"Ken McCutchan is a life-long resident of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, descended from pioneer families that entered the area in the early 1800s. He is veteran of WWII, having served with Army Corps of Engineers in both North Africa and Europe. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Composition and Modern Language from the University of Evansville, a certificate in French Language and Culture from the Sorbonne in Paris, and an Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree from the University of Southern Indiana. His other books include: The Adventures of Isaac Knight, From then Til Now, Saundersville, An English Settlement, At The Bend in the River, and Dearest Lizzie. Mr. McCutchan's books may be purchased at Willard Library in Evansville, IN.

Poor Old John Harvey    - History

by Kenneth McCutchan

One of the very early cases in the Vanderburgh County courts was a charge of murder brought against one John Harvey.

Harvey was accused of beating a man named Casey to death with a club. The altercation occurred down in the river bottoms of the old McDowell farm. Apparently it was started over a woman.

The case was brought before Judge James R. E. Goodlett and a jury of 12 prominent gentleman of the community.

Judge Goodlett was the father of N. M. Goodlett, who later became the mayor of Evansville.

Judge Goodlett pronounced the sentence, which, briefly stated, condemned John Harvey to be hanged by the neck until dead on June 7, 1823, from a suitable gallows on the courthouse square.

When the appointed day arrived a large crowd gathered to witness the spectacle. Back in those days there were no movies and no television, so folks had little opportunity to see people murdered, shot, hanged or maimed every day.

For them this was a bit of excitement that should not be missed.

Whole families came in their farm wagons from out in the country and brought lunches in baskets.

As the hour approached the militia was brought out under the command of General Robert Evans and Colonel Hugh McGary and lined up four abreast to form a hollow square around the gallows.

Sheriff R. N. Warner then brought the condemned man from his cell and placed the noose around his neck.

It was said the Sheriff wept openly because he believed Harvey had acted in self-defense.

According to legend. when Harvey was asked if the had any last words, he is supposed to have gulped, "Sir, you're choking me."

The trap was sprung at the appointed hour and Harvey dropped through and dangled until he was quited dead. The excitement was over, the crowd and the militia dispersed, and the body was cut down and buried at the foot of the gallows.

More than a half-century later, when a basement was being dug for a new building at the corner of Third and Main, the shovels turned up the bones of poor old Harvey.

Dr Isaac Hutchison, a physician whose office was few doors down the street, retrieved the bones, wired them together, and ,for years, used them as a skeletal specimen in his office.

Today, the skeleton believed to be Harvey is on display on the lower level of the Evansville Museum.