Iowa
Old Press
The New Era
Humeston, Wayne, Iowa
March 24, 1897
THE NEWS IN IOWA
BURLINGTON'S BOY BANDITS
Burlington, March 20 - Archer Broderick, aged 9; Walter Calhoun,
aged 18; Bert Dupree, aged 16; John Broderick 12; Archie
Cunningham, aged 12; Charley Childs, aged 14; Barney McGuire,
aged 14, and Charley Kelb, aged 14, were arrested by the police
and a charge of larceny placed against them. By the arrest of
this petty gang of thieves Burlington has probably gotten rid of
one of the greatest nuisances that the city has had to contend
with for some time. They have figured in more petty burglaries in
Burlington than any other organized gang that has ever invested
the city. The boys were sentenced to terms in the reform school,
most of them confessing to the crimes charged against them.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT
Marshalltown, March 17 - Edward Jorpeland, a young man about 24
years of age, was struck by a street car and received terrible
injuries. The accident was witnessed by some fifty spectators,
who saw the man's danger and warned him in due time, yet he
seemed to pay no attention whatever and walked directly before
the moving car as unconcerned as possible. Jorpeland is employed
as a starch shoveler at the glucose works.
DROWNED IN BOONE RIVER
Eagle Grove, March 20 - Dr. J.H. Travis of Eagle Grove, and
Oliver Kirkberg, who lived four miles west of town, were drowned
in the Boone river near John Wasem's. The doctor had been
visiting his patients in the vicinity and had passed safely over
the bridge a few hours before, but the graded approach had washed
out and the horses sank and carried the buggy and its occupants
into the water.
Dr. Bobo Indicted.
Anamosa, March 18 - Dr. Bobo, the Oxford Mills physician who has
been before the grand jury in this city for several days under
the charge of having caused the death of Miss Belle Sutliff by
abortion, at Oxford Mills, a short time ago, has been indicted by
the grand jury. The bond was increased to $3,000. This will be a
hard fought trial and much interesting testimony will be brought
in on both sides, but little doubt seems to be in the minds of
the public hereabouts that he will be convicted.
Suicide at Creston
Creston, March 20 - Will Hanneman suicided by cutting his throat
with a razor. He committed the deed in a water closet, where he
was found by his wife. He had been in the asylum returning home
three weeks ago. He leaves a wife and three children.
Mrs. Mains Wins
Des Moines, March 18 - Mrs. Mains, who was wedded to her husband,
who came to Des Moines from Menlo to secure a wife, has been
granted temporary alimony with which to procure a divorce.
FEARFUL IOWA TRAGEDY
Odebolt, March 19 - Dave Pennington loaded a shotgun and started
out to kill a number of people who had incurred his enmity. He
first hunted for A.P. Walter, against whom he had a grudge, but
Walter saw him coming and hid. Then Pennington went to the house
of Hiram Johnson and fired at Mrs. Johnson, seriously wounding
her in the shoulder and back. He next emptied both barrels into
Luther Traver, an aged man, killing him instantly. Then he
pointed the gun at Mrs. Frank Stolt, a neighbor, who came to the
door on hearing the noise. She ran into the doorway, closing the
storm door behind her, but he fired through the door, wounding
her in the abdomen. Pennington retreated across some vacant lots,
loading his gun as he went, and called to an officer, daring him
to shoot. He exclaimed: "Well, if you haven't got the never
to shoot, I have." Then he placed the nozzle of the gun to
his forehead and blew the top of his head off, scattering brains
and pieces of skull fifty feet. Pennington was undoubtedly
insane. It is thought Mrs. Stolt cannot recover, but Mrs.
Johnson's injuries, while severe, are not fatal.
A Clinton County Woman's Suicide
Clinton, March 19 - Mrs. Wm. Semper, living two miles and
one-half miles northwest of Calamus, escaped the vigilance of her
family, made her way to the Wapsie river and jumped in. She was
seen to jump by some boys, who gave the alarm at once. Mrs.
Semper had had a mild form of insanity for several years, and had
twice been an inmate of an insane hospital, but it was thought
she was sufficiently recovered to warrant her staying at home.
IOWA CONDENSED
- Advices from Minneapolis bring the announcement of the death of
Mrs. Victor B. Dolliver, nee Augusta Larrabee, daughter of
ex-Governor Larrabee, who was married to the brother of
Congressman Dolliver six months ago.
- Richard Ripperton committed suicide in the Draco Sanitarium at
Anamosa recently by taking morphine. He had a bone tumor growing
in his throat as large as a goose egg and he had been at Iowa
City and before a great many specialists, but none gave him any
hope. He finally came to Anamosa and Dr. Gowley began a treatment
with electric needles and, it is said, was curing him. He became
despondent, and when the doctor was called he was in terrible
agony and lasted but a short time. It was a very sad case. The
doctor thinks there is no doubt that it was suicide.
[transcribed by C.J.L., March 2007]