Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-02
Reason For Attempt to Dis
figure GAINESVILLE Woman
Not Yet Known
MRS. RAMSEY BADLY INJURED
Victim of the DastardIy Assault Will
Carry Marks of the Acid to Her
Grave BIoodhounds Have Been
Sent FORA Plot Thought to Have
Existed.
Special to Tlmes-Republlcan.

! Clarksville, Aug. 1.-THE details OF
the acid throwing affair here. which
has so shocked the community are, SO
far as can be learned, as follows:
Mrs. Parnie Ramsey is a highly re-
spected widow, q school teacher living
late Saturday night by person whose
| identity is yet unknown, who threw a
quantity OF deadly sulphuric acid into
her face and eyes, seriously injuring
one eye and painfully burning her face.
| The visit to Mrs. Ramsey's home was
made At ii o'clock when she was in
bed. The villain first visited the back
part of the house and raped on the
hack doot. Receiving no response he
| then Went to the home of Mrs. Ram
sey's father, Mr.. Shafer. who resides
near by and calling Mr.. Shafer out.
asked il his daughter was at home.
He said he had been entrusted with
| the duty of delivering telegram re-
ccived by the Postal Telegraph Com
pany for Mrs. Ramsey. Returning to
the home Of the lady he raped at the
! front door, and after short time Mrs.
Ramsey opened the door to see what
was wanted Without uttering word
and without any warning whatever,
the visitor hurled a quantity of the
deadly acid into her face and ran.
Wounds Cause Suffering.
The injury inflicted by the stranger
caused Mrs. Ramsey agonizing pain
aud soon tile reighborhood was arous-
ed by ner cries. The father rushed
over to see what was the trouble with
his daughter, and two physicians We're
Immediately sent for. They made a
careful examination of the wound and
found that one eye, which had re-
ce,ved large quantity of the acid, was
burned severely and sight seemed to
be laurel. The other eye escaped the
drug. but the face was deeply burned
wherever the sulphuric acid struck 1t
md the physicians applied soothing
artidotes and dressings. A more care
full examination of the eye that was
SO severely injured gave greater hopes
and i. is believed NOW that the sight
can be restored
DISCUSSES His Identity.
Mrs. Ramsey was unable in the
se!ni- darkness to secure Il description
of her assailant, who wore a cap
which was pulled down over his fore
head and eyes, and an oyercoat with
tine collar turned up. He had evident
ly prearranged his appearance so as to
preclude Identification. as the night
vas warm and there was no need for
an cTe:coat SO far as comfort was con-
ce-red. The man was well proportion
ed ana appeared to be of medium
height
Arrests Suspect.
Shortly after the crime was COM
mitted word was sent at once to Allison
to summon Sheriff Johnson, who came
to the scene of the crime as quickly as
possible, accompanied by Deputy Lee
roy From the first the officers have
had a clue and are developing it as
rapidly as good detective work will al
low. Hugh Wheeler was taken in GUS
toy on the charge of being implicated
in the crime and was taken in custody
and was taken to the county Jail at
Allison Saturday night.
Wheeler Tries Suicide.
Shortly after Wheelers incarcera-
ton in a cell. he must have conceived
the idea of putting an end to himself,
because he was found later almost
dead suspended by piece Of telephone
wire to the ceiling of his CELL When
discovered he was black and blue in the
face and was all but dead. He was cut
down Immediately and means of resus-
citation employed and altho he was
snatched back from the grave, he is
vet very weak and very Ill. "A guard
will be placed near his cell and he will
be watched closely in the future so as
to prevent another attempt at suicide.
II Is generally understood that an
attempt to suicide is an admission of
guilt in the case of arrested criminals,
and altho the evidence against Wheeler
is now merely of a circumstantial char
acter he is believed to be one of three
or four persons who are implicated in
the dastarly crime.
Acid Bottle Furnishes Clue.
Sheriff. Johnson and Deputy Leroy
diligently worked on clue and it is
thought the identity of the other par
ties implicated in the crime will soon
be made known. The bottle containing
the acid is one similar to those used
Dy the city HllihiHaii, WINCH ioSS 10 ton"
en- as having great significance. Blood
hounds were sent for from RiceYille,
Iowa. and no stone will be left unturn-
ed in an endeavor to run the criminals
down and to haul them before the
proper judicial officers
Mrs. Ramsey is a young woman OF
prepossessing appearance widow
with three children, whose husband
died four years ago. SO far as is
known, she does not have an enemy in
the world and has had no love affairs
which might cause jealousy and an IN
sane criminal attack such as the one
inflicted last Saturday night. She is
school teacher who teaches TO help
maintain her little family and bears the
esteem and RESPECT of everybody in this
community. and expressions of SYM
pathy for her are generous and every
thing will be done by the people living
i'm this community to see that the
guilty parties are apprehended and
Justice dealt out to them.
The Attempt at Suicide.
Special to Times Republican.
Allison, Aug. 2.-Hugh Wheeler,
prisoner in the county jail, attempted
H., II ~, ,..rixN