Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-03
WAS INSANEIl JEALOUS
Did Murder Aftor Being Baptized
But Few Minutes.
WRITES LETTER TO HIS MOTHER
Tells Her in the EpistIe That He In
tends to slay the Girl and Himself
and Asks to Be Buried Beside
Her.

keosauqua. June -tSpecial)-
Miss Fora Donahue, the victim of a
farm hands insane love, who was shot
and instantly killed on the streets of
Cantril late Saturday afternoon, was
buried Sunday Afternoon in Mt Ster-
ling. The murderer was brought to
keosauqua for safe keeping but has
| since been spirited away and is sup
posed to now be in either Ft. Madison
or Fairfield. The tragedy excited the
people of Cantril as nothing has ever
done and threats, it is understood
! here, We're made to lynch the murder
er, all that it lacked, it is stated, was
! a leader
Murderer Shoots Himself.
Edward Hale, who had worked in
the vicinity of Cantril for about year,
and who was insanely in love with his
victim was the man who did the deed
within a few minutes after minister
of the gospel had administered the
( rights of baptism to him at his own re-
quest. Hale fired slot calculated to
| take his own life but the bullet merely
made a flesh wound. He will,recover.
He has had no preliminary examina-
ton as yet and nc inquest was
held on the body of tie dead girl.
The Girls F.lneraI.
The funeral of the dead girl was
held from the Methodist church in Mt.
Sterling at 2'oclock Sunday afternoon
conducted by Rev. Boyd, the pastor,
assisted by Rev George Minear, of
Cantril. The interment was made in
the Mt. Sterling cemetery
The tragedy has greatly stirred the
people in that part of Van Buren, and
adjoining counties. The Donahues are
well known people and the wanton
| murder of their daughter has cast
shadow over everything.
Hale Was Tramp.
About three months ago Hale. who
was tramp, it is said, went to work
for John Donahue. farmer residing
about one mile south of Mt. Sterling.
He had been in that vicinity about nine
months previous to that time. In a
Il short time he became enamoured of
MI. Donahue's pretty daughter, Miss
Fora. girl II years of age She did
not accept his attentions but kept
company with another fellow
Wanted to Be Baptized.
Matters reached a climax Saturday
when Miss Fora and sister went to
lCantril to attend the Decoration day
exercises. Miss Fora was on the pro-
gram participating in flower drill.
Hale was discharged by Mr.. Donahue
Saturday morning because of his at.
tentions to Miss Zora. and also went
to Cantril where he visited minister.
Rev. Hendrickson. and asked to be
baptized. The minister said he did
not have time Just then but would do
it later. Hale objected saving that
he might die at any time and that he
wanted the ceremony performed forth
with. The minister consented and
Hale walked from the house.
Fres Fatal Shot.
Within fifteen minutes Hale met
Miss Donahue on the street in from
of the residence of R. L. Wellborn. in
company OF three other girls where
she was watching a ball game. He
saluted her with the familiar Hello"
land asked when she intended to Get
married to which she replied lin a
week or ten days 1t is stated that
he drew his revolver and with the
exclamation. NO, you won't d
you shot the girl in the breast. caus-
ing almost instant death. The bullet
passed through the apex of her heart,
Hale then turned the weapon on him
self and fred. making a flesh wound
in his head The dead girl was car,
ried into nearby house and physi-
clans summoned but she was beyond
Earthly aid. The murderer was tax
en- to livery stable.
Taken to keosauoua.
AS soon as the people recovered
from the shock occasioned by the deed
excited groups of men began to con
eregate. This was noticed BY the Of
ficers. who procured conveyance
and whisked the prisoner out az town
and to the county jail in this city.
Fearful even then that he might he
lynehed, Hale was again removed aud
is now supposed to ba either in the
penitentiary at Fort Madison on in Jail
at Fairfield
Writes Letter to Mother.
Hnle yro. Of ,tearc of ~ ,~,.,