Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-04
The FAl|SI TRAGEDY
Young George Crone, Faust's
Nephew, Who Did Shoot
ing, Bound Over
coRoNER's INQUEST is HELD
Facts Brought Out to Show That
Charles Faust and Family Had Been
Terrorized by the Murdered Man
Boy Pokes Gun Into UncIe's Face as
He Neared the Upstairs Window.

The details of the Faust tragedy near
Halbur, Carroll county in which James
r. Faust, former Marshall county
farmer, was killed by his 11-year-old
nephew, George Crone, while trying to
effect an entrance into the Charles
Faust home, four miles west of Halbur,
are given in Wednesdays Carroll Her
aid. Young Crone had been making his
home with his uncle, Charles Faust,
whose life had been threatened by the
murdered man. The family had been
living in terror for some time, or since
the recent trouble between the broth
ers, which resulted in James Faust pc
ing put under bonds to keep the peace.
The Carroll paper holds the same
idea concerning Faust as advanced In
the Times Republican several years
ago, that Faust was undoubtedly m
sane. The coroners inquest resulted In
the story of the tragedy being told IN
detail and is given by the Herald as
follows:
.Charles Faust lived on the farm
lately owned by his brother, Sol. Ills
wife recently left for their former home
at Kings, H., to look after their little
home property, and took one of the
little girls with her. Charles remained
with the other little girl, about years
old. and his little nephew, George
a
late Bower Crone, and nephew of the
Fausts, had lived with Sol at the time
of the latter's disappearance, and was
kept at the place by his other uncle,
Charles. Faust and the two children
went to bed early Sunday night, but
about $50 there was a loud rap on the
front door. 1t was soon learned that II
was James, who had returned from his
wanderings and wanted to get into the
house. Charles and young Crone braced
the door and windows and told him not
to enter, for they feared he would
murder the family. James, failed in his
attempts to get in. went to the granary
and got ladder. evidently expecting to
enter an upstairs window. But the ex-
pos tulations from within We're so en-
phatic that he finally threw down the
ladder and told Charles he would fix
him in the morning. Then Charles
hastily prepared the little folks for
flight and ran hastily to Mr.. Grau's, a
neighbor residing not far away. On
the way the children were frantic with
fright, for they expected to be killed
before reaching further protection.
Faust guarded the rear with shotgun,
expecting every moment to have to use
it Next morning he and the boy went
back to the house about daybreak, leav-
ing the little girl behind. They started
the fire and were about to prepare
breakfast when a loud kick at the door
was followed by a demand from James
to let him in. Again he was told to get
away and let them alone. But he per-
sisted, with violent threats. Getting
the ladder abandoned during the night
before, he leaned it against the side of
the house under an upstairs window,
partially raised. Again the affrighted
man and boy begged him to go away.
But he paid no attention and proceeded
with desperate and ominous determine
ton to enter. Running to the top of the
stairs Charles put his hand on the win
dow frame to prevent It's raising fur
Their. James head was nearly even
with the bottom of the window, and he
was apparently bound to enter. The
boy poked the gun thru the opening and
at a word from his uncle behind him
fired at the man on the ladder. The
muzzle was not far from him, and the
contents went direct, hitting him in the
neck, and evidently causing instant
death. James fell to the ground and
the man and boy inside We're SO fright
ened that they ran hastily back to
Grau's where they had spent the night.
''The authorities in Carroll were
promptly notified and Sheriff Schmich,
Coroner Patty and Attorney Reynolds
proceeded to the scene of the tragedy to
hold an inquest. III. Eike, II. D. Grau
and J. w. Heider were summoned as
jurors, and the verdict was in accord
ance with the above statement of facts.
Charles Faust and George Crone
were brought to town by the sheriff and
lodged in Jail. The little girl who would
not leave Ier father, was taken care of
by Sheriff Schmich and left with his
own children.
THE Fausts are of sturdy Pennsylva-
MIA German stock, and with the excep-
ton of the man killed, have been known
as Woodworking, thrifty people, and
good citizens. James, the dead man.
was A years old, Charles is 40, and Sol
who disappeared, was AZ.
This tragedy Is the outgrowth of the
disappearance of Sol Faust, an incident
| well known to the readers of this paper
| and Its nature justifies reteliing the
story.
Solomon Faust was hard working
prosperous farmer living in Washing
/ ton township. He had sold his farm
and rented 1t for the current year from
/ the purchaser. 1t is known that he ha6
! the cash proceeds, about $500, in his
| possession the night before he disap.
peared. On the night of April % las
| he disappeared, and with him the
| money was missing. Little George
Crone, his nephew, and the OILY person
| living with him at the time, declares
that Sol said he intended to go to South
Dakota. There were about $1,000 worth
of stock and personal property on the
! place, and neighbors took charge unit
/ other arrangements could be made. II
looking thru the house they saw pho.
| tograph with the address of Henry
Faust, Rochelle, Ill.,, thereon. He was
1 notified by telegraph, but could no
| come at once, not being able to leave
| the bottling works which ne owns ant
manages. But he sent his brother
Charles, who at that time was workins
on the railroad at Kings, Ill. Charles
| came and with the little Crone boy
/ lived alone and put in the crops. In thu
/ course of a few weeks another brother
James, appeared on the scene. HI