Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-27
William Mullike,, of Near
Keokuk, is Assassinated
Last Might.
ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE
Bullet Crashes Through His Brain
Without Slightest Warnins-Mur.
dered Man Was the Father of Mrs.
Laura Renwald, of ottumwa. 81

H. Renwald, 537 Fellows street this
city, was brutally murdered as he sat
in his home about si- miles north of
Keokuk, at $50 O'Clock last night. The
deed was committed by an unknown
man, and there is absolutely no clue
to the murderer or he cause for it.
Mrs. Renwald receited a telegram
stating the facts in the case shortly af-
ter noon today. She was i'll in bed
when she received tle message, and
will be unable to go to his funeral.
The news of her fathsr's sudden death
was. "a great shock to;her and the news
caused her conaltion to become criti-
cal.
Mr.. Renwald was seen by Courier
representative shortly before noon to-
day, and at that time he had not heard
the terrible news. The death of Mr.
Mulliken and how it happened was told
him in as few words as possible. He
was not prepared for the story, and
was nearly unnerved as he listened to
the fearful tale. Mr.. Renwald said he
would probably go to Keokuk tonight
If his wife's condition was such that
he could leave home.
Lived Here Two Years.
Mr.. Renwald is an employee of the
Hardsocg Square company and he has
lived in Ottumwa about two years. He
came from Keokuk here where he had
lived all his life. Mrs. Renwald is
daughter Of the murdered man. She
has been ill for some time, and it is SO
great a shock to her that she will be
unable to attend his funeral. Mr.. Rem
valid could throw no light on the muir
der, in fact he knew. nothing of it more
than was told him by Courier repor-
ter. He had alwaye supposed that Mr..
Mulliken was getting along as well as
any one and that he did not have an
enemy in the world. 44
Storyof the Murder.
The story of the murder reads like
book of fiction. The sight of a man
sitting in his own house scoolly shot
down like dog cvnfronts tho raadary
Mr.. Mulliken was sitting by the
economy stove in the room with his
back to the window. Across the room
sat his wife with newspaper reading
and talking to her husband
When the shot came, she did not
realize it's import at first, as it did
not seem4very loud to her, and she
thought it was creaking of chair
She looked at her husband and his
being motionless also treasured her.
But as she looked, his head fell for
ward and on his arm appeared a
splotch Of bright blood. She ran to
him and found that he was dead.
Alarming the Neishbors.
She ran forty rods to the county
house and aroused Fred Korschgen
with the terrible story. She returned
to her home with Korschgen, and then
was completely Frustrated. 1t was i'm
possible for her to tell a connected
story after that, but Korschgen, who
did splendid service in the emergency
got all the details from her at his own
house.
Inc only other person in the house
at the time was daughter, Miss Mel
lie, who was upstairs in bed, but not
asleep. She heard the shot and a
minute after her mothers cries. She
ran down and remained with the body
while her mother ran. to the neigh
boris. She showed the strain, but
stood the ordeal as bravely as possible.
In very short time the whole COM
munity had gathered at the house.
The almost equally striking things to
the neighbors were the horrible nature
of the crime and the intense mystery
surrounding it.
Held in Position.
In the meantime DIR. Coulter of Sum-
mitville had been telephoned from the
county house among the first things
done by the natural commander, Fred
Korschgen.
He raced to the Mulliken residence,
but the only service he could render
was to assist the broken down wife
and daughter and hold an autopsy for
the coroner.
Absolutely No Clue.
But after all, there is absolutely no
clue to the murderer With no tracks
made in the hard ground and no signs
OF the foul deed except the ugly
wound and the hole in the window
glass, there is nothing to work on.
The officers regret greatly that there
is no pack of bloodhounds accessible,
for this case is one where they are
especially needed. II there had been
dogs there last night, the murderer
would no doubt have been freed and
arrested before now.
Charles Mulliken, the eldest son, Of
fered at once reward of $500 for the
arrest and conviction of the murderer.
There is absolutely nobody to sus-
pect OF enmity to the murdered man
Diigent inquiry in Keokuk and in the