The first hanging in Vigo Co occurred on July 5, 1844, at the foot of
Strawberry Hill. A man named Dyas had brutally murdered George Brock, an
Illinois drover and cattle buyer, in Nevins township, this county, in the
fall of 1843. This was the first death penalty ever inflicted in this
county, and being public the place of execution was adapted, like a gret
natural amphitheater for the grewsome show. The crowd that gathered to make
a holiday of it was estimated at thousands who came from all the surrounding
country-even some considerable distance into Illinois-many coming a distance
of fity miles or even more. It was a memorable day, a possibly Dyas never
realized that he was of any importance in this world until the day of his
exit out of it. The man rode from the jail, on the corner of Third and Ohio
streets, to the gallows, seated on his coffin, which was placed in an open
two-horse wagon. He was dressed in his white shroud, and he headed the great
procession to where the performance took place.
William Ray was sheriff and Marvin M Hickox was his deputy, who fixed the
rope around the man's neck while the sheriff sprung the trap. In adjusting
the rope the knot slipped, and instead of breaking the man's neck, he was
strangled to death.
As stated the murder was committed in Nevins township, and was unprovoked
and brutal. The scene of the crime was the cabin of a notorious old woman,
Mrs Brady, with whom lived a dauther as disreputable as herself. She lived
near the old Brooks' mill on Otter creek, 3/4 of a mile west of the station
formerly known as Milton, on the Indpls & St Louis RR, about a mile north of
the present station of Grant where the Chicago & Eastern Illinois coal
branch crosses the Indpls & St Louis RR.
The place was then sparsely settled and the old woman kept whiskey to sell,
and here the hard characters met and danced and caroused on many occasions.
It was a low resort, and among those most welcome to the place was Henry
Dyas, who had a family but was at the old woman's cabin frequently, and
stood well in her and her daughter's favor.
One Saturday evening in Oct 1843, the woman quarreled with George Brock, who
had been stopping at the house about a whisky bill she had presented. She
used violent language and it was said, threatened his life. The next morning
(Sunday) Brock saddled his horse preparatory to leaving for his home, and
returned to the house to bid the occupants good-bye. This cost him his life,
for while seated before the fire conversing with Alexander Mars, Dyas
entered the door and before Brock was aware of his presence, Dyas struck him
in the back of the head with the blade of an ax he carried in his hand. Mars
who had noticed the murderer enter, but not suspecting his intention, when
he saw the ftal blow fled predipitately in great alarm for his own safety.
When Brock's body was found, it was discovered that he had been struck three
times with the ax, one lbow severing the spinal column. Either of the blows
would have produced death.
Dyas fled to the woods, and Mrs Brady gave the alarm and soon people began
assembling. As Mars fled from the house, he had been stopped by the old
woman, she explained he need have no fear, that no harm was intended him,
but this did not quiet him, and he concealed himself in a hollow tree. From
his hiding place he saw the woman emerge from the house and going to the
corner of a ril fence, change the dress which she wore, and which was
covered with blood, for a clean one. She then gave the alarm. Dyas concealed
himself in the woods, but a guard was placed around his house and during the
night he was captured as he attempted to enter.
This crime was a year's excitement to the whole surrounding country, and you
may now chance hear some man whose head is whitening with the fleeting
years, tell that he "saw Dyas hung," and remembers it although a child in
his mother's arms. Many people reckoned things from the day that "Dyas was
hung."
Mars-"old Alec" lived many years near old Fort Harrison, and except in his
cups he was loth in after life to tell again the story of the horrid murder,
where upon his testimony a wretch was executed. He was a little dried up old
man, one of that kind, as he was often seen on the streets, that would cause
the boys to gather about and sometimes jeer at him.
Asa Fenton was one of the witnesses in the case. He became insane during the
progress of the trial and remained so till his death some years after. The
conviction of Dyas occurred in the Vigo Circuit court June 4 1844.
Old Mrs Brady and daughter it was believed had hired Dyas to do the bloody
deed. They left the State soon after, or about the time of the execution,
and the rumors came back that she had been mobbed and killed (hanged) in a
Southern State.
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Anyone know where "Strawberry Hill" is?
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/9467/