Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-01-11
S||RS W PONIAN[L[E
The McC oy.S ellenhammer Case
Continues to Excite the
Populace.
Details Of 1 Sensational Episode
and the Subsequent De.
velopments.
Principal Offender Said to Have
Been Aided to Escape.
Iowa News.
Special TO Tines Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Fontanelle, Jan. 11.-The town of
Fontanelle IS still considerably excited
over the Mccoy Shellenhammer case
K and the developments growing out of It,
1t continues to be the main topic OF
conversation. The gcssips have per-
haps made good deal more out ct the
affair than the facts would warrant,
and the facts are bad enough, While
there ,is sad as we'll as sensational
side to the story The fragmentary
dispatches heretofore printed have CIV
en- but little of the truth, and the fol-
lowing details of one of the straEgest
and most distressing events that has
occurred in this section of the state in
years will be read with interest:
Walter o. Mccoy and Bessie Shsllen-s
hammer We're the parties in The flight.
Mccoy is married man 26 years of
age, who has been living away from ghis
wife for some time. He IS the stepSonS
of I. NJ. Taylor, where he has made his
home when not employed in his occupa-
Il ton az telegraph operator. Bessie
Shellenhammer is girl just past IT,,
who was brought here last summer
from the home for friendless children
by the state agent, Rev. Laningham, of
Red Oak, and was given a home and
kindly care by Mr.. and Mrs w. c.
Brown. She is a nice-looking, bright,
we'll behaved girl and has been helpful
and Industrious in the home of her
adoption. Mccoy, however, the man of
26, seemed TO have an undue influence.
from his society, renounceds him when
With others, but didnot or could NOT
repulse his repeated attentions This
eliminated Sunday night, when he took
her from the Nj. f.. church. about I
o'cl9ek, and induced her to get into a
dcy lie carriage driven by Dick Wimp.
three drove TO Greenfield, and
Re Mccoy procured another team to
1--WE them to Creston, Wimp returning
{th the first conveyance to Fontanelle.
tCoy and the girl proceeded TO G'res-
at 1890 and registered at the Cres-
hotel as G. b. Davis and Wife 1t
~ their intention to leave on the early
lin for st. joe
fit so happened that Rev. Laningham,
lie agent from the children's home, was
u town last Sunday. a part of his bus
ness was to break, If possible, the rela-
lions between his ward and Mccoy.
EARLY in the evening he talked with Nc
Y Coy on the subject and finally warned
him that v was dangerous business
When LATE in the evening Mccoy and
the girl were missing. Laningham insti-
tuted vigorous search and wac assisted
by McCoy's step father I. NJ. Taylor.
BY means unknown they learned, after
the return of Wimp from Greenfield.
the direction the couple had taken and
the purpose to leave erection for st. Joe
by the: early morning train. They im-
lnediately went to kirlin & Gibson S
livery barn and applied for a team with
the constable for u driver. One member
of the firm, Mr.. kirlin, is a constable
The head clerk. Corey Melsabarger, Of
the establishment, presuming no doubt
to relieve his employer Of a hard nigh
drive, said he could do the business and
Went with them to Creston. Loca off
GERS were interested In the case, aIld
the runaway couple We're found ths
guests OF the Creston House, as above
Indicated. Mccoy was arrested ant
placed in the Union county jail for safs
keeping until morning, when 1t waslun-
drestood that constable Melta barger'
was to bring Mccoy to the train fol
Fontanelle, while Taylor and Laning-
to accompany her to the train anC
home Meltabarger telegraphed /,
Sheriff Swinehai.t to meet him on the
! train at Orient and take charge of thu
prisoner. II being his intention to e,
back and get the team and drive K
Fontanelle. To this telegram Meta
barger signed his name and the title o
CONSTABLE Creaton officers on Sun
day night directed the Tailor to turn til,
prisoner over in the morning to the con
stable from Fontanelle. When the trail
left in the morning. however, Laning
ham, Taylor and the girl were on board
but 1.-The COASTAL bic and prisoner got left
II was concluded that they would driy,
up Mr. Lanineham came here, awor
out Warrant for the arrest of VIM
for being an accessory to the flight O
his ward. Wimp was placed unde
bonds to appear tomorrow in Justic
Eennett's court for trial.
Communication was had with Cresto
TO learn the whereabouts OF aieitabarge
and Mccoy. eliciting the informatio
that they left together In buggy aboli
q. IN. Their arrival at Greeniicit
where Mccoy was to be given a preiimi
nary hearing before Justice Priddy, wa
expected by o'clock. at the latest an
%heD o'clock came without them ther
was deep anxiety. No trace of thel
could be found until about 5 o'clocl
when Meltabarger drove into the bar
at Fontanelle without his prisonsl
Questions as to McCoy's whereabout
were parlied or answered with indiffel
ence. warrant was then sworn OF
IN Greenfield charging Meltabarger Wit
having unprecedented an officer and Der
Ity Sheriff Lem Darner came over an
gathered him in about Z o'clock. Owe
there Meltabarger said that he and Mo
Coy We're just driving along, just oui
side of Creston, Mccoy just sitting
the buggy. with one hand resting on
bow, when all at once he gave lea
and lunge and was gone from h
reach and presence. This story of Nj
Eoy's escape is not given full credenc
Being true and acting in good faitl
Meltabarger would have immediatel
notified officers. but he kept out of reac
ef these as long as he could. He coul
L. -u..... -.