Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-07
NETS AWFUL CRIME
Further Details Of the Terrible
Tragedy at West Union
Are Given.
The Murderer Was Insanely
Jealous Of Miss Falb.
His Victim.
He Had Been Engaged to Marry
Her, But Troth Was
Broken.
Special to mines Republican.

| Special to Times Republican.
West Union, Jan. THE tragedy of
Sunday night is still the only topic of
conversation here. Miss Rose Falb.
Neff's victim, was popular young lady
and her murder and suicide of her lover
has caused thrill of horror in the COM
:nunity. The coroner will hold an in
quest, but as all the facts appear to be
known there can be but one verdict.
The full account of the terrible crime
is printed In the Argos Extra as fol-
lows:
One of the most appalling and cruelest
West Uunion took place last evening
Sunday shortly after o'clock, when
III. NJ. Neff shot and wounded Emmett
Sullivan; shot Rose Falb so that she
died few hours later and then Killed
himself The events leading up to the
dreadful tragedy are briefly narrated as
follows.
For some years Mr.. Neff and Miss
Falb had been keeping company and
had been engaged, the wedding day
having been set several times but for
some reason the marriage was regularly
put off by Mr.. Neff. Finally the girl
tired of this and several weeks ago she
told him that 1t was all up between
them. In the meantime she had been
receiving attentions from Mr.. Sullivan.
Sunday afternoon Mr.. Neff was with
Miss Falb at the Commercial hotel,
L mo q
and as he complained OF not feeling
very we'll she took his supper to his
loom but he did not eat. Soon after
this he left for his rooms In the Siam
block. A few moments after o'clock
he came down from his rooms, met
Nightwatch Colburn on the Musser
corner, and in answer to his greeting
said, Good evening and walked d.
rectly north. to the hotel. He entered
the east door and went up the back
stairs directly to Miss Falb's room.
Here he found Mr.. Sullivan and Miss
Falb. Emmett attempted to keep the
coor closed but he forced 1t open,
grabbed MI. Sullivan by the collar,
pushed his revolver into his face and
fred The ball entered one of his nos
trils and ranged along the cheek bone.
where, we understand, it still remains.
He is not dangerously hurt. Mr.. Sui
Ivan broke away from him and ran
down stairs, the blood gushing from his
wound in streams. The hotel people and
others in the office heard the first shot
and started up stairs, meeting Mr.. Sui
Ivan coming down. Before they could
reach Miss Falb's room several more
shots We're heard and when Clerk Otley
reached her room she was found
stretched ON the floor covered with
blood.
Mr.. Neff was seen on his way to the
street as Otley turned at the head of the
office stairs to go to Miss Falb's room.
He went directly to his rooms. took off
his overcoa.t. coat. and hat, threw the
five empty shells from his gun, reload
ed the weapon, placed it against the
temple on the right side of his head,
pulled the trigger and dropped dead he
was heard to come hastily up the stairs
leading to ,his room. open and close the
door, and the next thing was the pistol
shot.
Several young men We're in the Wind
sor Club adjoining. When they heard |
the shot they went to his door and rap
ped several times. Getting no response,
after repeated efforts, Lock Burnham
and Ed Thomas broke in the door, when
Mr.. Neff's body was found partly on the
bed and partly on the floor He must I
have died instantly. Miss Falb had one
bullet nearly In the center of her fore
head, another in or behind the ear and |
the third In her right breast The fifth
empty shell from the revolver has not
been accounted for. She never regained
dying at 1890 the next
No cause can be assigned for
the dreadful deed except insane jeal-
ousy.
Mr.. Neff was born In Auburn, this
county, and would have been 46 years
Of age had he lived until March. He
was deputy county clerk and county
clerk for number of years afterwards
in railroad work, as he was
an expert civil engineer. Several years
ago. he, with his brother, C. G.. pur-
chased the electric light plant in this
city, and unoer their management it ha,
oeen very prosperous.
Miss Falb was a most estimah HE
young lady. 80 years OF age, born in
switzerland and coming to this county
1t an early age.