Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-16
Fact of the Murder of Woman
Found at Belle Plaine
Clearly Established
HER NECK WAS olsLocATED
coroner's Jury Finds the Woman Came
to Her Deatl' From Blows inflicted
by Unknown Parties-All Efforts to
identify the Murdered Woman Have
Failed.

Special to Tims,s- Republican.
| Belle Plaine, Nov. 16.-The mystery
surro lnding the murder of the woman
whose dead body was found on the
outskirts of town Saturday continues
10 de apen. That she was foully mur-
dered has beer fully established by
| the ooroner's jury. which rendered Its
verdict this forenoon as follows:
we, the jury. find that deceased
came to her deGth by violence and by
wounds inflicted by some person or
persons unknown to the jury, and
which the jury do find caused the i'm
mediate death of the deceased. Death
supposedly was caused by blow on
the chin. which dislocatesl the neck
All efforts to Identity the dead wom-
an have failed altho thousands of
people from the surrounding towns and
Cedar Rapids hive been here to view
the remains. 1; is probable her death
Will slways remain mystery. The
theory OF those who have had the In
NGS slS dtioii III CI SS Is tildl llle WOIu-
an came to Belle Plaine Friday night
on freight tritin and was killed by
thugs or trampH, possibly by railroad
men, who may have enticed the woman
into the weeds. where she was found,
under pretext of taking her to friends,
and there finding, she resisted their adj
vanees struck her the blow which
caused her death. Finding that they
mad probably fatally injured their vic
tim, hey carried the body Into the
weeds and left .ler to die alone. 1t is
6jfficul; TO find any other motive for
the murder. as the woman Is not
thought TO have had any other money
With her than the $50 which was found
in the bosom o. her dress when the
coroner made the investigation. The
night operator here thinks the woman
called at his Off as Friday night to in
I.auire about trunk and he understood
the woman with wnom he talked to
say she was looking for baggage from
Germany.
A more thorough examination OF the
womans wounds showed she had been
struck; powerful blow on the chin.
Her neck was found to have been dis
located, probably caused by the blow
en- the chin. 1t the opinion that the
woman was not killed at the precise
spot where the body was found. but
that she was carried there by the mur-
derers after they realized that she was
fatally hurt. 1t is probable the wom-
an may have lived for a number or
hours after being struck. as punches Of
grass were found in her hands, show
ing how she had struggled against the
approach OF death.
number of citizens from Cedar
Rapids are expected late this after
noon who think they recognize the de-
scription of the dead woman. and they
may be able to throw some light on
the woman's identity. The body still
lies in the morgle here. where 1t has
been viewed by thousands.
Not in many years has anything oc-
Cured in Belle PLANE to excite the
interest Of the community as has this
murder. and every effort will be made
by t1t, authorities to bring the murder
ers to justice. 1t must be admitted,
however. that the outlook is anything
but bright for such an accomplish
ment. All sorts OF theories are adj
vanced. but few of them are supported
by any tangible elew.