Unidentified photographer / artist 1869 The murdered Hagerty Family and Andrew Thompson
Carte de visite Private collection of Brad Feuerhelm An interesting cdv of the victims and executioner on one photograph.. Mr. Thompson kept an illicit affair with the Mrs. Hagerty for several years leading up to the event. Having been estranged from her husband at some point, Mrs. Hagerty began to make long term plans with Mr. Thompson who had become bored with her attentions. The group traveled one night to Wisconsin to leave Iowa behind and start fresh. Mrs. Hagerty's daughter was ill before the trip and succumbed to the harsh winter elements just outside of Lancaster, Iowa when she passed away. The couple panicked and according to Thompson's testimony, he made the declaration that he would lead his sled back into Iowa to return home. Mrs. Hagerty protested violently according to his statement telling him that he would be dead before he made it back. She then proceeded to attack Mr. Thompson with a hammer that was in the sled. He wrestled the hammer from her and hit her several times on the head. She did not die then according to his testimony. The two boys, hysterical from seeing their mother hit were screaming aloud as Mr. Thompson noticed a group of sleds approaching in the distance. To keep the crying and screaming family from crying aloud and attracting attention Mr Thompson took bedding from the sled and covered both the mother and her remaining offspring with it until the sleds had passed. He then lifted the bed and found the three had expired. Frightened by his actions, Mr Thompson fled along the river towards Prairie du Chien where he threw the family and their belongings into the river where they were found in the spring by fisherman. Thompson signed his confession and was sentenced to death.
