, 1891-02-07
KILLED BY A BURGLAR.
Thieves Enter the House of q
Nebraska Banker,
Knock Him Insensible and
Strangle His Wife.
Scheme of a Baltimore Couple
to Get a Living.
StrangIed by n Burglar.

CLARKs, Neb., Feb. Ga burglary
resulting in murder, was committed early
this morning. Mrs. Cowles, wife of Silas
B. Cowles, president 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 ransacked and $50 to 500 IN sash
stolen. The crime was committed be-
tween the hours of midnight and /
o'clock, but it was not discovered until an
hour or so later, when Mr.. Cowles re-
covered CONSCIOUSNESS, aud aroused the
town. The Cowles family, consisting Of
the father, mother and 5-year-old son, re-
tired about 10 O'Clock in the evening.
About midnight Mr.. Cowles was aroused
BY a noise 10 his kitchen, which he pro-
ceeded to Investigate. The door from the
bed room opens on the east into the dining
room, where a hard coal stove shed a 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 forehead by a
masked man, evidently armed with brass
knucks, and knocked senscless, The rob
Der or robbers then appear to have stepped
over Cowles' fallen body and passed
through into the bed room to quiet Mrs.
Cowles. How effectually they accom-
plished this work is best shown by her
dead body. The PLAIN imprint of a hand
over ner mouth and lace is the only evidence
of bruises. The little boy slept peacefully
through it all. How long Mr.. Cowles re-
NAMED unconscious he cannot tell. but
when he came TO his senses he was almost
frozen. Staggering to his feet, he returned
to his wife gbed room to find her lifeless
body and~the bureau rausacked. Almost
crazed, he rushed out into the freezing
air in his night clothes and summoned the
neighbors aud medical aid, who, after ex-
animation. pronounced Mrs Cowles dead.
About $50 or $50 in cash was taken By
the thief or thieves. who apparently
did not want any silverware or jewelry.
as WI gold watches, a pair Of diamond
ear rings, a diamond finger ring and other
articles of iewelrY were in plain sight on
a bureau. but were not taken. The
thieves gained sdmittance by breaking a
pane of window glass, loosing a stOOp and
raising the window with a chisel. Part OF
the implements used were found. Mr..
Cowles' pants and empty pocket book
were found in the road. together with the
jewelry case with the jewelry still in it.
The entire village was at once aroused
aud vigorous search instituted, without
any result thus far. Mr.. Cowles at once
offered a reward OF 81 200 for the arrest
and conviction of the party or parties,
aud this reward will today be increased by
the village authorities. No further de-
ssription Of the murderer can at this time
be given by Mr.. Cowles other than that
he was a man of medium height. with
dark overcoat anG SLOUGH hat. His face
from the eyes down was disguised with
some kind OF a mask. Mr.. Cowles is
Frustrated with grief and suffering, aud
is under a physicians care. The family
have been living here about six wears,
coming from Genoa, Vance county. and
before that time resided in Saunders
county. A determined effort is being
made to capture the villain or villains,
and if successful speedy Justice, according
to western ideas, will result.