Shooting Affray

HICKS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 11/11/2007 at 21:49:38

Maquoketa Sentinel
July 21, 1868

Shooting Affray.

It will be remembered that some three weeks ago a Samuel Hicks, living some three or four miles from Sabula, was arrested and brought before Justice Herbeling, charged with beating his wife, and he then promised or did rather sign papers, pertaining to give his wife a divorce and so much property, and also promised and gave bail for his good behavior, upon which he was released. On Wednesday last he was again arranged before the same Justice charged with a more hideous crime that of attempting to take the life of his wife.

It appears that after the first altercation they temporarily separated until the necessary legal papers could be obtained for the permanent desolution; the wife going to Mr. Miles to live and the husband remaining on the farm.

On last Wednesday morning matters came to a crisis. Hicks went over to Miles’ and asked his wife if she would come back and live with him, on her replying in the negative to his answer he there said he would kill her, and forthwith drew a revolver from his pocket and fired, the ball grazing her dress on the shoulder, she then started and ran out the back door into the orchard closely followed by the infuriated husband who fired five more shots, another which passed through the lower part of her dress, without doing any harm, whatever. Her screams attracted the attention of the neighboring farmers and Mr. Miles to her relief. They rescued her, took the pistol from Hicks, brought him to town and placed him in the hands of the proper authorities here. He had a hearing before Justice Heberling who placed his bail at ten thousand dollars, which it is hoped he cannot procure for let the country be rid of such scamps. It is believed by those who witnessed the affair, that it was his intention to kill his wife and then take his own life. The penitentiary is his destination without a doubt.
Sabula Gazette.