Murder of Louisa McAdams

In 1867 When Louisa Long was 17 she married Jesse McAdams. The two lived in Bond County, Illinois. nearby neighbors were also family of them. Near Louisa's sister and brother-in-law, John Arm. John's sister Hannah would marry John Moore. John Moore was born in New York but raised near St. Louis.

On the day of Monday, July 5, 1869, 22-year-old John Moore went to look at his wheat. He then would arrive at the home 18-year-old Louisa, who was sitting on her porch when.  Her husband Jesse was not home at the time. He got her into the home by asking her questions about some books and a bureau. He would then try to attack her.

He wrapped his arms around her and tried to sexually assault her. She resisted him and then he threw her onto the floor. He then let her go. He begged her not to tell anyone of what he attempted to do to her and even offered her money. She stated that she would tell.

He then left her home and went to his. He sent his wife away and started packing up. He planned to leave, but after thinking of his wife and child he realized he didn't want to. The idea of leaving them was more than he could bear.

He then returned to the McAdams home. Louisa saw John and began to flee in fear. She tried to flee to her sister, Hannah's home by running across the field. The whole time John begged her not to tell and she still refused. She did not make it to her sister's home and John had caught her. He struck her and began to stab her and finished her off by slitting her throat.

After the murder, John pulled some shocks of wheat apart. He would then claim to hear a scream and went towards it. John claimed he had seen her from the fence and he jumped over it check on her. His story seemed implausible as you wouldn't have been able to see her body from the fence. He alerted others working the fields and alarmed his wife of the murder.

The following night John and his wife Hannah and four other people would stay the night at the McAdams home.

John seemed to not sleep well and at 3 a.m. he left the home. When Hiram McAdams asked him if he was leaving he told them no. This was a lie. One of the men watch and followed John M., but lost sight of him. They believed that he was heading to the Goodson place, so they waited for him there. It took John 15 minutes to get there.

He was wet to the boot tops and had gone to destroy the evidence of the footprints at the scene. On Tuesday around 8 to 9 a.m. John's boots were found under the dining table unhidden. There was evidence of blood on them. His pants were also unhidden and they were found with blood on them also. John's excuse for this, it happened when he helped move Louisa's body. Police then asked to see his pocket knife. John took it out of his pocket but instinctively used both hands to hand it over. This was to help prevent the officers from seeing his shaking hands.

John was then arrested for the crime and confessed to the murder. He was then taken to trial and convicted guilty with the death penalty. John Moore was hanged on October 22, 1969, in Greenville.

His last letter to his wife dated the same day he was executed read as the following
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SOURCES:
Civil War Days and Those Surnames
Legal Executions in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri page 4
The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer July 14, 1869
Wisconsin State Journal July 15, 1869
Chicago Tribune July 15, 1869
Decatur Weekly Republican November 11, 1869
New York Times October 26, 1869
Chicago Tribune October 27, 1869