Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-27
HENRY MYSTERY
John v. Streed, Prominent Cam
bridge Lawyer. Found Dy-
ing in Yard.
SHOT Rack OF RIGHT EAR
Circumstances Support Theory He Was
Murdered, But CIews Are
Lacking.

JOnn v. SlIeSu, Vice pISSluShJ Vi
the Swedish-American Republican
league of Illinois and one of the best
known attorneys of Henry county. is
deal at his home in Cambridge as a
result of mysterious shooting.
M. Streed's body was found at the
door of an clubhouse at the back of the
lot on which the postoffice building
stands. and in which he had Office and
living rooms. at 5 O'Clock yesterday
morning. 1t was evident that he was
in a dying condition, and a bulles
wound was found back of his right ear
Shortly after 10 o'clock the breathing
stopped and the mystery which has
hung over the case deepened. No
word was uttered by the victim of the
tragic occurrence between the time
the body was discovered and his death.
Lay on Ground.
Arthur Crawford, butcher of Cam
bridge. discovered Mr.. Streed's body
when he was starting for his days
work The body lay on the ground.
the head being surrounded by great
pool of blood. One foot was in the
step of the outhouse, and blood being
found on the step it was surmised that
the shooting occurred when Mr.. Streed
stood in the door. Under the body was
found a revolver Five OF the cham
bers were loaded but the sixth was
empty. 1t is supposed that the ballet
from the sixth chamber was the one
which entered Mr.. Streed's head.
Own Revolver In Room.
in drawer in his room. He had his
law Office above the postoffice on East
street and had living rooms on the OPP
posite side of the hall. II was TO these
rooms that he proceeded when he left
a livery stable at II O'Clock at night.
after returning from a drive to Alpha.
20 miles west. When the body was
found ii was fully dressed and it APP
peared that the clothes had not been
removed after he left the stable
Lamps Burning I'm Room.
After the body had been discovered
men went to Mr. Streed's rooms ami
found two lamps burning. one in the
front and the other in the back room.
On a table were numerous letters. and
it seemed that Mr.. Streed had been
reading them previous to his depar.
ture. There is difficulty in convincing
acquaintances of the theory of either
murder or suicide. Mr.. Streed mad no
enemies so far as known, hence there
appears no motive for murder. Yet the
direction of the bullet wound in the
head makes some people certain that
the gun was not fired by his own hand.
Mr.. Streeds business affairs were in
good condition, his domestic relations
were most happy, his practice was in
creasing and he apparently had no
reason whatever for taking his own
life.
Wife I'm East.
Mrs. Streed some time ago left to
visit her parents at Union Pier, Mich,
and from there went for an extended
sojourn in the east. She was located
with some difficulty, but finally mes
sage was received from her stating she
would start home at once.
1t is reported that some time ago an
attempt was made on the life of Mr..
Streed by some unknown person. The
matter was kept quiet at the time, but
now a hat is exhibited with a bullet
hole in it as proof that an attempted
assassination on a previous occasion
was nearly successful.
Those who support the suicide the
ory suggest that Mr.. Streed's mind
may have become affected from his
devotion TO the game of chess, which
he played whenever opportunity of
fered He was prominent among fol
lowers of the game in this vicinity and
took part in many tournaments, play
ing by telephone, letter and telegraph
at times.
In Rock Island Sunday.
The unfortunate lawyer visited Rock
Island Sunday and was engaged all
day in some legal matters here with
C. B. Marshall. While here he improv-
ed the opportunity TO have game of
chess with DIR. w. c. Shoemaker. who
is an old friend Mr. Streed exhibited
no traces of mental disorder or ten
dency to be less cheerful than usual
while here, and his Rock Island ac-
quaintances scout at the idea of sui
eide.