Saturday, October 20, 2018

A Most Horrible Affair.


A report from Vicksburg, Mississippi stated that William Montgomery, a citizen of Harrison County, Indiana, was murdered in Vicksburg around the first of August, 1867. His body was found in the Yazoo River, with a grindstone tied to his stomach, apparently in a failed attempt to keep him from floating to the surface. Montgomery’s throat had been cut and his head was hewn to pieces with a hatchet.


Montgomery had been in Vicksburg on business and had died leaving a large amount of valuable timber floating in the Yazoo. At the time of the murder, he was known to be carrying $1,500 in United States bonds and $800 in cash. Robbery was believed to be the motive, beyond that the details of the crime were not disclosed.

Several suspects were arrested in Vicksburg, including a Mr. Rickerly, Montgomery’s business partner. Witnesses were also placed in jail to secure their attendance at the trial. However, it does not appear that anyone was ever tried for the crime.

Sources: 
“A Most Horrible Affair,” National Police Gazette, September 21, 1867.
“Murder of a Citizen of Harrison County,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, September 7, 1867.
“Murder of a Citizen of Harrison County, Indiana, at Vicksburg,” The Courier-Journal, September 5, 1867.

2 comments :

Unknown says:
October 25, 2018 at 12:04 PM

Harrison County, Indiana is about 40 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky...and is the location of Corydon, Indiana...the states first capital city, before moving to Indianapolis. The Ohio river divides the states of Indiana and Kentucky...wondering if Mr. Montgomery had lumber being shipped down from Indiana or up to it via the river systems? Also wondering if his body was sent back to Indiana, or buried in Mississippi? My guess is we will never know...just one of the innumerable mysteries this website presents.

Patty B. Wright says:
April 27, 2019 at 11:35 PM

This is really horrible that, Montgomery's throat had been cut and his head was cut to pieces with a hatchet. See more info here Harrison County Inmate Listings. Montgomery had been in Vicksburg on business and had kicked the bucket leaving a lot of profitable timber gliding in the Yazoo.

Post a Comment