALE.
On Saturday morning, April 29, 1871, Sharon Tyndale, ex-Secretary of State, was toully mur- dered, near his residence, on Adams, between First and Second streets. It appears that Mr. Tyndale had arisen shortly after one o'clock a.
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m., to take the train for St. Louis. His intention was probably known by his murderers, who lay in wait for him, and who committed the hellish deed for the sake of a few paltry dollars upon his person. The body, when found, exhibited a severe and deep wound upon the left side of the face, extending from the forehead to the lower part of the cheek. It had the appearance of having been made by a heavy club. On the right side of the head, and just back of the ear, was another wound, caused by a pistol bullet of large calibre. A probe inserted by a physician showed that the ball passed upward, toward the top of the head, and that its effects were proba- bly instantaneously fatal, as a pool of blood was found upon the ground immediately underneath the wound, indicating that the murdered man must have died immediately, as no traces of blood were found elsewhere.
KILLING OF WILLIAM KELLEY.
The beautiful little village of Pleasant Plains would hardly be expected to be the scene of a bloody murder On the evening of September 25, 1871, while Mrs. Rhoda Elmore, Anderson Harris, and William Kelly were sitting at the supper table, a knock was heard at the door, and in response to the request, "Come in," Peter L. Harrison opened the door, and at once com- menced firing upon Kelly with a revolver. Kelly arose from the table, and, picking up a chair, started in the direction of Harrison, and succeeded in pushing him outside the door and shutting it. IIe then started towards a door in the opposite side of the room, and on reaching it fell, and soon after expired. Harrison was afterwards arrested, and an indictment found by the grand jury. A change of venue was taken, to Christian Co., where he was tried and acquitted.
MURDER OF HENRY STAY.
On Saturday night, March 23, 1872, Henry Stay called at the saloon of Edwin Slater, on Monroe street, Springfield, about 11 o'clock, and called up Mr Slater who lives over the saloon, and who had retired for the night, asking him to come down as he wished to pay him some money, remarking that he had better take it then as he might spend it. Slater came down, and opening the door of the saloon, let in Stay, who paid him the promised money, after which Slater gave him something to drink. After drinking Stay started to leave, when Edward Duffey came to the door and asked to be admitted. He was let in, and being an acquaintance of Stay, the two pleasantly conversed for awhile, when Stay, in a kind of jolly way, took hold of Duffy and the two com-
menced scuffling, during which Duffey was rather roughly thrown to the floor Slater, the saloon- keeper, then said to Stay: "Don't handle Duffey so roughly, for he is an older man than you." Stay, who was feeling jolly, helped Duffey upon his feet. Duffey, on getting upon his feet, appeared to be angry, and told Stay that he would not submit to such treatment, and drew a re- volver. Stay, when he saw the revolver, said: "You had better put that pistol up," appearing as though he did not think Duffey would use it. Duffey then stepped back a couple of steps and fired, the ball striking Stay in the left side and in the regi n of the heart. Stay fell upon the floor, and Duffey, as quick as thought, turned and fired at Slater, the ball striking on the point of the right shoulder, making an ugly flesh wound. Slater, on finding that he was wounded, cried out: "For God's sake, don't shoot any more." Duffey replied, "I won't," and immedi- ately fled.
An alarm was immediately given, and the police at once responded to the call. The coroner was summoned, the evidence taken, and a verdict rendered in accordance with the fore- going facts.
RIOT AT ILLIOPOLIS.
On Saturday, July 6, 1872, as Taylor Dicker- son was walking home with a young lady, some one threw a bunch of fire-crackers behind the couple, which excited the anger of Dickerson, and the next day, in speaking of the affair, he said if he knew who done it he would give him a thrashing. Carlyle Cantrall then stepped for- ward and said that he was the man who commit- ted the deed. Dickerson, nothing daunted, pitched in; result was a terrible fight, which, before it was ended, resulted in a half dozen others, friends of both parties taking a hand, in which Cantrall and his friends were badly whip- ped. Of course the fight was the town talk, and the result was the personal friends arrayed them- selves into factions, and by many hard and bitter words, added fuel to the flame. On Saturday, July 20, Cantrall went to the village, accom- panied by some friends, two of whom were named Kendall. Their appearance was the sig- nal for a row, in which Dickerson was badly beaten. All that afternoon and until late in the evening, the village was a perfect pandemonium. Late in the evening the Kendalls started home, accompanied by a cousin, when Dr. J. M. Burch stepped up and attempted to arrest them. The Kendalls put whip to their horses and attempted to escape. Dr. Burch ordered them to halt or he would shoot. This command he repeated
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three times without effect, and then fired, the ball taking off two fingers of Kendall's cousin and entered the left side of Kendall near the spine, and lodging in the abdomen. The shot had the desired effect, and the whole party was arrested. Kendall died a few days afterward from the effect of the wound.
Dr. Burch was arrested, waived an examin- ation, and gave bail in the sum of $5,000 for his appearance at the next term of the Circuit Court, at which time he was tried and acquitted.
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
On Saturday, June 14, 1873, Milburn Suther- land Tayleur, a man of mixed blood (negro and Indian), shot and instantly killed a colored man, named William Brown, with whom he had a quarrel. Coroner Bierce was at once notified, and started to arrest Tayleur, accompanied by several men, whom he summoned for the occa- sion. Seeing Tayleur in a field, he called upon him to surrender, when Tayleur placed his gun against his own breast, and leaning over it, pulled the trigger, the shot penetrating his body near the heart. He instantly fell, but survived long enough to make a statement acknowledging that he had killed Brown.
UXORCIDE AND SUICIDE.
The Illinois State Journal, of October 27, 1881, contained the following:
" A couple who were married in Loami town- ship about a year ago, under circumstances not wholly devoid of romance, were irrevocably divorced Tuesday night. A year ago John H. Hudson, an old bachelor farmer, was married to Mrs. Gilpin, widow of Enoch Gilpin, in Loami township. Both of them were well known and well liked. Mrs. Hudson was possessed of con- siderable property, but her husband was com- paratively a poor man. While gossips have for some time whispered the story that they were having some misunderstanding about property, it was generally believed they were living agree- ably together. Under these circumstances the neighbors were unprepared to hear the news of the shocking tragedy which occurred at the Hudson house Tuesday night, the details of which show that while Hudson was generally recognized as a peaceable and quiet man, he was a perfect devil when aroused. The first horri- fying rumor that came with shocking signifi- cance was that John Hudson had killed his wife with a spade, and then hung himself. The news reached this city about noon yesterday, and many people who knew both Mr. and Mrs. Hud-
son refused at first to believe it. The scene of the tragedy was an out of the way place, being seven or eight miles from a railway station, and it was difficult to get a connected history of the affair. After long and tedious search by the Journal reporters, the following story was ob- tained:
Hudson and his wife had retired to their room about 10 o'clock, Tuesday night. Whether they had any difficulty before retiring was not learned, but a few minutes afterward the sharp crack of a revolver was heard by Hudson's sister and the hired girl. They ran to Mrs. Hudson's assist- ance and succeeded in disarming the infuriated husband, who had vainly attempted to shoot his wife. Summoning all of his strength, Hudson released himself from the ladies, and clutching his wife, dragged her out of the house some dis- tance, where he struck her several times with a spade, which happened to be within his reach. Leaving his wife lying upon the ground, her battered and scarred face looking up in the moonlight, while the warm blood spurted out of three ghastly skull wounds, Hudson fled to the home of his brother, where he related the story of his hideous crime. Horrified beyond expres- sion, the brother hurried to the scene of the ghastly deed, and found the story he was loth to believe was only too true. After attending to the wants of the almost lifeless woman, the brother returned to find the murderer, but he had disappeared. Early yesterday morning his lifeless body was found hanging to an apple tree in the orchard, where, probably overcome by the enormity of his crime, he had ended the tragic story by taking his own life. The real cause of this horrible butchery could not be definitely learned. It was thought by some people that it arose out of some difficulties in regard to the property, while others seemed to think Hudson was jealous of his wife, though no foundation was given for the latter story. It is not known clearly whether the crime was premeditated, or the result of a sudden and insane passion. There are some circumstances that point toward the former theory. Mr. Flowers, who resides at the village of Loami, several miles from the Hudson place, stated that he had not heard of the tragedy, but said that he had loaned a revolver to Hudson Monday afternoon, Hudson informing him that he was going to take some money with him to buy cattle and wanted the revolver to protect himself. Another gentleman said he saw Hudson about 4 o'clock Monday afternoon, and he had agreed to buy some cattle from him. The unfortunate woman died the next day.
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXIII.
AUTHORS AND ARTISTS.
Sangamon county has not taken the advance stride in the world of letters and art as it has in politics and the business interests of her citizens. Still there are a few who deserve special nien- tion in this connection.
JOHN CARROLL POWER.
From the United States Biographical Dic- tionary.
John Carroll Power was born September 19, 1819, in Fleming county, Kentucky, between Flemingsburg and Mt. Carmel. His grandfather, Joseph Power, with six brothers older than him- self, were all living near Leesburg, Loudon county, Virginia, at the beginning of the Ameri- can Revolution, and all became soldiers in the cause of freedom. Some of the elder brothers served through the whole seven years' struggle for independence, the younger ones entering the army as soon as they arrived at a suitable age. Joseph was but sixteen years old when he enlisted, and that was during the last year of the war. He was married a few years later, and, in 1793, started with his wife, children and household goods, on pack-horses, and in company with several other families crossed the Allegheny mountains to Pittsburg. They descended the Ohio river in boats, landing at Limestone, now Maysville, and afterwards settled in what be- came Fleming county, Kentucky.
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