Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-06
RUSSELL GIRL, WITH LOVER
NEAR, DIES WITH BULLETIN
BRAIN.
SUICIDE THEORY HELD
Miss Rose Dixon Is Dead as Result of
Shot From Revolver Owned BY Her
sweetheart-Thousht To Have Been
Insane.

hole through her brain, showing the
fatal course of bullet from the re-
volver owned by her sweetheart, the
body of Miss Rose Dixon lies at the
home of her parents in Russell and
the whole community is trying to
solve the mystery of her death. The
coroner's inquest is now in progress
and the indications thus far are that
and killed herself.
The death of Miss Dixon is one Of
the most mysterious fatalities ever
known in Lucas county, and the little
town of Russell Is full of excitement
over the, affair. The only person liv-
ing who can be expected to know any
thing of the girls death is young Atha
and he declares she shot herself with
his revolver while he was asleep.
His story is generally believed as the
girls strange actions of late lend color
to the theory of insanity.
Boy and Girl Lovers.
Miss Dixon was the daughter Of
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Dixon, of Russell
and was just past 18 years of age
For about year she has been en-
ployed as domestic in different
Charlton homes and in that time she
has been seen often in company with
Charles Atha, the son of w. H. Atha
| formerly bridge foreman on the Bur
| lington and now drayman in this
city. Young Atha, who Is about is
years old. is employed on a bridge
gang on the railroad and has enjoyed
La good reputation IN Charlton. Among
tie young people Atha and Miss Dixor
were known as lovers and today 1t IL
said they we're engaged to be married
| in few months Though several 9th
ers Of their age knew them we'll there
/ is none who tells of trouble between
them and there has been no whisper
of undue intimacy.
Goes on Fatal Trip.
Saturday evening Miss Dixon went
to Russell on the evening train with
| the intention of spending Sunday with
her parents and Atha drove to Russell
sometime Sunday. He was guest al
1 the Dixon home far into the morning
and intended to drive home, &C
companied by Miss Dixon. Aftel
the other members of the fam
| lily had retired, according to the story
which comes from Russell today, the
girl a-,d her sweetheart remained II
the parlor and it was here, at about
o'clock this morning, that the fata
shot was fired and the girls life wen
out.
| Young Atha says he became drows.
and, lying with his head on the girl.
lap, went to sleep. He was awakene,
by the noise of shot and sprang VI
to find the girl a corpse and his re
i volver, which had been in his pocket
lying on the floor. The noise ais
awakened the members of the Dixol
family and when they rushed into tn
room they found the girl dead wit
her boy lover standing near by as
dazed. Then he told them of falling
asleep and that Miss Dixon must hav
taken his revolver from his pocket an
fired the shot that ended her life.
Coroner Is Notified.
Coroner T. P. Stanton, of Charlton
, was notified at once and drove to Rus
: sell. AS soon as a jury could be en-
!. panelled the inquest began At tn
hour of going to press no news of tn
| jury's final verdict has been receive
but 1t is expected at any time.