The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-01-19
STRANGE STORY OF
MURDERED IOWA NAN
William Deppe, Supposed to Be
From Jones County, Killed
in Alaska.
PARTNER THE MURDERER
The Tragedy Grew Out of Disagree.
ments About Business AHairs-Re-
latives Of the Dead Man Are
Sought in This State.

Seattle, Wash. Jan. 1S.-As an
bounced a few days ago by the As
@ociated Press, William Deppe, an
lowl man, IA killed in southeastern
Alaska by Robert Ball January .. He
was Il bachelor and left no relatives in
this part of the country. 1t is desired
10 get into communication With his
people i'll Iowa.
In 1903 Robert Bah came to Seattle
and advertised himself Us northwest
EN- manager OF The Eastern Cani1ui-
lists syndicate. He claimed to nail from
san Francisco, but that is Il matter of
doubt. He had been 1t lawyer in New
York n Michigan. He became ac-
Quainted with William Deppc. then
president of the North Star Mining
company. organized to exploit gold
claims OF Deppe in Alaska. Bali agreed
to nance the enterprise but failed. He
became acquainted with r. l.. Fox, q
marble locator. o owned about 20O
acres OF Alaska marble land Of great
value. BAH arranged to finance n COM
pany to handle it and induced Fox and
Deppe To give him fun control of ev-
erEthing. Deppe advanced money to
q 4 party, including Ban, to Alaska
to locate the rest of the marble in the
vicinity of the Fox claims. These were
located in the names of Dcppe and
seven others ana hen transferred to
The Great American Marble
making that company the holder OF
3.lU0 acrcs Of the most promising mar
Die land in this country. This COM
pany had & capital of $4,000. 00G. Deppe
held n substantial interest. Last sum-
mer the men found Ball had deceived
them. Deppe demanded the money ad-
vanced. ANA a fight ensued. Ball was
Worsted. Deppe said Ball tried 10 use
liz. knife Whprculnrl la fNar,,.A ct,,,,l-
Ban With q staplin2 machine. Deppe
was arrested md n trial resulted in
conviction of assault. Appeal was ak
en- and the am verdict rendered.: hut
the trial judge granted Il new trial.
rms was pending at the time OF his
killing.
SHIT Was Started.
In August, 1904, Willett & Willett OF
this city started suit for FoX to rescind
the contract by which Bail had secured
the marble lands. Deppe took an
active interest, and before October had
secured control and Ball was removed
as president Of the marble company.
The title is location titles" and it
was necessary to nave done certain
work by New Years. Ball seemed 10
think his remove from office rot legal,
so he went to Alaska to hold possession
and keep his position. The manage
ment sent Deppe and four others to
thE tiopeitN Oh GoN lSlaQG, lllrty
iri:>.; i.unl sShakan, Alaska, TO dc the
assessment work. Deppe and his par
". New Years day, We're ordered off
the island by Ball. but declined to go,
aid occupied a cabin Ball was not us
ing. Next morning Ball sent Deppe
notice to cave. Deppe realized then
that Ball was in possession for the
company, so went to talk with Ball.
AS he stepped inside the cabin Bali
shot Dcppe. AS Ball fired he said,
God d--n you, Deppe. get out of
here
Deppe was dead in five minutes
without saying Il word.
The four survivors and the foreman
took the lOWboats and started for
Wrangel With the body, leaving Ball
and Maxwell on the island. with no
means Of getting away. The men were
three daNs at SET i'll open boats with
the body in a snowstorm. On reach
ing Wrangel the body was buried.
Among the effects We're some letters in
German, now with the coroner.
Some time ago Ball made threats to
Kill Deppe, and Deppe procured a war
rant for Balls arrest. The prosecuting
attorney thought it was pique and in
Structed the magistrate to dismiss the
action, Which was refused. This is now
in the courts. After the shooting
Maxwell said he knew this was going
to happen II should have told Deppe.
Iowa paper are asked to copy and
say that any communication from
Oeppe's friends or relatives. addressed
e Willett q Willett at 1919 Wash
ngton building, Seattle. will have at
IGNITION. Deppe said he WIS from Jones
county, Iowa.