Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-23

Protests His Innocence in q Dying
Message Brooded Over peni.
Tertiary Sentence.
Steve Triplett, OF Melbourne, a pris-
oner in the county Jail awaiting sem
tence on a charge of incest, cheated. the
state out Of his servicesaas a peniten-
tiary prisoner at about 4 o'clock Sunday
morning, when he took his own life by
cutting his throat with razor
Triplett occupied one OF the front cells
up stairs, which was given him because
1t was Situated away from many of the
other prisoners and was provided with
a few more comforts, being one usually
turned over to the occupancy of women
prisoners. Occupying the same cell with
him, and lying within Ave feet Of him
when the fatal act was committed, was
Rasmus Bru, of Laurel, recently con-
lsyicted OF deserving his wife, after seduc-
ton and marriage. Bru was the first
to know of the deed, but he was fright
ieneds nearly out of his wits, and vas un-
able to utter even cry. He did pound
on the cell door, however. to such an ex-
tent that Sheriff Shoemaker was awak-
Iened and Immediately ran up STAIRS to
Esee what was the matter. Bru had been
awakened by the means OF his cell mate.
Lbut as Triplett had been complaining
during the past few days he thought him
lsonly slightly Ill. The means continued
and Bru asked: Steve, WHAT'S the mat
lter?" Being then little more widely
awake Bru heard q gurgling sound, also
the noise Of the blood rushing out of the
wound and spattering on the floor. and
Uniformed the sheriff.
SCENE "A CHASTITY ONE.
The scene that greeted Sheriff Shoe
makers eyes when he reached the cell
was a CHASTITY one. The dying man lay,
on his back and was perfectly quiet.
| From a deep wound on the right side Of
the neck. which just included the jugu-
liar vein and extended tothe Adams ap-.
ple, blood was pouring in great quanti-
tiles. In the mans right hand was
clasped a bloody razor, which explained
lall.
Sheriff Shoemaker did not take long
Ito act, and with the idea that there
might be faint chance of helping the
lsprisoner he telephoned at once for a
slnear-by physician and Coroner Lierle.
Both arrived within a few minutes. but
Triplett was dead before either could
the corridor below, where it remained
until daylight, when it was removed to
Densel & Wilbur's parlors.
COURTED DEATH BEFORE.
Now that Triplett's suicide has be-
come areality the sheriff and his depu-
|sties believe that taking his own life has
4 been a question that has been upper
lmost in the mans mind during the past
few days. After pleading guilty Friday
4 safternoon last Triplett asked to see his
wife and was granted the request, being
Escorted by Deputy Sheriff Hutson to
the Wilson House, where Mrs. Triplett
A is employed as a cook. He had an inter-
4 view of some length with Mrs Triplett.
5 land since that time he has seemed very
much depressed. After his return to the
s Ijail he made an attempt, go 1t is be-
4 lieved, to butt his brains out on the
4 ledge Of the cell door. When a asked a bout
LIT he said he tainted. At any rate the
man was somewhat injured, sustaining
4 a cash on the head. Saturday afternoon
he attempted to persuade Tom Boyer, a
man employed to do chores about the
ljail premises, to purchase for him !
cents worth OF carbolic acid, which he
said he wanted to use as wash for the
wound on his head. Boyer asked the
sheriff's advice before he purchased the
poison and MIR. Shoemaker Informed the
Clprisoner that he could not allow him tc
+ have it, Triplett also wanted Boyer to
) get him a rope, SO that he could mend
his cot, which he claimed was falling &c
!. Ipieces. This also was not allowed by
! Sheriff Shoemaker. As the circum-
!. stances caused the officers to suspicion
that perhaps the man might try to Kill
/ himself, Deputy Sheriff Mcfarland
made a careful search of Triplett's cell
I.but found nothing that he could harm
himself with.
Il HOW HE GOT THE RAZOR.
Y How Triplett got possession Of the
razor with which he ended his life wa.
Tall day Sunday something of mys.
I3tery. Today, however. it is though,
that the man took 1t from the drawer
) OF a desk in the lower corridor. where
are kept various articles taken from the
y prisoners when they are first brought
Ito the Jail. Trlplett has had consider.
able freedom extended him during hi.
|, confinement in jail. The razor was hi.
Z Own property ana on et3rluay morning
|, In order that he might shave himself
he asked Sheriff Shoemaker for5it. TIL.
request was granted. and after com
plotting the task it was returned to tn,
!, sheriff, who placed 1T in its accustomed
place. Saturday forenoon Triplet
wanted to take bath ane
was allowed to go to TIL,
back room to perform his ablutions
1t Is thought that while on his wa,
!, back to his cell, unnoticed, he man
s tagged to force the drawer in which tn,
razor had been placed.
!: THE DYING STATEMENT.
Triplett protested his Innocence to thl
last, even tho he had pleaded guilty
and on his person after his death wa
found written in a small memorandum
book the following message:
81 do this because I am innocent an,
can't go to the prison. Don't blame m,
I wife and Myrtle You people had ough
not to had made me plead guilty. for
: was not. STEVE.'
"A LONG LOOKED FOR LETTER.
All day Saturday Triplett was in
stew and very nervous over not receiv
ing a certain letter-from whom. how
ever. he did not state. Every mail de
livery was watched with eager eyes b,
H. Il