Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-09
WAS FERRIS SLAIN!
Startling Facts Come to Light
In Case of Hampton Mans
Death
JEALOUS RIVAL SUSPECTED
Ferris Had Been Threatened by Young
Man Who Was Jealous of Formers
Attentions to Dubuque GirI-Latter
is Frustrated and Unable to Talk of
the Tragedy.
Special to Times-Republican,

have come to light In the case or Ben
Ferris. whose mutilated remains were
found on the Great Western tracks
here Sunday morning. There is be-
lief that the young man was the vic
tim of foul play and that his untimely
death marked the close of love af-
fair in which he was slain by the
ruthless hand of a jealous rival. The
theory advanced is that he was muir
dered in cold blood and his body then
taken to the railroad tracks and thrown
thereon, with the idea of having the
wheels of train pass over him and
in this manner avert suspicion of muir
der to that of accidental death.
Ferris remains We're found about
three o'clock last Sunday morning by
a call boy for the Great Western. At
the time they were taken In charge
by Coroner Hoar, who picked them
up in badly mutilated condition
along the tracks of the company
about block north Of the ball park.
1t was dark at the time and the first
thought that came to the minds of all
was that the man had been killed in
an attempt to board freight which
passed during the night. Ferris was
a resident of Hampton and was in
Dubuque spending the Fourth with
friends. His train was to go out at
five o'clock Sunday morning and 1t
was thought at the time that he was
passing up the tracks to the yards to
get his train, which was to make the
run from here to Oelwein.
This was the general supposition as
to the manner in which the man came
the community. The remains were
for interment.
Facts Come to Light.
From talk with railroad men it
seems evident that a freight train did
not pass over the body of the man.
The badly mangled remains were
found scattered along the main track
and as far as known from the time
he could have reached the scene only
the midnight passenger went by. Then
again it is customary for the freight
at this point to always run on the
siding to allow the passage of the
passenger train and this is what was
done that night. From this it seems
evident that the wheels of the freight
did not pass over. the body of the man.
No good reason can be given for the
man to have been in the yards at this
point during the night, as ne was not to
take his train out for several hours.
'l'Il Kill Ben Ferris"
The strongest testimony tending to-
ward the murder is that of lovers
quarrel and with it the following rather
startling statement made few days
before his death by one who is looked
upon as his rival.
"fll kill Ben Ferris, If he doesn't
leave that girl alone
1t is known by railroad men and 9TH
ers who We're friends of Ferris, that he
had been having trouble on account Of
another railroad man, and 1t is assert
ed by many that the latter openly made
a threat to take the life of Ferris If he
did not desist in his attentions TO the
girl. 1t seems that the railroad men
in general are very much worked up
over the affair, and are anxious, If
Ferris was murdered. as is generally
believed, that the man who committed
the deed be brought to justice.
On the night that Ferris met death,
the man who is under suspicion was off
duty for two hours. The railroad COM
pany is making Investigations along
this line and will present evidence at
the coroner's jury.
An Old ,RaiIroader.
Ferris had been railroading for ten
years and on this account 1t is stated
that he would not likely have attempted
to board train at the place where the
body was found, for at that point the
trains all go at rate of thirty miles an
hour.
Further than this there seems to be
conclusive evidence to the effect that 1t
was not freight that passed over the
body on account of a portion of the
body being found below the switch
where the freight was standing. A man
of the experience of Ferris, would not
have attempted to have boarded the
passenger at this place, not only on ac-
count of the rate of speed at which the
train was going. but because the trains
on this track running during the night
are all solid vestibulss.
When all the facts are presented
the man did not meet an accidental
death, but was killed and then his body
carried TO the track and there placed on
the track so that the wheels would SO
the body, that traces Of the
crime would be hidden.
Further Developments of startling
nature are expected at the inquest.
The girl supposed to be the cause OF
the quarrel resulting in the death of
the man, is resident of the city. and
she, with the railroad man in question,
may be called to the inquest.
The inquest has been postponed at
the request of parties making invests
cations.
The girl who is mentioned in the case
is lying at her home seriously Ill. She
has been visited by officials, but on ac-
count of her illness cannot or will not
disclose anything.
bus-Congressman Gill has
his resignation to the governor
80