Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-10-03
Miss Mollie Powell, a Beautiful and
Accomplished Young Lady
of Rolla, Killed.
]. 5. eRosWElL THE REJECTED sUIToR.
Through the Heart Wa an instructor
In the School of Mines-Shs Fell In Her
Arms. and Diod-BOth Were
Young.


work and drawing in the Missouri
school of mines, shot Miss Mollie
Powell through the heart because she
had repeatedly refused to marry him.
Late last night the murderer was To-
Gated in a barn in the suburbs of this
city. Mayor Long led the party which
surrounded the barn. When Crosswell
realized the fact that he would be
captured he shot himself through the
heart, dying almost instantly. Tbs
mayor endeavored to get some state
ment from him before he died, but
failed. The revolver with which he
killed himself was the same one used
in killing Miss Powell. Two chambers
were empty. No papers or letters
were found which would indicate that
the murder and suicide were premedi-
tated.
The causes leading up to the crime
are unaccounted for, saw from the
fact that the murderer was a sutton
for Miss Powell's hand, and had been
rejected. Miss Powell's mother had
also informed him that he could not
marry her daughter, but he was per-
sistent in his suit.
On Monday evening a number of
Miss Powells friends were invited to
dinner, the occasion being her nine
teenth birthday anniversary. Cros-
well was among the number. The
hours were passed pleasantly until
about II o'clock. when all who we're
their homes. Mrs. Powell, as was her
custom, a~ffectionately babe her
daughter good night, and went up
stairs TIC retire. She scarcely had time
to remove her clothing before she
heard a pistol shot, and simultaneous
ly her daughters outcries. She ran
downstairs and was entering the par
lor door when Mollie, who was shot,
said:
Don't come in, mama, he has shot
me, and I am dying. He will shoot
you, too"
About this time a second shot was
fired. The bullet went wide of it's
mark, and the daughters warning
saved the mother.
Croswell ran out of the house,
through the back gate, and up one
of the main streets of Rolla, and dis
appeared. In his haste to leave the
house he left his hat in the room.
On the floor in the parlor was a
had used the drug on Miss Powell un-
til she was in a stupor, and then
placed the pistol close to her left
breast and fired, the flash from the
weapon burning her clothes. The ball
entered the lower part of the heart,
and she died in a few minutes in her
mothers rms.
When news of the murder began to
spread citizens were called out by the
changing of fire bells. They assembled
in the street, heard the details of the
tragedy, and returned to their homes
to arm themselves with shotguns, re-
volvers, ropes and clubs. The remain
der of the night was spent searching
the surrounding country for the
murderer. Every outgoing train was
searched. Five sentries were sent out
ten miles on every road leading into
town. All day yesterday posses
secured b country, but no trace of
the murderer was found until late
last night. He was soon located in the
barn where he ended his life, rather
than fall into the hands of captors.
During the search for Croswell a
tramp came near suffering severely
at the hands of the Infatuated popu-
lace. He was lying on the ground by
the track waiting his opportunity to
board a train. When discovered he
was ordered to surrender. He started
to run, and several shots were fired
before he halted.
Miss Powell was the second daugh-
ter eff the late w. J. Powell, formerly
editor of the Rolla New Era. She was
a singer of much promise, and had
she lived until Monday would have
gone to ST. Louis to complete her
course in voice culture. She was a
member of the Episcopal church.
j. S. Croswell, the murderer, was a
native Of Cambridge, Mass, and come
to Rolla to accept a position in the
Missouri school of mines and metal
lurgy, as instructor in shop work and
drawing. He filled this position last
year. In the social circles of Rolla hs
was admitted, as he came to the city
well recommended. He was about %
years of age.
p0TNTED pARAGR Apis.