Crime News - McLean County Illinois Genealogy & History

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Crime News
McLean County, Illinois
(surnames involved listed at the beginning of each article)

1850

Funk
Mr. Funk, a cattle dealer, in McLean County, Illinois, on the 9th instant, left home, with his son, taking a considerable amount of money, to buy cattle for the Chicago market. He was overtaken and attacked by three men. He shot one dead; and wounded another. The third fired and killed him. His son, who had been detained on the road, arrived soon after the death of his father, and had a confession from the wounded robber, of the whole affair. The son killed him immediately afterwards, and started in quest of the third robber and murderer.
[1850 Dec 25 - Wisconsin Free Democrat]

1867

Hurt
A case of poising occurred in Martin township, McLean County, Illinois, Friday last, resulting in the death of three children of Mr. Hurt. Four other children, poisoned at the same time, were living at last accounts. Suspicion rests upon a married daughter of Mr. Hurt and a brother of her husband, who are under arrest.
[1867 Aug 18 - Memphis Daily Avalanche]

1874

Dunlap, Roach, Wilcox
Murderous Fight - (Special Telegram) - Bloomington, Ill., Oct. 10. -- The particulars of a bloody quarrel, resulting in the instant death of one man, and the wounding in a very serious manner of two others, have arrived here to-day from Ellsworth station, on the Lafayette road, in Padua township, McLean County, 10 miles east of Bloomington. The melee occurred early this morning, on a 30-acre timber lot owned by Robert Nichols, and located one mile south of Ellsworth. At that point there is a spring which has been known as Deer Lick, and which furnishes a never-failing supply of water. This year Nichols gave permission to John and Patrick Roach to deepen the spring, which had become filled up, in consideration of giving them access to the spring. Calvin Dunlap, who lives in that vicinity and owns a large farm, has also claimed the right to get water there, but has been ordered off by the Roaches. This morning Dunlap’s son Byron, a young man aged 22, accompanied by one Theodore Wilcox, who is stopping at Dunlap’s, drove their cattle to the spring where the Roaches were. The latter ordered Dunlap away, and from rough words the four came to blows, ending in a pitched battle in which Byron Dunlap and Patrick Roach, and Wilcox and Jno. Roach were pitted against each other. In the progress of the row Dunlap hit his antagonist, Pat Roach, on the head with a club, fracturing his skull. Jno. Roach knocked Wilcox down, and commenced punching him, when Wilcox cried “enough,” and Roach let him up. Then, according to Roach’s testimony, he ran away, and was pursued by Dunlap with the club, and by Wilcox with a stone. Seeing they would catch him, he halted and drew a pocket-knife. Wilcox threw the stone at close range, but it was warded off by Roach, who plunged his knife into Wilcox’s side, inflicting a very dangerous but probably not fatal wound. At that moment Dunlap struck at Roach with his club, which Roach threw off with his arm. Roach then used his knife again -- this time with dreadful effect, stabbing Dunlap in the pit of the stomach, making a wound from which he died in a few seconds, after running some 200 steps. Pat Roach is in a critical condition. The Roaches and Dunlaps are all unmarried. Roach is a notorious dead-beat and scalawag generally. He has followed the circus, and never remains long in one place. John Roach is lodged in the county jail in this city.
[1874 Oct 11 - Sunday Times]

1890

Jacques, McCracken, Simmons
Considerable excitement has been occasioned in McLean County by the robbery and beating of Wolf Simmons, a Chicago peddler by Harry McCracken and P. M. Jacques, sons of prominent citizens of the county. They were arrested but subsequently escaped. Simmons' injuries are serious.
[1890 Jan 31 - Ava Advertiser]

1891

Fursman, Lederer, Loehr
Criminal Cases Dismissed - Burdens Taken from Several Law Breakers in McLean County, Illinois
BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Dec. 1. -- The State’s Attorney of McLean County to-day on his own motion dismissed a number of important criminal cases. Five of the cases were against Ignaiz Lederer, formerly collector of Bloomington township. He was indicted with his deputies, Leon L. Loehr and Harry Loehr, for forgery and falsifying public records. Lederer, the principal turned state’s evidence. Hary Loehr was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary and Leon Loehr was acquitted. The other cases were six indictments against William F. Fursman, of Pontiac, the noted forger who stole over $200,000 and is now serving a seven year sentence in the penitentiary. Fursman can now see his way clear to get out in about five years. Had he been prosecuted to the full extent for his crimes committed here and at Pontiac he would have received sentences aggregating about 200 years in the penitentiary.
[1891 Dec 02 - Inter Ocean]

1959

Colfax Couple Found Dead; Rifle Bullets Kill Harmses; Find Gun Near Bodies in Farm Home
COLFAX - Clarence T. Harms, 57, and his wife, Wanda L. Harms, 56, were found dead in their home north of Colfax about 5 p.m. Monday. Both had suffered gunshot wounds in the head. Authorities theorize that it was a case of homicide and suicide. A .22 caliber rifle was found near the bodies. The Harmses’ daughter-0in-law, Mrs. Nolan Harms of Colfax, found the two lying on the kitchen floor in their farm home when she stopped by to visit Monday evening. McLean County Coroner Joe Hallett reported that the deaths must have occurred Saturday night or early Sunday morning. He said that Mrs. Harms had visited her daughter, Mrs. Richard Gillan, in Colfax Saturday afternoon. ACTIVE IN CHURCH The Harmses lived 1-1/2 miles north of Colfax where he owned and farmed 240 acres. Mrs. Harms had furnished their home with antiques she had refinished. Both were active in affairs in the Colfax Christian Church. There was no evidence found of robbery at the Harms home. Nothing in the house had been disturbed, according to Mr. Hallett. Harold Sylvester, McLean County’s chief deputy sheriff, said it was thought that Mr. Harms had shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself. The gun was found at his feet. Authorities are continuing their investigation, however. Coroner Hallett said he would hold an inquest. The date has not been set. PRIVATE RITES The deaths were investigated by Sylvester, Hallett and Deputy Sheriff Russ Fitzgerald. The Harmses were taken to the Harper Funeral Home. The funeral will be private. Burial will be in Wiley Cemetery. The Rev. Malcolm Norment will officiate. Mr. Harms was born in Colfax Oct. 13, 1901, son of Ben and Flora Reinholtz Harms. he married Wanda Hardy Dec. 19, 1923, in Bloomington. He is survived by two brothers, Julius and Henry, both of Colfax; five sister, Mrs. Mattie Williams, Colfax; Mrs. Minnie Humphrey, Colfax; Mrs. Jennie Moncelle, Fairbury; Mrs. Emma Tipsord, Saybrook; Mrs. Ella Walden, Peoria. 3 CHILDREN SURVIVE Mrs. Harms was born in Clay City June 7, 1903, daughter of John and Lucy Payne Hardy. She is survived by her parents, Mrs. and Mrs. John Hardy, Colfax; two brothers, Elmer, Colfax Kenneth, Dayton, Ohio; five sisters, Mrs. Camella Doyle, Bloomington; Mrs. Evelyn Beneke, Bloomington; Mrs. Hazel Hutson, Colfax; Mrs. June Schanf, Bensonville; Mrs. Lela Mills, Gibson City. The couple is survived by one son, Nolan Harms, Colfax; two daughters, Mrs. Donna Bethel, 713 N. Fell Ave., Normal; Mrs. Darlene Gillan, Colfax, four grandchildren. They were members of the Colfax Christian Church. The family requested that any tangible expressions of sympathy be made in the form of contributions to the Christian Church building fund.
[7 Sep 1959 - The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Illinois; (Moncelle Family Records)]

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