Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1899-06-09
BREVITIES,


Alexander, a prominent farmer, near
Red Oak. blew out his brains with
shot gun. His friends think he was
temporarily deranged.
Cyrus Brown, the 12-year.old son
of Mr.. and Mrs. A. Brown, of Gilmore
City, was drowned recently in the
pond at the railway water tank. His
young companions We're unable to save
him.
The Iowa Association of Funeral
Directors met recently at Des Moines.
The next meeting will be held at
Waterloo at time to be decided upon
by the executive committee. The
following officers were elected: Presi-
dent, T. L. Underklrcher. of Burling-
ton; vice president, A. II. Duncan. of
Ottumwa; secretary-treasurer, Fred B.
Neff, of Cedar Rapids.
Des Moines dispatch: Secretary Wes-
ley Greene, of the State Horticultural
Society, has issued circular to the
fruit men of Iowa, asking for returns
on the fruit crop up to date. This is
the third, and perhaps last. circ ular
of the kind Mr.. Greene will get out
this season. He has succeeded in get
ting good reports on the crop through.
out the state, and thinks returns up
to date will be all that is necessary
to estimate the damage to the crop.
The footings of the assessment in
Polk county have been completed
for the county outside Of the city of
Des Moines by Assessor French. A
falling off, as compared
with last year and two years ago, is
shown. The taxable valuation Of the
property outside Of the city. this year,
amounts to $4,022,35O. This is loss
as compared with last year of S557,4o0.
Two years ago the real estate was
assessed on a 40 per cent basis and
this year on u IS per cent basis.
In the district court at Des Moines
Judge Holmes overruled the mo-
ton for a new trial of the Mcfarland
case. The motion was submitted with
out argument and the ruling was ex-
pected. So far as Mcfarland is con-
cerned, it is said there will be no ap-
peal. The motion was filed in the
interests of his bondsmen, who were
made co-defendants, and it is quite
likely for the purpose of perfecting
the record and preparing for an appeal
of the case to the supreme court.
The Des Moines, Northern & West
ern Railroad has inaugurated between
Des Moines and Chicago through
sleeping car service, leaving Des
Moines at $50 p. m. daily, arriving at
Chicago at s:25 the next morning.
Leaving Chicago daily at 6:15 p. M,
arriving at Des Moines at 500 a. m.
This car will be handled on pass en-
ger train to and from Des Moines and
attached to the Chicago, Milwaukee q
St. Paul flyer from Madrid. 1t will
be modern in every respect; equipped
with electric Ii ghts, and the famous
berth electric lamp.
A. L. Walters, young unmarried
farmer residing about three miles
southwest Of Humeston, committed
suicide few nights ago with an old
army musket, heavily loaded with No.
shot. The discharge entered his
head just back of and a little above
the left ear, passing out back of the
right ear, and passing through the
roof of the granary, where the rash
act was committed. He apparently
stood, rested his head near the muzzle
of the gun and fred the fatal shot
with his foot. The only cause that
can be given for the deed was des-
pondency, on account of the crop
prospects. He was young man of
good habits, industrious and honest,
and his tragic death is deeply regret
ted by his large circle of friends.
The general store of Edward Town
send, at Macksburg, was totally de-
stroyed by fire recently. While
the citizens were fighting the flames
an explosion occurred and the walls
collapsed and caught q number of
people. The dead: Thomas Whit
worth, killed by falling walls. The
injured: Mrs. Pyle, struck by flying
debris; Miss Pyle, daughter Of above;
Mrs. Edward Townsend: Miss Town
send, daughter of above. The explo-
sion was caused by gunpowder stored
IN the building. Several men whose
ma mes are not given were badly in
jured. Whitworth was working on
the fire when the explosion threw
down the walls upon him. The build.
ing was also occupied by the Masonic
lodge, and its records were destroyed.