May, Charles died 1869

MAY

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 2/10/2016 at 22:22:47

The Herald, Sunday January 29, 1869

THE LANSING MURDER
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A Man Kills His Nephew in a
Quarrel About the
Division of Grain
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The Bloody Results of a Bad
Temper
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REWARD OFFERED
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On Monday the 24th, Lansing, in Allamakee County, was the scene of a bloody affray, resulting in the murder of a man by his uncle.

The particulars of the affair, especially telegraphed to us, are as follows: Frank and Charles May, Englishmen, who have resided at Lansing during the past ten or twelve years, are farmers, owing and working a large tract of land on the Iowa River, about six miles north of Lansing. Frank May is a man about forty years of age, and Charles his nephew, about thirty. Another nephew has been associated with them, we learn, in their farming operations, but was not engaged in the difficulty which on Monday resulted in the death of Charles May. In addition to their own farm land the Mays have been in the habit of leasing farms in their neighborhood, and being men of capital have carried on a large business. They have also at times purchased grain in the Lansing market. During the past year they rented a farm on the Iowa River, and worked it in partnership. In dividing the grain recently a dispute arose between Frank and Charles as to a fair division. On Monday Charles went over to remove the last of the corn, the dispute was renewed and Frank shot him, killing him almost instantly. Frank then went to Lansing, but on Monday night put out and since then no trace of him has been found. As soon as the murder was known officers started in pursuit of the murderer.

The particulars of the murder are not definitely known, and there are various rumors afloat, one to the effect that Charles first fired upon Frank, and then the latter killed his nephew in self-defense. A reward of $200 has been offered by friends of the murdered man for the arrest of the murderer.

As we have stated, the parties to this bloody affair were old citizens of Allamakee County, and possessed wealth and influence. A gentlemen who has known them for several years, informs us that they were generally accounted dangerous men, especially when in liquor, or under the influence of passion. It was rare for them to go to Lansing without becoming intoxicated, and then they were sure to raise a disturbance. Because of this quarrelsome disposition they were frequently arrested and fined by the local authorities, and were disliked pretty generally. The quilt of the murderer has attached to one, and a violent death overtakes another, in consequence of the disposition which made them unpopular and feared among their neighbors.