Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-29
CHARGED WITH A
TERRIBLE CRIME
c. J. Elwell, a Machinist, Ar
rested For Criminal Assault
on 11-Year-Old Girl
GIRL TELLS A PITIFUL STORY
Writes Letter to Her Mother in Des
Moines, Telling of the Outrage in
Detail-Letter is intercepted and In
formation Placed Before County At.
torney-ElweIl Denies His Guilt.


An arrest for a crime most terrible
in detail. one that can shock com
munity almost as much as murder In
cold blood. was made by Sheriff Shoe
maker and Deputy Sheriff Cause Sat
urday evening shortly after 6 o'clock
| when Chiron j. Elwell, q wellknowIl
resident of the city, was taken into
custody charged with rape upon Esther
Miller, aged IL years. Elwell was
! placed in JAIL where he remained until
1925, when he was taken before Justice
Clark to arrange for bonds. He pleaded
not guilty TO the charge and waived
the reading of the information. His
bonds were fixed at $500 which We're
signed by himself, his wife and Frank
Bingaman His hearing is set for Tues
day morning at $50
When arrested Elwell was inclined to
make light of the trouble, and intimated
that it was only an effort to extort
money from him. Immediately after
he had been taken to Jail he sent for an
attorney, who had a few minutes con-
versation with him before appearing
in justice court for arraignment. His
attorney advised him not to talk, and
he had little to say when questioned
about the case, further than to repeat
about what he did when arrested: init
mate that the case was one OF black
mail, and state that If he had COM
mitted any crime it was strange that
he hadn't been complained Of before
this time, as the girl had not been at
his home for several weeks. He said
the arrest came as a great surprise to
him.
Girls Story is a PitifuI One.
Esther Miller, the alleged victim Of
Elweli's outrage, tells story that is
pitiful in the extreme. The detail of the
crime is too horrible TO be placed in
public print, but the story is in the
poSsess:c1 of County Attorney Northup.
who also has a letter in which the ter
rible affair was written in child like
simplicity by the little gir to her moth
er. Mrs. Myrtle Handy Miller, of Des
MONIES. The girl does not claim a single
assault alone but repeated ones Gov
ering period OF weeks that she spent
at the Elwel home. she also al
ieges that Elwell told her she must
never tell OF the intimacy. cautioning
her that II she did both would be placed
in the penitentiary. The letter, after
1t was written, was seen by Miss Min
eta Murphy. of sol West Church street.
with whom the little girl is now liv-
ing. Miss Murphy took the girl after
she had returned to the home of her
grandmother. Mrs. Catherine Handy.
10S East gtate street, from the Elwell
home. Miss Murphy is a compositor on
the Iowa Prohibitionist, and is work
er In the Pentecostal Mission. She
teaches the Sunday school class of
which the Miller girl is a. member. and
because of her interest In her decided
to care for her and provide a home
until some other arrangements could
be made by her mother. Miss Murphy
told of the letter to o. d. Elicit, editor
OF the Prohibitionist who in turn in
formed Warren Howard. chairman of
the county prohibition central commit
tee, and he laid the facts before County
Attorney Northup. Mr.. Northup spen:
all of Saturday looking into the case.
with the result that the little girl swore
TO and signed the information that
was drawn up at $50. According to
the information the crime was COM
mintted on or about May 20.
Miss Murphy Believes Girls Story.
Miss Murphy was seen and asked
about her opinion as to the story told
by the girl She said that there was no
doubt but that every particle of 1t was
true. The girl had not intended show
ing her the letter, but she saw it and
read it shortly after it was written. She
then took 1t in charge, preferring not
TO let the mother know of it in that
way. She was later informed and
letter received this morning from Mrs.
Miller, by Miss Murphy, speaks of her
being heart broken over the affair and
asks that no publicity be given 1t. Be
fore he knew that the arrest had been
made, Charles Handy. of this city, an
uncle Of the girl, asked County Attor-
ney Northup that he drop the case,
because of the publicity that would
have to be given if the arrest We're
made. He thought, however, that the
girl was telling the truth. County At
torney Northup is of the opinion that
the state has good case, and said he
would have had to have been thorough
ly convinced of that beforehand, or he
would not have filed the Information.
He says that he is In possession Of sub
stantial corroborative evidence, but its
nature he does not wish to disclose to
the public at this time.
Mrs. Elwell Talks.
Mrs. Elwell, wife of the defendant
was seen and spoke of the case without
hesitancy. She said that there was alb
solutely nothing in the matter at all.
This girl came TO us, she said. nine
weeks ago last Thursday. Her mother
wanted to find homes for her children,
and we decided to try Esther and. III
she pleased us, we thought of adopting
her. We didn't hear the best things of
her, and We're told that she was hard |
to control. Mrs Sarah Ferguson, with
whom the child had lived for a time, |
told me what a time she had had with
her. She left our home four weeks ago
last Tuesday, saying she was going TO
her grandmother's to spend the night.
She didn't return the next morning, and
on the following Friday morning, ac
companied by her aunt, Miss Minnie |
Handy, came back and wanted her
clothes. She didn't give me any reason
for going away and | thought but lit
tie of her until my husbands arrest |