Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-17
Farmer Near Corydon Shoots
and Kills Lucas County
Young Man.
DARE's FATAL RESULTS
Edward Zimmerman Pulls Gun and
Puts Three Bullets in Body of Bel
win Cook Saturday Niaht-Makes
Escape But Is Captured.

ward Zimmerman, a farmer residing
near Corydon, shot and killed Belvin
Cook, a young man residing in this
city, at 10:45 o'clock Saturday night
because he thought Cook was about to
take dare to touch a bottle of whis-
ky which Zimmerman took from his
pocket and laid on the sidewalk. Zim-
escaped but was caught at
his home while in the act of washing
his victims blood from his person. He
was brought to Charlton and lodged
in Jail. A coroner's jury has heard
the evidence but has not yet rendered
a verdict.
If the statements of those who wit
messed the tragedy are true it was one
of the most wanton murders ever en-
acted in Lucas county and is the di-
rect result, it is said, of whisky.
Story of the Crime.
Zimmerman in company with his
cousin, Charles Zimmerman drove to
Charlton Saturday and put their team
up at one of the local livery barns.
Zimmerman's actions during the day
indicated that he had been drinking
but he was not in condition to excite
comment.
Saturday night, according to the
story of eye witnesses, William Null
len, Belvin Cook and Beam Cook.
brother of the dead man, were sitting
on the sidewalk on the west side of
the Mullen hotel. Zimmerman passed
them, went on for short distance and
then came back ssto, #here the TITO.
We're. He took bottle of whisky anti
a revolver from his pocket, laid the
whisky down on the walk and with an
oath said The .lrst
that touches that I will shoot"
Shot Three Times.
Belvin Cook started to get up. He
had one foot on the walk and the other
on the ground when Zimmerman, true
to his threat, fired three times. One
of the balls struck Cook over the
heart, second in the abdomen and
third few inches to the right of the
same place.
Shoots Twice Again.
Beam Cook made leap for his
brothers assailant and clinched with
him. Zimmerman fired two more
shots neither of which took effect. At
this instant he saw his brother fall
and went to his assistance
Conscious Until the End.
Belvin was carried to the Woods
barber shop where he was laid on the
IL
wounds were fatal and nothing could
be done for him. He was conscious
until the end came at 1915 o'clock
Sunday morning. one hour and forty,
five minutes after he was shot.
Calls for His Wife.
Cook gave description of the man
who shot him and called for his wife,
When she arrived he told her he was
going to die. The scene was affecting
in the extreme.
Zimmerman Escapes.
AS soon as the crowd had collected
it's wits search was made for Zimmer-
man. 1t was known that he had put,
up his team at one of the local livery
stables and all of them were notified
to be on the lookout for him. He did
not appear, however, and succeeded in
getting to his home four miles north
of Corydon.
Washes Blood From Person..
The sheriff and other officers gave
pursuit and Sunday about noon found
him at his residence washing his vic
TINS blood from his face and clothing.
1t is said that he was literally covered
with the crimson fluid and presented
an awful spectacle. He was brought
back to Charlton and is now lodged in
the couny jail
Arrests the Cousin.
Charles Zimmerman, the cousin, who
came to Charlton with Edward, was
also arrested He, however, was not
! in the vicinity of the murder when the
tragedy occurred.
Coroner Holds Inquest.
! Coroner T. P. Stanton empaneled a
| jury and held an inquest on the re
mains of the murdered man. The jury
was composed Of Messrs. ]. o. Grips,
Fred Woods and w. B. Lusl. They
have heard the evidence but have not
yet returned veruict.
Cook Was Young Man.
| Belden COOK was a man "a years OF
age He had resided in Lucas county
all his life.
Funeral Today.
The funeral of Cook was held this
afternoon at ] 80 o'clock from his late
residence. The services We're conduct
ed by Rev. Hastie, pastor of the Chris
4 tian church. Interment was made in
the Purdom cemetery
/ The grief stricken wife has the SYM