Iowa
Old Press
New Era
Humeston, Wayne county, Iowa
March 6, 1895
SELECTED HAWKEYE MENTION
Murder at Newton
Ex-Sheriff Zollinger Reaches his Home Bleeding and Dying.
NEWTON, Feb. 26 - This community was greatly shocked when the
news spread that J.R. Zollinger, a prominent merchant and an
ex-sheriff, was found dead and had probably been murdered. Mr.
Zollinger left his place of business about 9:30 and when he
reached home his wife noticed blood flowing down over his face,
and, on inquiring what was the matter, he stated that he had
fallen or been hit. These are the only words he spoke. A
physician was summoned and on examination a large gash was found
on his head. He never regained consciousness, but died between 12
and 1 o'clock It is a very mysterious case, some believing he was
waylaid, and the thug, failing to bring down his victim, had fled
without accomplishing his full purpose, that of robbery, nothing
on his person having been taken. Others think he was overcome
with a stroke of apoplexy and struck his head against an electric
wire pole. Whichever it was happened within a few rods of his
home. Two clubs were found near the spot where the first blood
was visible, which makes it look like a case of murder. Mr.
Zollinger had been a captain in the army, and his funeral was
conducted by Masonic and G.A.R. organizations of Newton.
A Romantic Tale
Shady Grove Merchant Marries to Avoid a Damage Suit.
INDEPENDENCE, March 4 - Otto Stumma is a merchant of Shady Grove
who for the past year has had hankerings toward the matrimonial
state. In answering an advertisement he formed the acquaintance
of a young lady in Indiana and considered himself settled for
life, but the lady had other admirers and one day surprised him
by announcing her marriage. Otto's heart was badly damaged, but
he applied the cement of courage and wrote to the cause of all
his grief for recommendations to another desirable young lady.
Miss Maud Avery is a native of Nashville, Tenn., and a southern
belle of the most dashing type. For four years she has worked at
the dressmaker's table and wearying of this toil she longed for a
home of her own and accepted her friend's recommendation. The day
was set, and ten days ago she arrived in this city. Stumma called
at the hotel and set Sunday for the wedding day. Sunday arrived,
but no groom, also Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday
Stumma came to town, but was in a very reluctant spirit, and it
was not until visions of a damage suit were before him that he
consented.
An Insane Act
Dead Body of Charles Vetter Found in a Cornfield.
CARROLL, March 1 - A few days ago the dead body of a man was
found in a cornfield near Halbur. Investigation by the sheriff
and coroner disclosed the fact that the corpse was that of
Charles Vetter. He was a cripple and by his side lay two canes
and a bottle of strychnine and some orange peelings. Vetter was
lying on his face, which was black, one hand grasping with the
grip of a vice some binding twine, the other his overcoat. The
bottle of strychnine was half empty and cracked. In his pockets
were found $100 in gold, $6,50 in silver and some deeds, tax
certificates and receipts. The theory is that he took half the
strychnine - enough to have killed half the people in the
township - and then at the orange to remove the bitter taste.
Vetter was a bachelor about 60 years old, and comfortably fixed.
He lived with his brother, and for several weeks has complained
of a terrible pain in his head, and has been subject to fits of
melancholy.
CONDENSED ITEMS
- A few days ago a drunken row in the town of Thompson ended in
one man being morally [sic] wounded and the perpetrator under
arrest. The circumstances are about this way: A brother of the
celebrated Eugene Riley, who was chewed by a bull dog a few years
ago, in company with one Whitrock, filed up on illegal whisky and
went down to August Gartke's blacksmith shop to get him drunk and
induce him to go on Riley's bond, or perhaps, compel him to. When
Gartke refused Riley assaulted him with a club and Gartke
returned the assault with a large monkey wrench, and broke
Riley's skull. Riley is expected to die.
- A noted criminal has been received at the Anamosa prison from
Fort Dodge in the person of Henry Gillespie. He is a mulatto, and
has since his residence of three years in Fort Dodge commanded
the good will of all with whom he came in contact on account of
his great strength and fierceness. About the middle of December
there was confined in the city jail for prostitution a girl by
the name of Lena Anderson. During the night some one forced the
lock from the door and gained an entrance to the cell, blew out
the candle the defenseless girl had burning and committed the
crime of rape. In the morning the girl told the story of the
assault upon her person and Gillespie was arrested. At a
preliminary hearing he was bound over to await the action of the
grand jury. He was indicted and his trial was had recently. The
jury after being out five hours returned a verdict of guilty. The
case created all the more interest on account of the reputation
of Gillespie previous to his going to Fort Dodge. He came from
Sioux City and from what was reported at the trial and what was
leaked out since, he is supposed to have been implicated in the
Haddock murder case. At the time of his going to Fort Dodge his
check was good for $5,000 and he still owns considerable
property. For the past year up to the time of his arrest he has
been assisting the city of Fort Dodge in various ways and had
behaved himself as a gentleman.
[transcribed by C.J.L., March 2007]