Person:John Ecker (9)

John C. Ecker. brother-in-law of M. Hehenberger, was murdered Friday (16 Sep 1887) near southern city limits of Jonesboro, aged about 30 years. He left a wife, four children, several sisters, and an aged father.

BRUTAL MURDER
The Crime Committed in Broad Daylight.
THE VICTIM ROBBED
The Boldest Murder that Ever Occurred in the County

Friday morning the name of John C. Ecker was called by Sheriff Rich, he being on
the regular panel of the petit-jury at this term of the circuit court. Failing to answer it was supposed that he was sick or that sickness in his family had detained him. After some hours it was found out that he had started to Jonesboro to attend the court, but did not get there. Search was made Friday by many of his neighbors but he could not be found.

Saturday morning the same parties increased in number began the search more carefully, having found out that he was last seen walking up the railroad track about a half mile south of Jonesboro, Friday morning.

The search was continued closely along the track next morning where he was last seen.

Ernest Kollehner, one of the number assisting in the search, found him lying near the track not far below the southern boundary line of the city limits, dead. It was at first supposed that he had taken sick and sat down there thinking he would get better after a while The body was not disturbed by anyone. A piece of paper was found lying on him which had his name and a few figures written on it, a pipe, half package of smoking tobacco and a lead pencil. The writing was compared with his and many believed it his. He had stopped all night Thursday with his brother-in-law, Mr. M. Hehenberger, two miles south of Jonesboro. He was met by Samuel W. Cook at the R. R. crossing next morning about 6 o’clock near Mrs. Peisel’s farm, then had his watch chain. When found had 28 cents in money with him. It is supposed that he met with two suspicious looking characters that Mr. Jno. M. Grieb and wife saw going down the road Friday morning, and was murdered and robbed by them, as a bullet hole was found near the stomach ranging downward and the watch and chain was not with him.

He evidently had a struggle as several scratches and bruises were found on his hands and face.

Coroner Eddleman was immediately notified and summoned the following persons to act as a jury: Marshall Culp, foreman; Winstead Walton, William Weiss, Fred Hoover, Joseph Ransmeier and Moses Knupp. After taking a large amount of testimony the jury rendered a verdict that John C. Ecker came to his death by a pistol shot, in the hands of someone unknown to the jury. The body was removed to the residence of John M. Grieb where it was prepared and laid in the coffin. Deceased was a well respected citizen about 30 years old, married.

Farmer by occupation. He leaves a wife, four children and a father too old to work, who depended on his only son to run his farm and take care of him and several sisters. His remains were taken to the residence of his brother-in-law, Mr. M. Hehenberger, two miles south of the town, and were interred on Saturday.

Sheriff Rich and a posse started out on Saturday evening and went as far as Cape
Girardeau endeavoring to strike the trail of the fugitives, but were unsuccessful and returned Monday. The desperadoes had a good start, about 24 hours, and there is no clew as to the direction they took. The chances are that the villains will never be brought to punishment for this crime, which is a great pity, as not telling who will be their next victim for the sake of the few dollars he might have on his person. Human life is safe nowhere as long as such villains go unhung.

Parties west of the town, it is reported saw two men running over the hills making their way in the direction of the river. It is very probable that they got across the river into Missouri before sundown of the day they committed the crime. Unfortunately no minute description can be given of the men, but they are both thought to be small, one of a sandy complexion, the other darker. And this description, by-the-way, tallies with that of two men who worked for Ecker and a neighbor about a month last summer. The men were hired to work by the month, but on settling they demanded extra pay for harvesting, and were tendered a dollar each.

They were heard to make some threatening remarks, and while it is hardly probable that they returned to execute them, they may have been tramping along and meeting Ecker alone proceeded to work their revenge.

The watch that was taken from the murdered man was an open faced silver one, key winder, Elgin movement, five ounce case; dial broken in shape of diamond at second hand and repaired.

The murder of John Ecker, on Friday of last week, within a mile of the Court House, in the city, on a public highway, in broad day light, is the boldest crime ever committed in the county. Public safety demands that the and acions villians, who did this work, be hunted down. No expense should be spared to accomplish this object.

$700 REWARD !
Bills are out announcing a reward of $700 for the capture and conviction of the murderers of John C. Ecker. The supposed parties are described as being one of them 5 feet 10 or 11 inches high, very slender, Roman nose, sandy hair and complection, thin light beard; the other 5 feet 6 or 8 inches high, heavy set, round smooth face, dark complection, short dark hair. Both were
young men.

Sheriff Wells of Jackson county arrested two men at Murphysboro on suspicion of being the Ecker murderers and they were brought here on Friday. Mr. J. M. Grieb and the Atwood boy think that one of them answers to the appearance of the man seen by them on the day of the tragedy. They will if the evidence is sufficient, be held for trial.

There was a large attendance at Esq. Daniel Hileman’s court on Wednesday to hear the examination of the young men who were arrested at Murphysboro under suspicion of being the murderers of John C. Ecker. The men gave their names as Little and Dillon. Little is from Sparta, where he is well
connected. At an early stage in the trial it was apparent that the evidence against the two
was very thin, and the case was dismissed.