Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-28
WAS CAS|[k MURDERED
johnson County Officers Are
Holding Joseph Stefanek On
Suspicion of Crime
CORRESPONDENT IN DIVORCE SUIT
stefenek Was to be Tried the Day OF
Frank casteks Strange Death, tor
an Alleged Assault With Intent to
Murder Him-Suicide Theory Weak.
Times-Republicsn.

Special to Times Republican.
Io,.a civ .Tune 2S.--Is Frank Cas-
TEX a suicide or the victim or q cora
blooded murderer?
That is the problem that the officers
of Johnson county are striving 10 solve
today and Sheriff Evan Rowland con-
3esses himself puzzled completely.
Castek. we'll do farmer, who has
aived here all but a few months of his
forty-three years of life, was found IN
a dying condition at his home, in Mon
roe township, twenty miles or more
from Iowa City Monday morning.
AS heretofore noted in these dis
matches he died a couple of hours al
Rewards without regaining conscious
ness. A bullet hole in his head IN
tlscated the method of his death. and
a shotgun near by proved the character
of the implement used.
Suicide was supposed to be the cause
for a time but now the officers are
holding Joseph Stefanek, who will be
lcompelled to prov ca nalihs to separate
/, himself from the shadow of doubt that
lis hanging over him.
Stefanek Is the correspondent named
Thy Castek in his suit for a divorce
from his wife, who, with their two
tAittle boys, lived apart from her hus-
tband for a time.
Moreover, Stefanek was to be tried
hhe very day of the killing, for an alleg-
hid assault with intent to murder Cas-
TEX. The husband alleged that, back
I'm February, Stefanek tried to choke
land by other methods kill him. one
Anethod being to beat him over the
head with stick Of wood. This alleg-
led attack was connected with the wife's
fnlleged friendship for Stefanek.
Mrs. Castek, on the other hand.
Enlarged her husband with being cruel
sAnd inhuman to her, and, she too. ask
he'd for a divorce. The court, leaving
The matter undetermined for the time.
kranted her the custody of both boys.
and ordered Castek to pay 5000 into
lcourt, as temporary alimony. and Z,
Icoyer her attorneys fees. The money
Iwas to have been paid Monday Caste
Us well-to-do and the $500 would have
been mere bagatelle to him. Suicide
over few hundred dollars is unthink-
able in his case.
On the other hand. Stefanek thou
detained, scorns the accusation that he
has anything to do with Castek's vio-
lent end and there is no published EVIL
Hence that makes him appear guilty
30 far as the tragic event of Monday is
concerned.
Coroner F. w. Sizes is conducting a.
inquest in the country. at the home OF
Castek. who lived quite alone.
The inquest was continued until IL
o'clock this morning. Castek was evil
IDENTIFY shot while on the bed and dress
ed A 3S-calibre revolver was used
There is only one hole. three inches
above the right ear. There are alb
solutely no powder marks which is
ian especially strong suggestion of MUIR
der. The coroner may order a pos,
mortem to determine the presence OF
powder marks inside the skull. Cas-
tek's eyes We're black and blue, as the
result OF a hand encounter with Stef-
anek last week. Stefanek swears ne
will prove an aIibi. Castek's wife was
In town the morning of the murder.
Harry Schleuter testified that Stef-
anek, in the presence of witness in
Castek's own house. told Castek he
(Stefanek) had more right to Mrs
Castek than had Castek himself