RICHARDSON, Mrs. Joseph: Died 1907

RICHARDSON

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/29/2013 at 01:17:58

**Handwritten: The Rep. 6 June 1907

Brutal Murder of a Blind Woman in Davis County.

Belknap, June 1.-Attracted to the front of the house by the noise of a quarrel and the sounds of her husband's voice raised in anger, Mrs. Joseph Richardson groped her way into the living room to stand rooted in terror as she heard two men struggling and cursing a few feet away. A moment later she fell, stricken down by the shot intended for her husband, and within a half hour had bled to death. Ora Sample, who fired the fatal shot, was arrested a short time after and was lodged in jail at Bloomfield last night to await trial on a charge of murder.

Ora Sample is a man of 35. Joseph Richardson, who he sought out and threatened to kill is past 70 and the murdered Mrs. Richardson was about the same age. Sample had been in Ottumwa drinking. He left in the afternoon to drive home, in company with John Locker, a neighbor. He is said to have told Locker he was going to have trouble with Richardson, and Locker, unwilling to be drawn into an affray, got out of the buggy before the Richardson place was reached.

Arriving at Richardson's home, which is about four miles northwest of Bloomfield, Sample called for Richardson to come out from the house. The latter refused. Then, according to the testimony adduced at the coroner's inquest this morning, Sample attempted to break down the front door and enter the house. He failed in this and went to the side door, which he kicked in and entered the house.

Richardson was standing in the room and the men grappled. There was a loaded shot gun hanging on the wall and both men tried to get it. Neither was successful and they fought around the room, one load being discharge as each fought to wrest the gun from each other.

When the first shot was heard, Mrs. Richardson groped her way into the room from the kitchen. Almost totally blind, she could just distinguish two forms locked together fighting about the room. She screamed and stood terror stricken in the doorway. Another moment and the second barrel of the gun was discharged, and Mrs. Richardson fell, the load striking her in the thigh and severing the semoral(sp) artery. She was dead in half an hour.

A year ago obstructions were on the Wabash track presumably with designs on wrecking a train. Sample was suspected of this and his neighbors placed the crime at his door, but no charges were ever preferred against him. The quarrel with Richardson is believed to be the outgrowth of the ill feeling stirred up at this time.

Sample claims self defense. He asserts that while he was enter- .... (remainder is missing)

**Handwritten: The Republican 6 June 1907

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 200, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA