Old Newspaper Articles, Morgan County Illinois
Old Newspaper Articles
Morgan County IL
Murder in Jordanville
Excerpts of newspaper articles on this page by the Jordanville Cemetery Transcribers of the Jacksonville Area Genealogical and Historical Society:
Jacksonville Journal, Saturday, May 25, 1872.
“SHOCKING MURDER — Late on Thursday afternoon, Willys J. True was killed in cold blood, at Jordanville, Cass county by one John Douglass. From the father of the murdered man we learn the facts in the case which are as follows: On the day named, Willys J. True and John Armstrong, both of Jordanville, a small village ten miles southeast from Virginia, and lying four miles east from the line of the P.P.&J. railroad, went to Virginia, in a wagon. During the day both men drank liquor freely, and Armstrong became so drunk that he could not drive home. True drove to Jordanville and went directly to Armstrong’s house. The wife of the latter upon learning of the condition of affairs, abused True for getting Armstrong drunk. Angry words followed between True and the woman, she being on one side of the fence and he on the other. While thus engaged in angry discussion, she called to one John Douglass, a son-in-law of Armstrong, who was at work replanting corn in a field, about 50 yards distant. Douglass came at once, and going up to True, struck him on the back of the head with the beak of a heavy hoe that he brought with him from the field. The blow inflicted a would four inches in length and crushed in the skull. True fell forward to the ground and died in thirty minutes. “One report had it that Douglass began quarreling with True, and that the latter stooped to pick up a stick, when Douglass struck the fatal blow. The father of the deceased, however, had not been informed of any such action, although he had just come from the spot. After doing the bloody deed Douglass did not run away, but remained in the neighborhood, and was, we are informed, engaged in digging a well yesterday. Coroner Lawler was summoned by old Mr. True, and proceeded to Jordanville yesterday to hold an inquest.”
Jacksonville Journal of Monday, May 27, 1872.
“CORONER’S INQUEST — ARRESTED AND LODGED IN JAIL — Coroner Lawler held an inquest on the body of Willis J. True, at Jordanville, on Friday afternoon. The jury, after making a thorough examination of the case, returned the following verdict: We, the undersigned, on oath, do find that Willis J. True came to his death by a blow from a hoe in the hands of John Douglass, on May 23rd. . . Coroner Lawler promptly arrested John Douglass at his home, and brought him to this city, where he was placed in jail to await trial. . .”