John Stough (ca. 1842-1878)

STOUGH, DAKIN, FERGUSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 2/28/2012 at 23:18:49

From Nevada Representative April 3, 1878

MURDER.

John Stough, Postmaster at Minerva, Marshall County, the Victim, and his Brother-in-law, John N. Dankin, the Supposed Murderer.

The following from the State Center Enterprise extra, gives the full particulars:
"To begin at the beginning, John Stough had rented his farm, and was shortly to move to Sioux county. Having given possession of his own house, he with his family were spending amoung the neighbors the few days they sepected to remain here. On the 27th day of March they were at John N. Dankin's, and purposed remaining there that night. Between 7 and 8 o'clock in the evening John Stough left Dakin's house to go to Michael Keoppel's, a distance of about a half a mile, on a business errand, expecting to return in a short time. But he returned not alive, and when he passed out into the darkness he was seen no more alive by any person save the man who murdered him. About 8 o'clock Michael Koeppel and his wife sitting in their home, heard a shot and a scream. Mrs. Koeppel stepped outside the door to listen, but nothing more was heard, and nothing further was thought about it. But then, without doubt the awful tragedy was enacted.

The place of the murder is in a ravine or depression of the ground in a field bout half-way between the houses of John N. Dakin and Michael Keoppel. The ground showed evidence of a severe struggle. Stough's hat and pipe were found on th ground. The body was dragged some two rods and under a fence, where it was first discovered Thursday morning by two men who have rented Stough's farm. These men brought the news to this place, and Wm. Ingledue, a Justice of the Peace of Minerva township, was also sent for."

Upon his arrival he proceeded to empannel a jury and hold an inquest, Messrs. C. Wright, L. Blackburn and E. McDaniel were sworn as jurors who after listening to the evidence, find that Mr. Stough came to his death by a gun shot wound on the left side of the backbone, above the waist and below the shoulder blade, and that there was some evidence that one John N. Dankin might have known something about the tragedy.

"Early in the investigation the suspicion pointed strongly toward John N. Dakin as the perpetrator of the horrible crime, and he was placed in sharge of Officers to await the conclusion. Information was filed against Dakin with mayor Robb and a warrant for his arrest was placed in the hands of Constable Brayton.

He was brought the this place in the evening, and was arraigned before Mayor Robb, when by consent of all parties the preliminary examination was set for Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. The evidence against him is purely circumstantial, and with all the inquiries we have made we have found nothing that seems to clearly lead to a motive for the killing. The main links in the chain of circumstances against him may be summed up as follows: His leaving the house so near the time that Stough did; the tracks, and his talk and actions afterwards up to the time of his arrival here as prisoner. But however strong circumstances may appear against him the law presumes him innocent until he is proven guilty, and while no effort should be spared to bring out all the facts to the end that outraged justice may be satisfied, the accused have every consistent opportunity afforded him to establish his innocence. His case is in the hands of Jas. Allison, while W. H. Hammond and A. P. Lowery have charge of the prosecution."

The same extra further states that "It appears that the inquest sonducted by Justice Ingledue was illegal, from the fact that the County Coroner had not been notified, and the law permits a Justice to act as Coroner only when that officer cannot attend. Coroner L. E. B. Holt learned of the affair in some way Friday, and in the afternoon arrived here and announced his intention of disintering the body of John Stough and holding a post mortem examination and inquest. He did so, the inquest being held that same night. C. Wright, T. Blackburn and E. McDaniel were again sworn as jurors. The substance of the testimony taken is about the same as is outlined above. In addition to her testimony the day before, Mrs. Stough testified that there was jealousy between her husband and Dakin; Stough had often told her he thought she thought too mush of Dankin; they had had some words about it. Michael Keoppel also testified as to the jealous feeling, learning of it from Stough. Dr. L. S. Hall testified that the gun-shot wound would have produced death in from half an hour to an hour, possibly sooner; but death was hurried by stangulation. The verdict returned by the jury was about the same again as the former, save that it pointed much stronger toward John N. Dakin as the possible murderer.

In the neighborhood of the murder a theory has been worked out for a motive to the commission of the cirme by Dakin. It seems that there is a suit pending in the Story county court, brought by John N. Dakin against a man named Young for malicious prosecution, in which damages are claimed in the amount of $5,000. John Stough was a principal witness against Dakin, and it is said his testimony would be damaging to him.

We have some additional particulars in reference to the deceased, that may be of interest. John K. Stough was born in Logan county, Ohio in 1845. Came to Marshall county with his father and mother in -- since which time he has lived here. Enlisted in Company B, 11th regiment Iowa infantry, 1861, at Marshalltown. After some service was discharged on account of disability caused by the loss of use of the left arm. Was married to Delia Ferguson Oct. 23, 1864 and had two children, a girl 12 years old and a boy 4 years old. Was insured by Equitable Life Insurance Company for $1000.

The case was called for the preliminary examination at 10 o'clock, ---day morning when the defendant waived examination and he was admitted to jail without the priviledge of bail.