Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-04-17
THE FLEETWOOD MURDER.

THE FLEETWOOD MURDER.
The Omcers OF tho Law, with the Allegeo
Murderer In Charge, Dodging nm Infura-
ated Populace-Wtnkleback and Emmss
fleetwood Interviewed.
MATToON, III, April IL.
The brutal butchery of Mr.. and Mrs.
Fleetwood Wednesday night Is still the all
absorbing topic of interest. James Wrinkle
back, the man accused of the murder,
was lodged In Jail at Charleston, as was
telegraphed. He had not been in the
Charleston Jail twenty minutes when
your reporter arrived at the Courthouse
and asked Deputy Sheriff Hamilton to.
i permit him to interview the prisoner.
| This was at two O'Clock in the morning,
but the officer thought it was no time for
such matters. Around the jail were
about score of the friends Of the Sheriff,
and all felt anxious lest the mob from the
Fleetwood neighborhood should miss
| their man and come to Charleston and at
| tack the Jail. Ahurried consultation was
held, and it was soon determined that the.
safety of the prisoner demanded his
| speedy removal to Nation, twelve miles
| distant.
A livery team was ordered to stand in
readiness on a back street. The deputy,
| your reporter and the friends in the jail
| went to the cell and told Winkleback to-
dress himself for ride. He was found
covering on the floor of his cell, trem-
bling with fear. No sleep had come to
his restless body. He was handcuffed and
conducted to the waiting carriage, into
| which he stepped, followed by Deputy
Sheriff John Hamilton, the Mattoon Chief
of Police and the reporter. The ride to
Mattoon occupied three hours, over
rough route, and during the ride an eff
fort was made to get something out OF
the prisoner, but it was an uphill task.
He was shrewd enough to understand
the Importance of keeping his mouth
shut. He said, however, that he was in
nocent. can 1 ask is that I may be
brought to trial"
chambers of your revolver" he was
asked.
81 emptied one or two shooting some
time ago. l don't remember just how
many"
"What do you think of the girls testi-
mony?"
"Well, she did not tell the same story
on the stand that she did to the neigh
bors."
eff you did not commit the deed, what
is your theory of who did it?'
81 have none; it is a mystery to me.'
ssWeH, we have got the right man, all
the same" said the policeman.
To this remark Winkleback deigned no,
reply.
"What are your relations to the girl?''
"Well, if 1 get out of this scrape / will
marry her inside of two weeks"
'Do you fear the mob now?"
"No; l am under obligations to the
Sheriff and attorney for aiding me in
escaping. / felt pretty well scared, but.
guess Pm out of harms way now"
At four O'Clock he was safely deposited
in the Nation prison.
Your correspondent sought and OBJ
tanned an interview with Emma Fleet
wood.
'sWere you and Winkleback engaged?"-
was asked her.
s.No," she replied; che never made
any offers to me, and I have always.
treated.n
'Do you believe winkleback killed
your father and mother?'
eyes; it is my solemn opinion that
James Winkleback is the man that COM
mitted the crime"
The daughter gave her testimony be-
fore the coroner in straightforward
manner, put singularly, did not show signs
of strong emotion. The nearest approach
to grief was a refrain, ssMe! me! me!'';
with which she closed many sentences.
George Fleetwood, the son Of the muir
dered man, said that Winkleback had al
ways entertained the kindest feelings for
the old couple, and he could give no
reason why Winkleback should have done.
the deed, yet he felt sure that he was the
guilty man. Winkleback had treacher-
disposition.
1t was the design that the people of
Mattoon should not know that the mnr-
derer was in their midst, but the matter
leaked out, and wild reports of coming
mob gave the officers some concern.
They deemed it expedient to move their
man again, SO at noon he was driven from
the city in close carriage accompanied
by the Sheriff's deputies. Their destina-
ton was unknown