The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-05-18
Cora Clinton Dead.
Hsr Dying Contsssiox-TNe Heddon
Clinton Tragedy at an End.

ago this community was thrilled
with the selfmurder of Daniel Il.
Hedden In . house of ill-fame. Two
weeks ago Cora Clinton, an inmate
Of that house, confessed she killed
Hedden at his own request. 1t was
thought . strange confession, and
the sequel proves il . false one.
A preliminary investigation then
resulted in sending her to Jail to
await the action Of the grand jury.
The mandate was to Jail, but events
have shown to eternity. One week
ago, through careless jailor, she
stole pistol, stepped into an empty
cell and fell, with the sharp crack Of
the deadly weGpon-a dying woman.
Though dying, she lived, giving now
and then some hope Of recovery but
the cruel ball decreed otherwise, and
yesterday morning the rumor passed
from lip tolip-Cora Clinton is deadl
Less than one year ago this girl of
twenty came to Omaha. Mark her
history since. She entered house
Of ill-fAme last September. Another
autumn will strew its golden leaves
over her lone grave.
COCA CLlNToN-CYNTHIA 8. BUSHNELL.
The confession of this unfortunate
woman the Saturday before she died
shows her name to be Cynthia So
phis Bushnell. This secret was
entrusted to DR.. cClelland on his
promise that it would not be reveal.
cd until she was dead. She left her
home in Keokuk, Iowa, less than
year ago, in company with .
young man Of that place whom she
wished to marry. On the train to
Council Bluffs she said her ruin was
wrought. The young man 10 ques-
ton was better off in the world than
she, and on that ground her own
parents (who werc poor) objected to
. marriage. At Council Bluffs she
worked q while, and from there
came to Omaha, in the hope that
something better would turn up
whereby she would be able to send q
little money to her parents. She
became discouraged and finally went
to Lou Harpels. Her story since
then has been frequently told. She
had never heard from her parents
and knew nothing OF their whevea.
bouts. When asked why she shot
herself, her answer was, ITO attract
public attention, and in the hope
that her parents might learn of her
situation. She discovered her fear
fui mistake az soon as the deed was
committed, and was ever afterwards
anxious to live and lead an upright
life.
On Sunday night Rev. G.. De La
Matyr baptized her at her own vol
untary request. During that night
she was often in prayer and at times
her language, as described by those
who heard her, was wonderfully re-
markable, as if born of Inspiration.
She at one time fell into communion
with her mother, and such were her
words, that the attendants were
moved to tears. 1t was cad sight.
A scene tor remembrance as long as
memory survives. During her snf
fering there was constant Watching
and every attention given possible
The following is the principal
testimony before the Coroner's Jury :
Dr.. Vim. Nc Clelland. s,oorn-Wit-
ness testified that he was County
Physician, and as to his attendance
on her after the wound was inflicted,
and the whereabouts of that wound,
ETC.; deceased said to witness that
she desired notoriety in the matter
and that her friends would become
interested, and they would take her
up and bury her she was perfectly
sane. in the witness's opinion, when
she spoke; she said her name was
Cynthia Sophia Bushnell. Witness
thought Peoria, Ill, was the place
where she was born; her parents
lived, when she last heard from them
At Burlington; she left them al
Keokuk, Iowa; she came from Bur
lington with some man, and wal
seduced on the train; she came or
this side of the river and was desi
rous to make something and send il
to her parents, who were very poor
| Maggie Broom, siDorn,-Witnesl
testified that Cora Clinton left the
cell about hale past four O'Clock
where they were confined. After
forwards, sitting at the door of the
cell. deceased showed the pistol to
| witness, and said she had slipped il
from the ja,lor, and would give j,
back to him. Deceased said the
pistol snapped twice, and had it gone
of the 6rst time, the ball would have
gone through her breast. Deceased
told witness that he did not shool
Heddsn, but sand she had . reason
for confesslng that she did, which
tho deceased never explained to wit.
ness, She told witness her real
name was Cynthia Sophia Bushnell
She did not know where her parents
were now. The last she heard Of
them they we're at Burlington, Iowa
The Council Bluffs Nonpareil takes
occasion to introduce an "obvious
moral in this WISE:
| At the election the Republicans
secured tho control of the city o.
| Dubuque. The Republican Council
gave the city printing to the Repub
lican Times, but at starvation rates.