Iowa
Old Press
Maquoketa Sentinel
Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa
August 28, 1856
FATAL AFFRAY NEAR LAMOTTE
Two foreigners residing near LaMotte, got into an altercation
about cutting sheaf bands, on Saturday last. It appears that an
Irishman, who had employed the thrashers, had also employed a
young man, a Dutchman, to cut the bands. As is usual in
thrashing, after the run was through, a few minutes was taken to
rest. While resting the Dutchman was requested to lay up a few
rails, but refused on the ground that he had a short respite, and
if he, the Irishman, was not satisfied with his work to say so.
The Irishman then told him to give him the knife, which the
Dutchman did. The Irishment then told him to keep quiet or he
would “wring his nose.” The Dutchman told him he had
better try it whereabouts the Irishman struck him a blow in the
forehead with the handle of the knife, staggering him back a few
paces, and before he had time to recover plunged the knife deep
into the breast of the unfortunate Dutchman, penetrating his
heart, and killing him instantly.
The above particulars, we gathered hastily from one that was
passing through LaMotte. It may vary a little from the exact
circumstances of the affray, but in the main, we are inclined to
believe that it is correct.
[transcribed by K.W., May 2009]