Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-17

END A NOhAN'S BODY
horrible Discovery Made BY Ia.
bersrs In Corn Field Near
81 0skaloosa.
Dscomposinf Remains Of YOUNG
Woman Found Under Clump
Of Trees.
Body Was Well Dressed and II
May Be : Case Of
Murder.
!peclal to rlmes-R epublican.


Oskaloosa, Sept. II. The body of a
young woman was found about mile
northeast of this city Monday evening
about o'clock. Some laborers in
corn field had been attracted for some
days by a horrible stencil, but they were
unable to locate the trouble until yes
terday when they traced the source of
The odor to q clump of plum trees and
! 2 weed patch at the side OF the field.
They had been cutting and shocking
corn In the field and as they passed
certain parts of the field the stencil be-
came unbearable. They at last followed
the odor to its source and were horri-
fed to run upon badly decomposed
human form, hidden in the weeds The
I body Of a woman was seen stretched out
ION the back with legs and arms far ex-
tended. The clothing was of good char
acter with even some pretense at style,
but the under garments had been of the
palmer sort. There was neat but
small hat near the head and neSt walk
Ing shoes We're upon the feet This skirt
was Of q plaid wooden goods. A vest like
: that OF man was over a shirt waist and
q small Jacket was over this. The face
was upturend, but Identification was inn
possible, 1t was thought that the body
at flrst might be that of a negro, but
this was thought improbable as the hair
was OF q long fine growth. black and
luxuriant. and would indicate that the
owner had been young. The hair was
greatly disheveled The coroner was
called but being absent j.. b. McCurdy
made the investigation of the case, but
did not pursue 1t as he deemed the pres
ence OF the coroner necessary on ac-
count of the grave character of the case.
Indications and circumstances point to
foul play of some character or possible
suicide and a very careful investigation
Of the case was commenced this morn
ing.
So far az is known there is no person
missing from this city or county, but
5 there was story concerning colored
Z girl who resided at Montezuma some
months ago. 1t was said that the girl
had a home in Oskaloosa and that she
had disappeared and had not been
heard from. She had left her position
with months salary due her and had
never returned.
The place where the body was found
- about 500 feet from public highway
& and is about a mile and half north
east OF the city. It is5in plum thicket
!. and surrounded bY high, weeds. It@is-a
1Iace that would not be passed or visit
ed by any one unless by accident for
months at time. 1t would be perfect
place for the commission of crime
No marks of identification could be
found about the clothing or near the
body. II there had been struggle all
evidences OF 1t had been obliterated
Weeds had grown about the body and
had fallen over the limbs. 1t was with
the utmost difficulty that the corpse
was discovered. From the nature OF
the surroundings and the condition OF
the remains it is thought that the wom-
an has been dead at least two months
There are some stories of the work OF
J, grave ghouls afioat, but this is highly
improbable. as the body had in no way
been prepared for burial.
The affair has created quite sensa:
\ tion in the city and the developments OF
the case will be watched with consider
1 able interest.