Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-27
sleoURNEY PEOPLE GLAD.
Outcome Of the Lewis Trial Is Source
of Much Qualification,


Sigourney, Feb 26.-(Special. 1.-The
outcome of the trial of Mrs. Belle Lew
is. of Ottumwa is the source of much
qualification on the part of the people
of Sigourney who have watched the
progress of the case. The peculiar cir
cumstances regarding the overthrow
ing of the evidence of poisoning make
the case doubly interesting. The case
will cost the county several hundred
dollars but was dismissed before the
evidence had been finished because of
the conclusive testimony given by DR..
Dean Of Iowa City. Opinion is divided
in this city regarded the advisability
of bringing the case to trial and some
attorneys are outspoken in their criti-
cism of the officials. County Attorney
Hamilton has asked that the motion
for dismissal be given publication, in
order to show his position and as JUS
LITIGATION for his prosecuting the case.
Motion for Dismissal.
This, motion, which was filed after
the examination Of DR.. Dean and was
sustained by the court according to
agreement, is as follows:
"In the district court Of Keokuk
county, Iowa.
State of Iowa, VS.. Belle Lewis.
Dismissal.
"After the death of William Lewis
which occurred on Sunday, October,
18th, 1903 the authorities of Keokuk
county were presented with evidence
that in their minds showed that
Belle Lewis, wife of the deceased,
before and at the time of the death,
had lost her affection for her, husband,
and had given it to one Ira Glassford,
and the conduct between her and
Glassford was improper. The hus-
band had $4,000 in life insurance pay
able to the wife and on Thursday pre-
ceding the death she paid defaulted
assessment with money furnished by
Glassford for the purpose. At the
same time she purchased an unusual
amount, one and one-half ounces of
laudanum. and on Saturday, the day
before the death, purchased morphine
and received receipt showing the in
surance in full effect The next morn
ing Sunday, Mr.. Lewis was taken sick.
the wife knew it was serious. She call.
ed no medical assistance, she invited
no friends in to see him and refused
in instances to permit him to be seen.
During this time the laudanum and
the vial containing it disappeared, and
there is evidence by her declarations
and otherwise to show that the defend.
ant about o'clock Sunday morning,
with other medicine administered it
to her husband, and that about the
same time he had taken some of the
morphine tablets. In his sickness,
William Lewis went to sleep and con-
tinued so. With great difficulty he
was temporarily aroused a few times.
until about 2 o'clock in the afternoon
his sleep became permanent. He
snored very loudly, and died about 10
o'clock that night, fourteen hours aft
er he had taken to his bed. The symp-
toms and the post mortem appearances
so far as they could be learned, were
all consistent with opium poisoning.
The wife showed little or no grief and
did not approve of a coroner's inquest.
Other declarations and conduct of
the wife and many other Circumstance
es appeared which corroborated these
facts.
1.-The matter was presented to the
grand jury and Belle Lewis was in.
dicted and placed on trial for the
murder of her husband.
1.-TWO days after the trial commenc.
ed the prosecution was informed that
the defendant claimed that VIM. Lewis
had brain trouble which caused his
death. This was the first knowledge
the state had that the decea scr. ro;oht
have been so afflicted. The prosecu.
ton at once consulted medical authori-
ties and was informed that if such
condition existed the skull of the de.
ceased would show it. No conviction
was desired unless supported by all
the available facts and circumstances
With this purpose in view, and for the
benefit of the defendant and of the
public, the state got permission from
the proper authorities to remove the