Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-07
PERKINS DID WRONG
His Employer Finds That His
Filtration Caused the Whit
more Suicide
UNION PEOPLE TELL THE STORY
Perkins Was Quite a FIirt and Seemed
to Desire the Company of Young La
des-The Mothers Sad Story-The
Minister Talks-Business Men Meet
Langdon.

/ Special to Times Republican.
Union, Nov. THE visit of w. FL
Langdon to this city Wednesday for the
purpose of investigating the relations
of his travelling salesman, Perkins,
with Miss Fannie Whitmore, which
lresulted in driving the poor girl insane
and to suicide. has renewed public in
terest in the case. So far as the peo-
pie of this town are concerned, public
indignation has cooled somewhat, al
though their opinion of Perkins has
not been changed by any later devel-
opments, but they would have been
not their anger been infiamed by the
publication of Perkins story. After
that business men and neighbors want
ed to talk, and when Mr.. Langdon ap-
peared he had little trouble learning
the news. So far as the evidence goes,
there is little to add to the first story
| printed. Perkins unquestionably mis-
led the girl. but he never got so far as
criminal advances, and had the girl not
been of such supersensitive temper
ment there would have been no cause
| for tragedy. AS it is, however. the
poor, innocent girl fills suicides grave
and the grief-stricken old mother is
/ in danger of losing her mind as re-
suit.
Mr.. langdon Interviewed.
Mr.. w. II. Iangdon, Of Des Moines,
who is the senior member of the firm
that was represented by Mr.. Seth
Perkins, when seen by T.-R. reporter
on his return from Union, would not
talk freely. He said that SO far as he
, was able to learn the story that was
sent out from Union the day of the sui
eide was substantially correct. He
said that from what he ascertained
from the people of Union whom he saw,
| the girl had stated that Perkins had
lead her to believe he was single man.
He stated that the girl had said she
was dishonored by going with him,
and imagined her friends Stunned her,
and would not speak to her. He stated
| he found that she had the reputation of
being quite a sensitive girl and was
generally well liked. He admitted
that Perkins had done wrong in even
so far as giving the girl any special at
1tention. He added that pending the
conclusion of his investigation of the
matter Perkins had been taken off the
road. He said further that so far as he
was able to learn Perkins relations
with the girl had not been criminal.
What Ed Watson Says.
Mr.. E. B. Watson. who is probably
/ af I'm In
/ fuential business men of the town, says
| that there is none in Union who would
4 have wanted to see another word in
4 print concerning the case had it not
I! been that Mr.. Perkins. in Des Moines
! interview, denied the facts Of the first
story published in the T.-R. as coming
| from Union. This the Union people
considered as direct rebuff and they
do not like to have their veracity ques-
| toned.
Mr. Watson says that while he per-
sonally does not think that Perkins in
| tended to do the girl harm he failed
TO understand the creature he was deal
ing with, and probably thought his
Filtration would be soon forgotten. This
Miss Whitmore could not stand, as she
| had never before had any male com
pany. Il have known Miss Whitmore
for eight years." said Mr.. Watson, "and
never until saw her with Mr.. Perkins
did / know that she would look at a
man.
"Mr. Langdon. the employer, made a
very good impression among the BUSH
ness men on his visit to Union and he
seems anxious to know both sides of the
story. He has had Mr.. Perkins state
ment, and he wanted to know what the
| people of this town thought. He met
a number of us. including Postmaster
Haas, F. r. Winery and myself, and,
while not saying much, admitted that
| Mr.. Perkins had certainly been very in
| discreet. Mr.. Perkins mentioned that
he had a daughter of his own and he
! did not want to have any man in his
employ who would trifle with the af-
| fections of an innocent girl. He also
said that the people of Union had his
sympathy.
| 1.-The business men here have GER
tainly been indignant over the affair
and have not been slow In letting the
firm that employed Perkins understand
| just what they thought. Many have
written letters protesting against Per-
I Nile CNCi pSiiS sSil W oiAtCli d6diiiS
and one was so plain as to refer to the
salesman as "the man who killed Fannie
Whitmore."
| Fear Mother viii Go Insane.
There is a general impression among
| the friends of Mrs. Whitmore, the
widowed mother of the dead girl, that
she is going insane and will not be able
to bear up under the strain much long
er. The girl was her mothers only
child and she was devotedly attached
TO her. Mrs. Whitmore has been acting
strangely ever since the tragic death
of her daughter and many would not
be at all surprised if she herself would
attempt her life. Mrs. Whitmore does
not seem to realize that her daughter
is dead, and only a day or two ago
wanted her body disinterred, upon the
superstition that she was still alive.
The Business Men Talk.
Mr.. F. q. Winery, one of the leading
merchants, said: II have known Fan
nie Whitmore ever since she was little
child and know her to be a pure quiet
and rather sensitive girl. / also know
Seth A. Perkins, and have bought goods
of his house ever since he began max
| ing monthly visits to Union about three
years ago. He always appeared to be a
| perfect gentleman in all his dealings
4 g.