Hancock County, IL Newspaper Data

Crime-Related News Stories

Other Cases Decided before the Circuit Court of Hancock County
FERGUSON CONVICTED
Carthage, Ill., - Ferguson, the colored man, who has been on trial before the criminal court at this place for being accessory to the murder of Dr. Pierson, at Augusta, over a year ago, has been found guilty and sentenced to twenty-four years in the penitentiary. It will be remembered that Ferguson figured very prominently in the trial of Leroy Working, Marion Hetrick and young Avery, on the charge of murder before the criminal court at Quincy, last September. Ferguson disappeared from Augusta soon after the murder of Dr. Pierson, and various suspicious circumstances led the officers to follow up. He was found in the timber land beyond St. Paul, Minn., chopping wood. At first he denied all knowledge of the crime, but a search of his clothing brought to light a pawn ticket calling for the gold watch belonging to the doctor. While en route to Augusta, Ferguson made a statement to the effect that Working, Avery and Hetrick, together with himself, planned the murder, he having no part whatever in the terrible affair, further than enticing the doctor from his home, and sending him to see a supposed patient some distance from Augusta. The three first named men were tried in Quincy last fall on a change of venue from Hancock County and were all acquitted. Ferguson has been on trial for some days before Judge Williams, in this circuit, and the jury returned a verdict as already stated.

Doc. Stewart, who has been on trial for rape committed at Augusta, was also found guilty and sentenced to six years imprisonment at Joliet. [The Quincy Daily Whig, March 12, 1880 - Submitted by Debbie Lee]

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