Iowa Old Press
Mount Ayr Journal
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, January 7, 1897
Page 2
IOWA NEWS
The widow of Wm. KINNEY, who was found drowned in the Maquoketa
at Cascade a short time ago, has sued several Cascade saloon
keepers, who are charged with selling liquor to her husband for
$3,000.
Mrs. George GREEN, whose husband set fire to the Cascade jail
recently, was burned to death before the fire was discovered, has
begun suit against the town of Cascade for $5,000, alleging that
it was through the negligence of the marshal that her husband
lost his life.
James, the 6-year-old son of Joshua FOSTER, living at Union
Mills, four miles east of New Sharon, was shot by his 13-year-old
brother, Charlie. The ball was a .32-calibre and entered just
above the left eye and ranging down behind the nose. The ball has
not been found and his recovery is doubtful. The older boy had
the revolver in his hand and was attempting to cut an apple, hold
the knife and revolver in the same hand, while the younger boy
was looking on.
Mrs. Robert HOWARD of Madrid, was thrown from a buggy a few
nights ago and her skull was crushed. She died in a short time.
She and John SLICK, a liveryman, started out for a drive, the
team ran away and this was the result. Mrs. HOWARD was about
30-years-old and leaves a husband and two children, one by a
former marriage. She bore a good reputation. Some sensational
stories are afloat about the possibility of murder, but they are
not generally believed.
J. S. HUTCHINS, an extensive land owner, implement and hay
dealer, operating at Rockwell and Hutchins, has failed. His
liabilities reach about $33,000, with assets set at $25,000.
An anti-saloon league was recently organized at Des Moines with
the following officers: President, F. S. DUNSHEE, Des Moines;
first vice-president, S. M. FELLOWS, Fayette; second
vice-president, W. R. COLE, Mt. Pleasant; third vice-president,
M. KETTLEMAN, Indianola; treasurer, J. W. HILL, Des Moines;
secretary, Mrs. Florence MILLER, Des Moines.
Dr. Charles BEARDSLEY died at his home in Burlington a few days
ago. He was 66 years of age and one of Burlington's most
prominent and honored residents, and was widely known throughout
the state
and county.
Miss Leah GALE, living four miles northeast of Moulton, committed
suicide by taking poison. It is said her old lover had recently
married another girl.
The [illegible] court at Dubuque recently of Judge SHIRAS decided
in favor of J. R. DELING, assignee of the insurance policy
carried by the Ryan Packing Company of Dubuque, whose plant was
destroyed by fire last summer. The insurance was $35,000. The
enjoining suit was entered by Thomas J. RYAN of Chicago.
G. Taylor WRIGHT & Son of Lineville have been retained as
principal attorneys by Miss Etta BRIGHT to bring suit for $3,000
and the private library of the late E. W. CURRY, chairman of the
state democratic committee. A dispatch from Lineville stated that
CURRY did make a will with a bequest to Miss BRIGHT about a year
ago, and who was at the time [illegible] and who was at that time
his stenographer in Leon, and after he had secured a divorce from
his present wife. Miss BRIGHT, who is now stenographer in the dry
goods establishment of J. V. FARWELL & Co., alleges the will
in her favor was made in good faith, properly signed and
witnessed and is now in the possession of Mr. McGINNIS, the late
Mr. CURRY'S law partner.
Ex-Mayor BUTTLES of Burlington was held up near his home in the
south part of the city by an ex-convict names O. K. VINTON.
BUTTLES knocked the pistol away and struck him in the face. Then
followed a hand-to-hand conflict that lasted ten minutes, by
which time men attracted by the noise came up and VINTON fled.
VINTON'S pal, Chas. DUGAN, was near at hand and was caught. The
plot to rob ex-Mayor BUTTLES was concocted several weeks ago by
DUGAN, who appointed VINTON to do the work. A third man, whose
name is withheld by the police, but is also a convict, was to
participate and share in the profits. This man, wishing to return
a favor done him by Chief of Police GREINER, confessed the plot
to him some two weeks ago. GREINER told Mayor NAUMANN, who
afterwards told ex-Mayor BUTTLES. The plan was to allow the
hold-up to take place, when the police should arrest the
perpetrators red-handed. There was a miscarriage in the date of
the hold-up, however, and it took place earlier than was
expected.
J. R. TEAL and Levi MADDEN, Union county farmers, quarreled and
TEAL cut MADDEN with a knife. He is under arrest, charged with
assault with intent to commit great bodily injury. Several
families were mixed up in the fight and bad blood exists.
W. M. FRANKLIN and Butler and BURT HAZLETT, charged with the
murder of Joe WRIGHT at Hickory recently, had a preliminary
hearing at Ottumwa and FRANKLIN and Butler HAZLETT were held to
the grand jury. WRIGHT was killed with a stone.
A dispatch from Sioux City says: Donald McLEAN, the original
organizer of the Pacific Short Line, arrived here to arrange for
the survey of the road from O'Neill, Neb., to San Francisco. The
road was started six years ago, but only got from Sioux City to
O'Neill before the crash of local business enterprises in 1893
forced its abandonment. As planned, it will be 264 miles shorter
than any other transcontinental line. Mr. McLEAN claims to be
backed by $32,000,000 of English capital and says the work will
be rushed through.
An attempt was made a few nights ago to rob the bank at Sully. At
first the men broke into a blacksmith shop and secured all the
necessary tools they did not have. Three attempts were made to
blow open the bank safe but they were only successful in opening
the outer door, by using some liquid explosive; the inner vault
resisted their efforts. The explosions were heard by Frank
SHERMAN; the cashier, who lives near. He aroused the citizens,
but the would-be robbers fled, being frightened by the report her
from Mr. SHERMAN'S gun. They secured $27.75 in pennies and one
$10 bill.
The four men suspected of being implicated in the Sully bank
robbery, have been lodged in jail at Newton by Sheriff TRIP. They
were found near Sully.
Judge BIRDSALL, of Clarion, has granted a new trial to W. E.
BULLARD, late secretary of the senate, recently convicted of
forgery.
While some boys were shooting at a target with a small rifle at
Thomson, not far from Lyons, Ernest STARKS, aged 13, was shot and
almost instantly killed. The shooting was accidental.
Several boys were out hunting north of Clarion, including two
little boys of the SOULTS family. One of the SOULTS boys
accidentally shot his brother, a little child 9-years-old, and
death resulted.
Mrs. Letta JACKSON, a school teacher, subdued an unruly girl, by
force, recently at Steamboat Rock. She was discharged by the
directors, but has been justified and reinstated by the county
superintendent.
The southeast corner of the public square at Osceola burned at 1
o'clock a.m., consuming nine frame business houses. PERSEL'S
grocery, Frank EDWARDS's cigar stand, BANTA'S lunch counter, LONG
& WINTER'S meat market, the McAULDEY Lumber company, Frank
EDWARD'S lunch counter, WATT'S jewelry shop and LASHE'S shoe shop
were all burned. Loss about $15,000.
Coal Dealer M. I. MEAD, of Lyons, together with his wife, three
children, and the hired girl, were poisoned by eating bread
containing phosphorus, which was mixed with some flour for
killing rats and was accidentally mixed with other flour into the
bread which the family ate. They were taken sick shortly after
dinner, a doctor was called, and upon investigation found that
the four with phosphorus had been used. The family is getting
along nicely, however.
A murder has been committed in Osceola, shrouded in mystery. Mrs.
Mary GILLFILLAN, who had been working at the Howe hotel, left the
hotel a few evenings since, telling another employe (sic) that
she had an engagement to meet to young men at the pump house,
located at the C.B.&Q. railroad pond. After that her
whereabouts were not known until her lifeless body was found in
the pump house with a bullet hole in the temple. Deceased leaves
three children, one in Osceola and two in Illinois. A young man
named Joe WOLVERTON, with whom she had been keeping company, is
suspected and has disappeared.
Page 5
AN AGED COUNCIL BLUFFS WOMAN COMMITS SUICIDE.
Was the Mother of the Salvation Army Girl Who Shot
Captain Hattie Smith - Pathetic Passing of An Aged Couple.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Ia., Jan. 6. - An aged woman named BIEDLER,
residing on Vine street, committed suicide at her home by
hanging, last night. The woman was the mother of Miss BIEDLER,
the Salvation Army girl who shot Captain Hattie SMITH and then
took her own life in Omaha about one year ago. Old Mrs. BIEDLER
had been under treatment for insanity for some time.
DEATH OF AN OLD COUPLE.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Ia., Jan. 6 - William WARD died last evening at
his home on Vine street, aged 66 years. It was a sad affair. His
wife lay cold in death in one room while the husband was
breathing his last in another. His death was due to prostration
over the loss of his beloved wife. The husband and wife will be
buried side by side tomorrow.
PROMINENT MERCHANT DISAPPEARS.
SHELDON, Ia., Jan. 6. - Tuesday night I. E. BROWN, one of our
leading general merchants, disappeared mysteriously and no clue
to his whereabouts can be learned. No motive for his leaving can
be learned, as his business affairs are said to be in good shape,
and domestic relations all right. The deserted wife has lost her
reason and it is feared she will die.
THE BROWN WHO SKIPPED.
SHELDON, Ia., Jan. 9. - Speculation here is still rife as to the
whereabouts of Ira E. BROWN, merchant, who mysteriously
disappeared several days ago. His store has been closed by
attachment, but this wife hopes to save it. Her father is
reported to be willing to help her, and is understood to be able.
Domestic troubles is now suggested as a cause of BROWN'S
disappearance. The same day BROWN failed the agricultural
implement firm of EDGINTON, MARTIN & GATES failed, and their
stock was attached. No statement of liabilities has yet been
made.
A SOMNAMBULIST TAKES A TUMBLE.
WAUCOMA, Ia., Jan. 6. - During the past week a deaf and dumb man,
with both legs cut off above the knees, has been selling maps in
the city. It seems that he is addicted to parading about in his
sleep, and Tuesday night, just before midnight, the occupants of
the office were paralyzed by a crash like a cannon shot against
the stair door, and the body of the map agent shot out into the
room, in apparel not exactly in harmony with the time and place.
In walking about the upper hallway he had hobbled off the stair
landing and literally rolled down like a foot ball, acquiring
such velocity that the door was burst open and he was thrown ten
feet into the room. With the exception of a few comparatively
slight bruises about the head and back, he was uninjured.
ITEMS FROM LEMARS.
LEMARS, Ia., Jan. 5. - The famous case of the state vs. Hayden
McFARLAND was resubmitted to the grand jury at its recent session
and an indictment found. Some very fine points in law will
probably be developed in this case before it is settled.
The G.A.R. post and the W.R. corps had a public installation of
officers last night at their hall in this city. One of the
largest audience over assembled on such an occasion was present.
CHARLES CITY IS SORRY.
CHARLES CITY, Ia., Jan. 9. - Charles City people are now
bewailing the fact that they gave Phin POWERS and his railway
proposition to give them an outlet toward the Shell Rock, the go
by. Mr. POWERS went on with his project, but left Charles City
off the program, yet at the same time seriously interfering with
what has been its legitimate territory. The POWERS railway is a
sure thing.
GRAVES WILL APPEAL.
DUBUQUE, Ia., Jan. 9. - An appeal has been taken to the United
States supreme court in the case of R. E. GRAVES, the convicted
president of the Commercial National bank.
[transcribed by S.R.B., March 2012]