Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-19
Multilated Form of Husband Found
in Cabin.
TRAMP is SUSPECTED OF THE CRIME
One of the Most Awful Murders That
Has Stained the Pages of Iowa His
tory = Robbery Supposed to Have
Been Cause.

Muscatine. Aug. ',)-The
nude body of Mrs. Jesse l.. Tumann
was found in the weeds five miles
above Muscatine Saturday evening.
Her head had been split open with an
axe and was so badly decomposed
that it was scarcely recognizable. A
hundred yards away in the little cabin
that had been her home lay the uncon-
scious form of her husband, a pearl
fisher, on cot covered with blood and
with his skull crushed in three places.
All about the house We're evidences of
a fierce struggle in which Tumann had
been worsted. though a powerful man
physically. He was alive and may re-
gain consciousness long enough to tell
| something of the awful fight that
must have taken place. A tramp, Dan
Williams, who came to the cabin three
weeks ago, told of misfortune, and,
was given home, has disappeared and
the supposition is that he attempted to
rob his benefactor III the night, was
discovered, fight ensued and Tumann
was beaten over the head with an axe.
The woman then fed and was overUak-
en- and her head crushed so that she
might not tell the story of the suppos-
ed murder. Near her was found the
bloody axe and dress which she
probably picked up when leaving the
house but did not take time to put on.
Dreary Place.
spot more dreary or better de-
signed for murder with every chance
of escape would be difficult to find
The humble two room cabin is a mile
from the Mississippi in the dense
weeds and quarter of a mile from
any road. Built here originally for
wood choppers the rude hut has been
serving as the home of Mr. and Mrs
| Tumann, who formerly resided in Mus
catine but lately the husband had
engaged in shell fishing and pearl
hunting and had gone to this place.
Down in deep ravine the cabin was
so placed that the most terrible of
outcries might have gone unheeded
for hours
Found by Nephews.
Tumann was found by his two young
nephews of this city who had gone to
call at the cabin Saturday evening
When they saw their uncle lying in
blood, groaning and unconscious. they
| DSCduie lllSllSllSu anu udSLeuGu 10
| give the alarm. The sheriff, coroner
and nearby farmers from the sur
rounding country were on the scene
as soon as possible and at dusk the
almost nude body of the woman was
found lying face downward with her
head crushed in and vermin claiming
the body. In the house was every ev-
idence of a struggle. The supposition
= IL
apartment of his benefactor Thurs
day night intending to steal some
money which had been gotten for the
purpose of using on a journey that
was soon to be made to Nebraska. but
while getting the money he was prob
ably discovered by Tumann who is a
powerful man and without fear. A
fight followed and finally Tumann was
beaten down by a weapon which broke
his skull in three places. Then the as
sassin followed the woman. Blood had
clotted on the bed pillows. the cloth
ing was scattered about promiscuous-
ly, the curtains were torn down, the
floor smeared with blood and every.
thing was in the greatest disorder
Tumann had evidently crawled into
} the adjoining room and onto the cot
WHICH lldu DSell StlNluS DIS d Dcu lOl
Williams. The suspected man has
disappeared with no clue to show
where he went
Strange Message Received.
The murder may clear up the mys
: terry of strange telephone message
received at Coroner NoEtons office
, Friday morning A call came at the
telephone ana was answered by DR.
f Mergridge, the coroner's palmer. The
| voice at the other end, seemingly &
; male voice, asked for the coroner and
said some one had been killed and
, the coroner was wanted. On attempt
ing to get more information no re
sponse could be gotten and all thai
day the officers attempted to solve the
mystery of the call but without avail
Now the question is, did that call fol
, the coroner have something to do witt
the Tumann tragedy and if SO who
sent in the call?
f Another Mystery.
5 But this is not the only mystery
The boys who found the wounded MAJ
/ met man ip the road above the city
before they reached the Tumanr
: cabin He asked them if they wer,
( nephews of Tumann and told them
f they were they had better go to hi
. house right away as he was in an aw
iful shape and needed help. They di,