Pvt. Sidney R. Powers
From the Database of Ill. Veterans, 1775 - 1995
L Co. 14th Ill. Cav.
Height - 5'Hair - Light
Eyes - Hazel
Complexion - Fair
Occupation - Farmer
Birth Date - About 1841
Birth Place - New York
Service Entry Age - 21 Years
Service Entry Date - Dec. 21, 1862
Service Entry Place - Elgin, Ill.
Remarks - Deserted Jan. 12, 1863
I Co. 52nd Ill. Vol. Inf.
The Lincoln Regiment
From the Adj't Gen's Report by Brig. Gen. J. N. Reece of 1900. Enlisted Jan. 25, 1864.
Mustered In Feb. 23, 1864.
Remarks - Declared AWOL June 21, 1865.
Known Actions;
Resaca, Ga. - May 13, 1864
NIckafack Creek, Ga. - July 2, 1864
Jonesboro, GA. - Aug. 31, 1864
Alatoona Pass, Ga. - Oct. 5, 1864
Decatur, Ga. - Oct. 26, 1864
Rome Cross Roads, Ga. - NOv. 10, 1864
Savanaha, Ga. - Nov. 23, 1864
Columbia, SC - NOv. 24, 1864
Bentonville, NC - March 19, 1865
Post war;
Member in good standing 52nd Ill. Veteran's Association, Sept. 1897 living in Elgin.
As recorded on the Elgin Sexton's ledger
Occupation, Retired Farmer. Died April 14, 1900 at Seneca St. Aged 56 years. Undertaker retained, Thornberg & Seidell. Physician, J. Nance Ackerman. Permit. #7777. Buried at Barrington Center, Ill.
Article; from the April 14, 1900 issue of The Elgin Daily News.
DOUBLE CRIME TODAY
Sidney Powers Murders His
Wife
AND THEN TURNS REVOLVER ON
HIMSELF
Both Die Instantly in Yard of Chris
Reichert on Seneca Street-Powers
Leaves a Letter Stating His Reasons
-Only Two Shots Fired-Deed Done
at 2:30-Inquest at 5.
-
The horrible double crime of murder and suicide was committed about 2:20 o'clock this afternoon by Sidney Powers. He shot his divorced wife and then turned the smoking weapon upon himself. Both shots resulted fatally.The murdered woman has made her home of late with here daughter, Mrs. Geo. Rutledge, at the corner of Spring and Seneca streets. Powers has boarded at the Burns hotel. They have lived separately for some time and quite lately Mrs. Powers succeeded in having half of her husband's pension assigned to her by the Washington authorities. Their domestic difficulties doubtless caused the awful deed.
Powers went to the house this afternoon soon after dinner and called his wife out. After some talk he whipped out a revolver and threatened to kill her. Mrs. Powers attempted to escape and her enraged husband pursued her. Overtaking her in Chris Reichert's yard, 216 Seneca street, he pulled the trigger. His victom fell, dying almost instantly. Powers then placed the muzzle of his weapon behind his ear and fired. He fell dead about ten feet from the body of his murdered wife.
Willie Lewis, son of A.T. Lewis, pulled the police box at the corner of Jefferson avenue and Spring street, and the patrol wagon conveyed Officers Freeman, Gahan, Schmuhl, and Parsons to the scene of the double tragedy. The bodies were taken to Thornburg & Seidell undertaking rooms.
Mrs. Powers had been in dread of her husband for some time. He had threatened to shoot her before. Mrs. Rutledge has seen her father snap a revolver at his wife, but fortunately the bullet on that occasion missed its mark. His aim this time was more deadly.
Mr. and Mrs. Powers have resided in Elgin many years. They lived together until the children grew up, but since then Mrs.Powers has refused to live with him. He has been employed at house painting part of the time and at times he worked caring for James Schoonhoven's trotting horses. He was not a man of steady habits, hence the separation between himself and wife.
In Mr. Powers' pocket was found a sealed letter addressed to the Elgin Courier. The letter was dated April 14, 1900, and ran as followes:
"To whom it may concern. This day I have made up my mind and swear to it that the first money she draws of my pension she shall never draw the same again. These words I will make true in writing. Tell all my friends, if any, that I die as I lived. When she robbed me of my existence then it's time we both step down and out.
"I have one request to make: Let my old remains be placed swith the old soldiers of Elgin. If the G.A.R. feels disposed to dispose of my remains, let them do so in respect of the old 52nd of Illinois.
"When my wife robbed me of my pension she robbed herself of her life and mine also.
"My board is paid at the Elgin hotel in advance. Please give to my son, Perry Powers, all that belongs to me.
"Perry, you will find at the hotel my pipe. I want you to take it and remember the giver. Call on the landlord and he will give you all that belongs to me. My dear boy it's awful, but I can not live as I am. Mrs. Rutledge is at the bottom of it all. These are my dying words in life and death. Sidney R. Powers. Good-by all. Please publish this as my farewell address and oblige. Good bye, vain world, good-bye. The above is my last will and testament."
Just before the tragedy occurred, Mrs. Powers was alone in the house except for Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge's little child. Nobody saw the shooting except a child named Clara Somers living across the street.
Chris Reichert, in whose yard the bodies lay, heard the shooting and rushed to the front door just after Powers shot himself. The revolver used was a 32 calibre "bulldog." But two shots were fired, each taking fatal effect.
Mr. and Mrs. Powers came here from Wauconda. They were about 57 years of age. Three children survive them. Mrs. Geo. Rutledge of Elgin, Perry Powers of 80 Dearborn street, Chicago, and Curtiss Powers of 211 Akers avenue, Chicago. The latter is employed by the Northwestern road.
Powers passed the police station not a half hour before the shooting with two bundles under his arm. Since Jan. 15 he has boarded at the Elgin hotel, instead of the Burns.
Whit Todson called at the house a few moments before the tradedy.
Coroner Mead will be here at 5 o'clock to hold the inquest.
Powers served in the civil war in Company I, 52d Illinois volunteers. About six years ago he went ot the soldiers' home at Quincy, and since then his wife had declined to resume living with him.
Mrs. Powers was a member of the First Baptist church and those who knew her state she was a woman of exceptionally fine traits of character.
Obit; from the April 16, 1900 issue of The Elgin Daily News.
WILL BE DOUBLE FUNERAL
SIDNEY R. POWERS AND WIFE-
BURIAL TUESDAY.
-
Nothing Developed by Inquest Beyond
What Was Known.
-
The tragedy of Saturday afternoon was the universal theme not only immediately thereafter but on Sunday. It was so shocking, so horrifying, that it could scarce be realized that in an instant a murder and suicide had been committed in a peaceful neighborhood. The principals, Sidney R. Powers and his wife, were so well known that interest in the event was intensified.Coroner Mead held the inquest at 5 o'clock, the jury first viewing the bodies at the undertaking rooms and then adjourning to the office of City Marshal Logan. Ald, Fred Allen acted as foreman of the jury.
The testimony was as follows, the first witness being Charles Heldt;
I was driving up Spring street between 2 and 3 o'clock on the afternoon of the 14th of April. I saw him (Powers) chasing the woman and he was twenty feet in the rear brandishing a weapon. She screamed and I heard two shots fired. I became acquainted with deceased while dealing in horses. When I arrived at 216 Seneca street I found Powers and the woman lying about thirty feet apart. She lay on the porch and was breathing her last as I arrived. He was dead and lay on his side in the yard with hands folded. I saw no one in the yard at the time. The woman was devoid of head gear and I remained until she died.
Clara Summers of 217 Center street was next sworn. She said it was about 2 o'clock when she saw Mr. and Mrs. Powers run into Chris Reichert's yard at 216 Seneca street and saw Mrs. Powers stumble on the steps in her attempt to reach the knob of the door. She seemed to have reached the knob, but it would not turn. It was then that Powers fired the fatal shot and Mrs. Powers fell instantly. Witness ran away after this as she was afraid of Powers who looked very angry. Witness said that Mr. and Mrs. Powers had not lived together for some time.
Marshal Logan stated to the jury that Powers passed the police station one-half an hour before the tragedy occurred. Then Mr. Logan read to the jury the letter containing the murderers last will and testament as it appeared in Saturday's News.
It seems that Powers had recently made another of his fruitless attempts to get Mrs. Powers to live with him. In looking over his effects the city marshal came across a letter written to Powers by Mrs. Powers and there was nothing in the letter to cause a wider breach than had already been formed. Mrs. Powers in her letter said that the breach had widened between herself and husband until they were almost strangers to each other. She could not leave a good home (with her daughter, Mrs. Geo. Rutledge) for the uncertainties of the future. "The past is too vivid in my mind." She speaks of Powers falsity to himself and his family and tells him to brace up and be a man and then she could trust and respect him. "You call it a crime because I desired to share your future." She would gladly earn her own living if she could. Wishing success to her husband and ill to no one she closes her letter.
The jury was informed that Powers had been drawing a pension since 1891. The amount was $10. Sept. 25 last Mrs. Powers filed application for one-half the pension money. April 6 the pension commissioner notified Powers that the application of his wife had been granted.
Officer Schmuhl's testmony was similar in that of the others. He was called to the scene of the tragedy at 215 and found Mrs. Powers dead, as above stated. This ended the inquest on the remains of Mrs. Powers.
The only witness to testify in the case of Powerw was Officer Schmuhl, who said he found Powers lying on his right side with a wound in his head about twenty feet from Mrs. Powers. In front of the body lay a 38-calibre bull dog revolver with only two cartridges discharged. It took the jury but a few moments to decide upon a verdict, which was that Powers came to his death by a gun shot would in his head inflicted by himself with suicidal intent, and that Mrs. Powerw came to her death from a gun shot wound in the head inflicted by Sidcney R.; Powers with murderous intent.
The double funeral will be held Tuesday at 2 o'clock from the first baptist church. Veteran post, G.A.R., will take charge of the remains. Both will be interred in Bluff City cemetery. A private service will be conducted over the rmains of Mrs. Powers at the home of Geo. Rutledge on Spring street, preceding the cutch service.
The sons of the deceased, Perry and Curtis of Chicago and Lou of Wauconda, are here.
Mrs. Rutledge was almost prostrated over the awful tragedy, but is bearing up bravely.
Name - Sidney R. Powers
Birth DAte- Dec. 20, 1846
Birth Place - Syracuse, Onondaga, Co., New York
Death Date - April 14, 1900
Spouse - Laura M. Powers
Buried in the GAR section of the Bluff City Cemetery.
 |
| Used with permission Elgin Area Hist. Soc. |
No comments:
Post a Comment