John Walters (1897)

WALTERS, FIELD, MORRIS

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 8/16/2008 at 09:42:46

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, September 1, 1897

WAS IT MURDER?

John Walters Found Unconscious and Dies Soon After - Laid all Night in the Timber-Had From $200 to $300 Which Is Gone, Except $11.12 - Circumstances Point Toward Murder, so Says the Jury.

John Walters, an old gentleman living with his son-in-law, R. C. Fields on what is known as the Ben. Lorimor place in Lincoln township, died about half past eight Saturday morning under circumstances that have led many to believe that he was foully dealt with and struck down with a club by some unknown party for money he was known to be carrying on his person.

The first report of his death brought to town was ascribed to paralysis, but investigation by the coroner Sunday morning brought out sufficient evidence to convince the jury, which consisted of J. V. Walter, Elihu Bean and Harrison Parrott, that he met his death “by felonious means.”

Mr. Walters was an old resident in the county, a quiet inoffensive old gentleman, of good judgment, but somewhat peculiar. One of his peculiarities was never to deposit money in the banks. The testimony of several witnesses, his wife, two daughters, two sons and son-in-law, was that at the time of the supposed tragedy, he had about $150 in gold and about $100 in currency with him, together with two notes of $30 each, one against his son and one against his son-in-law. These notes are also missing.

Mr. Walters had been in Winterset on Friday and returned home in the afternoon. About 3:30 he started from the house to gather plums and did not return. That night a party was held at the home of his son-in-law and nothing was thought of his absence until about nine o’clock, when his wife inquired for him, but they supposed he had stopped at a neighbor’s. Some time after an inquiry was made at the neighbor’s, and he not being there an alarm was given and the search commenced. He was not found until Saturday morning at about 7:00. He was lying upon his back in an open space on a side hill about one-half mile south of the house. He was unconscious and remained so until his death, which followed in about an hour and a half. About twenty feet back of him was found a heavy club knotted on the end, and several gray hairs clinging to it. Over the right eye was a bruise about 2 inches long, and over the left eye another about 2 ½ inches square. His left wrist and fingers were bruised also. The club was what led to the suspicion of foul play. At the inquest, we are told, this club exactly fitted the bruises on the head.

Dr. Skinner testified that the blows upon the head would not have caused death, but would have made the deceased unconscious, and the exposure on such a cold night to such an old person would in connection be a sufficient cause for death.

If it was murder the motive was evidently for money, but no clue has yet been found as to who was the criminal. The jury at the inquest were satisfied, after visiting the place where he was found, and taking the testimony of about a dozen witnesses, that death resulted by felonious means, and rendered a verdict to that effect. It is to be hoped that the mystery will soon be cleared up.

Deceased was the father of M. A. Walters, Mrs. E. M. Field, and Mrs. Malinda Morris who lives in Winterset.