Iowa
Old Press
Correctionville News
Correctionville, Woodbury, Iowa
April 29, 1915
IOWA STATE NEWS
Mr. C.E. Elliott, a well known resident of Mount Pleasant,
received a telegram from the coroner of Ramsey county at St.
Paul, Minn., stating that his son had been killed and asking what
disposition to make of the remains. Later he received another
telegram to the effect that this time two sons were killed. Other
dispatches stated that the two young men, aged respectively 22
and 35, had been found dead in bed, having been asphyxiated by
illuminating gas.
For the second time within the month Exira people have been
called upon to mourn the loss of relatives in the great conflict
in Europe. Only a short time ago Mr. and Mrs. John Nelsen
received word of the death of a nephew in the fighting on the
eastern frontier and now word reaches here from Austria telling
of the death of a brother of Joe Vias of Exira, as well as the
sad news that his father died a short time later from grief.
One of the most important legal battles ever waged in the courts
of Humboldt county is now on which will determine the mental
competency of Mrs. Ellen C. Colby to make a will. Mrs. Colby died
leaving the bulk of her fortune, estimated at $150,000, to her
housekeeper and companion. Since her death eight distant
relatives have appeared from Kansas, Illinois, Iowa and Arkansas,
all to contest the will.
Raymond Burgess of Marshalltown, charged with complicity with
Owen Ball in recent burglaries at Fort Dodge, and George Murphy
of Belmond, held for bootlegging, escaped from the Webster county
jail, and have not been rearrested. They smuggled a file into
jail and escaped to the skylight and thence to unoccupied
sheriff's quarters where they reached the fire escape.
For the first time in 26 years, Frank and Nathan Rainsbarger have
been permitted to leave prison walls at Anamosa and visit the
scenes of their youth. The brothers were released for a short
time for the purpose of
visiting their sister, Mrs. Henry Johns at Abbott, who is
critically and perhaps fatally ill.
While coming to DeWitt from Davenport on the Milwaukee Alvin
Mills was stricken with paralysis. His condition was not noticed
until the train had passed through DeWitt, and at Welton he was
assisted from the train and placed on the southbound freight,
which took him back to DeWitt.
Louis Stebiner of Ft. Madison was made an heir to a fortune of
$12,000 through the death of a sister, Miss Louise Stebinger, a
linotype operator, who dropped dead on a bridge in Menominee,
Mich. On her person, a bank book showing deposits to the amount
of $12,000 in a Chicago bank was found.
Dan LaBar was found guilty of swindling Ed. W. Coyle of Mason
City out of $5,000 and while Coyle gets no part of the money back
he is highly gratified at the result of the trial. He was
introduced to bite by a certainty of winning and he put almost
every dollar he had on earth into the game.
The change of postmasters in the Boone postoffice has been made.
The new postmaster, John R. Herron, taking charge and S.G
.Goldthwaite, editor of the Boone News-Republican,
retiring.
A.G. Thurman, who has been connected with the Iowa Agricultural
college at Ames, has been appointed instructor for the farmers of
Linn county at $2,500.
Dr. B.H. North, veterinarian at Clare, died from an injury
received when he was accidentally struck by a rock thrown by John
Cody, a 14 year old boy.
J.M. Davison of Parker, S.D., was seriously injured on the head
and body when his auto, running at high speed, turned turtle
between Logan and Missouri Valley.
The trial of Francis Dunn for killing his stepfather was begun at
Atlantic and will take some time.
C.B. Lewellyn of Minburn, a prominent farmer, committed suicide
at his home by hanging. Ill health is given as the cause. His
body was found in the hayloft of the barn by his son. Mr.
Lewellyn went to California a year ago in the hope of regaining
his health and returned a short time ago. Members of the family
say that he brooded over the failure of a trip to give aid.
As a result of pouring kerosene oil from an oil can into the
fire, Mrs. Breazing, the cook in the Rock Rapids cafe, lies dying
from burns, internally and externally. The can exploded and
spread the burning oil over
the unfortunate woman, and before aid could come she was burned
beyond recognition.
The George Neuschwanger farm west of Red Oak was sold recently to
Mrs. J.M. Tryrear, of Mills county. This was a cash sale and the
consideration paid was $200 and acre. This makes a total sale of
land in Montgomery county since Jan. 1 of $2,355,804.65.
The Rev. P.S. Slocum, pastor of the Lyons Methodist church, a
Chautauqua speaker and noted Masonic lecturer, committed suicide
on a train near St. Paul. Slocum left home for a conference
regarding Methodist church lands which were in his charge.
Vernon Marshall of near Bloomfield was seriously injured when he
was run over by his own tractor engine which he was using in
spring plowing. He suffered both legs broken below the knee and
several ribs broken and the right side of his lower jaw
fractured.
Timothy Taylor, a well known resident of Dubuque, was drowned.
Mr. Taylor entered a launch tied to the bank and a moment later,
overcome by a dizzy spell, fell overboard to his death in the
deep water that bordered the river bank.
Uncle Johnnie Phipps of Farragut, who was 103 years old in
February last, left for Stella, Neb. to visit his grandchildren
and great-grandchildren. Mr. Phipps will make the trip alone.
Because of Ill health, Earl King committed suicide by shooting
himself in the wood near his home at Norwich. He was 22 years
old.
Alfred Baker of Cresco borrowed a revolver from his neighbor,
Mrs. Myron Converse, went to the loft of the barn and sent a
bullet through his brain, dying instantly. His father found the
body a few minutes later.
Thomas Cannon has sold a farm two miles south of Duncombe to
James Fitzgerald of Duncombe for $225 an acre. The farm contained
120 acres.
--
[transcribers note: I believe Postmaster John R. Herron mentioned
above is the same John R
Herron who was my second cousin 3 times removed. Transcribed by
C.J.L., October 2006]