Lucas County, Iowa
News Articles
Held For Murder - Byron Gwinn Chariton, Iowa, Aug. 29. - Byron Gwinn will probably hand for the murder of Liberty Snooks on Aug. 3 last. An indictment charging him with murder in the first degree has been returned by the grand jury. The evidence showed that Gwinn, a quarrelsome fellow, went to Snook's home, called him out and charged him with having called his (Gwinn's) mother a liar. Snooks acknowledged it, saying she had told an untruth about him. Thereupon Gwinn deliberately blew out Snook's side with a shotgun, killing him instantly. [Aberdeen Daily News, Aberdeen, S. D., Published Saturday, August 29, 1891, submitted by CD]
The Iowa Railroad Accident Chariton, Iowa, June 17.-A frightful accident occurred here on the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad at 1 o'clock this morning. A section of freight train 13, coming from the west, collided with a stock train that had preceded the former a short time, and was then coaling at the station. The latter had a caboose attached containing some fourteen passengers, four of whom were killed outright. Their names were: Echerd, of Council Bluffs, freight conductor on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad;
Severne, a stockman, of Illinois City, Ill.;
Huston, of Maryville, Mo.;
A man, name unknown, of Bridgewater, Mo. The wounded are:
M. Evans, of Russell, Ia., since dead;
J. Dick, of Russell, Ia., slightly;
J. W. Mendonhall, of Maryville, Mo., badly;
J. W. Cooper, of Maryville, Mo., badly;
W. J. Allen, of Lenox, Ia., badly;
N. M. Woods, of Lancaster, Pa., cannot recover;
Ryans, of Falls City, Neb., slightly;
C. W. Glines, F. F. Lewis, and two or three other passengers escaped unhurt. None of the railroad employees were injured, except the fireman slightly. The locomotive attached to the incoming train, the caboose, and two additional cars loaded with hogs, were a decided wreck, and most of the stock were killed. Mr. Horn was conductor, and Nelson Best engineer of the raiding train. At the time of the accident a heavy rain was falling, accompanied by a very high wind amounting almost to a hurricane, and it is claimed by the brakeman that he did not hear orders given to stop the train. Agents Rheem and Howard secured the attendance of physicians and did everything in their power to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded. A special train arrived from Burlington at 9 o'clock this morning, bringing Superintendent Potter and Surgeons, Ransom and Lathrop. A coroner's jury is now holding an inquest on the bodies of the dead at the depot. The evidence given by the conductor and engineer of the incoming train before the coroner's jury this afternoon showed that the whistle was blown for the station, and twice for down brakes. That the brakes were promptly applied, and the engine reversed, but failed to have any effect, as the violent wind prevailing at the time continued to drive the train forward. The testimony of the passengers did not show any negligence on the part of the train-men. One witness did, however, testify that at a point some miles west of the place he thought the trains were running too near each other. The coroner's jury have just rendered a verdict that the persons killed were in the cabin-car of the second section of train No. 12, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, standing at the Chariton station, and were killed by the engine of the third section of said train running into said caboose; from all the evidences, that the train-men on said train used all ordinary precautions and efforts to stop the train, but were unable to do so on account of the terrible storm of wind and rain then prevailing-the wind blowing in nearly the same direction the train was moving, and the rain causing the brakes to have but little effect upon the wheels. [Quincy Whig, Quincy, Illinois, published Saturday, June 19, 1875, submitted by CD]
Ben Lewis Sudden Death in Lucas Co. Mr Ben Lewis was in town Thursday, trading apparently well but complaining to some of his friends of not feeling well and in the afternoon started home with his little boy in the wagon. Between town and M H Richman's place his little boy noticed the approaching stroke and turned in and stopped with Mr Richman's when he received a stroke of the paralysis from which he died, surrounded by sorrowing friends and neighbors. Mr Lewis was about 53 years of age, highly respected and one of the oldest settlers. He located in the unsettled country before the Rebellion, at which place he lived while he served in the army. A man of sterling worth, plain and straight forward in dealing, his was the honor of being one of the noblest of men. He leaves a large family to mourn his departure to whom our sincere sympathy is extended. He came from Ohio about 27 years ago.--Iowa Exchange Mr Lewis, whose death is announced above, was formerly a citizen of Hocking county, residing near Ewing. He was related to the Harden's of that neighborhood. His wife the sister of Mr. Amos Parker of our town. The sympathy of a wide circle of friends and relatives is extended to the bereaved family. [The Hocking Sentinel, February 14, 1884, submitted by kastf]
Whole Town Will Be Pulled "Boot-Legging" Citizens of Lucas, Iowa, in Trouble. Council Bluffs, Iowa, April 6. - The federal authorities at this place are taking steps which may place the entire town of Lucas, Iowa, under indictment for "boot-legging." Lucas is on the Burlington road, situated near the middle of the state. Action is about to be taken on the statements of Frank Goggins, who was arrested a week ago on the charge of boot-legging. He was brought to Council Bluffs by Special Detective Ravencamp of the Burlington route. He has confessed and further-more has related a queer tale of the doings in the little village. According to his story "boot-legging" is looked upon as a legally constituted profession by the residents. He says that everybody in the town is disposing of packages. He alleges that when a train stops at the station every citizen, from the station master down, is on hand with the packages. [Morning Olympia, Olympia, Washington, Published Monday, April 06, 1896, submitted by CD] |
