Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-02-25
before HIGHER COURT
Further Particulars Of the Sui
eide Of Alleged Murderer
Of Inter.
Killed Himself in His Cell Just
Before the Verdict Was
Read.
Henry Wilcox Found Guilty OF
Manslaushter at Rockwell
City.

ManslauEhter at Rockwell
City.
Burlington, Feb. 25.-George Anderson
is dead. Realizing hat the jury would
find him guilty and, despairing Of his
chances to again be a free man, he COM
mitted suicide in the Dcs Moines coun-
ty jail Saturday afternoon by cutting
his throat. Jailer John Cronin was
within a few feet of him at the time,
but the cash was too deep and the flow
of blood could not be stopped. Anderson
made no confession, tho it is said he at
tempted to- speak. Vincent Dodge held
the dying man In his arms until the
doctors pronounced him dead.
Anderson, who has been respondent
since the trial began had dropped sew
5eral hints that he did not intend to be
taken to the gallows. And several OF
the prisoners in the jail had expected
to learn of his suicide at any time.
The act was committed at about 2:1t
o'clock just as Jailer Cronin called him
to go to the court house as the jury was
ready to report.
AT 1:45 O'clock the fury in the case,
which had gone out about an hour be
fore, reported that a verdict had beer
found. Jailer Cronin was on his way
to the court house at the time and was
met at the foot of the stairs by Bailif
August Kriechbauin, who told him thai
the jury was ready to report and thai
the judge wanted him to go for Ander.
son.
Croning turned and Went back to ly
Cronin turned around and went bach
to the jail
Anderaon's cell is No. Is on the sec
sond floor and he is the only prisoner il
that cage Cronin went up stairs and
opening the cage door, called to ths
prisoner to come out.
What's wanted??H asked Anderson
coming to the door of his cell ard look
ing out into the cage. He had his Goa
Off and one hand Was behind his back.
II want you to come down to thu
court house, replied the jailer.
Has the jury found a vcrdict::''
"Yes: get your coat and come. =
and Cronln heard a sound as of some
heard the sound OF the splashing bloc,
The distance of only about twelv'
feet separated Cronin from cell No /
and he was quickly at the cell door
Anderson had crossed his cell and la,
face downward on the cement foo,
With his left hand he grasped the bar
of the cell and his head, almost sew
cred from his neck, hung over his arm
In his right hand he held queer look
\ ing iin2rovised Knife, dripping Wit
blood. Hissface was horribly conttorte
and he Was seemingly i'm great ment;
and physical agony. The blood, spur,
ing in two streams from his throa
flooded the floor.
| Cronin rushed down stairs and Gale
| Vincent Dodge. a trustworthy prisoner
Ito his assistance, and the two me
dragged the man to the door of the &c
and Dodge supported him in his arms
Anderson made desperate efforts t
| speak. but his wound made speech i'm
possible. Cronin believes that he wa
lsattempting to make a confession or /
tell some fact of great Importance, 70
| when he discovered that he could ute
no word, the expression on his face wa
one of despair and misery.
| Vincent Dodge a prisoner in the jai
who is serving time for attempting t
murder his wife on the day afte
Thanksgiving. was called to the &c
| Immediately and was seated upon tn
| floor. holding Anderson in his arms.
1 Tho medical aid had been sent for,
was plainly seen that nothing could b
done for the man, and Dodge did all i
4 his power TO make the dying mans las
moments as free from pain as possible
/ After about two minutes the ma
ceased his efforts to speak and san
back exhausted with his struggle an
| the loss of blood.
4 Within five minutes after the time h
Lieut. his throat his hands dropped to III
floor and only the dead body RENAME
of the man of who's actions so muc
has been said and thought. He died hi
Town eXecutioner.
Word had been hurriedly sent to TIL
court house. and County -Attorneyt-lar
had sent for County Physician Camp
bell who, with Drs. Patterson, Sherma
and Humme!l, ran to the Jail The bi
iron door was opened but the phys
clans were told upon their entranc
that nothing could be done for the ma,
When they reached the cell they foun
4 Vince Dodge still supporting the lifeles
body of the supposed murderer, who's
soul had gone to a higher tribunal. an
whose guilt or innocence will never b
\ known.
A; Those who have seen Anderson dali
say that he was determined man an
that he has long contemplated the ac
1T has been commonly thought that All
4 derson was man of little intelligence
but Jailer Cronin thinks differently an
believes that. realizing the jury ha
\ found him guilty because they had s
Iquickly returned verdict, and KNOWN
that he would be closely watched afte
the verdict had been read he saw the
If he wished to kill himself he had b,
a few minutes in which to do it. and h
made the most of his time
1t seems that he was anxious to max
no mistake, for the wound was an awf,
one, and made with two slashes of h
weapon L he first cash started undt
his left ear and was over two and a ha
Inches deep. The knife had been draw
around under his chin and up over h
right cheek, severing the jugular veil
4 The other cut was not quite SO deep, bl
extended from his right ear across tt
first cash and cut the windpipe an
smaller veins and tubes.
Il When the cell was searched it We