Flashback Friday - Cold Case - Part 2

Search Continues For Murderers

"Late Flash!  As the Times Record goes to press, it is learned that a total of $300 has been added to the $500 already offered for the arrest and conviction of the killers of Gordon Duncan.  A reward of $100 each has been offered by the Seaton Independent, by the Seaton Community Club, and by Aledo businessman Joe Reiser to bring the total to $800."

Times Record, Wednesday September 14, 1960

Hey, don't snort.  That $800 dollars was equivalent to $6, 313 in today's money.  Certainly enough to pry open tongues and get some chatter over possible suspects.  A week has gone by and the Times Record has not much more info from last week.  I guess the big news is that the FBI will not be part of the investigative team working on the case.  According to sources, the FBI has no jurisdiction because the post office has its own investigative system.  

"Law enforcement officials involved in the investigation of the murder are continuing to work around-the-clock in efforts to bring to justice the criminals who fatally beat Mr. Duncan during a robbery of the Seaton post office the night of Sept. 5-6."

Deputy John Sloan checking out the Seaton Post Office for clues.

There is no denying there are a lot of people involved in the investigation.  There were four officers from the Illinois State police and Bureau of Investigation along with four   postal inspectors.  Add to this the sheriff's office and his staff of deputies.  All individuals met daily at the office of Mercer County prosecutor Glen Appleton's office at 9:00 to share information and leads.  The office reports that it was not $100 dollars that was stolen but $93.  

The Times Record stated that new developments are expected soon as the result of tracing fingerprints lifted at the scene.  Fingerprints found at the scene and compared with those of Duncan and post office employees do not match .  Accordingly these prints have been sent to Washington and other agencies for a thorough scan.  

The Rock Island coroner reports that the autopsy revealed the cause of death was skull fracture.  Meanwhile the funeral services for Duncan were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday,  September 10th at the Seaton Center Presbyterian Church.  Funeral was in Greenmound Cemetery in Keithsburg and the pallbearers were John Seaton, Willard "Bill" Greer, Ed Criswell, Harold Ubben. and Stan Brown, all people I knew.  

Since you all know the outcome of the case it seems fitting to once again, print the obituary of Gordon Duncan.  

Mr. Duncan was born February 8, 1909, a son of Charles E. and Retta Frick Duncan in Seaton where he resided his whole life.  he attended Seaton schools and was a member of Charity Lodge No. 838, AF & AM, Seaton, and a member of Center Church.

He was a member of the family which had published the weekly newspaper  since Oct. 26, 1896.  he had assisted his brother, C.R Duncan, for a number of years in the operation of the newspaper.  The pair also published the Keithsburg News in Seaton.  

Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Lloyd Beckham and Mrs. Max Constant, and a brother C.R. Duncan.  

This was the third week's headline.  Alas, no new info came other than the FBI, while not able to actually investigate placed all of its  facilitates at the disposal of authorities.  Other hard facts or leads were tough to come by.  The States Attorney said officers were investigating a shooting in Vincennes, Indiana and the slaying of a guy in Kickapoo to see if there could be a connection.  Looks like this is desperation time for the local authorities.  Officials also pointed out that at the time of the murder the local transient population was the largest in history.  They said carnival employees, bridge construction workers and pipeline jobbers, road paving crews, tar-spraying firms and sewage and utility firms were in the area.  They are now obviously concerned that there are no good leads and laying the foundation for an unsolvable case.  Appleton says that the work is continuing although it may not be dramatic or visible.  

And that's the end of it.  No more information came out from the Times Record in subsequent weeks.  The killer or killers were never found and no suspects ever named.  The case quietly died, much like the muffled screams of Gordon three weeks before.  New stories came up, new things to take the place of a killing in Seaton.  53 years have gone by and all of the parties, but one, have passed away.  The Sheriff, Richard Maynard, still lives in Aledo.  The name of a local Seaton man has long been mentioned as the killer.  I knew him and even worked with him a few times doing various jobs at Uncle Ed's and he even did some work for my parents.   I have no clue why he is mentioned and it would seem that this is probably just gossip.  Because there was no arrest I won't mention his name; it seems that the cold case will remain cold, forever. 

53 years ago Peel went to the post office in the late hours to mail a letter.  Labor Day night. That same night he incurred injuries that would take his life.  He was buried six days later.  

We all like to think there is symmetry to life, that what goes up always comes down and that if you kill you will receive justice.  Sadly, life doesn't work that way.  Once in a while things don't work they way they should.  Seaton was a small town in 1960.   It's even smaller today. You should have been able to go to the post office or anywhere else in town and not have to worry about getting hit with a crowbar.  

Absent any deathbed confession or written note scribbled long ago, the killer of Gordon Duncan will remain known 'but to God'.  I just wanted, in my own small way, to shine light once again on an event that touched my small world a long time ago.  Those dozen investigators moved on to other cases, retired and most have probably passed on, and there is no one manning any phone or desk working on this case.   The best way to end this is with the editorial the Times Record wrote shortly after the incident.

"The brutal beating of Gordon Duncan by thugs who robbed the Seaton post office resulted in the death of an outstanding citizen of Mercer County.  

Gordon Duncan was a peaceful and gentle man, an individual who was a friend to all.  Pipe in hand and with a smile on his face, he walked through life bringing understanding and comfort to many people.  In his more than half-century of life, this quiet and unassuming man lived by the golden rule, an example of forbearance and quiet virtue.  

The manner in which Gordon Duncan dies, struck down by bestial rodents in human form as they lurked in the darkness, must make all right-minded people cry for retribution.  It is to be hoped that the full power of the county, state and federal investigative agencies has been brought to bear in a search for the culprits, and that the investigation will continue in full force until the murderers are apprehended.

The family of Gordon Duncan and the people of Mercer county have a right to expect that this will not turn out to be another unsolved murder in the annals of Illinois crime.  A full investigation must continue until the murderers of Gordon Duncan are brought to justice." 

Perhaps the takeaway is that we all live by the tiniest of tendrils on this earth and the slightest breeze can snap that lifeline.  I wonder if the souls of murder victims lie restfully?  I wonder if the souls of  murderers pay the price they eluded in life?   I wonder if there is an unseen hand that makes things "right" behind the veil?  I wonder what happens to all of us when there is no justice?