Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-04-06
A Foul Nardefs Tfssel TITS iSoarce,
IL, and the Murderer Arrested. . 80

. II a34a.I .41 - ~ sInt lg&s1 ie
: The explanation efss horrible murder
committed here, few months ago. has
lust been brought to light. The body of q ]
man, bruised and bloody, was picked up \
out of the basin on the second OF January. /
He was frozen, stiff, and. his clothing Vas
chopped off with Ratchet, in order to get
at the contents of his pockets. The papers
found proved him to have been . wellssU- |
do Irishman, on 9, visit here in search I of
business opportunities. Farther than that
he had come Is his death BY foul means,
and that he had been in the possession OF
money to the amount of eight thousand
dollars, which was missing, the coroner's
Jury, discovered nothing, land the whole
affair has been, until now, clouded in the
densest of mystery. The case was taken 1
quietly IN hand by Joseph Dixon, . detect
i've of this city. who set 70 work At the
task of bringing TO justice the murderer.
The clue was so slight that only the great
est skill and experience could have JUST.
fed the belief that what was known could
have been called a clue at all But after
a steady search, the detective picked up
thread which has not only led TO full ex-
position of the crime ana Its motive, but
has brought the murderer within the
reach of the law. The facts OF the matter
are substantially as follows Tge nabas
Mr.. William Gumbleton, a native OF
Dublin, Ireland, being in possession
of recently acquired patrimony,
and being man Of commercial tastes, pro.
posed TO invest his money in trade, and
for that purpose set sail for New York on
the 23d Of April, 1870. He brought with
him draft for *S, 780. 40, the proceeds Of
the sale of English gold coin, and invest
ed this sum with Blake q Co., Wall street
bankers. He then left New York Tor
Baltimore, and slowly and carefully TOOK
note of the state Of trade, in order to take
the first opportunity that offered. lie Was
methodicaT in habit, quiet, and, with the
exception Of an occasional lit OF disslpa
ton. which was of short duration, he bore
himself with propriety and moderation,
AT q telegraphing school in Baltimore ne
made the acquaintance Of German, Al
fred Zeizenineyer, % years of age light
complexion. and kind of adventurer, who
set quickly to working himself into the con-
fidence Of Gumbleton, 80 far succeeding
that. in course of time, he was fully &C
uuainted with the object of the lrishman's
visit, and the extent of his fortune. The
German shipped from Brennan as sailor,
re.shipped in Baltimore as captains mate
on another vessel, and, after quarreling
with his superior, left the service,
and was looking about for something
profitable, when he concluded that
the nearest way TO his object would
be gained by learning telegraphy. lie at
tached himself to q school, where, as 1t
happened, Gumbleton was taking lessons
by way Of utilizing his leisure. Shortly
after their meeting, Gumbleton concluded
to start business in the far West, and
with that intention bought stock OF
ready made clothing, which was packed in
three large cases and forwarded to this
city, pia Pittsburgh, Gumbleton following,
accompanied by Ziezenmeyer, who pro-
efessed so warm an attachment for the
other, that Gumbleton was only too well
pleased at this evidence, shown by the givss
ing up of sundry connections, and the two
arrived in Chicago, warm, friends.
Whether the German was sincere IN his
feelings ut the time, but subsequently, al
lowed his thirst for greed to cover all else,
it will probably never be known, but that
mutual friendship existed ut one time the
evidence brought out by the detective
proved. The two men took board here
together, and the next day they went down
to the railroad depot, when Mr.. Gumbie-
ton receipted for the cases of clothing, and
had them reshipped to Manhattan, Kansas.
At this time the German began 70 make
movements that seemed somewhat strange
to the merchant. Zeizenmeyer bought
two guns and tried on different occasions
to get Gumbleton TO 30 shooting with him,
to which, however, the sport not being 70
his taste, he never consented. Several
times the two were seen on State street, n,
company, but whatever transpirsd during
the few days they were together here lit
tie is known excepting that one day the
German, after leaving In company with
GunbletOn, came back alone. 8asR A""A
b That was the last seen Of thu, murdered
man until he was picked up from the basin
frozen stiff. 1t is not clear yet whether he
was pushed in and was drowned through
his inability to swim, the floating Zoe after.
wards gashing and tearing him about the
head, or whether the bruises found on the
corpse were the result OF a desperate strug-
gle. For man of his years, the German
showed q depth Of coolness and cumming.
and masterer Of detail really astonish ing;
He was but twenty two years of age, and
slight In figure, bat the task he undertook
was ono that might we'll sppal aviliain' bf
twice his years and experience. On leayr
ing his victim dead at the bottom of the
lake, he went home and took upon him
self then Of tAe'dead man, took pos
session of his papers and propertya went
down to the railroad station, and ordered
the goods that had been sent to Kansas
returned. The freight agent photographed
on, for them, and directly they arrived
here they, were, disposed Of a. auction
and the proceeds pocketed by the muir,
derer The fatal act'was committed on
the 10th eof November On the 18th,
Gumhletop deposited $500 in the Com
mercial National Bank, on Dearborn
street, Neizenmeyer being with him 1.-THE
time. ! On the day after the murder 1.-THE
2Oth) Ziezenmeyer appeared at the bank
and desired TO, draw the money, stating
chat Gumbleton. had gone East and author
lied him 70 receive the $500 The bank
officers declined to pay him without Gum
bleton's order. AT 1Ziezenmeyer's request
he was. given certificate Of deposit,
which he stated he would send TO New
York for Gumbleton's signature. ioHe did
not tell the bank officials that he was
what he represented himself To others,
Gumbletorf himself They knew the
murdered man by sight, and would have
quickly. diGWVerDd the cheat. On the LIST