Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-13
D tectives Believe the Melvin
Man Arrested For Murder
Will Tell His Story
IL WAIVED EXAMINATION
Declared He Was Innocent and His Be-
lief That His Alleged Victim Would
Come Back Some Day and Thus Es-
tabIish His Innocence-News of the
State.
,oia1 to rimes-Republicar.

Sioux City, June 13.-Convnced that
the murder of Peter Johnson, OF Os-
CECILIA county, will confess before court
opens in September. w. c. Davenport,
ex-chief of police, returned yesterday
morning from Sibley.
Hokuf waived examination to the
grand jury and absolutely declined TO
have an attorney. HIS tather anu
father Jaw, both weli-to-do farmers.
have thus far declined to go on ms
bonds The father-in -law especially Is
determined that Hokuf shall prove ms
innocence. He has taken his daughter
and grandchild home and will give her
shelter and protection until such time
as Hokuf is either proved guilty or
cleared OF the charge Of murder
The arrest of Hokuf was accom-
plished without trouble at the Johnson
farm, about twelve miles southeast OF
Melvin, a small station on the ROCK
Island road. Davenport, Sheriff SteV>
ems and 0. b. Harding. of Morningside.
who has property in the township adj
Joining the one in which Johnson
farm is located, drove out to the place.
Hokuf was discovered planting corn
In a field near the house. The rig drew
up and Davenport talked to Hokuf,
stating that he was wanted for the
murder of Pete Johnson year ago In
February.
Hokuf. who has often talked to Dav-
export, knew that the farmers were
suspicious of him. and expressed no
surprise when Sheriff Stevens stepped
out and placed him under arrest.
Il didn't kill him." was all the said.
Going to the house. the sheriff In
formed Mrs. Hokuf Of what had hap
bCned. See weIt bitterly and hssert-i
her belief in the innocence of her hus-
band Hokuf had little to say of the
alleged crime. Whenever the subject
was mentioned on the way to town the
prisoner became silent, contenting him.
self with the statement that he knew
johnson would come back some day.
Johnson at the time of his disappear
ance was engaged to marry woman
living mile from his place He did not
tell her he was going away nor has she
ever heard from him. Johnson for fif-
teen years had his washing and baking
done at the home OF George Diohman,
one mile northeast. Some of his laun-
dry was left at the place He never
called for his bread baked for him that
week. He never told the family that
he expected to go to the old country.
Tells of Mysterious Man.
Before the arrest Hukuf made
statement to Davenport. His story in
substance is as follows:
along the early part of February,
1903. Pete, for whom had worked
year or SO before, asked me If I would
take care of his place. He said he was
going on visit to the old country. l
told him would rent the place a seas
on. Thursday evening, February IL,
took him to Hartley, where he bought
ticket for Chicago. l have never
seen him since In March a man
be cousin of Pete's, came out from
Chicago. He drove to my place from
the south, and understood he got off
at Hartley. He rented the place to me.
/ put in a crop on shares. / signed the
lease ana so ala ne ana ne look it
away with him. didn't see anything
of him until November 1908, when he
came back and again leased the place
for this season. / also paid him $500
for the stock and personal property and
gave him my note for 5000 due this
year He said to address him at
Karnes City, Cal. He said Pete had
gone to the old country and would new
err come back. He took the lease
away with him and he didn't give me
any receipt for the $500 paid him. No
one saw Hanson when he visited the
Johnson place in March and November
last year. I've never heard from him