Charles Casady Charged with Murder 1916

CASSADY, CASADY, ANDERSON, WATKINS, NELSON

Posted By: Volunteer - Cathy Joynt Labath
Date: 8/12/2006 at 13:05:58

Lockridge Herald; Lockridge, Jefferson Co, IA; Friday, September 1, 1916

VAN BUREN COUNTY MAN IS CHARGED WITH MURDER.

Late Thursday afternoon the grand jury of Van Buren county returned an indictment against Charles Cassady, charging him with the murder of C.J. Anderson, a wealthy farmer residing south of Keosauqua. His bond was fixed at $5,000 which he was able to secure at once. The State-Line Democrat tells of the killing in the following:

"In consequence of an outburst of passion, the result of a dispute over money matters, C.J. Anderson, a well-to-do farmer who resided eight miles south of Keosauqua, is dead, and Charles Casady, a reputable young married man aged 26, is in the county jail, accused of striking Anderson a blow on the head which caused his death. The weapon used was a bed slat. The altercation took place Monday morning and Anderson died about ten o'clock Monday evening, having never regained consciousness.

"Announcement of this lamentable affair came as a severe shock to the friends of both men, and especially to those of Casady, who is a young man of splendid connections, of irreproachable character, good natured and well mannered.

"Mr. Casady had been in the employ of Mr. Anderson this summer and was tenant on the Anderson farm. The two men did not get along very well together and a short time ago Casady decided to quit and asked Anderson for a settlement. A dispute arose over the amount due Casady, he claiming five dollars more than Anderson was willing to pay. Casady had a shot gun, the property of Anderson, in his possession and said he would keep it until Anderson paid him the five dollars due him.

"In conversation with a Democrat representative at the jail yesterday morning, Mr. Casady told the following story of the happenings of Monday morning:

"After our disagreement Mr. Anderson notified me to vacate the house where I lived and we were getting ready to move, although the time specified in the notice was not up. Monday morning when Anderson and his farm hand, Wm. Watkins, came to my home, my wife and myself were removing the furniture from the house. Anderson began abusing me about the shotgun and asserted he did not owe me the five dollars I claimed. He called me all sorts of vile names and I ordered him to leave, but did not offer to strike him at that time. He started away, but after going a short distance turned back and renewed the quarrel. Just them my wife came out and she said: ' Mr. Anderson, you do owe us five dollars and we can prove it.' He called her a d---d liar, and it was then I hit him alongside the head with a bed slat. I did not intend to even knock him down.'

"When struck Anderson fell to the ground in an unconscious condition, and remained unconscious to the end. He was removed to his home where Dr. Tobin of Mt. Sterling and Dr. Craig did all possible to save his life.

After the death of Mr. Anderson, Coroner Ware of Farmington was called. After making an examination he ordered an autopsy which was conducted by Doctors Craig and Toben. The autopsy showed that death was caused by a fracture of the skull, and the coroner's jury so found.

Mrs. Anderson was in Ottumwa at the time the husband was injured, but reached his beside before death ensued.

"Mr. Casady came to Keosauqua and surrendered himself to the Sheriff he is in jail and Judge J.C. Mitchell and Sloan & Sloan have been retained as his counsel.

"C.J. Anderson was about 45 years old and was a native of Michigan. He grew to manhood in Rockford, Ill, and later resided at Omaha and at Clarinda, Ia. In 1908 he was married to Anna S. Nelson of Galesburg, Ill. In 1904 Mr. Anderson bought his Van Buren county farm where he has since lived. He is survived by his wife and two adopted children, Sylvia and Archie.

"Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday afternoon and the body was taken to Rockford for burial."