The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-12-29
MAHASKA CO. ESCAPES
Murder Of Arthur Lynch Occurred
Across Keokuk Line.

.#a 49,. 4#EH
The murder Of Arthur Lynch by
Johns" Martin Friday morning was
committed in Keokuk county, about
fifty feet across the county line from
Mahaska county. Following the ar
rest Of Martin he was turned owe to
the Keokuk county authorities and
was taken to the Jail at Sigourney.
Marshal Phillips, Of Fremont, tele-
phoned to this city before he went to
the scene Of the shooting after the
man and Deputy Nick Moore was sent
to his assistance. Mr.. Moore went to
Fremont on the Central, intending to
drive thence to the scene OF the shoot
ing. He had been in Fremont but a
short time when Marshal Phillips
came in with Martin and he was i'm
mediately turned over to MI. Moore.
Marshal Phillips stated to Mr.. Moore
that there was a question Of jurisdic
tion and MI. Moore took immediate
steps to ascertain the truth Of the
point. He managed finally to get in
to telephone communication with a
brother of Lynch, who knew the lay
of the land, knew just where the
shooting occurred and all of the de-
tails. This man stated that the deed
was committed in Keokuk county,
about fifty feet east of the line. Mr..
Moore Immediately telephoned the
circumstances of the shooting to the
sheriff of Keokuk county at Sigourney
and was ordered to turn the prisoner
over to Marshal Phillips again, to
await the arrival of the officers from
that county. They drove to Fremont
later in the afternoon and took Mar
tin to the Sigourney Jail.
The law makes provision that eth
er county has jurisdiction in cases
that occur five hundred yards from
the dividing line. Mahaska county
had legal right to take the man, but
so long as the Keokuk county official
responded to the call, Mahaska coun-
ty had no use for the case.
Story of Shooting.
Martin had little to say of the af-
fair to Deputy Moore. He claims that
the shooting .gas done in ~self-defense
and that Lynch was making for him
with a scoop shovel when he shot him.
There were no witnesses to the shoot
ing itself, as it occurred in the road
way and the combatants we're screen.
ed by brush.
Martin did not go to the saw mill,
which stands in Mahaska county, but
waited east of the mill for Lynch to
come along the road on his way to the
mill from his home. Some workmen
were engaged in a fieid near the road
and Martin went to them and wanted
them to call Lynch down where they
were SO he could talk to him there
Knowing Of the trouble between the
\ two men the workmen refused to have
any part with the affair. Martin
~thereupon left the workmen and clam
bered up to the roadway and met
Lynch as he was en- route to the mill
The workmen heard some rather loud
talking and then came the pistol shot
They heard a cry and nurryIng to the
Place found Lynch lying in the road,
way with the blood ,ooZlng from a
bullet wound in the back of the head
Lynch Slowly ~Succumbing.
Lynch was alive this morning al
eight o'clock, but was showing symp,
toms indicating the nearness of the
end. The nan was a maniac all night,
He seemed to have a demons strength
and fought with his attendants like
some wild animal. The combined
strength of five men was required to
control the man and the helpers were
on duty constantly to keep the man
in bed. He collapsed toward morning
and is growing weaker. Brain tissue
has been slowly oozing from the
wound and it Is not possible for the
man to live. His death is a matter
of a few hours.