Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-28
MURDERER SUICIDES.
Alleged Murderer Outs His Head
Nearly Off.
Hi USED A PIECE OF A RAZOR BLADE

Hi USED A PIECE OF A RAZOR BLADE
Died in a Few Minutes-Dead Man is
George Anderson Accused of Killing
Harry Inter at Burlington - His
tory of the Crime.
} Burlington, Feb. 25-With his head
nearly severed from his body and
lying over on one of his arms exposing
a gaping wound, Jailer Cronin found
George Anderson in his cell at the
county Jail in this city Saturday after
noon just as the jury was ready to
return verdict finding the wounded
man guilty of assault with intent to
kill Mrs. Inter, of Cedar Rapids, on
Thanksgiving evening. in this place.
The wounds were self inflicted and
Anderson died in few minutes in
the arms of Vincent Dodge, fellow
prisoner. The weapon he used was a
piece of razor blade which he had
cunningly secreted in his cell, altho
search had previously been made for
an instrument of this kind, the jailer
having noticed that Anderson was
melancholy and suspected that he
might attempt to take his life.
Attic Anderson was not tried on
the charge of murder he was about to
face, and after being told by the jailer
that the jury had agreed on verdict
noc oy,l 1r,lt s1;
er's back was turned, drew the instru-
ment from his pocket and gashed his
throat, cutting it to the depth of about
two inches from ear to ear. Physic-
ians were Immediately called but be-
fore their arrival Anderson was dead.
Anderson Talks.
! Fifteen minutes before he cut his
throat Anderson made his first state
ment to the public. He was very mel
ancholy, and believed that his convic.
ton of the lesser crime included con-
yiction of the crime of murder and
that he would be hanged without fur
ther trial He also gave out his story
of where he was the night of the muir
der but says he had no witnesses to
prove his innocence. At the time he
intimated that he would never be tried
again.
Anderson at the Jail.
Anderson was in his cell on the sec.
ond floor and needed very little urg.
ing to be induced to tell his story. hut
was extremely reticent concerning his
own history. He. has, he says a
brother and sister in good circum
stances and does not wish to have
them learn of his present plight.
The man was well educated and
much more intelligent than his appear.
ance in the court room would Indicate
He is fine penman and natural
artist and during his Imprisonment
amused himself in sketching He is
not tramp, as past reports have
made him out to be. and not very long
ago was in good; circumstances.
Where He Spent Night of Murder.
Where were you the night of the
murder?" Anderson was asked.
Il wasn't anywhere near the place
where the man was held up" replied
the prisoner seriously, and in a man
ner which bore an air of truthfulness.
Il did not walk here from Des
fact | never spoke a dozen words to
i
ant the day preceding the crime, and
came to Burlington on a freight that
day. The morning of the murder
that man Dove, Ia Burlington engin-
eer.) left Burlington about o'clock
in the evening and walked south on
the railroad track. | went in out of
the cold in shed five miles south of
oh c,So 4
to sleep. / slept until that 10 O'Clock
and began walking down the track
anything about a man being shot until
those officers held me up"
History of Crime.
On Thanksgiving night w. H. Lin
ter and his wife, of Cedar Rapids, who
had been spending the holiday with
relatives in this city, were returning
to the depot when they were halted by
a thug. who called upon Linter to
throw up his hands. Before Mr.. Lin
ter could respond the desperate fired.
The bullet struck his victim in the
neck and severed an artery, causing
death. A few seconds later the muir
derer fired another shot. seriously
wounding Mrs. Inter.
Anderson was arrested while walk.
ing south on the railroad track. He
had two revolvers in his possession.
There were two empty chambers in
one, and the bullet which killed Mr..
Inter fitted the pistol which Ander-
son carried in his right hand when
he was arrested. Mrs. Inter finally
recovered. She identified her assail-
ant while 1t was supposed she was
breathing her last on the morning af-
ter the murder. She identified him
again during the early portion of the
trial.
THE eUBERNAToRlAL SITUATION