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1887 History of Story County, Iowa by W. G. Allen

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APPENDIX PAGE V—MAXWELL MURDERS & ZEARING EXPLOSION
Page 491 of 493

In the next case, the same jury acted and considered the same evidence in both. Verdict: "We, the jury, * * * find that Perry ACKERS came to his death by a gunshot wound, fired by his own hand, with the intention of Committing suicide."

{ GEO. BENEDICT.
Signed { A. C. COLE.
{ JAS. HALL.
[Attested.] J. I. HOSTETTER, Coroner.


TERRIBLE EXPLOSION AND DEATH.

DECEMBER 5TH, 1887, AT ZEARING, IOWA.

At about 2:30 o'clock, Monday P. M., the people of Zearing were startled by a loud explosion which was caused by the bursting of the boiler in the engine room of the Abbot grain elevator. A large section of the boiler was hurled north to the north side of Main street where Mr. A. K. Guthrie and Mr. Joseph M. Bunker were hitching their team. The section of the boiler struck Mr. Bunker, killing him instantly, then crushed through the sidewalk to the corner of the building. It also killed the horse that Mr. Bunker was tying to the post. It was a close call for Mr. Guthrie, also, and he was fortunate to escape with some slight bruises. The air was full of brick, mortar, pieces of boards &c., of which some pieces fell two blocks away. Mr. Bunker has lived in this neighborhood about ten years, and was a man who had many friends. He was a member of the Odd Fellow's lodge at this place. It was a sad accident, but it was almost wonderful that no more persons were injured, as there were a great many people and teams on the street at the time of the explosion.

Page 491 of 493

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