Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1904-03-10
TWO MURDERED
IN DEs MONIES
Morris Shea and Robert Alex
ander Instantly
Killed.
BOTH SHOT THROUGH HEART
East Court Avenue Scene Of Bloody
Crimes-Shea, One of the Victims.
Had just Been Released From the
Penitentary.

Des Moines, March 3.-Two murd-
ers were committed in Des Moines
yesterday afternoon, one within y
stones throw of the other, and the
two under circumstances almost iden-
teal.
William Alexander shot and killed
his brother, Robert Barnes Alexander.
and Walter Scott shot and killed Nor.
ris Shea.
Each murder was committed ON
Court avenue; one between Second
and Third streets and the other on
the corner of First and Court avenue.
Each murder was the elimination of
saloon row. The murderer in each
instance fired three shots. and the
victim of each tragedy walked nearly
block before dropping dead. Each
of the murderers have confessed. and
both are locked in Jail.
Walter Scott, a saloonkeeper at the
corner of East First street and Court
avenue, shot and killed Morris Shea
at $3.50 o'clock last night, and fifteen
minutes later acknowledged his crime.
She and his partner, James Grip
pen, went into SCOTS place shortly
before half-past 9 o'clock and started
a rough house. Scott submitted to il
until he says he thought his life was
in jeopardy, and then took his 80
caliber revolver from a drawer, point
ed it at the trouble-hunting pair, and
fired three shots. The two men, who
stood in front of the bar, rushed ia
the street, and walked east on Court
avenue. Twenty feet before they
reached the corner, Shea dropped
dead, with bullet through his heart;
Fifteen minutes later Scott was ar.
rested and the man who had carefully
shot an obstreperous customer
through the heart, and continued serw
ing drinks to men who stood at the
bar, admitted that he had done the
killing. He was hurriedly taken to
the city Jail and locked up. Along
with him was taken Crippin. the pal
Of Shea
Two brothers, one Jealous of the
other because he was the favorite son
of his father, met for the first time in
twelve years yesterday, and when
they parted one was taken to the un.
dertaking rooms dead with three bul
lets In him. and the other locked In
jail. self-confessed murderer.
William and Robert Barnes Alexan-
der. colored, were the principals in the
tragedy, which occurred on East Court
avenue, between Second and Third
streets, yesterday afternoon, before
the eyes Of dozen people. William
Alexander Is the murderer.
The men had been drinking and
quarreling in saloon at the corner of
Court avenue and Third street. To
avoid trouble, Robert left, and going
west, had started for home. William
followed, renewed the quarrel, drew
revolver and shot his brother in
the mouth.
The latter begged for mercy, but
William shot him again, and as his
victim ran dying into an alley. follow.
ed him further. "
With blood gushing from his nos
trils. the victim fell ON his face dead.
and his slayer pressed the smoking re.
volver into his back and fired an extra
shot to make sure or his work. Then
he Strengthened up, folded his arms
across his breast, and calmly surveyed
his dastardly accomplishment. Tower
ering fiendishly over his victim he
stood thus for few moments, and
then suddenly realizing his crime, hs
ran wildly down the street.
Assistant Chief Of Police Peterson
and Night Captain Miller fortunately
heard the shots, and while Miller
went to the dead man, Peterson start
ed in pursuit Of the fleeing negro. He
did quick work in bringing him to .
halt, and In two minutes after the
crime was committed the guilty mar
was under arrest.