Laura Jane Harvey Murder: Part One

 Tuesday, March 27 thru Thursday, March 29, 1860

The pea green wagon with red running gears pulled by two horses entered the east end of town on the main road. It was pulled by a dark bay with one hind foot that was white and a dark brown with pointed ears. Tied to the back was a third horse, a heavy set, brown bay with harness marks etched into its hide. Riding on the wagon seat were three people. The first was a slim built short man who had a several days black stubble of a beard and wearing light gray clothing. The other was a heavy chested man with brown hair, a ruddy red face, black clothes, and a low crowned silk hat. Between the two men sat a young girl of about 15 years of age, light skinned and with shoulder length auburn hair, blue eyes. She was wearing a dark red plaid dress, trimmed with braid around the next and sleeves.

The trio checked into the Jefferson House and lodged their horses at Blodget's Livery Stable. When registering for the night, the thin short man claimed the woman as his sister and requested a room with two beds in it but it couldn't be accommodated so they were assigned to a lounge instead so they could be together. As he was counting the money, he was overheard telling the woman that she had better not grumble anymore. 

The following morning, the three were seen around town at various places of business. At the Clifton & Aikin shop, all three horses were reshod. At William Ligin's saloon, the short slim man was seen getting a shave and a haircut. At Taylor's drug store, they requested for two back weeks of the Rockford Daily News and the Rockford Daily Register from March 19th through March 30th to have forwarded onto Eddyville. When Taylor asked for the name to forward them to, there was a hesitation but eventually the name William Moore was given. They gave Taylor a $10 bill to pay for the papers from which he deducted what was owed and returned the change. Other people who came across the trio would later report they talked about finding a farm to rent or a business to buy somewhere around here.

When afternoon arrived, the three collected their horses and wagon and set off west out of town in the direction of Eddyville. They arrived later that evening at the Barnes' House and again, the slim short man tried to rent a room for himself and his sister but such a room was again, not available. They stayed for supper and then the slim short man and his sister walked over to the nearby Slemmon's House where they procured a room there and left the heavy chested man back at the Barnes House with the horse team and wagon. 

Lodgers at the Slemmon's house sensed that all was not happy for the man and his sister. Many would indicate later that she had been stolen and that she wished to be returned back to her mother or that she might kill herself. There was also more talk of them going to see a farm the following day on the other side of the river.

Thursday morning, the left Eddyville and crossed south on the bridge over the Des Moines river and headed in the direction of Chillicothe. Indeed, others would come forth to say they had seen them on the Chillicothe road riding in their green wagon pulled by two of the horses and the third tied and following behind.

Back in Ottumwa, ferryman John Prosser, Mr. Barnes and two others, were heading home from a night in town at 11 o'clock that Thursday night. They had just crossed the river and were about 20 rods down the road towards Prosser's house when a wagon drawn by two horses and a third tied behind it passed by rapidly heading towards the ferry with two men in the seat. As the wagon passed by Prosser shouted out asking the driver if they needed the ferry but received no answer. So Prosser and company proceeded the remaining 20 rods to his house where he sent his son back to the river to run the boat over if necessary.

When the boy arrived at the river, he saw the wagon already out in the stream and both men were leaning over the downstream side of the wagon looking into the water as if they had just thrown something into it. Since they were already part way across the ford, the boy assumed the boat was unneeded and returned home to his family and they all proceeded to make ready for bed. About an hour later, a wagon was heard heading back along the road.