Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-19
BOY RELATES STORY OF
TRAGEDY AT KIRKVILLE.

remember who got up first Breakfast
was ready a little before 8 O'Clock
Were at breakfast table when we had
last conversation. Father said he was
going to Kirkville l wanted to go
along. He said, No, am going to
walk up That is the last thing re-
member hearing him say. Mother said
she wanted to go to Kirkville too. He
said no. Father and done the chores
before breakfast. We MIXED the COWS
and fed the hogs and calves Do not
remember that he said anything to me
that morning while we were working.
Did not hear him say anything to
mother He was dressed in overalls,
shirt, vest and shoes. When we got up
from the table we did not go for black
berries Immediately. stood up in the
dining room. l do not know how long.
Mother and left the house together. We
went into the woods about half a mile
south of the house for blackberries.
We did not meet or see anyone while
we were gone. 1t was at my sugges-
ton that we went in that direction.
Did not find any blackberries. do not
remember how many times we sat
down to rest.
There was some conversation about
blackberries at table Father said he
wanted some blackberries. Mother
said she would go down in the cellar
and get some. He said he wanted
fresh ones. Did not see anyone about
the house that morning. 1t was about
l0 o'clock when we returned from
blacl1berrying. l looked at the clock
do not remember whether it was be-
fore or after 10. The door was open
and the screen shut just as we left
them. l said, Here is fathers hat
Mother said, He must be back from
klrkville then Mother and l went
into the house together. We went into
the bedroom. Mother said, Oh. my Cod
That was all she said. We did not go
to him. was not in the room, but
Just in the doorway Mother was just
inside the door, Father was lying on
his back on the bed"
He was dead. We did not go right
up to him. Do no know just how long
we stayed at the house. We did not
make any cutlery. We went over to
| We walked over. Mother and l were
crying. When we got to Wards she
told Mrs. Ward she believed Jim had
killed himself. l sat down on the
porch. Mother stayed in the yard Do
not know how long we stayed there.
When we went back home, DR.. Keplar
was coming out of the house. Mother
asked him if Jim was dead The doc
tor said yes. Neither of us went into
the room. Have not talked to any
one regarding my testimony at this
hearing"
When County Attorney w. w. Epps
asked if he had not been at the Of
fees of Attorneys Steck and Jaques, the
counsel for the defense objected and
after lengthy argument was sustained.
II only wanted to show" said County
Attorney Epps, that the boy had been
| requested to come to the office of the
county attorney but refused" Attorney
Steck said that the boy had been at
his office but that he had not refused
to allow him to see the county at
torney, but objected to him being
placed in jail
The Cross Examination.
The cross examination conducted by
Attorney Steck resulted in a clearer
statement being drawn from the wit
ness. The questions and answers were
about as follows:
Your father helped you with the
chores that morning."
Eyes sir"
Your mother assisted in the milk
ing Of the cows?"
Eyes sir"
"The. evening before your mother
had been helping in the hayfeld?"
yes sir"
while you and your father were
feeding the calves and hogs your
mother went in and got breakfast and
then you went in and eat?"
Eyes, sir"
did your father eat anything that
morning?
"No SIR
did he drink anything?"
He drank a cup of tea"
When he left the table you were
still sitting at the table,"
Eyes, SIR
fathers hat in the dining and when
you went into the bedroom saw him
on the bed?"
yes, sir"
Your mother, said: o, my Cod"
Eyes sir"
"She might have said something
else that you did not notice?"
yes sir"
'And then you ran up to Ward's?"
Eyes SIR
when you got there your mother
sank down on the grass exhausted?"
Eyes sir"
'As soon as Mrs. Ward had dressed
and was ready you started back?"
yes SIR
Were you walking with your moth.
err"
Mother and Mrs. Ward were walk
ing together.
did you see anyone on the way
DOWN."
Eve saw John Ward"
What kind of hat did he have?"
HE had a hat just like my fathers"
Considerable argument was caused
by the question. "did you hear your
mother say Why there comes JIM
which was finally answered in the af-
| firmative