Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-02-18

recent sale of the famous "Ialy Ito
herd of Poland Chinas on J. A. Benson's
Norwood farm in Summit township,
O'Brien County. The rest of the herd,
forty in number, brought total OF
$4,000, or an average of $40 a head.
About year ago, j. P. Miller, living
seven miles southeast of Gilman City,
had some trouble with his hired man
over his alleged intimacy with the
farmers wife. After this trouble the
hired man suddenly disappeared, and
no trace of him has been found since.
Mrs. Miller suspected all was not right
and was about to complain few days
ago, when he threatened to kill her.
A search has been begun, which has
thus far resulted in finding in an old
well, coat, boot and some other arti-
cles of apparel. The search is TO be
finding the body in a well which Miller
filed up about that time.
The Polk county coroner's jury made
a thorough investigation into the cause
Mrs. james Collins, which died at Des
Moines under peculiar circumstances.
After eXamininga number OF witnesses
a verdict was returned holding Mrs.
Collins responsible for the death of the
child and stating that in the belief OF
the jurors the poison carbolic
acid, was administered by her. The
police will probably arrest Mrs. Collins
for murder as soon as she RECEIVERS.
The child was but a day old when it
died. Mrs. Collins arrived from Ireland
about four months ago. Her husband
had been here for several years and is
badly put out at the existing conditions.
A most horrible case of fratricide
and suicide occurred at Hedrick few
days ago. Joe Merrifield, son of Frank
Merrifeld, aged 10, with Winchester
rifle, blew off the top of the head of
his brother Hugh, aged 9, and then
shot and killed himself. 1t is reported
that the scene of the tragedy beggared
description. Hugh's brains were scat
tered over the wall. The dead bodies
lay in the blood sprinHled room. THEM
father had left The boys together in
the house and they became involved in
in quarrel. When the neighbors
came in horrible scene was presented.
The boys lay dead on the floor in filth
and squalor, with brains scattered on
the floor and ceiling. The fathers neg
lect of his family is said to be the
primary cause of the tragedy.
Jacob Pitka, aged 60, residing three
o'clock p. H., while sitting in his own
home, by some enemy who fired
through the window, the ball from
3s-caliber revolver striking the old
man in the right side and ranging
upward, passing upward along the
spinal chord, lodging in the upper part
of his body. A doctor was called, but
as yet has not been able to locate the
ball. The would-be assassin is UNI
known, though some feeling is
expressed as to the guilty party. 1t is
known that there has been some
trouble between the different members
of the family for some time. The
physician states that the chances for
the injured mans recovery are slight,
and he is in very dangerous condition.
j. ID. Alexander, well-known
Council Bluffs working man, was
detected by special Waterman of the
Rock Island breaking the seal of a
freight car. He was placed under
arrest. His home was searched by
officers and nearly half a carload of
valuable goods found. They were
found concealed in specially arranged
room in his cellar. Alexander refuses
to talk, but the belief is that he is only
one of a gang of thieves who have been
committing serious depredations on
loaded freight in the companys yards.
Alexander has always borne good
work at the time of the big fire in the
agricultural implement district. He
was thrown out of employment and
claims that he was obliged to steal or
let his family starve.
Dispatches from Washington an
nounce that the commissioner of the
general land office has ordered that all
proofs of entries on O'Brien county
forfeited lands be taken where the
contestants desired they should be
made. In some instances three or four
persons are contesting for the same
piece of land, and all are DESTROYS of
having the hearing held at a different
place. AS the result, one hearing
would be held in Des Moines and the
others in O'Brien county, under the
ruling of the commissioner. This was
called to his attention, and the officers
received word to continue the present
publication until further notice, which
it is thought means the local officers
will be permitted to continue to fix the
places for hearings. A few of them
have been set in 'Brien county, when |
the first to file entries SO desired, but a |
majority of the cases were set for Des |
Moines, and it is probable the local |
officers will continue to set the places |
for holding the hearings at the places
where the first to enter the lands ask |