Desparado-John Vassar-1879

VASSAR, FETTERMAN, WIDDOWFIELD

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 9/7/2019 at 16:59:04

Daily Nonpareil, Wednesday, Jan 15, 1879, Council Bluffs, IA, Page: 4

The name of the prisoner taken through Council Bluffs on Sunday enroute west was John Vassar. It said that he is the murderer of three persons besides being a stage and train robber. His capture was effected at Maquoketa, Iowa. His relatives, who live in Dakota, are said to be highly respectful and influential people. He is a desperado of the worst kind. He killed a Negro at Ft. Fetterman “just for the fun of the thing.” At another time he lent his horse to a train robber, who gambled it away, and Vassar demanded the horse of the winner, who refused to give it up, thereupon Vassar shot and killed him. The third man whom he killed was also a road agent, with whom he had a quarrel. It is not thought that Vassar had anything to do with the murder of Widdowfield and Vincent, at Elk Mountain.