A Death Blow

LEHNARDZ, FORSYTHE, ORR, HIMEBAUGH, PAUL, ISBEL, CALKINS, MCKEAN, NOYES

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 3/10/2009 at 22:43:52

Jackson Sentinel, Maquoketa, Iowa, June 7, 1883.

A DEATH BLOW
Dealt to Wm. Lehnardz While Engaged in His Harness Shop at Onslow-Jas. Forsythe and William Orr Under Arrest, Charged with the Crime.

From N. B. Noyes postmaster at Onslow we learn the following particulars of an affray which occurred at the place this afternoon, resulting in the death of one of the parties engaged.

James Forsythe killed Wm. Lehnardz, a harness maker, at the latter’s shop. It appears that Forsythe owed Lehnardz a small sum, for which the latter dunned him as he came into town. Forsythe says he (Lehnardz) threatened to whip him if he did not settle this matter and he (Forsythe) claims he went back to pay him and was attacked by the harness man with a hammer. To defend himself he struck the latter with his fist and Lehnardz immediately fell back dead.

Wm. Orr, a young man engaged with Forsythe in drilling wells, was with him and is charged with being a party to the crime.

Constable Himebaugh arrested and helped the parties until the arrival of John Paul, Esq., before whom Mrs. Lehnardz soon appeared and filed an information charging the parties under arrest with the crime of murder. A warrant was issued and immediately served by the officer and a dispatch sent to Sheriff Wilds.

Coroner Isbel was immediately notified and soon reached here. He has sent for Dr. Calkins of Wyoming, to assist Dr. McKean in the examination of the body. Several witness from the country are said to have been in the vicinity of the premises, who have gone home. The constable is now out after them. And as soon he returns the inquest will be held.

It is a very strange affair. The murdered man shows no signs of violence, except a slight bruise on the temple and a scratch under one ear. It seems hardly possible that he could have been so easily killed. For further particulars we await the results of the examination. –Anamosa Eureka

In the coroner's inquest the doctors discovered that the death in fact, resulted from heart disease, which may have resulted from excitement and was perhaps not consequent upon the blows of the assailants, although the fight was primarily the cause of death. Orr was held in bonds of $2000 to appear at the next term of the Jones county court. Forsythe failed to find bondsmen and was sent to jail to await a hearing before the grand jury. This man Forsythe is quite well known in Jackson County as a former employee of H. F. Burnap, in the well drilling business.

Jackson Sentinel, Maquoketa, Iowa, June 14, 1883.

The Dubuque Times says that Jas. Forsythe one of the brutal murderers of Wm. Lehnhardz, of Onslow, Iowa, committed suicide by dashing out his brains in the additional penitentiary last Tuesday, where he had been remanded for trial. His suicide was one of the most peculiar on record. He broke away from the line of convicts, and, running at full speed, butted his head against the stone wall of the prison with the above fatal result. Wm. Orr, who was also implicated in the murder, is out on $2000 bonds. All of which is denied by the people of Anamosa and the train men on the Midland. They pronounce the rumor of suicide false and without foundation.