Walter Laughlin, died 1899

LAUGHLIN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/28/2013 at 23:44:26

Cold Blooded Murder
Tuesday evening about six o’clock, a negro by the name of Walter Laughlin, was murdered in cold blood by two of his colored companions, John Caro and Bud Penny. The tragedy occurred at the M. and St. L. graders camp of Contractor Campbell, about three miles south of town. The murdered man was coming from work, riding a mule, and was met by Caro and Penny who, with an oath, told him to get off the mule; and, without further warning drew their revolvers and began shooting. Two bullets took effect; entering the body of Laughlin on the left side, passing upward and through the heart; killing him instantly. He fell from the mule, and then one of the brutes was going to shoot him again when the other one said: “Oh, he is dead, don’t shoot him again!” Not being satisfied, however, one man took the revolver that was in the hands of the murdered man and struck him over the head and face cutting some ugly gashes on the cheek and forehead. The two murderers then came up town and started north on the road leading by the fair ground. Sheriff Pullen, who was at the fair, was telephoned for and met the negroes in front of the Loren White residence, and being suspicious that they were the fellows he wanted, attempted to arrest them. They started to run and the sheriff began shooting, when one of them turned and shot three times in rapid succession at the sheriff, who responded until he shot seven times; or until he had emptied his revolver. Sheriff Pullen was not hit and it is not known whether either of the negroes were but the sheriff says one fell but got up again and ran for the woods north of town where they made their escape. Blood hounds were sent for and reached Estherville the following morning and put on the track of the negroes at Eagle Lake where they were seen making their way toward the negro camp in Minnesota, south of St. James. Nothing could be found of either one until in that afternoon when the smaller of the two was seen north of the state line, following the M. and St. L. grade towards Sherburn. He was captured and overtaken without any resistance on his part and lodged in jail that night where he now languishes. From what he said it is believed that he was not with the other fellow after the shooting of the night before, and it is thought that his companion is some where in the woods either dead or severely wounded. Search is being made for him today. An inquest was held over the body of the dead negro Tuesday night from which the facts of the shooting as above stated were brought out and also the fact that there had been some quarreling among the parties the day before and that the life of the negro who was killed had been threatened. A verdict of murder in accordance with the facts was returned. The jury was composed of C.S. Byfield, J.H. Martin and a Mr. Prosser. The murdered man was buried in the Potter’s field in Oak Hill cemetery Wednesday after noon. (Emmet County Republican, Estherville, IA, October 5, 1899)