Adam Vance, the son of Emanuel and Mary Vance, was born April 4, 1855 near Astoria, Fulton County, Illinois. He was married to Miss Elizabeth English, October 14, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Vance were the parents of five children, three boys and two girls. The children are all living. Harry and Charles are still single and live at the parental home near Bluff City, Illinois. Fred is married and lives on a farm near his old home. Mrs. Nellie Moose lives at Sciota, Illinois. Mrs. Dollie Curless lives on the farm just across the road from the Vance homestead.
Mr. Vance also leaves two brothers and a sister, namely: Wm. Vance, Canton, Illinois; Eli Vance, Sheldon’s Grove, Illinois; and Mrs. Mary Heffner, Fowler, California. Mrs. Vance, the wife of the deceased, is the daughter of Mrs. Christina English, of this city. She is the sister of the Misses Nannie and Della, and the Messrs William and Carl English, all of Astoria.
The deceased spent his entire life in and around Astoria, excepting one year which was spent in Texas.
He was one of the community’s best citizens. Not only law-abiding man, but kind hearted and true. His purpose in life was to help and not to injure. As a husband and father, he was obliging frank and fair with all. But with all of the qualities of a most peaceful citizen, his life was taken from him by the hand of a murderer. On the 14th day of this month, without seeming provocation, he was shot to death by Jackson Horton, a neighbor. The murder took place near the residence of the murderer. At the time of his death, Mr. Vance was 55 years, 6 months, and 10 days of age.
Because of the taking away of this man, in the prime of life, in such a sudden and horrible manner, gloom has settled down over the entire community, and grief has entered into the lives of family and friends.
Mr. Vance and family had held a public sale of their household goods and other personal effects preparatory to moving to Springfield in a few days; therefore, the body was brought to the home of Mrs. Christina English, of this city and prepared for burial. The funeral took place Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Astoria Christian Church. The services were conducted by Rev. C. M. Wilson, assisted by Rev. U. G. Hall and I. S. Baumann. Interment in the Astoria cemetery.
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This community is terribly wrought up over what is deemed to be one of the most dastardly, cold-blooded, heartless, tragedies that has ever been perpetrated in Fulton county in recent years.
On Friday forenoon at about 8 o’clock, Jack Horton, better known as “Black” Jack, deliberately, and according to the evidence educed at the coroner’s inquest, without any provocations whatever, shot and instantly killed Adam Vance, a respected farmer of Woodland township.
The shooting took place in the public highway at the home of Mr. Horton, who is also a farmer and resides in Woodland township. There is but one competant witness to the tragedy Charles Vance, a son of Mr. Vance. Besides Mr. Vance’s son, there was his son-in-law’s child four years of age, with them.
According to the evidence at the coroner’s inquest, Mr. Vance put in some corn on Mr. Horton’s land and in the corn planted some pumpkins. On Oct. 6 Mr. Vance held a public sale of his personal property, intending to move to Springfield within a few days. On the day of the sale Mr. Horton bought Mr. Vance’s share of the corn. On the same day Mrs. Vance spoke to Mr. Horton about getting a few of the pumpkins, but it seems that he was not particular whether they got any or not and according to Mrs. Vance’s testimony departed without stating whether or not she could get any. While it is stated by others who overheard the conversation that Mr. Horton said for them, (Vances) to come down and they would divide them up. However, on Friday of last week Mr. Vance, accompanied by his son and the small child of his son-in-law, went to Mr. Horton’s home, which is but a short distance, to see about getting some of the pumpkins. On arriving at the home of Mr. Horton, Charles was left to hold the team, while Mr. Vance went to the house, which is between two and three hundred yards from the road, to see Mr. Horton regarding the matter. Mr. Horton and Mr. Vance walked together from the house to the road and seemed to be having a heated argument over the pumpkins. Finally Mr. Vance turned to get into the wagon, with his right foot upon the hand hold of the spring seat, the hub of the wagon and his right pointed the finger of his left hand at Mr. Horton, who was about a step away, saying: “Mr. Horton we will just let the law settle it.” Whereupon, without a word, Mr. Horton drew a revolver from his pocket and fired at Mr. Vance killing him almost instantly. Mr Vance walked across the road to the fence, turning around he said to his son, “Charles he has killed me.” Coolly Mr. Horton turn, and at once started for the house, whereupon Charles says, “Mr. Horton have you got nerve enough to help me put father in the wagon!” Mr. Horton continued towards the house without making any reply.
Charles went to his father, but by the time he had reached his side, he was dead. The son turned the team around and drove the wagon up close to where his father lay, and with a desperate effort managed to put the body of his father in the wagon and he and the little child drove home to impart the sad news to his mother and brothers and sisters.
The news of the tragic occurrence was telephoned to Astoria, where Sheriff Basel happened to be, superintending the work of remodeling his residence. Mr. Basel started at once for the scene of the trouble in his automobile,accompanied by Constable Darrah Waggoner, Fred Bader and A. N. Price. The sheriff and his party were warned to be careful as Mr. Horton is generally thought to be a bad man. When the auto pulled up to the house things did really appear dangerous, owing to Mrs. Horton’s actions, and it is a great wonder that the grain-dealer, Mr. Bader, and the editor, didn’t take to the tall timber in an opposite direction from that taken by Mrs. Horton, where the surroundings would appear more comfortable. When the sheriff and his party arrived, Mrs. Horton sprang out of the house, motioning, as if giving warning of approaching danger, and at the same time fled up a hollow at the rear of the house. Her actions were not understood. Later it was learned that Mrs. Horton did not want to be in the house at the time the arrest was made fearing there would be trouble. Presently Mr. Horton appeared at the door with a razor in his hand. The sheriff and his party entered the house and he (Horton) told them that he was getting ready to shave. The sheriff talked him out of the notion of shaving himself but have it done in town, which he readily consented to do. In the mean time the sheriff secured the razor. While Mr. Horton was changing clothes he was asked what he shot Mr. Vance with and he stated “a revolver.” He was asked where the weapon was, upon stating, he (Mr. Horton) asked if the officers wanted it. He was told that it was wanted, whereupon, he went and got it and handed it over. He was asked how many times he shot Mr. Vance to which he replied, “That will tell the tale,” meaning the pistol. He said “I beat Vance to it,” acknowledging that he killed him. He made the statement that Mr. Vance had a corn knife, but the allegation is not credited by the witness, who testified at the inquest Mr. Horton was taken to Astoria and on the afternoon train was taken to Lewistown by Constable Darrah Waggoner and placed in the county jail.
During the entire time the sheriff and his party were in the house and on their way to town, Mr. Horton, seemed to be in a good humor.
When asked if he wish to attend the inquest to testify in his behalf, he declined, saying he wanted to go to jail as quick as possible.
Coroner Zeigler of Canton, was notified and came to Astoria on the noon train and was conveyed to the Vance home, where an inquest was held by a jury composed of U. G. Butcher, J. B. Snedeker, A. N. Price, F. A. Cooper, Fred Bader, and A. J. Baxter. In connection with the inquest an autopsy was held.
State’s Attorney W. S. Jewell was present and conducted the examination.
Witnesses were examined and testified as follows:
Charles Vance, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Vance, testified that he resided at home and that he was with his father at the time he was killed; which happened at about 8 o’clock, on the public highway about two hundred yards from Jack Horton’s home. Besides myself my sister’s child aged about 4 years, was with me. My father drove to Mr. Horton’s with the intention of getting pumpkins, the pumpkins we raised on Mr. Horton’s land. My father had rented the ground. My father got out of the wagon and walked to the home of Mr. Horton. Mr. Horton came out of the house and walked to the road where the team was, with my father. Mr. Horton said, “You can’t get a d — — one of those pumpkins. You stay clear out of the field.” Father said, “We will see about that.” I told father not to have any trouble. We did not attempt to go in the field. With one foot on the wagon hub and one hand on the spring seat, in an effort to get into the wagon, father turned and pointing his finger at Mr. Horton said: “We will just let the law settle it.”
Mr. Horton, who was within reach of father and without saying a word, pulled a gun from his pocket and shot him. He held the pistol with both hands. He fired but one shot, after which he turned and walked towards the house. I said, “Mr. Horton, have you got nerve enough to help me put father in the wagon?’ He made me no answer. Father had in a stooping manner walked to the fence on the opposite side of the road, facing me he said, “Chas, he has killed me.” I loaded father in the wagon and drove away. My sister’s child was with me at the time. Father never had anything in his hand. No one had a corn knife. There was none with us. Nothing in the wagon excepting a piece of carpet. Father might have had a pocket knife. Father and Mr. Horton never had any trouble before.
Fred Vance, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Vance testified that he lived at home. I know Jack Horton, but know nothing about the shooting; I didn’t know there was any trouble about pumpkins. So far as I knew there were no hard feelings between father and Mr. Horton. I was not at home when father was brought home. The day before the sale Mr. Horton was at our house and he explained how he could kill a man without taking a gun out of his pocket. Father was not present at the time. He (Mr. Horton) told us boys. I don’t know whether he had a gun at the time or not. It is generally thought that Mr. Horton always carried a gun. On that day he seemed to be in a good humor.
Sheriff Basel testified. I made the arrest of Jack Horton, about 11 o’clock at his home. I procured a revolver from him. Mr. Waggoner asked him how many times he shot. He said, “Revolver would tell.” I examined revolver and found one chamber empty. There were five shells in the pistol. He said he shot Vance. Saying he was a little too quick for him. “I beat him to it.” He said Vance had a corn knife. He made no further explanation. He said he was a good shot on skunks and rabbits. Did not seem to take the matter seriously. He asked if he was dead, but was not told.
Harry Vance, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Vance next testified that he also lived at home. I was at home when father and Charles went to Jack Horton’s; I saw wagon but did not look inside; I don’t think they had a corn knife; I was at home when they returned; looked in wagon but saw nothing but a piece of carpet; I was at home all day of the sale; as to the division of pumpkins mother said, she wanted part of them. Mr. Horton said come down and get some. Father said all right. I never heard Horton say he was not willing. I never had any knowledge of any ill feeling between them. They had a few words about some oats, but the matter was fixed up satisfactory; I never heard him make any threats against father.
Robert Skiles testified that he was acquainted with Jack Horton; was at my house a week ago stayed all day; did not make any statement about Mr. Vance. Concerning the corn I asked if he had bought it and he replied he intended to if they could get together. Did not indicate there was any trouble between them. Last summer he made a statement if any one fooled with him he would exchange lives with them. That was before Vance had business dealings with him. Never heard him make any threats against Vance.
Thadus Curless testified that he was a son-in-law of Adam Vance. Concerning the division of pumpkins I heard Mr. Horton say on day of sale to Mrs. Vance to come down and they would divide them. Mr. Horton acted like he was in a good humor. They were on good terms all summer. I thought he was in the habit of carrying a gun. He has the reputation of being a violent man. I was not surprised when I heard he had killed Mr. Vance. Never knew they had any trouble.
An autopsy was held. It was found that the bullet, which was from a 32 caliber revolver, had entered the left breast from the side, piercing the heart, passing through the lung, striking the wall of the body between the ribs on the right side and rebounding into the chest cavity, where it was found.
The verdict returned by the coroner’s jury, is to the effect that Adam Vance “came to his death from a gunshot wound thru the heart and lungs, gun held in the hands of Jack Horton, on the fourteenth day of October, 1910, at about 8 o’clock a.m., in Woodland township, Fulton county, Ill.
“We further find the shooting of Adam Vance was wilful and feloniously done by said Jack Horton, and we recommend that the said Jack Horton be held without bail to await the action of the grand jury of Fulton county, to answer to the people of the state of Illinois on the charge of murder.”
Mr. Horton has always had the reputation of being a dangerous man, and the people of the community in which he lived, feared him. He is almost 75 years of age and according to information has not been in the best of health for sometime past. Why a person in declining years when the sands of life are running low, would be guilty of such a terrible deed, is a question that is unanswerable. He is an old man and is living the years when he no longer looks forward with hope and joy in anticipation of the accomplishments of his purpose in life. Soon his candle will go out and forever, and as unfortunate as he is in life, the Great Leveler will, when he sleeps in death, cause wild flowers to grow above his grave, and nod their sweet fragrance to mellow the breeze with gladness, though he has erred and has lived an unrighteous life. He is now unfortunate and in trouble — that’s all.
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