William "Billy" Newell (1883)

NEWELL

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 9/11/2007 at 16:19:15

Semi Weekly Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Saturday May 26, 1883
Winterset, Iowa
Page 1

MURDERED!

Billy Newell Murdered in Cold Blood and his Remains Discovered Buried in the Woods

Our citizens all remember the old man, Billy Newell, who was so long a resident of Winterset and who disappeared so suddenly about a year ago, since which time nothing has been heard of him. It appears that one Pugh, who is now an inmate of the penitentiary at Anamosa, but was in this county about the time of Newell's disappearance, has made a confession to the fact that Newell was murdered by John Hamner, a resident of this county, and that he helped to bury the corps. He said further that he could identify the spot where they body was interred. The matter has been quietly worked and enough learned to justify the Sheriff in obtaining a requisition for Pugh and he was brought here on yesterday evening's train, when accompanied by the Sheriff, Coroner, Mayor Wray, several officers and a Madisonian reporter, left the city in carriages for the place above mentioned. After reaching the locality, about six miles southeast of Winterset, the party left their carriages and went into the woods. After little search the spot was found and the ground removed, disclosing the remains of a human body, which is undoubtedly all that is left of Billy Newell.

Pugh states that Newell had received a pension of something like $400, and that Hamner had by some means induced him to that place where he killed him for the money.

Hamner was arrested Monday on suspicion and placed in jail to await the result of the above search and further developments. He will probably have his preliminary trial to-day.

Pugh says a troubled conscience forced him to the confession, and the facts so far indicate his sincerity and truthfulness in the matter.
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Semi Weekly Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Tuesday, May 30, 1883
Page 1

THE MURDER

Last June William Newell was missed from Winterset. It was known that he had said he was going to Des Moines. It was supposed he had gone to Council Bluffs and was there to meet the Cheek girls. So the matter rested and the public gave no further thought of it. Some two weeks ago Clerk Whedon received from the Anamosa officials a letter asking as to Newell. A week later Dristrict Attorney Wilkinson received information that a prisoner stated that Newell was murdered by John Hamner and that he could show where the body was buried. As information was then filed before Mayor Wray against Hamner, and Sheriff Davis on Sunday before last arrested him and lodged him in jail. On the order of Judge McHenry, Pugh was brought to this county last Friday evening and the body discovered as stated in Saturday's Madisonian. Of the inquest we give a detailed report in another column.
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Note: There was no genealogical information in the other article of May 30, 1883. This would put his death date as 1882.

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