Iowa
Old Press
Osage News
Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa
November 1, 1884
An Elopement
Creates a Sensation in the North Part of This County.
Quite an interesting case is reported from a quiet farming
community notheast of St. Ansgar and about seven miles southeast
of Lyle. It seems, so the rumor goes that Wm. Cordes a prosperous
farmer, had in his employ a young man to husk corn, and Mrs.
Cordes had been working in the field with him. From recent
developments the natural supposition is that the friendship
existing between the hired man and Mrs. Cordes gradually grew
into a warm affection. On Monday afternoon the aforesaid hired
man took a team and went into the field as usual to husk corn and
up to this writing he has not returned. The next day Mr. Cordes
was searching the country for a "horse thief", thinking
he had stolen the team. He learned later however, that the young
man and Mrs. Cordes had left the team at Mona and purchased
tickets for Dubuque, leaving William to make his own bed and wash
his own dishes. The enraged husband is now on his way to Dubuque
in search of the wayward pair and if he finds them the waters of
the Mississippi will likely be colored with blood and gore. Lyle
Tribune.
[transcribed by M.O., January 2006]