Iowa Old Press
The Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Woodbury co., Iowa
Wednesday, October 11, 1905
Smith-Schultz Case
Storm Lake, Io., Oct. 10, 1905—To the Editor: The
item which appeared in Sunday’s Journal which
stated in substance that Mrs. A. A. Smith had stated that there
had been neither assault nor attempted assault on her by H. F.
Schultz is strenuously denied by A. A. Smith’s attorney, F.
F. Fayville, of this city. The information was not sent in by the
Journal’s regular correspondent here. Charles H. J.
Mitchell.
[transcribed by L.Z., October 2018]
Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Woodbury co. Iowa
October 16, 1905
MURDER IN A HACK
MAN KILLED DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND ENDS OWN LIFE
MOTIVE IS A DEEP MYSTERY
TRAGEDY OCCURRED ON WAY TO RAILROAD STATION
RELATIONS WERE IMPROPER
E.H. Darrow, Mining Promoter of Lead, S.D., After Staying at
Hotel with Mrs. W.E. Darrow, His Son's Wife, Fires a Bullet Into
Her Brain and Turns Pistol on Self
E.H. Darrow, aged 60, of Lead, S.D. formerly of Sioux Falls, a
promoter for the Hidden Spanish Mining company of Lead, at 4:30
o'clock yesterday afternoon shot and instantly killed the wife of
his son, W.E. Darrow, of Belle Fourche, S.D., a woman of 24, and
then put a bullet through his own brain, dying in a few minutes.
The tragedy took place in a hack which had been engaged by Darrow
to carry him and his daughter-in-law from the Arcade hotel,
Fourth and Jones Streets, where they had been staying, to the
Chicago and Northwestern passenger station. The murder was
committed as the hack was spinning along in Third street, between
Jones and Jackson streets.
SHOOTS HIMSELF
The man shot himself just as the hack was about to be turned out
of Third street down Nebraska street toward the railway station,
a distance of about a block from the spot where the first shot
was fired. The hack was being driven by Michael McCann, who is in
the service of A.
Boynton. McCann told Chief of Police Dineen that he thought that
the first report was the bursting of one of his tires. He was
driving along looking down at the wheels, attempting to find an
explanation for the explosion, when the second shot was fired.
There was no mistake about the location of this sound. It came
from the inside of the hack. McCann pulled up his horses and
jumped down from the seat. As he peered into the hack a ghastly
sight met his gaze.
A GHASTLY SIGHT
The woman's head, with brains oozing from a bloody hole above her
right ear, had fallen over toward the man, who was sitting bolt
upright with a glassy fixed stare. The woman was dead; the man
was dying. Neither had spoken a word loud enough for McCann to
hear. The revolver, a small calibered gun, had slipped from his
nerveless fingers and lay upon the bottom of the hack at his
feet. The woman was on the man's left and each was shot above the
right ear. Leaping up to the seat, McCann snatched up the reins
and drove rapidly to police headquarters, three and one-half
blocks westward. Chief Dineen was in his private office on the
second floor. The usual force was around the station. It had been
a quiet, sleepy Sunday afternoon. When the hack dashed up and the
driver informed the officers of his charge, the scene changed in
the twinkling of an eye.
PULSE BEAT BUT A MINUTE
The bodies were carried in on stretchers and placed upon tables
in the operating room. The woman was stone dead. The pulse of the
man still beat feebly and after a minute or two stopped beating
altogether. Coroner Robbins viewed the bodies and ordered them
removed to the Nelson morgue, 1002 Fourth street, where an
inquest will be held some time today. Back of this frightful
tragedy, so quickly enacted, there grins a family skeleton awful
in its hideousness.
AS MAN AND WIFE
Darrow had been traveling and living with his son's wife,
representing her to be his own wife. They occupied the same room
at the Arcade hotel on the night of October 10 and again last
Saturday night, October 14, registering each time as "Mr.
and Mrs. Darrow, Lead, S.D." He avoided the use of initials.
Between the 10th and the 14th Darrow and his pretty
daughter-in-law made a trip to Sioux Falls, where Darrow's wife
is living at the home of their married daughter, Mrs. W.A. Dick.
He did not call on her and the younger Mrs. Darrow did not visit
any of the friends who knew her as Lillian Nellie Morrison,
country school teacher. The couple returned to Sioux City
Saturday evening and went to the Arcade, engaging a room. Darrow
said they would want the room until late Sunday afternoon. The
man and woman were looked upon by the hotel people as husband and
wife. They kept to their room pretty closely and attracted no
special attention. They ate dinner in the cafe at 1 o'clock and
returned from the dining room to their apartment. About 4 o'clock
Mr. Darrow appeared at the desk and paid his bill, asking the
clerk to telephone for a hack to take him and his wife to the
train. McCann answered the call at the hack stand.
THEY ENTER THE HACK
When the hack arrived at the hotel, Oscar L. Johnson, proprietor
of the hotel, escorted Darrow and the woman to the edge of the
sidewalk, shaking hands with Darrow and bidding him goodbye. Both
the man and woman seemed in excellent spirits. Their baggage,
consisting of a valise, in which his effects were packed, and a
suit case, holding her things, was placed upon the hack and the
order was given to the driver to go to the Northwestern depot.
"Well, goodby, Mr. Darrow; when you and Mrs. Darrow are in
town again come and see us," Mr. Johnson said. "All
right, we will; goodby" replied Darrow, and the hack turned
down Jones street on its way to the railway station. Darrow at
this time was entirely composed and gave no evidence of the
terrible deed which evidently was in his mind.
HAD LITTLE MONEY
In his pockets he had less than $5 (?); the woman had 71 cents.
They could not have traveled very far on that amount. In the
bosom of the woman's dress where it had been thrust, was a
letter, which told of still another attachment in addition to the
unholy love for her father-in-law. This letter was discovered
when the body was undressed at the morgue. The theory of the
police is that Darrow had got hold of this letter, which was
dated at Lead October 12, and received by the woman Saturday
night or yesterday. The receiving stamp of the Sioux City
postoffice showed that the letter came in October 14. The writer
not only told of his own love for the woman, but he showed that
he knew she was making this trip with her father-in-law.
INSANELY JEALOUS
The police believe that Darrow either was insanely jealous of the
woman or that he decided that because of his financial condition
he and the woman should die together. Strength is given to this
latter theory by the discovery of certain sentiments which were
found written in notebooks of the couple. In Darrow's book was
the following: Dying in poverty is nothing; Living in poverty is
hell. In the woman's book were these wild words written
underneath one another, after the style of a newspaper heading:
Five Orphans---Nell and Mae---Father and Mother---Lover---Years
of Traveling---Trouble---Arrested---Innocent---Beautiful
Home---Maniac---Trial---Victory!
LETTER FROM "C.C.T."
The letter from Lead, which may have caused the woman to lose her
life and her murderer to kill himself, was signed
"C.C.T." It was addressed to Mrs. Lillian Darrow, Sioux
City, IA. It must have been called for at the general delivery.
From the appearance of the crumpled epistle it had been hastily
thrust into her dress. The letter was as follows: Lead City,
S.D., Thursday p.m.--Sweetheart Nellie: I received your letter
today, from Sioux City and also one Tuesday from Chadron, Neb.
You asked me in your Chadron letter to write you at Sioux City
and I didn't answer it. I knew not how to answer it, nor neither
do I know how to answer this one. I worked as long as I could
after you left until I could stand it no longer. What have I to
work for? I have asked myself this question many times since you
left me all alone. Now, Kid, I promised myself before I started
to write that I would not scold you nor find fault with you in
any way. For that seems to do no good anyway. Oh, how often I
have prayed for you, for you are the only one on earth I love and
no doubt mamma has done the same, but all in vain. Oh, Kid, I do
love you and always will. Go ahead, Nellie. Do as you feel best
and remember above all things the kid you left in Lead City
brokenhearted, but love you just the same. I am done doing the
planning here after that Kid this will be for you to do from now
on. Nellie I have a chance to go to Oregon for nothing, but
wanted to ask you something, but can't do it. Yes, Nellie, I love
you still in the same old way and always will as long as I live.
But I don't think this will be long. I have been in bed all day
since dinner yesterday. Why can't I end it all. I won't have nay
troubles after awhile. You ask me if I'm true. Don't ask me that
Nellie. It is different than that that is driving me crazy since
you left me here all alone. Don't ask me Kid about my promises. I
guess you know I haven't broken any of mine. I'll just ask you
one qustion and that's all: Kid why didn't you tell Charlie you
and E.H. were going away on a trip Friday? You were up at the
Campbell house. I knew something was up, but didn't know what. I
will have to close Nellie. I can't stand it much longer. But I
won't find any fault with you hun. Be happy and have a good time.
I have always tried to make you happy. I know I used to get a
little cross at times. I used to be oh so happy when with you and
I love you just as hard tonight as ever. It is a love that can't
grow cold. I do try to do as you want me to do and as you asked
me to do. Why can't you do the same? But you left. Not even a
picture of yours have I. I don't wish you any harm Nellie. I only
wish everything is for the best. Be a good Kid for this was your
dying mother's prayer as well as my prayer. Don't forget the
blue-eyed boy you left brokenhearted for he loves you Oh so hard.
Sweetheart, I can't stand everything. I can't last long this way
for I'm wearing my heart away for you Kid. So be a good Kid. Oh
Nellie you don't know what a night this will be for me. But have
a good time. I can stand the pain and trouble. I suppose E. H.
will take care of you. I won't say any more; these tears tell the
rest. I used to long for our happy home, but I long for the grave
tonight. So good night my dear. C.C.T.
WOMAN HAD REVOLVER
When the woman's suit case was examined at the police station a
32-caliber Iver-Johnson revolver, loaded, was found. Among her
letters was one addressed to "Mrs. Nellie Darrow, Deadwood,
S.D." and was from a sister, who lives at 297 Ashland
boulevard, Chicago. The letter was written September 27, 1905,
and the sister wanted $25 to pay for her tuition. A prescription
for syrup of hypo-phosphites, which is used for nervous troubles,
was among her effects. The prescription was written by Dr.
Moffitt, Deadwood. She also had an account book of the Union
National bank, Sioux Falls, in which she kept account of her
expenses. The remainder of the room in the suit case was taken up
with a mirror, brush and comb, a bottle of perfume, a pair of
patent leather low shoes, other articles of women's wear and a
novel or two. Among Darrow's papers were many contracts and old
papers, one of which was the honorable discharge of Erasmus H.
Darrow, a union soldier, from a Wisconsin regiment. It was
thought this must have been Darrow's father. The discharge was
dated July 1865.
LETTER FROM SENATOR KITTREDGE
In one corner of the valise was carefully tucked an open letter
of recommendation from United States Senator A.B. Kittredge, in
which the senator said he had known Mr. Darrow for twenty years
and he warmly commended him to others. In his notebook was found
the following which would further indicate that Darrow might have
contemplated suicide: Lemuel Darrow, La Porte, Ind., lawyer, and
mayor of the city is my cousin. The addresses of several women
were written in the book. Among the letters was one from James A.
Blanchard, supreme court, judges chambers, court house, Chambers
street, New York, in which the writer said to Darrow that he
thought his notion of an estate near Trinity church was
chimerical. A book of blank stock subscriptions of the Hidden
Spanish Mining company was in the pile of papers. Darrow's valise
bore a tag with the address "E.H. Darrow, 417 West Twelfth
street, Sioux Falls." This is the address of his son-in-law,
Mr. Dick, and it was thought that he expected the valise would be
sent there.
CROWD AT MORGUE
News of the tragedy spread rapidly through the city and the
telephone bells at police headquarters and newspaper office were
kept ringing until late last night. Lower fourth street was
blocked by the immense crowd which gathered in front of the
morgue. At 8:30 o'clock the embalming of the bodies had been
finished and the doors were thrown open to the public. Thousands
of men and women looked upon the faces of the strong feathered,
sandy mustached man and the dark haired woman, young enough to be
his daughter.
THE HACKDRIVER'S STORY
McCANN SAYS PRINCIPALS SEEMED TO BE IN JOVIAL MOOD
Michael McCann, the hackdriver, said that he was coming back from
a funeral when a man standing in front of the Arcade hotel,
Fourth and Jones street, hailed him. The man, who has since been
identified as E.H. Darrow, remarked in a nonchalant way: "If
you are not busy in thirty minutes drop around here." At the
appointed time, McCann made the call. Darrow and the woman got
into the hack and he was directed to take them to the
Northwestern depot. McCann drove down Jones street to Third
street, where he turned west. Between Jones and Jackson street he
heard a report. He thought he had run over a blank cartridge or a
bottle or that a tire had burst, and paid no further attention.
In the next block between Jackson and Nebraska streets, he was
attracted by a man who was pointing excitedly at the hack. He
could not hear what he was saying, but thinking the door was open
or the couple wanted to get out, he looked down through the glass
behind the boot. The woman was gazing up at him and he did not
think she was dead. McCann jumped off the hack and discovered the
tragedy. He then drove to police headquarters. McCann says that
Darrow had been cool and deliberate and he and the woman had
given no evidence of perturbation. In fact they had seemed to be
in high spirits.
WIFE WAS PROSTRATED
MRS. E.H. DARROW, AT SIOUX FALLS, LEARNS OF THE TRAGEDY
Sioux Falls, S.D., Oct. 15--Special: E.H. Darrow brought his
family to Sioux Falls from his farm near the city about twenty
years ago. The family consisted of Mrs. Darrow, two sons and a
daughter. About five years ago W.E. Darrow, one of the sons, met
and loved Miss Lillian Nellie Morrison, a pretty black eyed
school teacher, 19 years of age, who was teaching a district
school near the city. He wooed and won the girl and married her
against the wishes of his mother. Not much was known of the girl
here in Sioux Falls except that she was attractive in appearance,
vivacious and had a wealthy uncle, named William Morrison, living
at Russell, Kan. The daughter married W.A. Dick, of Dick and
Hargo, proprietors of a local meat market; and the youngest son
went to Omaha, where he not is a student in a college of
dentistry. A few years ago W.E. Darrow and his school teacher
bride removed to the Black Hills, where the senior Darrow was
engaged in promoting his mining schemes. The son became an
assistant to his father. A short time after the arrival of the
son and his wife the father and mother of the son began to
disagree, with the result that three years ago they separated and
she came back to Sioux Falls and has been residing with her
daughter at the Dick home, 417 West Twelfth street. It was said
here tonight that it was suspected by other members of the family
that the relations between the father and his son's wife were not
proper, but that these suspicions were always kept from the
mother. She is a good Christian woman and has the respect of all
who know her. When she was told this evening of the tragedy many
of the facts were kept from her, but she was prostrated and could
not be consoled. E.H. Darrow and Mrs. W.E. Darrow were in Sioux
Falls last Wednesday and Thursday, but they did not go near their
relatives. Mr. Dick said tonight that so far as the family knew
the relations between W.E. Darrow and his wife had been
harmonious. They had no children. News of the tragedy in Sioux
City caused a sensation here among the friends of the man and
woman and of the heartbroken woman who is made a widow by the
suicide. Darrow had friends here among men prominent in public
life and their first desire was to shield his wife.
[transcribed by N.Y., March 2007]
Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Woodbury co. Iowa
Tuesday, October 17, 1905
JEALOUSY WAS THE CAUSE
DARROW FEARED HE WOULD LOSE THE WOMAN
INQUEST OVER THE BODIES
IT WAS HELD YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, BUT DEVELOPED LITTLE NEW
INFORMATION--RELATIVES OF DEAD MAN TELL ABOUT THE FAMILY SKELETON
Jealousy and fear that a younger suitor might win the affections
he had illicitly enjoyed in all probability were at the bottom of
the double tragedy in which E.H.Darrow, of Lead, S.D., killed
Mrs. W.E. Darrow, his daughter-in-law, and then took his own
life. Few new facts of importance were developed yesterday,
although Coroner Robbins in the afternoon held an inquest over
the bodies. In interviews earlier in the day, however, relatives
and friends of the victims threw some light on the mystery which
had surrounded the shocking death of the 60 year-old lover and
his 24 year old paramour. The coroner's jury brought in the
simple verdict that Darrow had murdered the wife of his son, and
afterwards committed suicide. The testimony was conclusive.
SON TAKES THE STAND
With the tears starting from his big blue eyes, George E. Darrow,
son of the murdered, testified as to the identity of the dead
couple. He said, "They were in Omaha one week ago today and
had dinner with me. We had a pleasant evening and I never had any
idea anything was wrong. I haven't been home for ten years and
was in utter ignorance of the conditions. I imagined father and
my brother's wife were just taking a little trip together."
Michael McCann, driver of the cab in which the tragedy took
place, said that he had been hailed at Fourth and Jones streets
by a man and a woman. "They asked me to drive them to the
Northwestern depot," he said. "They got into the cab
with a few pieces of baggage and I thought that they were going
to take the train to Deadwood, which leaves at 4:15 o'clock. I
did not hurry, for I knew that I had plenty of time. I went down
to Third street, as it was better traveling that way."
HOW SHOOTING WAS DONE
McCann paused in his testimony for a moment while he wiped the
perspiration from his brow. "As we turned west in Third
street between Jackson and Nebraska streets I head an explosion.
I thought that I had run over something. I looked around, but saw
that everything was all right. I drove on and just as I turned
the corner of Third and Nebraska streets I heard the sound of the
second shot. I looked into the cab and saw the blood trickling
down from the right temple of the woman. That was enough. I
turned around and immediately drove to the police station. That's
all I know about the matter." "What is your idea of the
crime?" inquired one of the jurors. "Well, I think
Darrow killed the woman and then waited long enough to be sure
that she was dead before blowing out his own brains."
REVOLVER IN EVIDENCE
The revolver was introduced in evidence. It was a 32-caliber and
of the Forehand Arms company make. Two of the five chambers were
discharged. Another gun, evidently belonging to the woman, and
which had been found in her valise, was an Iver-Johnson one of
the same caliber, fully loaded. Oscar L. Johnson, landlord of the
Arcade hotel, where the dead couple had roomed, told of their
registering on October 10. "They stayed one night and then
left," said Mr. Johnson. "They came back Saturday night
and Darrow said that he expected other parties to meet him. He
requested that if they came they be given a room next to them.
Nobody came." Mr. Johnson said that the Darrows kept to
their rooms most of the time. "They were evidently much
taken up with one another," he said. "When they left I
went to the cab with them and helped them in. Darrow and I shook
hands at parting and I asked him to come back and see me some
time. He smiled and said he did not think he would ever get back
to Sioux City again." Walter Dick of Sioux Falls, S.D. was
placed upon the stand to identify the dead man and woman. Officer
Harvey, who first saw the victims when they were driven to the
police station, detailed the incidents of the arrival of the cab.
"I happened to be at the station when the cab drove
up," he said. "McCann attracted my attention by saying
he thought that he had a couple of dead ones. I thought that he
meant drunks, and opened the door of the carriage. I saw blood on
the faces of both and I called for other officers. On the floor
of the cab between the legs of the man was the revolver. His head
was in an almost life-like position, while the head of the woman
was leaning back against the cushions. The brains were oozing out
of both heads." "Do you think Darrow did the
shooting?" inquired the coroner. "I don't think there
is any question about that," answered the officer. Officer
Harvey said that neither moved after arriving at the police
station.
GUN DID ITS WORK
"I thought that there might be a little life in the bodies
when I assisted in taking them out of the carriage," said
Chief of Police Dineen. "They were gurgling, but it may have
been a post-mortem symptom. No, I did not see the gun," in
response to a question of one of the jurors. "It was a
better gun than the police carry, was it not?" inquired a
juror. "Well, it certainly did the work," was the
noncommittal reply of the chief. There were some few questions,
as a matter of course, as to the possibility of the woman having
done the shooting. But the evidence and opinions were all the
other way. The jurors were: W.H. Jones of Leeds; G.C. Miller, of
717 Jennings street, and A.W. Johnson, of 711 Fourth Street.
WOMAN IS CENSURED
SON-IN-LAW TELLS SOME OF THE INSIDE HISTORY OF THE CASE
Walter A. Dick, of Sioux Falls, son-in-law of E.H. Darrow,
arrived in Sioux City yesterday to take charge of his remains.
"We will take the body of the old gentleman back to Sioux
Falls for burial," said he. "How about the woman?"
"I don't care a d____ what becomes of her." The body of
Darrow was sent to Sioux Falls last night. Mr. Dick told some
inside history of his father-in-law yesterday when questioned in
regard to his past. "Lillian Nellie Morrison was a teacher
at a school near the Darrow farm half a dozen years ago," he
said. "She boarded at the Darrow home and this finally
culminated in her marriage with William Darrow. The old gentleman
became smitten with her and this was the cause of a separation
between Darrow and his wife. Mrs. Darrow has made her home with
my family for several years. "Darrow sold his farm, a half
section of as good property as there was in South Dakota. He
first went to Kansas--for this was after the separation--and then
he went to Alberta, a province of northwest Canada. He finally
came back to the Black HIlls and there was joined by the younger
Mrs. Darrow. "My father-in-law had a good deal of money at
that time, but the pair led a strenuous life. Nothing was too
good for Nellie. Darrow went into mining ventures in order to
enable him to give the means for the life which she loved. He
lost most of his money, and for the past few years has been
working night and day. We have made every possible effort to
estrange him from the woman, but have never been
successful." Mr. Dick visited the morgue in the afternoon.
"Yes, that's the pair," he said, without emotion as he
stood unknown in a large crowd of curious Sioux Cityans. He
leaned over and looked at both closely. "She seems to have
gone through much since I last saw her," he said. "She
was a fine looking woman, and he was a fine looking man.
Well," and he sighed, "I suppose that it is fate."
And then he turned and walked away without another word.
YOUNG MAN IN THE CASE
ELDER DARROW AND MRS. W.E. DARROW OFTEN QUARRELED OVER HIM
Deadwood, S.D., Oct. 16--Special: Lillian Darrow, who was killed
in Sioux City Sunday by her father-in-law, E.H. Darrow, had lived
in Lead four years. Three years ago Mrs. Darrow was divorced from
her husband, Will E. Darrow, son of E.H. At the time of the
divorce trial the young couple was living with Mr. and Mrs. E.H.
Darrow. The elder Mrs. Darrow left her husband at this time,
alleging non-support. Two years ago Lillian Darrow was remarried
to her former husband since which time they have lived in
apartments with the senior Darrow. Young Darrow worked in the
Homestake mine until last spring. He is now employed with a
thrashing outfit at Belle Fourche as an engineer. He never
supported his wife well, and they had trouble over that. The old
man was currently reported to have been in love with Lillian and
was very jealous of her. This summer a young man who boarded with
the family caused further trouble. In August Lillian and her
father-in-law took rooms in the Syndicate block, Deadwood. They
left here October 6 for Omaha. Their rooms are still held in
their name and are filled with their belongings. Mrs. Will E.
Darrow returned to Lead for a short time, representing that she
was doing write-ups of mining companies and would therefore have
men coming and going from her rooms. Her father-in-law was there
constantly. They often quarreled over the man who boarded with
them and who probably is the mysterious "C.C.T."
Lillian Darrow was a morphine fiend (?). Her reputation was not
good and the entire family considered her peculiar. Darrow, sr.,
recently was put out of the board of directors of the Hidden
Spanish Mining company which he organized.
IS THE JEW C.C.T.?
CHARLES L. WHITNEY THINKS HE KNOWS THE LETTER WRITER
The "man in the case" in the Darrow double tragedy is a
Jewish commercial traveler, according to Charles L. Whitney, a
cook in an East Fourth street restaurant, who formerly lived in
the Black HIlls and who has been a lifelong friend of the dead
man. "I have forgotten the Jew's name," he said, in
talking about the mysterious personage who had signed
"C.C.T." to a letter which was found in the bosom of
the murdered woman, and which is supposed to have been the cause
of the dual killing. "This man was a tall, handsome fellow,
with light curly hair, always well dressed, with diamonds
glittering about his person and plenty of money," said Mr.
Whitney. "He traveled for some wholesale grocery house when
I knew him, and I have seen him many times with Mrs. Darrow.
Their intimacy was common talk in Lead. It continued on and off
for several years until I left the city. I went to the morgue
this morning and recognized both Darrow and this woman." In
talking of the dead woman Whitney told a startling tale.
"She was an awful high roller," he said, "and it
was due to her taht the elder Darrow lost the greater part of his
money. She blew him all the time, and there was nothing too good
for her. In the Hills they lived together, and one would have
thought that she was the wife of a multi-millionaire by the gait
she traveled. She was a bright woman, but dissipated."
Whitney cudgeled his brains for the name of the man who signed
the "C.C.T." "The name, according to my
remembrance, was something like Tooley," he said. "But
it has been several years since I have seen him and all I
remember distinctly is that his first name was Carl. He was a
fine looking man and there was considerable jealousy between
Darrow and him while I was in the Hills."
YOUNG DARROW WILL COME
FIRST WORD IS HEARD FROM THE INJURED HUSBAND
Will E. Darrow, of Belle Fourche, S.D., husband of Lillian
Darrow, who on Sunday afternoon was shot to death in a hack in
Sioux City by his own father, who had been living with the young
woman as his wife, will arrive in Sioux City tomorrow evening,
presumably to take charge of the body. The first word to be
received from the young man, who was so cruelly wronged by his
father, came last night in a telegram to his sister's husband,
Walter A. Dick. The telegram, which was forwarded from Sioux
Falls, was as follows: Belle Fourche, S.D., Oct. 16--W.A. Dick,
Sioux Falls: Will be in Sioux City Wednesday evening. W.E. Darrow
A few years ago Lillian Morrison and Mae Darrow were girl chums
at Sioux Falls. They were about the same age and at about the
same time the Morrison girl became engaged to Miss Darrow's
brother, Will, and Miss Darrow promised to be the wife of Will's
chum, Walter Dick. The four were to be seen together a great
deal. It was generally commented upon in the town that each
couple was ideally matched. The two marriages took place about
the same time. Mr. and Mrs. Dick have lived happily; Darrow's
father insinuated himself into the young man's household and
robbed him of his bride. The boy will arrive in Sioux City
tomorrow to do the last rites to her whom he led to the altar, to
whom he plighted his troth and swore to defend until death should
part them. That the woman in the case had another friend or
relative was evidenced last night by a telegram received at the
Nelson morgue. It was from T.C. McMillian, Lansing, Kan., the
home of the woman's wealthy uncle, William Morrison. The telegram
was a follows: What was done with the remains of Mrs. Lillian
Darrow? The body will be held at the morgue until the arrival of
the woman's husband tomorrow afternoon.
SON IS AFFECTED
YOUNG MEDICAL STUDENT VIEWS THE REMAINS OF HIS FATHER
George E. Darrow, of Omaha, where he is a medical student at
Creighton university, yesterday called at Nelson's morgue to view
the remains of E.H. Darrow, his father, and the woman who had
brought obloquy to the family name. He cast but a loathing glance
at the woman, but his gaze dwelt long and lovingly upon the
marble features of the man who gave him being. Carefully he
turned back a lock of hair which had crept down his forehead and
the drooping mustache was stroked away from his immobile lips
with loving fingers. The tears stood in his eyes as he gazed,
fascinated by the spectacle of his father upon the cold slab, and
he controlled himself by an effort. The eyes of half a hundred
were devouring him, but he was oblivious to everything. With a
choking gasp he finally turned away and left the building.
"I heard about it last night and came up this morning,"
he said. He was loath to talk upon the matter and seemed to feel
the disgrace keenly. "Of course we knew what was going
on," he said, "but we had no conception of such an end
as this." Mr. Darrow will stay until the final arrangements
have been made for the disposal of the bodies.
DARROW LOST $1000.
DEAD MAN BORROWED A SMALL SUM FROM A SIOUX CITY FRIEND
Joe Reigel, in the employ of the W.H. Bock company, knew E.H.
Darrow, murdered and suicide. He said, "I have known Mr.
Darrow for years," said Mr. Reigel. "I formerly lived
at Sioux Falls and am a friend of the family. Last week Darrow
borrowed three dollars from me. He sent it back a few days
afterwards by postal order from Sioux Falls. "When he
borrowed the money he said he had lost $1,000 in Omaha but a few
days before. He did not say how, and I did not ask him. I always
knew him as a man of his word and he could have had anything I
had."
[transcribed by N.Y., March 2007]
Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Woodbury co. Iowa
Thursday, October 19, 1905
DARROW BLAMES HIS FATHER
HUSBAND OF MURDERED WOMAN IS MUCH AFFECTED
REVEALS IDENTITY OF "C.C.T."
WILLIAM E. DARROW SAYS WRITER OF MYSTERIOUS LETTER WHICH MAY HAVE
CAUSED TRAGEDY WAS CHARLES C. TYLER, OF LEAD, S.D.
With the marble face of his wife lying in cold death before him,
immobile in its placidity, William E. Darrow, husband of Lillian
Darrow, who was shot and killed by E.H. Darrow last Sunday before
a fatal shot was hurled through his own head, gazed long and
lovingly yesterday afternoon at the cameo-like face. The features
had become chastened by the hand of death and stood out in
beautiful relief. Darrow, a strong man, gazed for a time at them
without a word and then turned away, while convulsive sobs shook
his powerful frame. Darrow arrived in the city yesterday
afternoon. When the message telling him of the death of both
father and wife was received he was thirty miles from the
railroad. "I did the best I could," he said. "It
had been raining and I had a thirty mile drive to catch the train
through the worst of gumbo. I am sorry that I could not get here
before." Darrow is a fine looking man of 36 years,
intelligent and evidently one who has enjoyed many advantages. He
was slow to talk of the dual tragedy of last Sunday morning.
BLAMES HIS FATHER
"No, I do not blame her altogether," he said, as he
gazed at the profiled face of his wife as it lay upon the marble
slab. "She was led into the condition which led to her
death, and to the man who gave me being," and his eyes
flashed, "I attribute her death. She was not a particularly
good woman, but she was weak more than anything else. I loved
her. Yes, through it all, I loved her, although I knew what was
going on," and he furtively wiped away tears from his eyes.
It develops from the husband that the name of the mysterious
"C.C.T.," the man whose letter to the dead woman is
supposed to have been the cause of the tragedy, is Charles C.
Tyler, of Lead, S.D. "They have been mixed up together for
several years," said Mr. Darrow, revealing the inside
history of a tragedy. "It was a sort of an infatuation on
her part, although," as he turned away, "there were
others."
A LONG SUFFERING MAN
From the drift of conversation of Mr. Darrow it is evident that
he has been a long suffering man. "I didn't realize until of
late that there was anything wrong at home," he said,
calmly, at the Nelson morgue as he gazed sorrowfully on the
features of his dead wife. "I had no idea that my own father
had been intimate with my wife. And now it looks as if it had
been going on for years." No arrangements will be made for
the interment of the body of Mrs. Darrow until today. "I
must hear from relatives before I do anything," Mr. Darrow
said. "But she will be buried properly if it takes a
thousand dollars. Yes, Lilly, my love," he exclaimed, as he
threw himself across the dead body, "that's all I can do for
you now. Goodby." and he kissed the cold lips, smoothing the
hair. It seemed as if the features animated under his touch. The
much betrayed man, betrayed by friends and father, turned
chokingly away and made his way out of the place
[transcribed by N.Y., March 2007]