Wilmer R. Eyerly (1905)

EYERLY

Posted By: Kent Transier (email)
Date: 10/13/2013 at 15:15:19

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, September 28, 1905
Page 5, Column 2

THE CITY AND COUNTY

Word was received here on last Thursday of the death of Wilmer R. Eyerly at Columbus, Nebraska. The deceased, who was the son of D. H. Eyerly, was well known in Douglas township, their former home. No particulars of his death at this writing.
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The Lincoln Star
Lincoln, Nebraska
Tuesday, September 19, 1905
Page 3, Column 2

CHIEF WITNESS AGAINST DR. ODEL IS DEAD

The State May Not Now Be Able to Sustain the Charge of Criminal Practice.

Fremont, Nebraska, September 19. —The testimony of Wilmer Eyerly, principal witness in a murder trial at Columbus, will never be given before a court and for this reason Dr. Odel, charged with criminal practice on a girl, may escape the punishment it is believed would fall his lot. Eyerly, the man who knew most about the case and upon whom it was relied for convicting testimony, is dead. He died Sunday morning at the Fremont hospital and his remains were shipped yesterday to his former home at Hershey.

Eyerly was brought to the Fremont jail five weeks ago in order that he and Dr. Odel, who is in jail at Columbus, would be kept apart. He was taken ill with dysentery two days after he came. On Thursday when it was known his chances for life were small, a Fremont notary took a statement from him in the presence of a physician and Sheriff Bauman. This will be presented at the coming trial of Dr. Odel.
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The Columbus Telegram
Columbus, Nebraska
Friday, September 22, 1905
Page 1, Column 5

By the death of Wilmer Eyerly, whose life came to a close last Sunday morning in the hospital at Fremont, is withheld from public ear the story in detail of a serious crime which was committed in Platte county over a year ago, the man who had been held responsible for that crime has gained his freedom. Eyerly was principal witness in the prosecution of Wm. Odell, charged with having performed a criminal surgical operation upon a Platte county girl who died from its effects.

Without his testimony County Attorney Latham regarded quite improbable Odell’s conviction, and in district court before Judge Reeder Tuesday morning, he consented to Odell’s discharge. This was the end of the case which from the start has been largely shrouded in mystery.

Attorney Cornelius representing the defense had collected evidence which he declares would have counteracted any which the prosecution might offer, and at the same time might have lifted the cover to circumstances most sensational in character. This side of the story will now never be known, and perhaps it is best for all.

When arrested, Odell was serving in the United States army and stationed in San Francisco. His company is now at Madison Barracks, New York. He has notified the army officials at Fort Crook of his release, and awaiting orders as to where he shall report he will remain in Columbus.

Everly’s body was taken in charge by the young man’s father, and shipped to his home at Hershey, Nebraska. It is estimated that the capture of Odell and his prosecution up to this time has cost the county $500.

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