Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-04
Thomas Reed, Living Near
Brooklyn, Shot Down While
Defending His Property
BODY IS FOUND BY HIS SON.
Veteran Of the Mexican War Ruthless
Iy Slain While Fighting Desperately
for His Life-BIoodhound Sent For
to Track the criminaI-DstaiIs Of
the Tragedy.
special to rimes-Republican.

his life with all the power his age
weakened body could command, Ihom-
as Reed, an old hermit and veteran OF
the Mexican war was ruthlessly mur-
dered in his little home two miles east
Of this place early this morning. His
lifeless body. still grasping in Its
nerveless hand the hammer with which
he had sought to defend himself and
his possessions, was found stretched
upon the kitchen floor when the old
mans son came to inquire about his
welfare this morning. Upon the snow
outside the house were the freshly
made tracks Of the murderer as h& had
approached and departed from hisiyic-s
TINS habitation. It is hoped that these
tracks may be the means OF brin&tn
the criminal to Justice and Huffme
bloodhounds at Knoxville have b
sent for with that purpose In vie
Robbery is supposed to have been Z
motive for the crime.
The victim Of this tragedy Is so year
of age. He is a veteran of the Mexica
war and for many years has lived alon>
on his farm. His wife died q good
many years ago and altho he has three
sons who would have been glad to give
the old man a home, and all the care
he deserved and needed and would
have done all that devoted kin could /
do for dear relative. preferred for
reasons known to himself to live the
life Of solitary. It has been the GUS
tom OF his son, Thomas Reed. Jr., to
visit his father every nio.nfrg % i1osxz
after his wants. This morning was no
exception. but when he opened the door
leading to his fathers kitchen,
horrible sight met his sass..
Lying on the floor IN pool Of blood
was the lifeless form Of the old man.
All about the room were signs Of .
been overturned and everything was
in confusion. In the old mans hand
was held hammer with which he had
evidently tried to defend himself. He
was only partially dressed and ap-
peared to have been awakened In the
night and evidently had been called to
gaining entrance to the house, had
probably got the old mans money ana
met with an immediate declaration OF
war. An examination Of the body
showed that he had been shot thru the
stomach with a bullet Of large calibre.
The son hurried to the neighbors and
told the story and the officers were at
once notified. Tracks upon the snow
outside the home indicated but one
man had taken part in the killing ana
SO far as possible these - were
guarded in order that the b hounds
might have keener trail ..x,.. which
to work. A request was at once dis
patched to Knoxville for the Huffmeier
blood hounds and they are expected
this afternoon.
The greatest excitement prevails
here over the murder. II the murderer
should be captured and his identity
completely established, violence might
be done, but the community being :
law abiding one, they law will probably
be allowed to take its course. alt.e y
the greatest indignation exists.
1t Isl believed that robbery was t.
motive for the crime, as It was generA
ally supposed that the old man kept
considerable money about the house,
AS to the amount nothing is known.
and it is not known for certainty
that he kept any considerable sums
Everything possible will be done ~
apprehend the guilty party.