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Re: "FREE Surname LOOK-UPS"

CONKLIN, ROUSE

Posted By: Chi Benedict (email)
Date: 11/30/2004 at 23:13:07

In Response To: "FREE Surname LOOK-UPS" (Mary Lanigan)

Hi, I noticed you were willing to do free look-up's for Mahaska County Ancestors. I am looking for a particular family and any information that can be discovered.

Alice B. (Cooper) Conklin: Death date is about 1895 from what I can tell. The only details I can find are from a newspaper clipping on her son Chester Conklin's (Of Keystone Kop fame) childhood and career. I have been unable to find proof other than the clippings on her movie star son.

She was found dead in a garden next to the Conklin home, she had been burned to death after her clothing had been soaked in oil. Her husband Philemon Bliss Conklin (B: June 1858 in Illinois) was accused of the murder. According to the newspaper clipping:

Chester was the oldest of three children of Mr. and Mrs. Phil Conklin of

Oskaloosa. Chester had a sister, Cheline, and a brother, Roscoe.

One morning in 1895, when Chester was about 8 years old, his mother was

found dead in a garden next to the Conklin home. She had been burned to

death after her clothing had been soaked in oil.

After testimony that she had been despondent, the coroner ruled her death

a suicide. Later Chester's father was arrested and charged with the slaying.

The first trial was at Oskaloosa. The jury disagreed and no verdict was

reached. The second trial, after a change of venue, was at Washington, IA.

This time Chester's father was acquitted.

I am looking for death, burial/cemetery records for Alice. I am also looking for proof of this court case and the details behind it, Newspaper Clippings from local papers at the time stating an obituary or something. Her death has been a mystery for so long and I have exaughsted all my own resources at this time (Can't get to Iowa to check records myself). Any help you can give me would be much appreciated as this has been a serious brick wall for the decendants of the family. Thank you for your time and thank you for your offer of help. Let me know if you need anything else as far as information, but I have pretty much given everything I could already.

Sincerely,
Chi Benedict

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