Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-04
Waterloo Police Unable to Shed
Any Light on the Killing
of John Rush
LIKELY TO REMAIN A MYSTERY
Victim Resains Consciousness Just
Before Death, But His Story of the
Assault Fails to Throw Any | sht
On Identity of the Murderers-,De-
teetivee on the Trail.
Special to Times-Reublican

Special TO Times-Reublican
Waterloo, Nov. 4.--Little new / 9Th
has been thrown on the murder o
John Rush, who died yesterday from
the effects of an assault committed by
unknown persons Monday morning
Monday night he became partially OIL
wholly conscious for a short space d
time. He talked of the assault. bu
could give no definite description o
the man who struck him. He said
Did they get the man who struck
me? He went out the back door
I was writing at my desk when he ARD
a noise in the back room. Going &c
the room l was set upon by some one
unknown to me. After short strug-
gle was struck on the back of the
head and fell to the floor. AS I fel
l saw the man disappear thru tho
back door, but it was SO dark that
could not identify him." After this HI
lapsed into Inconsistencies again
and remained So except at short per-
elods until the end came.
The injured man suffered gres tly
from the wounds on his head and
complained much to the attending
physician OF the acute pain.
After being taken to his home Mr..
Rush seemed to recover somewhat and
the physicians gave hope of his re-
covery. Monday evening, however, he
grew worse and continued to sink, re-
gaining his senses at short Inter, ais
and speaking of the assault ard the
fact that his assaifant went out of the
back door.
His host of friends in this city HAD
been cheered by the reports from his
bedside during the day and evening.
and the news of his death, when ;ln
nounced came as shock to all. He
was one of the most popular and best
beloved men in the city and his death
has cast shadow of gloom over the
entire city.
Still Have No Clue.
The officers who have been work ng
on the case have gained no clue to he
identity Of the murderer, for murderer
he is now. The only clue they have
to work upon is the fact that the AS
sailant disappeared thru the buck
door.
The fact that Mr.. Rush was unable
to identify the man is only natural.
The assault occurred between the
ing. AT this hour 1t is not yet II yht
and in the back room of the basement
office the darkness would be still
greater.
The foul murder OF this estina Bile
gentleman remains a mystery and will
probably go down In history as one of
the unsolved and unpublished crimes
of local annals. The mystery is all
the greater since nothing about the
office or workroom was disturbed. Mr..
Rush's watch and yaluables were 1ot
disturbed, and his clothing was aot
as though the assailant
had attempted to rob him. So far as
known Mr.. Rush did not have an en-
envy in the world, being loved and re-
respected by all who knew him. The
only theory advanced is that the mar
derer entered the office with the inten-
ton OF stealing some of the large gum
tity of brass kept in the workshop for
the manufacture OF the Sven gas ma
chimes. Being surprised at his work
he struck Mr.. Rush several blows at
the back of the skull and made his
escape as quickly as possible. NO
one saw him emerge from the building
and the foul deed was not dscove ed
until the workmen arrived at o'clock.
A most mortem examination was held
on the remains of Mr..
Rush to determine the cause of his
,eath. The exact cause of death is
oven by the physicians as conclusion
# the brain, caused by blows from
;ome sort of Instrument. From up
,earances two or three blows were
struck and the position of the wounds
Indicate that they could not have been
inflicted by fall to the floor, strfk ne
he back OF the head on the Gem ant
The wounds appear to be
90 high on the back OF the skull to
,e so caused.
Detective Engaged.
The city authorities have engaged
Detective Maurice Welsh of the Illi-
lois Central to work on the case. The
ailway company have granted Him
cave Of absence for three days to far
ct out the mystery If possible. ldr.
Welsh is positive that a murder las
,een committed. He has talked little
4 the case, but he is very positive IN
lis statement that the blows We're in
Iicted by some person with murdereus
intent. Further than this he has civ en-
nut no theory, but is working on the
ase diligently.
1t was learned yesterday afterne on
hat the officials have suspicious but
hey are not we'll enough defined to
the arrest Of the parties Sis
,ected.
Coroner's Inquest.
Coroner McManus impaneled a cor-
ner's jury yesterday composed OF
!. B. Shanewise, w. d. Lantz end
!. w. Wildly. The Jury met at he
ome and heard the evidence of all
witnesses who could throw any light
n the matter. The testimony of all
you'd seem to Indicate that Mr.. Rush
lad been foully dealt with. 1t showed
hat the deceased hal left the home
t about 6: 80 in the morning. Two let
ers were found written and sealed on
he desk. showing that he had been
writing as he said during his conscious
loments Testimony showed that not
more than ten or fifteen minutes could
ave elapsed between the time ldr
sush arrived at the office and the dis
overy Of his PROSTATE body. The as
ault must have been committed wi h
n a very few moments after his ar
ival at the office and not more than
tx or seven minutes could hive