Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-29
WAS Y[1I[R INNOCENT!
Troubles of Waterloo Citizen
Recall Sensational Chapter
In His Career
WAS SENT TO PENITENTlARY
WAS SENT TO PEhITENTlARY
Later His Wife Confessed to Having
Committed the Crimes of Which He
Was Convicted and Governor Boies
Pardoned Hlm-May Have Been
Wronsed.
Special to Times Republican.


Cedar Rapids, March 29.-The at
tempted suicide of Julius Vetter, at
Waterloo, after he had been lodged in
Jail there. on charge OF incest pre-
fered by his daughter, recalls an inter-
esting chapter in the career of Vetter.
when he figured In one of the most SEN
crimes ever committed in Ce-
dar county. Whether he was really
guilty of the series of crimes forswhich
he was sent to the penitentiary for a
term of eighteen years, or whether his
wife, was the criminal, according to
her confession made some years after
wards at the expiration of the time
fixed by the statute of limitations, is
stin mooted question in Cedar coun-
ty.
About twenty years ago Alexander
Spear. now living in Upton, was d
wealthy farmer, living several miles
northeast Of Upton He had large
tlocks and herds and had been prosper
Gus in all his affairs. He had just conf
pleted the erection of the finest farm
house in Cedar county IN which he and
his wife took great deal of pride.
Soon after they had moved into the
new house on July 4, picnic, was held
in Red Oak Park. several miles to the
west of his farm and he and his family
attended. They first took the precau
ton to go thru the new house from
top to bottom to see that everything
was safe and securely fastened. After
they had been at the picnic grounds 4
short time a neighbor rode UP at great
speed and informed them that their
house was on fire. When they reached
their home it was in ashes The neigh
bors had saved the contents of one
bedroom and that was all. These goods
had been removed to the small house
occupied by the tenant Julium Vette-.
Vetter had been brought to this
country from Germany o year or two
previous by Mr. Spear. who met him
while he was abroad buying horses,
and admired his knowledge and skill
in handling horses. He was then liv
ing with woman whom 1t seemed he
never married. except by common
law marriage. She came to this coun
and he was not suspected OF
having set the house on fire. Nothing
could be learned as to its origin and II
was finally thought that 1t must have
been caused by spontaneous combus-
ton. This theory prevailed until after
harvest, when the grain had all been
stacked and then there was another
fire in which all the grain. was consum-
Az ,t.s 81 ,y,,, ~
stallion was poisoned. The people in
that neighborhood grew frenzied and
there began to be mutterings about
Vetter. Then one night the barns We're
discovered on fire. Then The frenzy
rose to fever heat and Vetter was
openly accused of the crimes. A num-
Der OF farmers formed to take him and
lynch him, but this was averted and
he was arrested and taken to the Cedar
county jail at Upton. 1t was almost
the sole topic of conversation in this
part of the country at that time.
The prosecuting attorney for Cedar
county was ]. II. Preston, now judge of
the district court in the I.inn-Jones,
Cedar district. Vetter was defended
by noted criminal lawyer named
Foster from Chicago, famous in many
criminal cases of that day. 1t was
shown during the trial that vatter had
been heard to speak maiiciously and
obviously against Spear because Spear
was rich and he was poor, because
Spears home was filled with comforts
and Injuries, while his was humble.
It was also shown that some articles
were found in Vetter's house which
had not been among the contents of the
one room saved from the fire. Vetter
was found guilty and sentenced to
eighteen years in the penitentiary at
Anamosa.
Not very long after that the house
and buildings at another farm owned
by Mr.. Spear We're set on fire. Then
questions began to be asked If there
had not been mistake; If Mr.. Spear
had not some other enemy who had
committed the crimes for which Vet
ter had been convicted. These ques-
lions were asked with renewed force
when an Internal machine was found in
the home of Mr.. Spear at Upton, he
having moved from the farm to town.
Finally after the time of the statute of
had expired, Mrs Vetter
lHdt IL WIS SHE WIlO TAU
all the crimes of which Vet
ter had been accused. She declared
that he was innocent of them all She
had assaulted one of the most respected
old citizens of Upton by throwing blue
vitrol in his face. Vetter was pardoned
by Governor Boise shortly before this
was made. He left Upton
and went to Black Hawk county where
he was employed by Governor
Boise on his farm. Afterwards he en-
gagged in business in Waterloo and be-
came wealthy.
Vetter is said by those who knew
him in Cedar county to have been
fairly good sort of a fellow, a fine
workman, skilled with stock and hors-
es, and not ore who would be likely to
the terrible crimes of which he
was charged. There were very many
ready to believe the confession made
by his wife who is said to have been
a terrible looking woman with
face like one of the witches in Mac
beth.
anAAfA AsIICr lAS Alr