Murder In Creek Township
August 3, 1877
Clinton Public
Clinton, Illinois
W. W. DAVENPORT CLEAVES ELI BELL'S SKULL OPEN WITH A SCYTHE.
There must be something in the atmosphere of Creek township that makes the men belligerent. Every once in awhile we hear of a fracas over there which results in severe bodily injury to someone. It would seem as through the average Creeker is always ready to fight at the drop of a hat. This is an unfortunate state of affairs and we fear has at last terminated in the death of one man. Eli BELL is a farmer in summer and a carpenter in winter, and industriously working at both, he succeeded in making a comfortable living for his wife and five children. Some time ago he did a job of work for W. W. DAVENPORT, on which there was an unpaid balance of two dollars. Last Saturday morning W. W. Davenport was riding past Bell's house when Bell asked him for a settlement. Angry words ensued between the two men which finally resulted in Davenport striking Bell on the head with the keen edge of a scythe, which he had just sharpened. The wound is on the back part of the head and penetrated the brain. At the present writing, Bell's death is hourly expected.
It seems that no one was present when the difficulty occurred between the two men. Bell has been unable to tell his side of the story, having been unconscious since he received the fatal wound. Davenport claims that high words and unpleasant epithets were used, and that Bell struck him with a club before he used the scythe. Those who are intimate with Bell do not believe that he struck Davenport at all, as Bell is a peaceable, quiet man. It seems there have been other disputes between Davenport and Bell, and that the unfortunate collision last Saturday was the culminating point.
Davenport had a preliminary examination last Saturday before Justice RICHEY, and was bound over in the sum of $1000 for his appearance tomorrow. On Wednesday night, Marshal HENSON went over in Creek township to hear how Bell was progressing, when he heard that his death was almost momentarily expected. The marshal went to Davenport's house to re-arrest him, but Davenport had left in the afternoon. The probabilities are that he will surrender himself to the officers before tomorrow, when his examination is to take place. Davenport's relatives say that he feared bodily injury from Bell's friends, if Bell should die, therefore he left to save himself. It is an unfortunate affair all around, and should teach men to control their temper. For the paltry sum of two dollars poor Bell may probably lose his life, and his wife and children be left without the providing care and protection of husband and father. And Davenport will have the blood of Bell on his head to torture him through life.
....................
August 10, 1877
Clinton Public
Clinton, Illinois
DEATH OF ELI BELL.
In last week's PUBLIC we gave full particulars of an unfortunate affray in Creek township, in which Eli BELL was fatally wounded by W. W. DAVENPORT. Mr. Bell lived till Wednesday of this week when death finally came to his relief. The murdered man was unconscious from within fifteen minutes after receiving the fatal wound till the moment of his death. The only witness of the unfortunate affray was Grant BELL, aged eleven years, the oldest child of Mr. Bell. Davenport claims in justification of his act that Bell had assaulted him with a club and that in self-defense he struck Bell with the Scythe. Grant Bell testified at the examination yesterday before Justice RICHEY that he did not see his father strike Davenport, though he had a club raised to strike at the time Davenport cut him with the scythe. Davenport's evidence yesterday is not quite in keeping with the story he told immediately after the cutting. Drs. GARDINER and WRIGHT, the attending physicians, both testified yesterday that Bell’s death was caused by the wound. Beyond these points there was no direct evidence bearing on the case beyond hearsay. The examination occupied several hours, and at a late hour last night, Justice Richey felt that the facts in the case warranted him in holding Davenport in $5,000 bonds for his appearance at the circuit court. The bond was immediately furnished. The examination drew a large audience from Creek township.
Eli Bell had lived but a few months in Creek, having moved to there from Maroa. He lived on a forty-acre farm, rented from Mr. H. DAVENPORT. During the summer he cultivated his land, and when not so engaged filled in his time by doing jobs of carpenter work. It was on account of a balance of $2 owed to him by Davenport for work done on a barn which caused the fatal quarrel. Bell was a peaceably disposed man and was held in high esteem by his neighbors. He served during the last war as a member of the 120th Ohio Infantry, and with his regiment was on the fated gunboat in 1863 which blew up while steaming up Red River. Bell was one of the few survivors of that noted event. After the war he came to this State from Ashtabula, Ohio. At the time of his death, he was nearly thirty-nine years of age. He leaves a wife and five children in straightened circumstances.
....................
December 14, 1877
Clinton Public
Clinton, Illinois
W. W. DAVENPORT's trial, for the murder of Eli BELL, will begin next Tuesday.
....................
March 29, 1878
Clinton Public
Clinton, Illinois
W. W. DAVENPORT's case was continued.
Submitted by Judy Simpson
....................