Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-19
By Polk County Grand Jury
For Murder In the First
Degree
MlFE's DEATH AwokEsusPlcloN
Charles w. Grave. l. Accused of Muir.
dsrins Her by stranslins and Then
Attempting to Burn Her Dead Body
Twenty five Witnesses Summoned
and Examined by Grand jury

Des Moines, Feb. 19.-Charles W
Graves. the man who Is accused OF
having foully murdered his wife by
0trangling her, and then attempting to
burn her dead body. was yesterday
afternoon indicted by the Polk coun-
~ grand Jury for the crime of murder
In the first degree.
The indictment is drawn in two sep
arate counts, one charging that the
man made en- assault upon his wife
with his hands, and produced death by
choidng her. and the second count,
charging that the assault was made by
Graves with some weapon or instru-
ment Of some nature unknown to the
fury. The indictment Is drawn in this
manner in order TO meet any turn the
evidence may take upon the trial OF
the case.
Tho crime OF which Graves is ac-
eused and adj OF dts horrible details
are yet fresh in the minds Of the pub
DC. the woman having met her death on
che 18th OF December last. shortly after
the noon hour, and her dead body was
discovered burning and covered with a
burning quilt under circumstances
which at once pointed the finger OF
suspicion at her husband.
Twenty Five Witnesses.
The evidence taken before the grand
Jury IL voluIninous, not less than twen-
ty-f1ve witnesses having been sum
snoned and examined by that body.
The testimony OF the witnesses very
generally Is to the effect that Graves
N'as seen to come home on the day OF
the murder at few minutes after 10
! o'clock. and that shortly after he left,
i the house and walked down Walnut
street toward the west side OF the
river. He then was observed to return
70 tq1e house at about 1890, and in
company With Perry Churchman, a
utlk boy, who with him entered the
0Oase. Immediately afterward the
ne1gh6ors were startled by a cry OF
dre and rushing to the scene were
ADrrihed to find the middle room of the
house full OF smoke the dead body of
4R Graves lying upon the carpet,
covered with burned and shoulder.
ong quilt. and no indication OF fire
onyw0ere in che house except upon
ne spot where the body lay. Some of
Ne witnesses sesffied chat as they
ontAred the house they detected a dis
dnce smell OF Aesosena and upon In
Ssessfia1 sfs gallon can
lttxen. the cap or and missing.
dvs-gallon can OF gasoaene was also
discovered in closet This, TOO, was
open.
Had Trouble With HE Wife.
GrAvss was known to have had trou-
Bile w1th his wife, and the neighbors
eenew that there had been frequent
NuAS5elo between them, and to some Of
The people in the neighboH,oud. as the
evidence shows, Mrs.. Graves had told
oe her fear Of her husband, and OF
ehreats upon his part TO kili her. To
Skg& Sarah Williams, who lives across
Tie 0treet from the Graves anonre Mrs.
Gruves IS aa1own to have said that
Graves threatened her life and told her
thar ho had q man down on First street
who would kin her for a dollar and a
drink OF whisky. Mrs. Williams testi-
ned THAI Mira Graves brought to her
home a shot gun. saying that she was
afraid TO have st longer en- ta1e house.
Graves himself. at THE time OF tho
murder. and after, tod the same story.
He nid that he Odd not know how to
account for tine death of his wife, and
mat he believed that she had been
cleaning the kitchen stove and that
the oil can or the stove polish had ex-
ploded and set her afire. It ia claimed.
however. that Graves when first asked
about his actions on the fatal day said
that he had come home twice. and on
the second "trip found his wife dead.
Later on. however. II It said that he
denied that he made more than one
"Trip 70 his nome that noon.