Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013,
                           All Rights Reserved
                          U.S. Data Repository

    Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page:
                <http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>

Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
=========================================================================
U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization.
Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain
the consent of the transcriber prior to use.
Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so.
=========================================================================
Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
===========================================================================
History of Cass County, Iowa
Continental Historical Co.,
Springfield, Ill: 1884


  -280-
                              CHAPTER VI
          REMINISCENSES, INCIDENTS AND PERSONAL RECOLLECTONS

                            THE COFFIN CASE

        About the first day of January, 1873, MARY R. COFFIN, wife of ELI
     T. COFFIN, died.  Her husband, being a peculiar man, had refused to
     call a physician —attending her himself. After her death, suspicion
     being aroused that all was not right. Justice H. T. SHARP, was called
     to act as coroner, and hold an inquest. This he did, summoning a jury
     consisting of L. C. BISHOP, T. P. BRUINGTON and J. B. ALLMAN.  A
     post mortem examination was made by Drs O. B. THOMPSON, N. RICHARDS
     and J. H. BARNWELL on January 14, 1873.  While the coroner's inquest
     was in progress, Mr. COFFIN was arrested on charge of insanity, but
     the insane commissioners pronounced him sane and discharged him.
     The coroner's jury returned a verdict implicating Mr. COFFIN, for the
     reason that he had not taken proper care of his wife in the cold
     weather, and had not called physician until too late for a physician
     be of service. Mr. COFFIN was therefore arrested on the charge of
     causing his wife's death, and was held to appear before Esquire SHARP,
     in bail of $800. The preliminary examination was set for January
     27, 1873. The defendant was represented by Messrs. C. F. LOOFBOUROW
     and L. L. DeLANO, while Messrs. BROWN and CHURCHILL appeared for the
     State. On January 27th another continuance was granted until February
     3d. The preliminary examination was never had.  On Saturday night,
     February 1, 1873, COFFIN was murdered and his body was found on Sun-
     day afternoon, February 2d, hanging by a rope under the bridge that
     spans Turkey Creek, five miles south of Allantic.  A pistol-ball was
     found in his head, indicating that he was dead before he was placed
     under the bridge.  An inquest was held on the body, and much evidence
     taken. The verdict was to the effect that the deceased came to his
     death in a manner to the jury unknown.  No one was ever tried or con-
     victed of the murder.  The case attracted much attention at the time,
     and was a sad one in all respects.  Mr. COFFIN was a man possessed of
     considerable property.

===========================================================================