As I have Bodell - Boodle, reletives that emigrated from Ireland to Uxbridge - Blackstone . Then on to Wisconsin & Illinois . I would be greatfull if some one could look up this John Bodell in the Local papers . " Mr. Bodell was a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts " Don't know if this was the City of Worcester, Or Worcester County ? Thanks for any help Bill Keough http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnlesueu/sorrowful_tale.htm A Sorrowful Tale A Sorrowful Tale The following extractions were donated by Kathy Jerrow. The (St. Peter) Minnesota Free Press newspaper gives the following account of the murder of John Bodell and the subsequent lynching of the accused Charles Rheinhardt: [October 27, 1858] Murder in LeSueur County! We have just learned of a most brutal murder having been committed near Lexington, in Le Sueur County, and that a former citizen of that place, but who has resided here since last fall, is suspicioned of being guilty of the deed. The facts are entirely circumstantial, and as near as we can learn are as follows. A Mr. Burdell, who was a stranger in the state, but who has friends residing in Winona, came to Lexington in search of a farm some week or so before election. He there fell in with Mr. C. J. Rinehart, who has a farm in the neighborhood, and was induced to go with him to examine it. He was not seen again, though Rinehart remained about the place for several days. The stranger's absence excited no alarm there, though he told the family with whom he was stopping, that he would return at night-- they naturally supposing that he had gone to see some other land. His friends in Winona however, became alarmed at his not returning there according to promise, and came on to hunt him up. After a brief search, his body was found buried. He had evidently been brutally murdered, having been shot thro' the head, his skull broken in, and his throat cut so as almost sever the head from the body! Suspicion at once fell on Rinehart, who had left in the meantime; and the suspicion was heightened by the fact, that about the time of the murder, he borrowed a shovel of a neighbor, alleging the he wanted to dig a ditch with it. The discovery of the murder created an intense excitement at Lexington. Three hundred dollars was at once raised by the citizens, and the Sheriff dispatched in pursuit of Rinehart, who was supposed to have gone to St. Paul, and possibly down the river. Mr. Rinehart came to this state from Ohio, and last fall removed to this town, where, for a short time he worked in this office. During the winter he went into a saloon, which he has continued here up to the present time. He has a wife, who is spoken of as a fine woman, and also two small children. These he sent east some six weeks ago, since which time he has been at St. Paul. He has other relatives here, and has himself always borne a good character. It may be that he is entirely innocent of any connection with this affair; and for the sake of all concerned, we hope it may prove so. [November 3, 1858] Communicated. Horrible Murder. LEXINGTON, Oct. 28, 1858 The following is undoubtedly, one of the most foul and atrocious murders ever committed in any community. For barbarity it has scarce an equal in the annals of our country, and committed as it was undoubtedly, to obtain a paltry of sum of money, we can but look upon the perpetrator as a villain of the blackest die. It appears from testimony adduced at the inquest, that the unfortunate man J. Bodell, came to Northfield in company with a man by the name of Charles Rinehart, who induced him to come to Lanesburg, in Le Sueur county, by representing to Bodell that land could be purchased cheap in that vicinity, and also that he (Rinehart,) would sell him a claim cheap. They accordingly arrived at Union Lake; remaining there over night, in the morning they hired a conveyance to Codey's, within five or six miles of their destination, and remained there over night, (this being on Wednesday the 6th of October.) Leaving in the morning on foot, they were seen passing the house of Mr. Wankee about 12 o'clock m., this being the last place they were seen together, and about half a mile from the place where the body was found. About half-past one o'clock, the same day, he (Rinehart) called at the house of a German by the name of Mr. Mansher and requested dinner, immediately after dinner he borrowed a spade, representing that he wished to fix a bad place on the road. About two o'clock he returned to the house of Mr. Mansher [Wankee,] complaining of thirst &c., asked for a cup of coffee and remained there until near four o'clock, and then left. Going in the direction of Mr. Hansher's house, the distance being only three-quarters of a mile, but did not reach there until dark. In the morning he started for and arrived about ten o'clock in Lexington, and he remained there until the following Wednesday, and then left for Le Sueur. The said Bodell had promised to return to Union Lake, and not returning, enquiries were made as to his whereabouts; the circumstances being suspicious, a search was immediately made by the citizens, which resulted in finding the body of the murdered man buried in a sequestered spot, near a marsh, some twenty or thirty rods from the road, and about a half mile from the house of Mansher, bears every evidence of violence and foul play--there being a bullet hole immediately above the left eye, several stabs on the back of the head and throat cut. After the inquest, the body was removed to Lexington and deposited in the burial ground. Mr. Bodell was a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts. At a meeting of the citizens of Lexington and vicinity, held on Tuesday, October 26th, immediately after the return from the burial of the unfortunate man, Burroughs Abbott was called to the Chair and F. H. Dennis as Secretary, when it was unanimously Resolved, that a committee of five be appointed to draw up a letter of condolence to the widow and distressed family of the deceased. The committee was as follows: W. H. Childs, T. A. Potter, F. M. Ireland, S. L. Richardson and S. L. Shirel. The committee retired and after an absence of half an hour, returned and reported a letter which was unanimously adopted by the meeting. It was then resolved that a copy of the circumstances connected with the murder and the subsequent proceedings of the citizens be published in the Belle Plaine Enquirer, St. Peter Free Press, and the St. Paul Minnesotian. B. ABBOTT, Chair'n. F.H. Denison, Sec'y.