The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-07-02
A PEACH-STONE CLEW.
It Brought the Murderer Of Horace
Templeton to Justice.

Vcmpl0tOn 10 JUSTICE.
give Thousand Dollars Rewardr'
This heading of poster attracted my
attention as l was wheeling" toward
the place where purposed enjoying a
needed and hard-earned vacation. and
stopped to read the poster in its en-
tirety as follows:
The abo-e sum will be paid to anyone who
will furnish Information that shall lead TO the
apprehension Of the person persons respon-
sible for the murder OF Horace Templeton. of
this town. on the evening Of August7.
"SELECTMEN or STAHDIsH.
'Standish, August s. 1881"
1t was the first that l had known Of
the crime, as those in my vocation sell
dom care to read the criminal news in
papers, having enough to do with such
things in the regular routine of duty.
resolved, however, to strive for the
reward, and. changing my course.
wheeled my way to Standish, about
twenty miles distant
Preached Standish late in the after
noon and in the evening ] went to the
residence of the chairman of the board
of sclectmen, to whom said:
credentials, land wish to work on the
Templeton case"
1.-TWO detectives are already at work
upon II, and do not think it necessary
10 employ another one, he replied, lat
least not until they have proved them
selves unable to ferret out the crime
he added.
Il will pay my own expenses and
charge you nothing for my services un-
less they are successful, in which event
the reward Of 1--WE thousand dollars
shall be given me-" rcioined. And"
] continued. II will not even claim the
reward II the two in your employ base
their operations upon the same clew. .
Under those conditions ! see no OBJ
lection to allowing you to do as you
wish"
Where are your detectives from?"
asked
albany"
And their names are"
"rhomas Burns and James Perrin"
81 am not acquainted with any de-
tcctives thus named, and, probably
they do not know of me. So / can
prosecute my investigation without
arousing their suspicious that am
competing with them. l will assume
the name Of William Dean
So far our conversation had been
carried on while l was standing out.
doors. Now he invited me into the
house, and when we were seated
said:
please acquaint me with all the
facts in the case"
Mr.. Templeton," h. began, IVA.
about forty-five years of age. the
wealthiest man in the town-his native
place-universally esteemed by all VIII,
knew him, without known enemy il
the world.
Last Sunday evening his wife. OF
her return from prayer meeting
entered the library. to find him on thu
floor dead, his head in a pool of blood
1.-THE physician declared that hi
death resulted from blows inflicted
upon his head with blunt nipple
ment ia the hands of some unknown
person.
There had been q heavy shower
early in the evening, and as there
were mud tracks on the carpet in the
library from . window-which was un
fastencd-to the easy-chair which Mr.
Templeton occupied when in tn,
library, the theory is that the murderer
gained an entrance to and made al
exit from the room by way of thi
window while Mr. Templeton was doz
ing, as he was wont to do when alone.
''Will anyone be pecuniarily bcnefite'
by his death?" inquired.
1.-THE sole heir to his property is hi
widow
suspicion attaches to no onc?"
1T does not
II presume that should be per
mitted to visit the library?"
Certainly. Many from far and neal
have visited the scene of the tragedy
out of mere curiosity, and your visit
thereto would be attributed to tn.
same motive. l will accompany yol
there tomorrow morning, where, at the
request Of the detectives, everything i.
exactly as 1t was when the crime was
perpetrated."
THANK you," said, and, biddin.
him good evening"" / went to the
hotel.
The following morning Mr. Ames
the chairman of the board of selectmen
and went to the library of the late
Mr.. Templcton, where. doubtless owing
to the earliness of the hour, there were
no other visitors, and prosecuted
vigorous examination.
Ten days later, when the other de
hal
hopeless" went to Mr.. Ames and
asked:
about how much is Mr.. Ralston, tn,
cashier of the local bank, estimated t.
be worth?"
'Some 10000, should say" was tn,
reply.
He could not easily'raise that amour
Of ready money!"
III think not
MIR. Templcton was very method
ical in his business habits, l under
stand"
He was"
HE would not have been likely I.
issue checks without making a note o
them on the stubs in his check-book?
mo"
within the last month Mr.. Ralstor
has paid out between 81, 900 and $40, OO
for stocks and for margins; in the loca
bank to-day are checks to a simila
amount bearing the signature OF Hor
ace Templeton-genuine or forged
none of which are recorded on the stub
In his check-book.
"What!" fairly screamed Mr.. Ames.
ION the morning OF the 18th, In Mr.
Templeton's library" began. givinl
10 heed to Mr.. Amea' exclamation, !"