Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-22

The most brutal. cold-blooded and
dastardly of crimes ever committed in
Marshall county occurred about mid
night Monday, when two men, John E.
Wilson, Of Oelwein, and Connie Mat
thews. of Des Moines, both brakemen in
the employ of the Chicago Great West
ern railroad, Were shot to death by
tramps while aboard thak' train and in
the performance of their duty.
The double murder was committed at
a point about two miles west of the city,
under the cover of darkness, and with
out witnesses to the horrible deed.
The murdered men were on duty on
an extra freight train, No. $50, west
bound, in charge of Conductor W. j.
Fickas, of Des Moines, and hauled by
Engineer Ed German with engine $50,
which pulled out of this city, crossing
the junction of the Northwestern and
Iowa Central tracks at Second street at
exactly l1:2O o'clock without incident.
That was the last seen of the two
brakeman alive, they being noticed on
top of the cars, as is required of brake
men while pulling out of and into
towns.
Conductor Fickas was kept busy in
his way car. and was engaged in max
fnep ont bic cor ra,orte ,,,l tii4.t,
dreamed that at the time his two as
sistants in the management of the train
We're receiving wounds at the hands of
Iassassins. In fact Mr.. Fickas did not
think that anything out OF the ordinary
had happened until he got up into the
cupola of the way car as the engineer
and got a view in the superb moonlight
of the length of the train, he noticed the
absence of the two brakemen. Coming
into Luray is quite steep down grade
and when Engineer German whistled
for brakes he got no response. This
was also noticed by Conductor Fickas.
and he thought it strange. He feared
that something might be the matter
with the men, but as there is no night
operator al Luray he gave the engineer
the signal to go ahead. He thought for
the minute, too. that the men might be
in the engine, although he hardly
thought that would be possible, espe-
Ecially as the train was nearing the
town. Melbourne, the next station
was reached at about tfirty-iive min
utes after the train left here. Orders
We're given to stop and to Conductor
Fagg, of Des Moines, who was in charge
LOT an east-bound extra, and who was
headed in at Melbourne to allow the
west-bound train to pass, Conductor
Fickas told of his fears as to the safety
of his brakemen. The night operator at
Melbourne was also notified, and the
fears that something had happened
We're wired to the operator here, and
then on to oelwein and Des Moines.
Conductor Fagg was given orders to
tafNe lis tidlIi sioNlS oNSl Ltie track lflat
had just been passed by the west bound
extra, and this was done Immediately.
Conductor Fagg ana Brakeman Ikerd,
of the east bound train, took positions
on the pilot of the engine. and with
their lanterns every inch of the ground
that had been passed was closely
scanned.
BODIES ARE FOUND.
The result was indeed more horrible
than was anticipated. When within
about two miles of this city they picked
UP the mangled remains of Connie
Matthews. He was terribly torn, espe
cially about the lower half o1 me body.
What was indeed more surprising to
the trainmen was ghastly wound,
made by a bullet, in the center of the
forehead. Murder most four was
thought by both the conductor and the
brakeman, and the shock was more
than could be very we'll imagined, for
they had never thought of anything
having happened but an accident, pure
and simple.
Matthews remains We're carefully
placed in the car, and upon going
twelve rail lengths further the body of
Wilson was found. He had been treated
in the same way and in the top of his
head was gaping wound, made by the
fatal bullet. Wilson'S body was laid be-
side that of his companion in life q
short time before and both corpses were