Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-29
The Evidence In the Iowa City
Murder Case Grows More
Convincing
AN ANTE.MoRTEM STATEMENT
Fairfax Doctor Said to Have Had Talk
With Castek Before His Death =
Stepanek's Attempt to Prove an Abb
Has Not Vet Been Successful-Testi-
mony of Witnesses.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to es-Republicans
Iowa City. June 29.-"Sweetheart' is
the term applied by Joseph Stepanek
to the wife of Frank Castek the prom
inent farmer of Monroe township, a
suicide or murdered man, according to
the testimony of Harry Schleuter be-
fore the coroner's jury today The
same witness testified that Stepanek
declared to 'astek in the presence of
all three men: i've a better right to
your wife, than you, yourself, have"
Upon these statements, together with
the fact that Castek accused Stepanek
of loving Mrs. Castek too passionately,
and with seeking his (Castek's) life,
the jury is pushing it's investigations,
though now adjourned until Thurs
day.
A former deputy sheriff, j. e. Seery,
of Benton county. AYERS that he saw
finger prints upon the wall near Cas-
ticks bed, when Castek lay dying and
dead. These imprints. 1T is alleged
could not have been made by Castek,
for his hands were not at all blood
stained, when he was found. uncon-
scious. The revolver. with which the
deed was committed, was also free
from blood stains.
A strange note, signed by Castek's
wife, was discovered In the dead mans
bed--from which the wife had flown
weeks ago, taking her two children
with her. This note read s follows:
You Frank: / heard that you receiv-
ed letter that Jordan (their sony was
not yours mnd now you believe it..
Don't let yourself be fooled that way
all the time. You should be able to
understand that yourself. and that 1t
is a lie You know that l have told
you that our luck must be spoiled"
Another note. whose author is I'M
known, cast reflections upon both Mrs.
Castek and Stepanek. Witnesses tes-
titled freely to previous quarrels be-
tween Castek and Stepanek. whom the
former accused of improper associa-
tons with The now widow, who is a
cousin of Frank Novak, the murderer.
a peculiar state of affairs is related by
Schleuter, who tells of Stepanek's con-
duct in using Casteks tobacco. put
ting his fee. on Castek's table, and, at
the same time. frankly admitting that
he had beeil Mrs. Castek's lover, and
averring that he had right to be.
These things precipitated pitched
battle between the two men, said
Sch!euter. After the smoke cleared
away, Castek left the house and went
to SchleuteI's to sleep. The witness
swore that .Stepanek did not leave the
Castek premises until next day.
An alibi is claimed by Mrs. Step
anek, mother of the suspected man, but
her tale that Joseph was home all
night, the night of the killing, is de-
MED by at least four men.
Castek was last seen alive by Frank
Stanek, who passed the time of day
with the now slain man. the night be-
fore the killing, at twilight. Castek
was then in his garden, eating green
peas.
The body of Castek was buried this
morning ursder the direction of the
relatives of himself and widow. A
subpoena has been isseued for DIR.
Dvorak. of Fairfax. Iowa, now In Chi
cago. 1t IN rumored he has an ante
mortem statement for Castek. Dvorak
must appear tomorrow.