 |
|
Iowa News from across the
Country
- 1845 -
Alton Telegraph and
Democratic Review
Alton, Illinois
July 5, 1845
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
The last Keosauqua (Iowa) Times, advertises as an
absconding debtor, one of its subscribers, who glories in the
name of "Doctor Noble Barron." The fact that a man thus
distinguished above the vulgar crowd should yet be mean enough to
cheat the printer, proves clearly that "names are
bubbles," and that a Noble Baron, although an M.D., may
nevertheless be a villain.- So true is it, that worth makes the
man- the want of it the fellow."
[transcribed by C.J.L., Sept. 2003]
-----
Alton Telegraph and
Democratic Review
Alton, Illinois
July 19, 1845
MORE MURDERS
The barbarous murder of Col. George Davenport, of Rock Island, in
his own house, and in the blaze of noon-day, by three unknown
ruffians - who, we regret to say, are still at large- while his
family were participating in the festivities of the late National
Anniversary, was briefly announced in our last number. It is now
our painful duty to record another, and, if possible, still more
fearful tragedy, enacted a few days afterwards, on the river Des
Moines, Iowa Territory, at no great distance from the place where
Col. Davenport was killed.- From the accounts which have reached
us, it appears that a family of emigrants from Pennsylvania,
consisting of a man, his wife, and three children, lately settled
on the stream above named, a few miles above Keosauqua. Soon
after their arrival at their place of destination, they were
attacked by three men- who are said to have followed them all the
way from their former residence for the purpose of robbing them
of their money-and all butchered without mercy, except the
youngest child, an infant, who was suffered to live, either by
accident or design. The cries of the victims, when sinking under
the blows of their assailants, were providentially heard by some
person who happened to be engaged in chopping wood at no great
distance; and who, promptly hastening to the spot, arrived in
season-not to save the lives of the unhappy family, but to
identify and overtake the assassins; two of whom were captured.
The third, refusing to be taken, was immediately dispatched.
Those apprehended were forthwith conveyed to Keosauqua, where the
Court was then in session; and, as they are said to have
confessed their crime, it is hoped that ample justice will be
promptly meted out to them. The above is a succinct account of
the awful occurrence referred to, as we find it related in our
exchange papers. As neither the names of the parties, nor the
precise time when the atrocious deed was perpetrated, are given
in any of the statements we have seen, a feeble hope is
entertained that the story, at least in some of its horrid
details, may be destitute of foundation. But when we reflect on
the bloody scenes recently exhibited on the Upper Mississippi and
the surrounding country, we are led to fear that there is but too
much truth in the current report. It is obvious that, let the
causes be what they may, murders and other dreadful crimes have
of late greatly multiplied in almost every section of the Union;
and what measures should be adopted to check the progress of so
deplorable an evil, has become a question of the gravest
importance, and one which should at once engross the most serious
attention of every good citizen. We shall, therefore, take this
occasion to express our views briefly upon the subject, in the
hope that others more competent may be led to do likewise; and
that an adequate corrective may thereby be suggested and applied.
That the hope of impunity, coupled with the prospect of immediate
gain, is one of the principal causes to which the great increase
of crime should be attributed, is very clear to our mind. There
is a growing disposition among the whole community, to call in
question the right of the civil magistrate to take away life,
under any circumstance, save only necessary life-preservation.
This feeling is manifested by the efforts now making in various
parts of the United States to abolish capital punishment
altogether. Our juries are all more or less affected by it; and
hence the difficulty of obtaining a conviction, when the penalty
is death, even in cases where the guilt of the party implicated
admits no self doubt. Evil-disposed persons are sensible of this;
and consequently, deem their chances of acquittal decidedly
better, when charged with a capital offense than if they were to
be tired for an act ,which, if found guilty, would merely subject
them to a few years imprisonment. This impression, together with
the facilities for escape afforded by a comparatively thinly
settled country, frequently decides the felon's course; and upon
calculation, he adds murder to robbery. The remedy-supposing the
above views to be substantially correct-is obvious. Let the
punishment of the murderer be changed; and, instead of affording
him the opportunity of playing the part of a Hero, or a Saint, on
the gallows- as is now usually done, to the great injury, in our
decided, and long-entertained opinion, of the public morals-let
him expiate his offense by solitary confinement in the cell of a
Penitentiary, where, alone with his conscience, he may reflect on
his past life, and make adequate preparation for the great change
which awaits him. As the legitimate object of all penal laws
should be, to protect society, and, if practicable, reform, not
exterminate, the offender, the above mode will effect this object
much better than the gibbet or the block; while it will, at the
same time, effectually prevent the recurrence of what has
sometimes taken place under the present system-the execution of
an innocent person-a deed too fearful to think of, and for which
reparation is impossible.- We may recur to this subject in a
future number.
[transcribed by C.J.L., Sept. 2003]
-----
Hartford Daily
Courant
Hartford, Connecticut
July 31, 1845
Marriages. At New Haven, July 15th, Julius E. Sanford, of Marion,
Iowa, and Henrietta E. Johnson, of New Haven.
[transcribed by S.F., February 2008]
-----
Hartford Daily
Courant
Hartford, Connecticut
December 30, 1845
Deaths. At Iowa City, Iowa Territory, on Monday, Dec. 8th of
acute rheumatism, David Griswold Ely, of that place, in the 42d
year of his age. Mr. E. was a native of Lyme, Conn., and for many
years a merchant at Palmyra, Wayne Co., N.Y.
[transcribed by S.F., February 2008]