Omaha daily bee., 1891-02-05
BURGLARS MURDER A WOMAN.
The Wife of Banker Cowles Of Clarks. Neb
Killed by Thieves.
HER HUSBAND KNOCKED SENSELESS,
The Terrible Crime Committed This
Morning and Only Sixty Dollars IN
Cash Sccured-No Clue to
the Murderer.

CLARKs, Neb., Feb. Especial Telegram
to THE BEE.l- burglary resulting IN mur-
der was committed here early this morning
Mrs Cowlcs, wife of Silas B. Cowles presi-
dent of the Pacific bank, was the victim. Mr.
Cowles was also assaulted by the burglar or
burglars and knocked senseless, after which
the house was ransaCkcd and so to $50 in
cash stolen.
The terrible crime was committed between
the hours of midnight and O'Clock, but it
= was not discovered until an hour or so later
when Mr.. Cowles recovered consciousness
and aroused the town. THE BEE correspond
ent was among the first to arrive at the house
and early gained all the particulars of the
case that are known at present
The Cowles family, consisting of the father,
mother and ivc-year-old son, retired about
10 o. clock in the evening. About midnight
Mr.. Cowlcs was aroused by "A noise in lis
kitchen, which he proceeded to investigate.
The door from the bedroom opens on the east
into the dining room, where n hard coal stove
shed dim light The door into the kitchen
opens from the dining room on the south.
On opening this door Mr.. Cowles was i'm
mediately struck on the foreheadby masked
man, evidently armed with brass knuckles,
and knocked senseless.
The robber or robbers then appear to have
stepped over Cowles' fallen body and passed
through into the bed room 10 quiet Mrs
Cowles. How effcctually they accomplished
this work Is best shown by her dead body
The plain imprint of d hand over her mouth
and face is the only evidence OF bruises.
The little boy slept peacefully through it
all. How long Mr.. Cowles remained uncon-
scious he cannot tell, but when he came to
his senses he was almost frozen. Stagger-
ing to his feet he returned to his wifes bed
room, to find her lifelesS body and the bureau
ransacked Almost crazed, he rushed out
into the freezing air in his night clothes and
summoned the neighbors and medical aid
DIR. William G.. Robinson, after examination,
pronounced Mrs. Cowles dead.
A bout $50 or $50 IN cash was taken by the
thief or thieves, who apparently did not
want any jewelry or silverwarc, as two gold
watches, pair of diamond earrings dia-
mond finger ring and otherartlcles of iewolry
wSro in plain sight on bureau, but were
/Ot taken.
The thieves gained admitance by breaking
n pane of window glass. locsing stopIand
raising the window with chisel. Part of
the implements used were found.
MIR. Cowles' pants and empty pocketbook
were found in the road, together with a
jewel case with the jcwelly still in it.
The entire village was NJ once aroused ana
rigorous search instituted, without any re-
suit thus far Mr.. Cowles at once offered
reward of 81 900 for the arrest and m
victfon of the party or parties, aud
this reward viii today be increased by the
village authorities. No further description
of the murderer can at this time be given by
Mr. Cowles other than that he was man of
medium height with dark Overcoat and
slouch hat. His face from the eyes down
was disguised with some kind of mask.
A coroner's inquest will be held over the
body of Mrs. Cowles today, probably this
afternoon. MIR. Cowles is Frustrated with
grief and suffering and is under physicians $
care. The family has been living here abou t
six years, coming here from Genoa, Nance
county, and before that time resided in
Saunders county. Mrs. Cowles relatives re-
side at North Loup, this state.
A determined effort is being made to cap
ture the villain or villains, and if successful
speedy Justice, according to western ideas,
=. will result.
An inquest was commenced at O'Clock
this afternoon in the case The jury at 10
o'clock =. IN, had adjourned until tomorrow.
Several arrests were made today, but all
suspected parties have been discharged upon
1 making satisfactory showing.
> The corpse will be removed to Wahoo to-
morrow afternoon for burial.
Mr. Cowles has recovered con sidcrablv,
and is out of danger. He testified at the
inquest in substance as previously reported
by THE BEE,