Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-14
HAD STRANGE PREMoNlrloN
eciai to Times Republican

! tendency to harm those dear to him
Albert j. Bolks, of Sioux City, praye.
ferveipuly night and morning that Cox
would keep him from iaJuring his wifi,
and children.
But Tuesday. as told in the dis.
patches. overcome by the inclination
against which he continually fought
Bolks killed his wife and then slew
himself. in Los Angeles, Gail
Friends of the family who knew o.
this apprehension on the part of Mr.
Bollus spoke to Mrs. Rolks abou, 1t
warning her that she should be on tht
constant watch lest harm come to hei
and the children.
I'm not afraid" Mrs. Bollls woult
reply confidently. Col Will protect us
from harm and stay Mr.. Bolks' arm ii
his trouble should threaten u.s."
Was Demensed.
1t is the belief OF Rev. S. l.. Chand-
Ter, pastor of the Hadacck Memorial
NJ. f. church, of which Mr.. and Mrs
Bolks were members, that Boiks has
been threatened for two years with q
recurrence of mental affection which
rendered him insane twenty years ago
He spant sleepless nights of horror
before he left for the west" said Rev
Mr.. Chandler YESTERDAY. He feared
he would sometime lose control of Aim
s,alf and do his family bodily harm. HI
const family stroye against this terrtfy-
ing tendency OF which he was con
scious. I doubt not that 1t was after
one of these awful nights of broodins
that Mr. Bolk,s committed the Tragedy
which shocked us all so much. He was
a splendid man and genius for bust
ness. Ffftesn years ago he was sec
tion hand at Hull. Iowa, working 70.
81 a day. He leaves az estate worth
probably 100000.
A. F.. Mcclellan. of Hull, Mr.. Bolks
banker; j. S. Lothrop. of Sioux City,
Mr.. Bolks' attorney: j. F. Hopkins, OF
Sioux City, named as executor in the
dead mans Will: George j. Bolks. OF
Orange City. treasurer ae Sioux coun-
~ and cousin of Mr.. Folks, and Rev.
s. L. Chandler will confer regarding
who shall go west 10 arrange for the
funeral George j. Boiks may 20 as
we'll as Mr.. Hopkins, Mrs S. L. Chand-
Ter expects to go in order to care for
the young children SO grievously be
reaved.
1t will not be known until these
friends reach Los Angeles whether the
funeral will be held there or in Sioux
City or in Holland Mich. where the
families OF both Mr.. and Mrs. Boils re-
side.
The Religion the Cause.
A dispatch from Los Angeles says
that Bnlks while in religious frenzy
dragged his wife from bed. stamped
on her and repeatedly stabbed her with
the blade of large new jackkntfe
The woman's body was gashed in nu-
merous places. the fatal cuts being m
the throat and abdomen.
Bolks then severed his own jugular
vein and died shortly.
Their 4-year-old son Walter. was in
the room and witnessed the awful
sight. He ran and gave the alarm to
Miss Slaughter who keeps the board
ing house at which the Bolks had
rooms.
Auiot HitttipIt iIOiIl tue Steie VI tue
tragedy is that Bolks had been giving
much heed to the teachings of an itin-
Grant evangelist, and that his mind had
become affected from the considera-
tion of the preachers words.
Another Kind Of Trouble.
Mr.. Bolks has been known for some
time to be agitated over several oc-
curances which took place before he
left his big farm in Sioux county and
soon thereafter. Though Holiander.
Bolks did not belong to the Dutch Re-
formed church, and his wife. who was
a member. of that church. when she
married him, became a Methodist to
please him.
Their neighbors were mostly Dutch
Reformed church members and many
over Bolks' withdrawal from the
church. Boiks was very opinionated
and on religious. business or political
no force of logic could stir
him from his own way of thinking.
Trouble over line fence stirred up
and finally threatening let
ters were received by Bolks. 1t is be-
ieved by some that Rolks wrote them
himself in order to persuade his wife
TO leave the community.
Demand for $1,000.
But even after Bolks came to Sioux
City he received letter, which he
turned over to the police here, in which
The writer threatened to burn all the
buildings on the Bolk farm in Sioux
unless $1,000 was deposited at
certain place within specified time.
An effort to find the writer OF the
letter proved unavailing.
3olks brooded over these letters and
began to fancy that he was being per-
The Bolks came to Sioux City about
, year ago and located at 1909 East
rirst street, but recently purchased a
ZONE at 1908 Morningside avenue from
Dr.. w. j. Elmer, paying $500 therefor
When Mrs. Bolks and children left for
California, after Christmas. the house
vas rented furnished. the family ex
,ecting to return there in the spring.
Mr.. Bolks, whose health has been i'm
,aired for some time. left for Los An
relies about December /, last, taking |
lis son John, aged 3. With him and be-
ng accompanied by DR.. Shepherd. of
.eMars He shortly wrote for his wife
md other children to join him in the
vest.