Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-27
Iowa Supreme Court Sustained
Judgmentin Booker Case.
PAYS PENALTY OF.ATRoCIOUS CRIME
Deed Committed by Eliza Booker, Col.
ored, in Abba in September, 1900
2 Case Brought TO Wapello. District
Court on Change of Venue.
IfFrom Saturdays Daily..l

IFrom Saturdays Daily.l
Guilty of one of the most revolving
deeds in the catalogue of crimes, Eliza
Booker, colored, will be compelled to
pay the penalty of his actions by sery-
ing the twenty years sentence impos-
ed upon him by Judge Eichelberber in
the district court Of Wapello county,
Docember+13. 1900. This sentence was
yesterday affirmed by the supreme
court of Iowa and the defendant again
found guilty of committing rape on
the person of Mrs. Sarah Hoeyel of
Abba: The deed is said to have been
committed during -,the month of Sep
TENDER, 1900, in the city of Abba, and
at the time of trial., which was held in
the Wapello county district court. be-
ing brought from Monroe county on a
change of venue, the case attracted no
little attention among the people of
this vicinity.
The case is memorable one and in
many respects may be classed as one
OF the most sensational and horrible
deeds tried by Wapello county juris-
prudence. 1t was undoubtedly one of
the most atrocious crimes ever
committed in Monroe county and
aroused that community to such a
state of excitement that it became
necessary to take the defendant to FIT.
Madison, previous to the trial to keep
the Infatuated mob from wreaking i'm
mediate vengeance upon the head of
the perpetrator
s During. the trial of the case in this
court, County Attorney John T. Clark
son OF Monroe county, assisted by A.
w. Enoch,vat that. time county attor-
ney for Wapello county. had charge Of
the prosecution. The defendant was
represented by Attorney Ed. Morrison
OF Abba.
The Crime,
On a night during the month of Sen.
TENDER, 1900, it is stated that Booker
entered the home of Mrs. Sarah Hoe
vel In Abba. evidently with the pur-
pose of perpetrating the foul deed of
which he has since been found guilty.
AT the time the crime was committed
Mrs. Hoeyel was at home with only her
twelve year old daughter for company
and being troubled with deafness, she
was not aware of the approach of any
one until awakened by her little daugh.
ter. According to the testimony of
the little girl, who was the principal
witness in the case. she together with
her mother had retired for the night.
AT. the time Booker entered the room
where they We're sleeping everything
was dark. Booker, however, had a
light burning and proceeded to make
his oyertures to the woman. At first
it is stated that he offered money to
be permitted to carry out his will. but
being refused, he at once drew gun
and assumed a threatening attitude,
He succeeded in keeping the daughter
from escaping from the room and COM
PEELED the woman to submit to his raw.
ages. Finally the little girl taking adj
vantage of an almost hopeless oppor.
tunity, succeeded in escaping from the
room and fed with all possible haste
to the neighbors, whom she appraised
of the crime. An officer was immedi
ately summoned and Booker was tax,
en- into custody just as he was leaving
the house -.t.
Angry Mob Assembled.
La an incredibly short time an angry
nt9H snan gathered intent upon Wfeak,
fng$Insir Vengeance upon the perpe-
traitor ofssuch a deed The authorities