Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-12
A FOUL MURDER
At SIOUX CITY
Decomposed Remains of a Man
Found With the Skull
Crushed In
MYSTERY ABOUT THE AFFAIR
Victim Of the Murderers Was An Aged
Man Whose Home Was In Nebraska
Body Was Wrapped In Quilts and
Had Been Left In a Tent In Out
skirts Of City.
to Times-Republican.

Sioux City, Sept. 12.-With his skull
crushed as from a terrific blow, the
rapidly decomposing body of D. Y.
Lake, Of Douglas, Neb., travelling
teamster. aged between SO and 90
years, was found at s o'clock last eve
ming wrapped in quilts within a lone
ly tent outside of the Woodland park
grounds, close to the traction COM
pany's viaduct over the Milwaukee
tracks. The body was in such con-
dition that judgment as to the nature
of the crime was difficult, but all the
circumstances point to foul and en-
tirely unprovoked murder three or four
days ago.
About s o'clock last evening, Will
lam Bowman, a stockman of Jackson,
Nebraska, assisted by Frank Moore, a
young fellow from st. Paul was load
ing some of the stock which he had
been exhibiting at the fair, into a
Milwaukee freight car. The odor from
the tent became so noisome that they
walked over to learn what was its
cause. They found the entrance of the
tent securely tied up. Back of the tent
was a wagon to which a team had ap-
parently been tied and of which no
trace was left but broken strap. The
stockman then went to the gate of the
Interstate Livestock Fair grounds for
aid in getting into the tent. ACCOM-
u, ,,,I or1f
watchmen at the grounds and Harry
Cutting, an engineer, they returned and
entered the tent, after some difficulty
in cutting the fastenings. f
A Grewsome Spectacle.
An awful sight met their gaze while
the odor became almost unbearable.
In the middle of the ground under the
tent, was a. mass of quilts from which
protruded mans leg. On removing
the covers the body of Lake was dis
closed, bloated beyond all possible rec
ognition and infested with maggots.
The body was close to an oil stove upon
which there was a frying pan contain
Ii ing uncooked meat.
Word of the discovery was at once
telephoned to James Melon, chief of
police at the Fair. Accompanied by
James Wescott, Mr.. Melon at once went
out to the scene Of the tragedy and
made as thorough an investigation OF
the premises as was possible by the
lickering light of a lantern.
Examination of the body soon found
the cause of death. The right side of
the skull just above the ear was entire
Ily crushed apparently with some weap-
on. which had been intended to leave no
trace of it's work upon the outside. The
flesh was decayed, however, to such an
extent that the result of the blow was
not shielded. Further search found
underneath the body, a rifle, wrapped
in several thicknesses of gunny sack.
lit was with this rude weapon, COW
cred with cloth, to leave no mark, that
the fatal blow is presumed to have
been struck.
II appeared that while the lonely
teamster was STOPPING over the stove
nreparing his meal, some unseen as
sailant had slipped In behind him, ana,
after dealing the death blow his rifle
had emptied his pockets Of whatever
money they might have contained.
Then, having covered the victim with
quilts, the murderer had carefully clos
ed up the tent and made his escape.
Nothing was found in the mans
pockets, not even knife, But in the
pockets of his overalls, lying on a grip
in the tent papers and letters were
found which established his identity.
Several letters were addressed to y.
G. Lake, Douglas Neb. One bearing
Clinton, To-, date and addressing him
as "dear nephew" told of his aunts
care for his son Everett, who evidently
lives with her at Clinton, and also
spoke of having put flowers On his
wife's grave. The letter was signed
Nina Beeken, 426 Fourth avenue"
Was At Boonesteel.
That Lake had been at Bonesteel
during the land rush was shown In
letter dated at Bonesteel July 10, which
he had begun and had never finished.
1t was addressed to Friend Willie"
and spoke of his good mule team ana
the money he had made by haullng
people out to the reservation lands at
81 apiece. The letter was in hope
full vein and it's writer seemed to be In
good spirits.
1t is presumed that the itineran'
s-diIlSlGT WAS dIlIdClGu W holoe'<A 49,
" the fair, hoping to get work to DO
ith his mule team.
A loose team of mules was see'
round the road near there on Thurs
ay. Having been tied to the wagon
he animals had probably broken ava
hen their hunger became more poteh
han the tether which held them IN
surder is thought to have been con-
aitted Wednesday or Thursday, judG
ng from what neager evidence ther
in that regard.
The body was left just as it wa
ound. There We're many details of tn
TRANCE crime which could not be uh
avaled last evening. The police an
he cononer have been notified an
sill make thorough investigation to-
day.