Ottumwa semi-weekly courier., 1903-09-15
WILLIAM HENRY, WHITE MINER,
is FATALLY INJURED BY
JAMES LEBBlNS.
LEBBlNs is AT LARGE
Escapes After An Alleged Brutal At
tack Upon an Old Man - Officers
Are Securing the Country for Him
Nothing is Known Regarding Henry.

Buxton, Sept IA (SpeciaD = Will
liam Henry, an itinerant miner, aged
probably so or 60 years, was killed
yesterday by blow said to have been
struck by James Lebbins, a young
colored man and the son of John Leb-
bins, liveryman at Buxton. The sus-
pected man is at large, having escap-
ed from Buxton soon after the attack
upon Henry and before the latter's
death. 1t is thought he will be cap
tured before very long, as officers
from Oskaloosa are now in pursuit.
Story of the Murder.
The story of the killing of Henry as
told here. is almost unbelievable be.
cause of the brutal actions it charges
to Lebbins. Yesterday morning at
about 1880 o'clock it is said, Henry
and companion, whose name cannot
be learned, were sitting in front of a
new building directly across the street
from John Lebbins' livery stable They
were drinking whiskey from bottle
and were talking, when young Lebbins
came across from the barn and de-
manded drink. 1t was refused by
Henry, who had the bottle, and Leb.
tempted to pick a quarrel with the old
man, SO witnesses say and was un-
successful in that. went into the new
building and picked up a piece OF
scantling. with which, it is alleged, he
struck Henry over the head.
The old man fell over and Lebbins
walked unconcernedly back to the
livery stable. No one made any at
| tempt to seize him and he was not
arrested. Soon afterwards he took
one of his fathers teams and started
out Of town, going in the direction OF
Hamilton, where it is supposed he
| took train and escaped.
Death of Henry.
| Henry was not attended to for some
time as the people did not think he
was badly injured. He lay silent up.
on the ground until some of the
miners saw that he was bleeding. They
then removed him to the Mcbride
boarding house, where he made his
home, and called physicians. -Four
doctors spent the greater part of the
day trying to save the old mans life
but his skill was badly crushed and
he died at 6 o'clock in the evening
without gaining consciousness.
Little Known of Dead Man.
Little or nothing is known of Henry
here. He arrived in Buxton several
months ago and asked for work. He
was a miner and secured employment
easily. He was never asked anything
regarding himself and never told any
thing. He had nothing to aid the au
i thorities in learning anything regard
and had little or no money when he
! died.
/ Officers Notified.
Il Oskaloosa, Sept 14.-(Special.)- y
; The Mahaska officials were notified O
i the murder of William Henry at Bux
ton this morning and also learned tha
James Lebbins, the alleged murderer
; had made good his escape. Men hav,
!, been sent out to scour the country TO
/. the colored man and the authoritie
hope to have him in custody befor
long.
The Ottumwa police received card
this morning giving the description o
James Lebbins, the colored man sus
pected of the crime. He is describes
as being six feet tall with smallpo,
pimples on his face. He wore rubbe
boots, a blue jumper, and soft fel
hat and carried rubber rain coat. Th
police are keeping a lookout for tn
suspect.