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The Morning After: The First Newspaper Account of the Allen Murder
On February 18, 1880, readers of The True Republican, a Sycamore newspaper, opened their newspaper and found a startling headline:
“A Murder at Sandwich.”
Only three days earlier, Hiram P. Allen had been killed inside his own home. The crime shocked Sandwich and quickly became one of the most talked about events in northern Illinois.
What makes this article remarkable is that it was written before arrests, trials, confessions, and pardons complicated the story. It captures the case as people understood it in the immediate aftermath of the crime.
A Murder at Sandwich
Hiram Allen Slain in His Own Bedroom
According to the newspaper, Allen was asleep in his bedroom shortly after midnight when he was awakened by an intruder.
The burglar was reportedly searching the pockets of an overcoat hanging in the room and had already removed an empty pocketbook.
What happened next would change the community forever.
Mrs. Allen’s Frightening Escape
Hiding in the Clothes Press
The article reports that Mrs. Allen awoke when her husband confronted the intruder.
Fearing for her life, she jumped from bed and hid in a clothes press while the confrontation unfolded only a few feet away.
The small bedroom quickly became the scene of violence.
Shots in the Night
The Attack on Hiram Allen
The newspaper reported that Allen rose from bed and confronted the intruder.
Several shots were fired at close range.
The account also described injuries that suggested Allen had been struck and kicked during the struggle.
The violence shocked readers and fueled widespread speculation about the motive.
Libbie Allen Runs for Help
A Daughter’s Terrifying Experience
Allen’s daughter, Libbie, was awakened by the gunfire.
According to the article, she fled the house screaming and ran into the street seeking help.
Her experience became one of the most memorable and heartbreaking details of the crime.
“Have You Finished Him?”
The Voices Reportedly Heard in the Hallway
One of the most chilling passages in the newspaper described words allegedly heard moments after the shooting.
“Have you finished him?”
“Yes.”
“Then why in hell don’t you come away?”
The article suggested that more than one person may have been involved in the crime.
Those words would remain among the most haunting details associated with the murder.
Robbery or Revenge?
A Question No One Could Answer
Even in the first newspaper reports, uncertainty surrounded the motive.
The article noted that little appeared to have been stolen.
As a result, some residents wondered whether the crime had been motivated by revenge rather than robbery.
Others believed the intruders had been interrupted before they could complete their plans.
No one knew for certain.
Early Suspects
More Questions Than Answers
The article reported that several individuals had been detained.
Yet it also admitted there was little evidence connecting them to the crime.
At this stage of the investigation, authorities had far more questions than answers.
The Funeral at Shabbona
Remembering Hiram Allen
The newspaper concluded with details about Allen’s funeral and brief information about his life.
Allen was described as a respected and generally well liked citizen who had farmed near Shabbona before moving to Sandwich.
His death left family, friends, and neighbors searching for answers.
Looking Back
Before the Trial, Before the Confession
Today, this newspaper account offers a fascinating glimpse into how the murder was first reported.
Readers in February 1880 knew nothing of the arrests that would follow, the sensational trial in Geneva, James Young’s later confession, or the pardon eventually granted to William Thomas.
They knew only that a respected Sandwich citizen had been murdered and that the community was struggling to understand why.
Allen Murder Series
Start with the main article, then follow the story as it unfolded.
1. The Hiram Allen Murder (Main article)
The complete story of the 1880 murder of Sandwich businessman Hiram P. Allen, the investigation, trial, confession, and eventual pardon that followed.
2. ( You are here) The Morning After: The First Newspaper Account of the Allen Murder!
How local newspapers reported the crime in the days immediately after the murder, before arrests were made and theories began to multiply.
3. Cora Munn: The Female Detective Who Helped Solve the case
The remarkable story of the undercover detective whose investigation helped lead authorities to their suspects.
4. Terrible Trial!
Inside the sensational 1881 Geneva trial that captivated northern Illinois and filled newspaper columns for weeks.
5. James Young’s Confession
Years after the conviction, a prison inmate claimed responsibility for the crime, reopening questions about who really killed Hiram Allen.
6. William Thomas Pardoned
After years of petitions, doubts, and new evidence, Governor Oglesby granted William Thomas a full pardon.
7. The Evidence Against William Thomas
A closer look at the testimony, physical evidence, and circumstantial case that convinced a jury to convict Thomas in 1881.
Sources
The True Republican (Sycamore, Illinois)
February 18, 1880