LYNCH THE MURDERER -1870

LYNCH, TATE WIVIL, IRWIN, EADELMAN, STEAMER DUBUQUE

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 3/18/2018 at 20:06:00

Dubuque Daily Times, Tuesday, September 27, 1870, Dubuque, Iowa, Page: 8

LYNCH THE MURDERER – The Davenport Gazette, says that the evidence in the case of Lynch, the blood-thirsty ruffian who originated the murderous riot of a year ago, on the steamer Dubuque has been concluded, and the argument of counsel commenced. The evidence for the prosecution is such, that there is no show for an acquittal. The only question is, whether there will be a hanging or a long term in the penitentiary. Among witnesses called was Robert Tate, the engineer of the Dubuque, and who was on duty at the time of the riot. He says,: Lynch commenced the quarrel with the colored man placed at the foot of the stairs by the mate of the boat to keep persons from going up while he collected fare, also saw Lynch and other strike the colored man; saw him with coal in his hand; heard him cry “Kill the d—n niggers;” when the Negros were chased overboard; saw Lynch stand on the guard of the boat and threw coal at the poor man struggling in the water for life. The witness identified Lynch as the man “who took a stick of wood and punched a Negro on the head until he was drowned;” heard Lynch say he had “killed a Negro.”

Robert Irwin, a cattle dealer who lives at Aledo, Mercer County, Ill., was a cabin passenger of the Dubuque at the time, testified to the riot, all of which he saw; identified Lynch as the prominent leader; saw him with a knife in his hand chasing and cursing the Negros; heard him say he would kill them, that they could not stay on the boat, &c. This witness also saw the prisoner throw stone coal at the Negros in the water, and saw him punch one of the men in the river on the head with a stick of wood until the poor fellow sank and drowned.

Wm. Eadelman, of Hampton, H. C. Wivil, of Rock Island, and other testified much to the same facts. Nearly all the witnesses for the State testified that Lynch was conspicuous among the rioters. When the testimony was pointed and direct as to his murderous conduct, Lynch manifested much uneasiness; the color came and went from his villainous countenance, and his limbs were continually moving about. Never was evidence more convicting. Lynch, we think has a sure ticket for Joliet, where he will find some seven of his chums, who on the 28th of July, ’69, assisted him in murdering four inoffensive men, just because they were “niggers.”