The Northup Tragedy
Additional Details of the Brutal Murder Near Portsmouth, O

Article taken from The Semi Weekly Age, May 3, 1888

Portsmouth, May 2

The Northup murder is still creating much excitement in this county, and all the additional facts brought to light go to show that the McCoy's had previously well laid their plans to murder the doctor at their earliest opportunity. It has come out that a young son of Alfred McCoy, the postmaster, who had no previously figured in these dispatches, first started a fuss with Dr. Northup about some fowls and then the elder boys took his part in the fight, followed by the uncle, Thomas, and the brother, Alfred, who came from postoilco and finished the bloody work. Detective Vandervest has found a man who claims that the McCoy's got him drunk in their saloon and then tried to hire him to assassinate Northup. Several weeks ago Pierson McCoy shot at Northup on the village street. Northup took the revolver away from him and gave him a thrashing.The preliminary hearing has been set for to-day, and twenty-five witnesses have been summoned by the sheriff to testify in the case. The corner's jury is not yet through with investigation.

 

McCoy's Sentence Sustained

Article taken from The Columbus Dispatch, November 17, 1887

Portsmouth, O., Nov. 17, -- The Circuit Court rendered a decision yesterday sustaining the action of the Common Pleas Court in sending Alf. McCoy, the slayer of Dr. Northup, to the penitentiary for life. An appeal will be made to the Supreme Court.