Galesburg Republican
Saturday, August 10, 1872
(Article contributed by Todd Walter)

A MYSTERIOUS MURDER

A Lady Brutally Murdered, and the House Plundered

The people in the east part of the county are horror stricken by a brutal and mysterious murder that was enacted in the vicinity of Yates City on Monday last. It seems that on the morning of Monday, Mr. John Matthews, a respectable farmer, who resides about a mile west of Yates City, proceeded with his hired men to the neighboring farm of his father to assist in stacking oats. He left his wife attending to household duties, and when he departed, she cheerfully bade him goodbye. In life he never saw her again. On returning home, about seven o'clock in the evening, he found the house silent and deserted, and his wife was nowhere to be seen. Assisted by the farm hands, a thorough search was made, and finally the lifeless and mangled remains of Mrs. Matthews were discovered in the cellar. The dead woman presented a horrid spectacle - her head was smashed in by some blunt instrument, while her throat was cut from ear to ear. From the indications on the premises it is apparent that a struggle had taken place, and that when the murderer had accomplished his purpose, the corpse was dragged to the cellar. The only booty the brutal wretch obtained was some eighteen dollars - all the money there was in the house. A villianous looking stranger, for some days previous, had been seen loitering and prowling in the neighborhood, but the clue is so slight that it is feared the murderer can never be brought to justice. An inquest was held by coroner Kimball on Tuesday, and the jury returned a verdict that the deceased was murdered by some "unknown person". Mrs. Matthews was a most estimable lady, and her husband has the sincere sympathy of the community in his deep and bitter affliction. This is another warning against the crime and lawlessness that stalks through the land, and should teach our citizens to be on their guard and not leave their homes at the mercy of bloodthirsty wandering ruffians from the slums and purliues of the cities.

LATER - Since the above was in type, John Marion Osborn has been arrested, charged with the heinous murder. All circumstances point to him as the man who commited the brutal and sanguinary deed, and the tracks in the vicinity of the tragedy exactly correspond with his boots, while it is alleged that he was seen washing blood stains off his shirt. It required the efforts of a body of armed special constables, on Wednesday evening, to save him from the fury of the infuriated citizens who declared their intention to lynch him in a speedy and summary manner. With great difficulty he was conveyed to the county jail at Knoxville; but fearing that the wretch was unsafe even there, on Thursday morning he was taken by railroad to the Peoria county jail. This is an atrocious murder, and it is to be hoped that the perpetrator will receive the punishment due his horrible crime.

Galesburg Republican
Saturday, August 17, 1872

YATES CITY

The excitement of the horrible murder is subsiding. John M. Osborn is the possible murderer, everything points directly to him. A knife has been found near the trail of the murderer. Spots are upon the knife which resemble blood. The same knife was once the property of Osborne. Mr. J. D. Roberts, called upon the prisoner this week; Mr. R. says Osborn looks very much depressed in spirit.

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