History and Culture by Bicycle: Big & Mysterious History of Sioux City, Iowa: Roberts and Cordura Murder, The Murder

Here is the story that is the main focus of these articles, the murder of Henry Cordura and Thomas Roberts. The readers will learn what happened and when but what is unclear is who actually committed the murder. It sounds confusing because people will think how can there be a murder without someone who actually committed it? In this case there could be a difference in who committed the murder and who was accused of committing the murder.

Two Indians are accused of committing the murder but there has never been any conclusive proof one or even two Indians did so. A posse was even formed to chase after the alleged killers but they were never found and no one has been brought to justice to this day. This murder remains as one of Sioux City's oldest unsolved murder mysteries and perhaps Woodbury County's oldest unsolved murder mystery. It could also be said it is Sioux City's and Woodbury County's oldest unsolved, unofficial cold case.

Here is the story:

On July 9, 1861 Henry Cordura and Thomas Roberts obtained permission to leave work and work in their potatoe patch in an area caleld Bacon Hollow, (today called Bacon Creek), which was just a couple of miles outside of the Sioux City town limits, (today Bacon Creek is part of Sioux City).

It is likely they stopped work at or around noon to have lunch and feed and water the horses. It is assumed this is when they were attacked and murdered by two Indians.

When the Henry and Thomas did not return at or about sunset after a day of working in the field no great alarm was raised and no one was immediately concerned as it was though they were hunting for game. As the evening drew on Mrs. Cordura became very concerned that her husband had not returned. She raised the alarm with others in the community and a search party was sent to find the missing men.

When the party reached the area they were in at about 2:00 am on July 10, 1861 they found their wagon over turned and the horses missing. The harnesses were laying on the ground and had assumed to have been cut off the horses. The darkness made it difficult to conduct a more thorough search. As they searched dawn came and the search party then assumed Indians had committed this act, but Henry and Thomas were no where to be found. It was also assumed they were taken by the Indians as there were no traces of blood found. It wasn't until later the bodies of the 2 men were discovered.

It was reported and assumed that both were shot from behind. It was assumed Henry Cordura did not die right away and was shot through the back into the bowels. It was assumed Thomas Roberts had been shot through the lungs and the round lodged in the palm of his left hand. The bodies were taken to Casady Hall before they were buried at Floyd Cemetery.

There was no autopsy done even though forensic science did exist in the 1860's. There was no official report made by city police or the county sheriff and thus no official investigation done by any type of law enforcement agency of the time. Instead a group called the Home Guard chased after the alleged killers but never found them.