Iowa
Old Press
The Schaller Herald
Schaller, Sac Co. Iowa
March 4, 1897
The fastest time ever made on the Lake City branch of the
Northwestern was by Engineer Clifford Bates of Lake City. While
on his run he received word by wire at Onawa that his wife, who
had been ill, while in a fit of mental aberration had thrown
herself in the cistern and was dead. The division superintendent,
upon learning of it, promptly gave Bates the privilege of cutting
his engine loose from the freight train he was pulling and making
the best possible time hoe. The distance is eighty-five miles and
he made the trip in seventy-five minutes.
Married, at the Mondamin Hotel, Sioux City, Miss Jessie Nicholson
to J. B. Gordon. The young folks rather stole a march on the
people hereabouts by going over to Sioux City, but nevertheless,
they will receive the congratulations and well wishes of their
friends. The young couple returned home today and will soon
settle down to housekeeping.
[transcribed by A.N., August 2012]
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The Schaller Herald
Schaller, Sac Co. Iowa
March 25, 1897
M. S. Lee, a resident of Sac county for about forty years, died
at his home in Sac City, March 12, in his 76th year.
Suicide in Silver Creek
Word was brought to town Wednesday morning that Mrs. John Barley,
living southwest of town near the Silver Creek church, had
committed suicide by shooting herself with a shotgun. She has not
been in her right mind for some time. Some time ago she tried to
buy poison from Ida Grove druggists but failed to get the stuff.
The particulars, so far as we could learn, were to the effect
that about a year ago she and her husband were induced by an Ida
Grove land agent to trade their farm for another. The agent was
unscrupulous in his dealings and fleeced the old couple. This so
weighed upon the mind of the woman that she became somewhat
unbalanced and the act of yesterday morning was the culmination
of a tricky land deal.
Safe In The Upper Fold - Little Maude Harris
Died - At the residence of her parents, in Eden township, two
miles southeast of Schaller, Wednesday morning, March 24, '97, of
peritonitis, Maud [sic] Harris, the youngest daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. James Harris, aged seven years and about two months.
The death of this dear little child comes with sudden sorrow to
this home, although they were in a measure prepared for the
worst. Little Maude had been sick about ten days and has been a
patient sufferer, always appearing bright and cheerful. Her
condition became so much worse, that Tuesday morning it was
decided an operation was the one chance in many of saving the
little one's life, and Dr. Wright of Carroll, assisted by Dr.
Andre, the family physician, performed the operation which was
thought might save the life of this dear girl. She did rally for
a time and bright hopes dawned for the anxious parents and
sisters, but God, in his infinite wisdom, saw fit to take this
dear one home.
Her funeral was held this (Thursday) afternoon from the Christian
church, and the house was crowded with sympathizing friends. And
as the bereaved father and mother, and sisters looked for the
last time upon the little sleeper resting so peacefully among
fragrant flowers, and saw the manifestations of earnest sympathy
from neighbors and friends about them it must have served, in a
great measure, to mitigate their great sorrow, and help them to
submit to the Great Ruler and say "thy will be done."
Murder at Odebolt - Dave Pennington
Shoots Three Persons Then Takes His Own Life. One of His Victims
Will Recover. Details of the Tragedy.
Dave Pennington, of Odebolt, an irresponsible character, last
Thursday shot two women and one man then himself. A correspondent
in the Sioux City Journal gives the following account of
the tragedy:
Odebolt, March 19- Mrs. Stolt, one of the women shot by Dave
Pennington yesterday, died at 3:15 this afternoon. She was about
30 years old, an estimable woman, the mother of four little
children. Her husband is manager of the Green Bay Lumber company
here. Mrs. Johnson received a load of BB shot in the back and
shoulder. Her injuries are severe, but she will recover. Luther
Traver, who was killed instantly by Pennington, was a wealthy
retired farmer who built a fine residence here a year ago and was
enjoying life with his family. He was about 65 years old and was
a man of considerable native ability and highly respected by the
whole community.
Dave Pennington, the murderer, was a carpenter. He came to this
locality three years ago with a wife, whom he had married as a
widow, and located temporarily on a farm near Odebolt. Shortly
after their arrival Mrs. Pennington died in childbirth, leaving
two little boys by her former husband. The boys are now living
near Early on a farm. Pennington seemed to think a good deal of
them. It is said Mrs. Pennington formerly lived near Atlantic but
no one knows her former name and he told conflicting stories as
to his own former location. The neighbors say that he was good to
his family and behaved well while his wife lived. After her death
he worked part of the time at the carpenter trade and
occasionally worked at farm work in this vicinity. For the past
six months he has occupied a room over a hardware store in
Odebolt, where it is said he made a living by running a poker
game. For a long time he was apparently on very intimate terms
with a married woman of Odebolt and persisted in frequenting the
house, against the protest of her husband.
Pennington always stoutly denied unlawful intimacy with the woman
in question and made threats that he would get even with the
neighbors, whom he accused of lying about their relations. About
two weeks ago Pennington was found in his room unconscious. On
being resuscitated, he said he had taken an overdose of medicine
and was half sorry it hadn't killed him. He said people were
lying about him and he didn't care to live. He was soon able to
be out and no change in his actions was observed. He was
uncommunicative as a rule. Yesterday afternoon he got possession
of a gun, which had been left at the hardware store for repairs,
by saying that the owner had authorized him to get it and hunt
geese. He purchased a lot of BB shot and loaded his cartridges in
the [gun] before leaving for the scene of his crime. He evinced
no excitement and in response to a query said he was gong after
geese. He first went to the house of A. F. Walter, which is
occupied by Walter, his daughter, Hannah, two other children and
a family named Christensen. He had met Hannah in the forenoon on
the street and told her he would kill her and her father if she
did not marry him. Walter saw him coming, and hid in another
house and Hannah and Mrs. Christensen ran to the home of Hiram
Johnson, near by without Pennington seeing them.
The latter went to the Walter house, tried the door and then came
to Johnson's where he demanded of Mrs. Johnson if Hannah Walter
was in the house. She said "No," where upon he called
her a liar and went around to the front door, which was locked.
Meanwhile Mrs. Johnson ran out to summon help. When about fifty
feet away Pennington fired, the charge striking her in the
shoulder and back. She fell on the sidewalk, and her assailant
stepped over he body and went east a block, where he saw Mr.
Traver walking in his back yard. He said "What would you
think if I should shoot you?" to which Mr. Traver replied:
"Oh, you wouldn't shoot any body."
Pennington raised his gun and fired. A few shot struck the old
man in the side and he winced. Then the murderer fired the second
barrel and he fell a corpse, the shot penetrating his brain. The
assassin then walked up the street a few feet and took aim at
Mrs. Stolt, who had come out on hearing the noise. She ran back
into the house, closing the storm door after her but Pennington
fired through the door, mortally wounding her in the abdomen. He
then walked slowly down the street saying to Rev. Wm. Meyers, who
met him: "I have killed old man Traver," repeating the
words in a singsong tone several times. By this time the
neighborhood was aroused, and officers had been sent for.
Pennington went back toward the Walter residence, cutting across
lots. Just before he reached the house constable Flathers headed
him off, and called to him to stay away from there. Pennington
stopped and warned Flathers, who was advancing on him, not to
come nearer. Said he: "I don't want to kill you, but there's
one more I want to get. Go back and I won't kill you."
Flathers continued to advance, parleying with Pennington until
within a few feet of him. Then Pennington dared him to shoot,
still covering him with the gun. Suddenly he placed the muzzle of
the gun to his own forehead and blew the top of his head off. In
his pocket was found a razor and one shell and one shell remained
in the gun. There is no doubt that he intended from the start to
suicide after he had completed his bloody work. The other
intended victim was undoubtedly Hannah Walter. Pennington was
about 38 years gold. It is said that his father and mother live
in Nebraska but their address is not attainable at this hour.
Coroner Hopkins arrived this morning, but decided that an inquest
was not necessary. Luther Traver will be buried in Sunday.
Pennington's remains are unclaimed and will probably be buried at
public expense. He left no property with the exception of a few
articles of furniture, some trinkets and 15 cents in money.
[transcribed by A.N., October 2012]