Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-04
THE son TESTlFIES
Details Events the Night of the
Hossack Murder.
BLOODY Ak is PRODUCED In COURT
A Neiehbor Also Gives Evidence
Against Mrs. Hossack Previous to
the Murder of Her Husband-Pro-
gress of the Trial at Indianola.

tne muTQer OF F1er tuSpand-F'rO-
gress of the Trial at Indianoa.
lndianola, April 4.-(SpeciaD The
first called in the Hossack murder case
was William Hossack, the eighteen
year-old son of the murdered man.
The witness testified that he retired
on the night of December / at about
o'clock, leaving both his father and
mother up. Sometime during the
night, he could not tell when, he was
awakened by his mother calling for
him to come down stairs that there
was somebody in the house. He dress
ed quickly and came down. The room
was dark. He asked for a light and
| his mother struck the light. He heard
his father groaning and at once enter
ed the room where he slept. AS he
entered the father exclaimed, what
is the matter with me?" and the son
said, you have been HIT" NO" said
the father, Il am only sick
Other members of the family came
in and the mother told them the story.
That she heard noise in the room,
which sounded like two boards clap
ping together, saw light flash on the
wall and heard the door close. She
at once got up and called them, and af-
forwards heard her husband groaning.
Witness heard no one about the prem
ises or in the house; she examined the
wound, saw it was serious and immed-
lately spread the news. There was
blood on the pillow, and on the walls
of the bed room The blood was
clothed on the wound when he first
saw it. Witness testified that his par
ents had often quarreled and at one
time talked of separating. They also
talked of dividing up the property.
This was a year ago. He knew of no
quarrel within the last year. All the
children and grandchildren were at
home for Thanksgiving dinner, two
days before the tragedy, an dthe din
ner was happy event to ALL
The Dog Silent.
The Hossacks owned ferocious
dog which made big fuss every time
anyone approached the house after
night. The dog was silent on this oc-
casion.
Found the Axe.
Lewis Braucht was the next called.
He visited the Hossack home early in
found Hossack in bed with a wound
in his head. He saw blood on the
walls of the ROOM on the carpet, pill
low, bed clothes and on the porch. He
examined the wound and thought it
had been inflicted with an axe. lie
searched for the axe and found it hid
under the granary.
Axe Introduced.
: Here the axe, marked exhibit "a
was handed the witness, who identi
fled it as the axe he saw under the
granary He knew it by the nick in
the blade and by the blood stain en-
) the handle. He guarded it until the
! sheriff arrived He also discovered
hair on the handle.
Repeats Damaging Conversation.
Ruida Hams was next called and
]. testified as follows:
81 am the wife of w. F. Hams;
l have lived within half mile of the
(. Hossack home for ten years. Knew
Mr.. and Mrs. Hossck personally. We
! were always good friends. Knew OF
their family quarrels; had talked with
Mrs. Hossack good deal about it;
had talked it over with her for the
i pasl SIX or seven years. one lln.e
s 81 salu ~ Woulu pe you piessihe
- yunn Ma. Was sone' nome .iihe pr,
W tne Killing sne asked my huspano
70 come down ana attena 10 oonn
MI. rams SAID NO, l VIII not toucI
, MT. Hossack; you nave the laws te
pIotect you II you are AFRAID OF MN.
70 THIS MIS-. Hossack repned, II YOU
40 touch him want you TO hnlsf
: him.
: Defendant told me at one time thai
: John threw stove lid at her, which
: struck her on the foot and knocked
he- toe nail off"
How the Wounded Man Appeared.
Dr VIZ n neon Woo nav+ oo1,ea on,
testified that he was 'caIied ~ tba Hos los
sack home a rew hours after tho traee
t. dv He FOND Hnssso11 IN uncnns saSs
with wound in his head. shallow ant
irregular breathing and body in a COLI
y sweat. One wound extended thru tn,
a skull, and the other was made with ;
{, blunt instrument. Either was stuff
nj IN hn ho1