Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-06
LATEST STORY SAYS FAIRFIELD
MANS WOUND WAS NOT
sELF.INFL,cTEp.
T W Q w o NJ EN- IN CASE
Whether Dana Was Shot by Rejected
suitor For Mrs. Dlsnon's Hand or by
Avensins southerner is the Cues.
ton Now-sulcide Theory Rejected.

people OF this city are still greatly
excited over the mystery surrounding
the shooting of 8. l.. Dana, the young
bank employe who was found last Fri
day in Central Park, in New York city,
with bullet wound in his body. The
latest word from New York is to the
effect that Dana is still alive and that
he has admitted to a friend that he
did not shoot himself. A story is told,
and believed by some. that he was in
jured in a duel with a southerner,
whose name is unknown and who came
to New York to challenge Dana because
the latter married Mrs. Dignon of
Philadelphia after giving southern
girl to understand that he would make
her his wife.
Another story comes from New York.
to the effect that the shooting was
done by rejected sutton for Mrs. Dig
mons hand, who, angered with Dana
because of his successful suit, follow
ed him and shot him in the park.
Father Arrives in New York.
| r. G. Dana Of this city, the father
of the wounded young man, arrived in
New York Tuesday and held long
tSoAISlShSC WILL A1lo Soh az LtiS AASn'
pital. When the father left the bed
side he would not talk to reporters ex-
cept to say that if his son dies he will
know what to do. From this it is infer
red that the young man confessed the
secret to his parent, telling him who
fired the bullet which may prove fatal
Coroner Investigates.
/ New York Aug. 4. - Coroner Jack
son, no longer satisfied that Samuel
L. Dana told him the truth when he
said he had shot himself in Central
! park last Friday morning, has re-
! quested the police to search out any
possible persons who may have had a
reason for wanting to put the young
man out Of the way.
| The coroner is inclined to believe
that disappointed sutton for the
| hand of Mrs. Dignon, learning she had
married Dana, shot his successful riv
al.
Under Investigation.
The movements of Dana and his
wife on the night before the shooting
are now under investigation. Dana
was at the Martha Washington Hote
on that night.
One account says that he sent VI
his card to Mrs. Dignon," and got
word that she would not see him
whereupon he left in anger.
l Another account says Mrs. Dana
promptly came down to see her hus
band and that she was accompanied
! by man and woman and the whole
party left the hotel in cabs.
Mrs. Dianon From Seattle.
Mrs. Beatrice Womacll Dignon-Dana
; the principal woman character in the
, Central Park shooting mystery, the fas
cinating widow who charmed young
Dana and score of other young men
, during her stay in this city, is the di
yorced wife of a Seattle, Wash, laun
{ dryman of the name of Dignon. Seattle
not Philadelphia, is her home town
!, Her fathers name is Womack and thu
family is in moderate means.
Known as "Babe."
AS a young girl she was very vel
known in Seattle under the sobriquet
of Babe" Womack. She acted a!
. Burke Building. there.
Sne cOmplelely turned Lne nedd o.
J Dignon, who had prosperous laundr!
| plant in Seattle. They were married
, Her sister, now dead. was the wife o.
J John Carter of the First National Banl
, of Seattle and of a prominent politica
( family in that city.
The time of the divorce is not defin
J itely known, but from Babe" Womack
7 the restaurant cashier, and then tn
: wife of merely well-to-do laundryman
the young woman appeared in Ney
) York at the Martha Washington Hotel
spending money freely, dressing hand
som ely and always in black, as becam
widow and wearing a great dea
4 of handsome jewelry.