Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-08-01
MAY END AS MURDER
SIDNEY. PECK HAS SKULL CRUSHED
Is Attacked BY Trio Of Waukon Toughs
Near Frankville and Expected to
Die.-Assailants are Lying
in Jail at Waukon.

A brutal and atrocious assault was
made on the person of Sidney Peck of
Frankville last Saturday morning, by
three young men from WaukOn, and
the victim is now lying at Deaths door
from a blow on the head which
crushed the skull into the brain. The
three men who made the assault are
Frank KolestOn, Bert Evans and Mike
McDermott, and they are now lying in
the county Jail at Waukon awaiting a
disposition of their case, with a term
in the penitentiary staring them in
the face. The details of the affair
make the crime very aggravating one
and the evidence so far obtained leads
to the belief that the assault was care
fully planned and there sre no ex-
tenuating circumstances to excuse the
conduct of the three men.
. Friday afternoon Sidney Peck drove
to Waukon after two young ladies by
name Of Hastings to attend dance
which was held in Frankville that
evening. He returned with the young
ladies and was shortly afterward fol-
lowed to Frankville by Koleston,
Evans and McDermott, the object of
the latter, as it appears now, to give
Peck severe punishment. The three
men were under the influence of liquor
and were not permitted to take part in
the dance, but they remained outside
unit! Peck and the girls left the hall to
return to Waukon. When the three
men learned that Peck and the girls
had departed, one of them remarked
that they'd "d-n soon catch them
and would take the girls away from
Peck" The fellows overlook their
victim near the Baker farm about five
miles from Frankville and about 40
rods east Gf the county line. Koleston
climbed into the rear end of Peck's
vehicle and put his arm about the
neck of Pearl Hastings, the afiianced
bride of Peck, which familiarity was
resented by the latter and he struck q
blow at Koleston which knocked him
to the ground. Peck started his team
and attempted to get away from the
three men. but they drove by him and
pulled their rig across the road and
barred further progress. Two of the
ruffians attacked Peck, one of them
striking him on the head with a blunt
instrument, 10y some believed to have
been whiskey bottle. but which was
more likely q heavier instrument.)
Peck fell to the ground, and it is stated
was unconscious for some time, and it
was believed by his companions that
he was dead. One of the young ladies
makes the statement that when the
injured man began to revive he was
loaded into his own buggy and one Of
the men drove, accompanied by the
others with their team, to q point
about two miles from Frankville, when
they gave the team rein and started for
Waukon, the girls with them. 1t is
supposed that the horse took the road
to the Beard farm, and when near that
place Peck fell from the buggy and
made his way to Mr.. Klemma's.
About four o'clock in the morning the
Klemma household heard Peck call
ing, but under the impression thSt it
was some one intoxicated did not get
up Immediately to investigate. When
they did, however, Peck had relapsed
into insensibility again. He was con-
veyed to Frankville and DIR. Wilcox
made an examination of the wound.
An operation being imperative DR..
Jewell of DecOrah was called to his as
sistance.
The blow received by Peck had been
been driven with such force that q
piece of the skull bone an inch and q
half in length and half inch wide,
on the left side of the head, had been
driven In and indentured the brain,
compelling the surgeons to resort to
trepanning to relieve the pres
sure Although every possible at
tention has been given to relieve the
distress Of the wounded man his con-
dition is most precarious one. The
injury Is such as to almost preclude q
recovery and it will be q miracle If he
lives, though yesterday he was resting
easier than at any time since the
operation, but still unconscious.
As q matter of course Peck's cOndi.
ton Immediately alarmed his friends
and inspired desire to revenge his in
jury. Investigations were Immediately
set on foot which undeniably i'm
plicated the three WaukOn fellows
with the deed and their arrest and de-
tention followed On Saturday after
noon. 1t Is said that the young ladies
were compelled to divulge the facts Of
the assault and their connection with
the entire proceedings. Without q