The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-03-26
'BRUTE'S AWFUL DEED.
Binds and Gags a Young Woman
and Leaves Her to Die.

Keokuk, March 23--With her feet
tied together, her hands tied behind
her back and gagged with handker.
chief which had been thrust into her
mouth, Mrs. Amy Kimberly, young
married woman, was found in her
room more dead than alive at an early
hour this morning, by other roomers
in the house. Her assailant had hung
the unfortunate woman by her feet to
the door knob leaving her head upon
the floor. Upon the floor of the room
lay an axe. large chunk of coal and
a pocket knife, which had been left by
the person or persons who perpetuated
the dastardly deed. The woman was
given medical assistance, but soon af-
ter regaining consciousness, she be-
came hysterical and is now in a pre-
carious condition. Before coming his
terical, however, she told the follow
ing story:
II went to my room early Saturday
evening and prepared to retire for the
night. I took off my clothes and after
arranging my hair, extinguished the
light in my room and was soon asleep.
Before retiring l did not hear any
noise as of anyone in the building, but
after was asleep for perhaps an hour
l was suddenly awakened, and before
l could make any alarm, man enter
ed my room. He wore a long mack
intosh coat and had his face concealed
by a handkerchief. I called out to
him and said: who are your" He re-
piled Your time has come" was
so frightened that I was afraid to call
for help. The man struck a match and
lit the gas in my room. He then told
me if | made any attempt to escape,
or cried out, that he would kill me. He
took the sheet from my bed after COM
polling me to get up and tore it into
strips. He first took a handkerchief
and forced it into my mouth, and then
bound my hands behind me and bound
my feet with the strips of the sheet.
He was brutal in his actions and made
no attempt to keep from hurting me,
and kept talking all the time about
getting even with some one. When
he picked me up in his arms and start
ed to carry me, as thought, from the
room l suppose tainted, for did not
know anything until nearly morning.
When l came to was hanging by my
feet from the door knob. My head
and shoulders rested upon the floor
and it seemed to me that my head
would burst it ached so fearfully. The
pain in my shoulders and limbs was
awful. tried to release my feet from
the door knob, but could not. My
mouth and tongue were swollen, and
tried to get the gag out of my mouth,
but was helpless. l gradually became
so numb from the terrible strain that
lost consciousness and do not re-
collect anything more until found
he doctor and friends working over
me. / have lately received several
letters the last one being
received yesterday. 1t said: You go
.o-night; and your husband next
The woman became hysterical while
alking, and all attempts to get further
from her have failed. She
S a stranger in Keokuk and came
lere from near West Liberty, Iowa,
bout a week ago. She secured po-
ition in the Huskamp shoe factory.
She says that she was married to a |
Dung farmer near West Liberty on
he oath of last December, and that |
hey separated on January 29. She is |
bout 81 years old and very good look
ng. A telegram was sent to her hus-
and at West Liberty apprising him
f the facts, and he wired back that |
e would be in keokuk by first train |
possible. When he arrived he was |
onducted at once to the bedside of |
4e injured woman, and was apparent |
: much affected when he saw her.
lie states that on last Thursday night
hen he was going from his home to
Vest Liberty he was shot at twice by
NO unknown men, but escaped death
y his horse plunging when the shots
ere fired.
The affair has created a profound
here, and ,-4e police depart
tent is conducting diligent inVesti-