The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-01
bis secret in an endeavor to get him
to prosecute. ---~: - ..0.T-
His Life Was Unhappy.

William D. Pewell's domestic life
was unhappy He suspected several
men Of prominence Of being too friend
" with his wife, who is still living in
Cambridge. One of these men was a
deputy sheriff, and in a note written
by Powell in his last hours he accused
the official Of breaking up his home.
This note the coroner at first re-
FUSED to turn over to DR.. Powell, says
the latter, and knowledge of it has
been suppressed until now. With the
new tragedy, however, the doctor has
decided to keep silent no longer.
;, Powell! s domestic troubles underlie
the whole Streed tragedy and the de-
tails are closely tangled with it. They
began when Powell first suspected his
wife, which it is said drove him nearly
to suicide. First stories detrimental to
Powell first were circulated Then the
crowd became holder. They made it
their business. to offend him in the
street. They threatened to whip him.
Endured All Silently.
It is declared Powell endured every
thing silently. He wanted to arm him
self but was told Sheriff Bruce Stires
would arrest him for carrying con-
cealed weapons. Men came to him at
an hours OF the day and night to his
home and to his office. They told him
he had better leave town. He refused
to be intimidated.
Finally came climax. "Tar and
Feathers written on his door with a
note ordering him to leave town within
-four. days or suffer violence at the
hands Of mob.
Then Powell summoned his brother.
They talked all night long, William de-
failing the story Of his sufferings, of
his love for his wife, the petty perse-
cutions and the final threat of death.
"What shall I do?'' he asked in de-
SPAR. ..... :,
600 after them,', replied his ad-
wiser. You know something of the
death Of the Swedish girl. The men
prosecuting you are involved in that
case. Go after them. -
Streed Feared to Act.
Will sent, to Chicago and two detect.
ives arrived in Cambridge to work ur
evidence in reference to the death Of the
domestic. ~ -. -. -
w. D. Powell took the evidence to
Streed. and asked him to prosecute the
men. Streed refused to do it, because
it involved some Of his best friends
some Of these men quarrelled and in
the heat Of dispute Streed betrayed his
knowledge Of the domestic g tragedy.
Powell having killed himself, Streed
was the only man those struggling
to keep down the truth of the girl s
death had to fear. His death would
seal the lips of the only man who knew
the awful story. Hence, after the sup
posed quarrel, Streed's premonitions of
his impending death.
Pursued After Death.
The feeling worked up by Powell Is
enemies did not stop with the passage
Of his breath. He was member of the
Masonic lodge in Cambridge. On the
day of his funeral not a single Mason
appeared. Powell was dead His enc.
mics were satisfied The men who had
fought him in life persuaded the towns
people to refuse him respect at the
grave.
My brother" said DR.. Powell to-
day, twas bounded to death by q
clique of men who control everything
in the administration of law in Cam
bridge. His knowledge of the girl Is
death, passing to Streed, shifted to the
latter the fatal mark Of that gang rs
enmity. If Streed was murdered it is
a simple matter for the Cambridge au
thorities to figure out who are the per.
sons interested in bringing about his
uedCH. buI Gney nave purpOSely sup
pressed the truth, which if revealed
may lead to the discovery Of streed s
murderer. and bring to light another
MURDER
After telling Of the advice given his
brother to prosecute the alleged muir
derer Of the domestic, DR.. Powell re-
sumed:
/ "This girl had no relatives in the
United States, so far as I know. She
worked at the home of one of the
wealthiest men in Cambridge. She be-
came i'll, and a nurse called to attend
her discovered what had been done.
She was warned not to speak Of the
case. The poor girl died, and, I under
stand, was buried at night. No record
of the death was made.
It is said the Chicago detectives Sc
cured evidence which would have
caused sensation in Cambridge. It
was taken to Streed, who said he
would consider the matter. AS the law
yer went into the case it was found it
would affect some of the men upon
whom he was dependent for his prac4
Itice, whereupon he declined to take up
the prosecution.