Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-02
Farm Hands Dead Body Found
Beside Postoffice Building
at Written
TWO BAD WOUNDS IN HIS HEAD
They Have the Appearance Of Bullet
Wounds and the General Belief is
That He Was Murdered-keys Found
Near tho Body Indicate His Intention
to Enter the Store. "a
Special to Times-Republlc

Special to Times Re publican.
Written, March with two gaping
wounds in the head the dead body OF
John Long, aged %, was found lying on
the ground by the side Of the postoffice
building this morning. 1t is believed
he was foully murdered, altho the exact
cause of death is as yet shrouded in
mystery and may never be known. The
wounds appear to have been made by
bullets from weapon of small caliber,
hut this can not be ascertained posi-
lively until the coroners post mortem
examination, which is now in progress,
has been completed.
Longs body was found about $3.50
o'clock this morning and 1t is supposed
that he came to his death some time
after IL o'clock last night. When found
the body was lying, face downward, on
the ground. On the south side of the
postoffice building is an outside stair
way leading to the second story, the
the side of the stairway being boarded
UP so as to form a shed used for coal
and wood beneath. 1t was by the side
of this stairway shed that Longs body
was discovered. A key lay upon his
back and another key was found on the
steps above. The key found on the steps
fitted the door at the head OF the stair
way.
While it Is generally thought that
Long was shot, there are other theories
as to the cause Of his death and which
may account for the presence of the
keys. One theory is that Long, who
has been q laborer on the farm of Ed
Clark near here, came to Written and
lingering until a late hour decided to
sleep in the second story of the post
Office building and that in some manner
he fell from the steps and striking his
head on the edge of the steps In his
descent received the wounds that
caused his death. This theory is
strengthened by the fact that Long had
been drinking some, two small walls of
whisky being found in his pockets.
Strangely enough, however. neither of
the bottles was broken and but lit
tie had been taken from them. How
Long came into possession of the keys
is a mystery, as no one can be found
who gave them to him and his motive
in going to the second story of the
building, If he intended to do so, is in
doubt.
The room over the postofiice was
used as storage place for flour and
as Long was an unmarried man. 1t is
not probable he was going there for
the purpose of robbery. The affair
has caused great deal OF excitement
here, and the result OF the coroner's
investigation Is awaited with feyerish
anxiety. There appears to be no motive
for murder, except robbery. and long is
not supposed to have any great amount
CT money on his person.
The wounds which caused his death
were located one just back OF the left
ear, and the other almost on the top
and to the back part of the head.
Long is not known to have had any
enemies and was regarded as an in
dustrious young man. His father Will
lam Long, of Grundy Center. has been
notified. He leaves four brothers and
sister. One of the brothers lives near
Conrad and the other near here.