Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-09-11
FOR PETERSON MURDER
THOMAS LEWIS UNDER ARREST
AT DIES MONIES.
Is Miner and Was Near the Scene Of
the Murder When It Occurred.


Des Moines, Sept. 5.-Thomas Lewis
a miner at Marquisville, was arrested
yesterday by Constable Ed Sunberg
and a deputy sheriff, accused II
murder in the first degree. The in
formation Is sworn to by Attorney II
G. Carpenter, commonly caued "Hod,
who has been working on the case
since the crime was committed. Lewis
was taken to Justice Aylesworth's
court where he was arraigned and Their
taken to the county jail. Justice
Aylesworth set the case Tor next Tues
day and the man was committed with
out bail.
Lewis lives near the scene Of the
crime and was Investigated by the
detectives at the time the crime was
committed. II is alleged that he told
conflicting stories in regard to his
whereabouts that night, but he was
released. Two other men were with
him the night that the crime was com.
mitted. He and another man, it is al
legged, were on the bridge near the
crime when the awful deed was done
The man who was with Lewis worked
at Morningstar' dairy.
The father, brother and brother-in
law of the accused man came to the
city at once and went to Justice Ayles
worth's court to get the man released
on bail If possible. Justice Ayles
worth had committed the man without
bail, however, and he could not be re
leased. Then the men at once engaged
Attorney Walter McHenry, who will
defend Lewis.
Lewis is small man % years o
age. He was at work when arrested
and took his capture without flinching
or making any resistance whatever
Quietly he walked to the buggy and
was taken to the court room. Justice
Aylesworth was not in the room wher
the men arrived and they awaited hi:
return. The man was arraigned al
11:45 when the justice returned to The
room.
H. G. Carpenter, the man who filed
the information, refused to discuss the
evidence as known to him. He said
however, that he had a complete case
against the man and that II he had no.
he never would have dared to file an.
such information.
The information states that the
this time unknown. The full text o
the information is as follows:
1.-The defendant, Thomas Lewis, is
accused of the crime of murder /:
the first degree.
For that the defendant on or about
the 18th day of April, A. D., 1902, IL
he - eto 20 Of
unlawfully, willfully, feloniously. de
liberately, premeditatedly and with
malice aforethought, and by lying in
wait, did make an assault in and upon
the person of one Lena Peterson, then
and there being. with certain danger
GUS and deadly weapon in the hands
of the defendant held, more particu
lar description of the weapon being
at this time to the defendant unknown
And he, the said Thomas Lewis, with
the specific intent to kill and murder
her. did willfully, feloniously, deliber
ately and premeditatedly and with NAL
ice aforethought with deadly weapon
then and there, In his hands held, b;
aforesaid, beat, strike and bruise tbs
head, person and body of her, the said
Lena Peterson, willfully, feloniously
premeditatedly and of his malice afore
thought, infiicting upon the body Of
her. the said Lena Peterson, mortal
wound, or wounds, from the effects OF
which she, the said Lena Peter
son, then and there died; contrary
to the statutes in such cases. made
and provided, and against the peace
and dignity os the state of Iowa. H
G. Carpenter"
The murder occurred last spring
north of Highland Park college, as tha
children were going home from church
one Sunday evening. It is the theory
that the girl was outraged and that
her brother was killed after a desper
ate struggle in defense Of his sisters
honor