A Cold Blooded Murderer-Summarily Punished 1875

SMITH, TALZER, LOGAN, VAN NAMIN

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 6/14/2021 at 18:47:08

Wednesday, June 30, 1875
Paper: Dubuque Daily Times (Dubuque, Iowa)
Page: 1

A Cold Blooded Murderer-Summarily Punished

DES MOINES, June 29

A special from the State Register from Ottumwa says a cold-blooded and brutal murder was committed at that place about nine o’clock last evening. The Deputy city Marshall, W. Logan, was shot and killed by one of the Smith boys, of Batavia. Logan received two pistol shots in the heart, killing him instantly. Smith is a desperate character, and was on his way to jail in charge of officers. When the shooting occurred Smith was promptly arrested, heavy irons were riveted on his wrists and ankles, and then he was lodged to jail. The prisoner boasted he was the bird that meant to kill Van Namin. The excitement ran until three in the morning, and lynching was expected every minute. Between one and two o’clock today the prisoner was taken before acting Mayor Talzer. On waving examination he was remanded to jail. On coming down stairs from the City Hall some half dozen person backed up by five-hundred cool headed citizens overpowered the officers in charge of him, and throwing one end of the rope over Smith’s head and the other over a lamp post left the lifeless body dangling in the air, viewed by thousands of spectators in broad sunlight.