Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-30
Half Brother of George Waddell,
Whose Death Is Being lnves-
tigated, Denies Crime
ACCIDENT THEORY ADVANCED
The Man Might Have Been intoxicated
or Insane, and Climbing the Frame
work of the Bridge, Have Fallen to
the Roadway Below-Powel Very
Much Dsheartened.
Special to Tlmes-Repuhlic

II Special to Times Republican.
Il Des Moines, March 30.--A coroner's
jury is today Investigating the pc
i culiar death of George Waddell, who
was found on the Ninth street bridge
last night, with his skull crushed and
his neck broken. Whether or not his
death was due to an accident OF
whether he was murdered, has not yet
been determined. His half brother
/ Vernon Powell, is under arrest. An air
of mystery surrounds the case.
Powell says he discovered his bro
theirs body on the bridge as he hap
pened to be passing along and notified
| two men who CHANGED to be going
across the bridge. These men notified
the police and the body was taken to
the morgue and Powell to the Jail.
The remains We're placed on u
stretcher. The clothing of the man
was searched and there, much to the
surprise of the coroner. an electric
| light globe was found, in one of his
side pockets. Besides this there were
a couple of keys, a knife and d few
other effects such as any man might
have upon him. 1t was learned from
the brother of the man that he had no.
| ticed that the globe of the light on the
bridge directly over Where the body was
found was missing, and suggested that
| this might have been the means OF
causing death.
Up to this time in the investiga-
| ton it has been the theory that the
| case was one of foul play, and it was
generally believed that Vernon Powell
knew something Of the circumstances
of the death.
Finding this globe suggested another
theory.
1t was advanced that the man. in a
state of intoxication, might have climb
ed the frame work of the bridge up to
the top, and then, after getting thbs
globe, fell and was killed. A man crazy
drunk might do a thing Of this kind
DR.. Beck in talking about this phase
of the case said:
ut would not be improbable for such
a thing to happen. The fellow might
have been in that state of intoxication
or have been insane for all know that
the electric light attracted him, and,
possessed with a desire to get It, he
might have climbed up the framework
and out on the crossbars, and then.
after loosening the globe, slipped and
fallen to the roadway below, and in
this manner met death"
While the body was being stripped
at the undertaking establishment, the
patrol was driven over to the police
station with Detectives Brothers, Of
ficer Courtney and Vernon Powell.
The latter was locked up With the de-
tective, and when Captain Miller came
back from the east side at 1890, both
of the men entered the private office
with him, and there he was closely
questioned for over an hour.
Powell is about % years of age, and
when he came to the police station
last night was attired in a light check
cred suit and wore SLOUGH hat. He
appeared very much downhearted, and
was loath to talk about the affair. AZ
ter he had been at the station for
about half an hour, he burst out cry
ing and was heard to utter: How
could it have happened So
In brief statement he said: II
know nothing more of the affair than
the police do. and have little or no idea
of how my brother met death. He
wasn't what would be called a drink
ing man, and when saw him last dur
ing the afternoon, at home, he was
sober. am as much puzzled as the
police to know the cause of his death.
1t wasn't suicide, that's certain, and
IL, 0h taan @
or accidental death, there is a mystery
about the whole affair that is horri
flying. When / found my brother I
was walking along on the bridge, and
was attracted by the heap in the CEN
ter of the road. was Mortified when
found out who it was. AS soon as
| realized the condition of affairs. l
called out Georges name. but he did not
answer and then on looking at his eyes
and seeking the condition of his head
and neck, I knew that he was dead.
His body was still warm and from what
could tell he had only been dead
few minutes. If it is a case of foul
play, haven't the least idea who could
have committed the deed"
George Waddell is about 35 years of
age, and by occupation is teamster,
altho he has not been working regular
since the first of the year. He resided
with his mother at 31S Sixth. which
is Just below Jefferson, across the
bridge. His parent is blind and is prac-
tically an invalid.
In the murder theory suspician falls
on his brother as it is stated that they
were not on the best of terms, and had
frequently auarreled. The brother,
however, denies that any trouble ex-
listed between them, and said that he
had not seen Waddell for hours before
the time that he found him dead.
The brlise on Waddells head might
have come from falling and then again
it is the shape and has the appearance
of a wound made by being struck by
a blunt instrument. The neck was
broken so that 1t could be completely
twisted around.
WILL LOSE HIS WIFE.