Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-14
Edd. Egbert Charged With Assaults
ing Gertie Kilion.
THEGlRL ISBUT THIRTEEN YEARS OLD
Animals With Keen scentFolIow Trail
From Scene of Crime to HcteI Bed
room Said to Have Been Occupied
by Suspect.

Abba, Oct. 13. = (SpeciaD - After
having been tracked by bloodhounds
from the scene of one of the most das-
tardly crimes ever committed in this
section to room in the Murray hotel
in Melrose, Edd. Egbert, 26 years of
age, son of Daniel Egbert, farmer re-
siding about two miles south of Mel
rose, was placed under arrest Sunday
charged with raping Gertie Killion, 13
years of age, in a slough one and one
fourth miles southeast of that plane.
Egbert is in Jail here. Today Sheriff
Doner filed information against him,
charging him with the crime which
has shocked this neighborhood. Egbert
has little to say in his own defense.
He was charged with similar crime
some four years ago.
Story of the Deed.
Gertie Ikillion is Is years of age.
She resides with her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Ed Killion. farmers, who live
about three miles southeast of Mel
rose. Saturday morning she was sent
Ito Melrose on an errand. About 1880
O'Clock while returning she reached a
point about one and three-fourth miles
from Melrose, when she was accosted
by young man whom she did not
know He sat under tree by the
roadside and asked her to come over
Ito where he was. Gertie started to run
away, but was seized by her assailant
and told to keep still or he would kill
her. She was dragged into a nearby
slough and assaulted.
Neiehbors Notified.
| With her clothing torn and present.
ing pitiable spectacle, the girl drag
ged herself to nearby house, where
she told her story. She gave a good
description of the fiend and posse
armed with shot guns was soon orga--
nized. The country was secured but
no trace of the fugitive could be
found.
Bloodhounds on the Trail.
Saturday afternoon when it was
found that the posses efforts to obtain
trace of the criminal We're likely to
prove fruitless, a pack of bloodhounds
at Knoxville were sent for. The ami
mails arrived at o. clock Sunday
morning. At 1880 o'clock the same
morning they were taken to the scene
of the crime.
The Start.
The animals at once took the trail
and followed it straight into Melrose,
up to the Murray hotel and into bed
room where it is claimed Egbert slept
Friday night. 1t is also claimed that
he changed his clothing in the room
Sunday morning.
Mute Evidence.
AS mute evidence that the hounds
thought they had accomplished all that
could be expected of them, they placed
their paws on the edge of the bed and
with short sharp yelps announced that
they had reached the end of their
journey.
Suspicious Circumstance.
Inquiry developed the fact, it is said,
|although it has not been clearly estab-,
|lished, that Egbert slept Friday night
lin the room, which the hounds enter
ed. 1t is also said that he changed his
clothes in the same room Sunday
|morning. 1t is known that he has at
liinSS SlSpL ia tiS iiotCAs
| A search was Immediately institut.
ed for the suspect His movements
were traced from a livery barn where
he slept Saturday night to his broth
ler's house From there he went to his
fathers residence and then came back
4 to town. When Sheriff Doner arrived
| he was in the custody of the constable.
Girl Identifies Him.
The girl and Egbert We're brought
face to face. AS soon as she saw him
she said he was the person who had
assaulted her. When this was done
Sheriff Doner Immediately took charge
OF the prisoner and brought him to this
city, where an information was filed
against him. 1t is not likely that he
will have his preliminary hearing to-
day.
Eshert's Second Escapade.
4 About four Years ago Egbert was ar.
I rested charged with attempting to g;
|