Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-25
MARY cHEssER KILLED IN A
DRUNKEN BRAWL IN SMOKY
ROW DIVE.
JUGULAR VEIN SEVERED
Horrible Cash In Throat Six Inches
Long Opening Flesh to the Bone and
Causes Almost Instant Death
Homer Wright Behind Bars.
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
A cash which severed the right jugu-
lar vein and the arteries and laid open
the hesh OF the neck to the bone.
Saturday night about midnight,
brought to an abrupt end the career
OF Mary Chesser for years past the
boss and the queen of Smoky Row.
Just who were engaged in the fatal
fight which terminated day and
night of debauchery at the dingy lit
tie howell on Samantha street and who
held the instrument which almost in
stantly made the wielder murderer,
seems at the present time to be an un-
solvable mystery.
All night long after the deed was
done and all day yesterday the police
department were busily engaged try
ing to ferret out from the many vary
ing stories of the eight or ten people
who were gathered at the Chesser
home some idea as to Just what took
place and some definite clue as to who
struck the fatal blow AS result Of
the investigation so far Homer D.
Wright who resides at 119O West Sec
ond street is behind the bars at the
city Jail and officials state that there
is strong suspicion that he is the
guilty party.
Hard to Get Story.
The true story of what happened as
1t must be cleaned from the statements
and stories Of parties who were at
the hovel when the fatal fighting took
place is hard to reach.
Since David Chesser, who is the hus-
band of the dead woman went to FIT.
Madison some four or five months ago
to serve a. four years sQnsence Ender
the common thief lew, Mary has con-
tinued to live in the Chesser residence.
For several weeks past Mrs. Nellie
Roy formerly Miss Nellie Tally, later
Mrs. Howell Brewer, then Mrs. Speck
Booze and for some months past the
wife of her present husband, has lived
with Mary and there have always
been merry times at the Chesser
home.
Having Merry Time.
Saturday afternoon and night was
no exception. In the party which spent
the early part Of the night together
were Mary Chesser, Nellie Roy, Chas.
Black, Homer Wright, Eugene Houri-
han. William Roy and Charles Davis.
| 1t is said that all were more or less in
toxicated
About 11:3o, SO it is claimed by all
in the party, a stranger came to the
door. Nellie Roy let him in. The
stranger wanted to participate in the
merriment Of the evening and finally
it is claimed. paid to Mary Chesser,
$1.50 for the privilege. Nellie Roy also
wanted two-bits for can of beer and
the stranger cashed up for this.
AS Nellie disappeared with two-bits
presumably to get the beer Mary Ches.
ger whispered to her not to come back
promising to bounce the fellow out in
a minute or two. Nellie went into a
back room with her husband "Bill'
Roy while the remainder of the party
stayed in the miniature back room
used for a kitchen. leaving Mary and
the stranger in the front room.
Lasted But a Minute.
All claim that it was about five min
utes later that the fighting took place
and that it lasted but for moment
Black and Hourihan it is claimed
rushed into the front room just as
Mary Chesser turned back from the
oOOl Will CIlS oli5lC SIdLCul6uI. f1t
cut me-"
i Black caught her in his arms as she
began to weaken and let her down tt
the floor where he clasped his hant
over the wound in her neck and helc
it together preventing as much of the
flow of blood as possible.
4 Hourihan's Claims.
Hourihan claims to have dashed OF
out and to have caught the stranger
just outside the door and to have
knocked him down twice. On getting
up the second time the stranger drew
a knife and Hourihan dashed inside tc
get weapon Finding a stove pokel
he returned but the stranger was
gone.
Wright's Claims.
Homer Wright, who claims not tc
have been present during the even
ing, claims to have come up Just as
-,