The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-01
Three Deaths in Illinois Town
 Surrounded by Mystery
ONE VICTIM WAS 4 WOMAN
Attorney Refuses to Prosecute Cases Because the Men Charged With Murder Are His
 Friends.

Chicago, September 3O-Details of a series of sensations which are alleged to have smoldered for months in Cambridge. H., and which may explain the myster- ious death of John V. Streed. a prom inent attorney and politician. who was found lfeless at his office door in Cam bridge a week ago with a bullet through his head were revealed here today.
 pr. Byrd c. Powell, veterinary sur geon living in Sandwich Ill.. came to Chi cago and told a story back of the recent suicide of his brother William D. Powell. of Cambridge. The story discloses a chain of facts connecting the Powell and Streed case with the virtual murderer of a Swed- ish domestic in the home of a wealthy man in Cambridge more than five years ago. She was buried secretly without a death certificate or inquest
 Because They Knew the Truth.
 In the opinion of Dr. Powell, Attorney Streed was murdered because Streed knew the truth behind the womans death Streed got the facts from William D. Powell. who committed suicide August 26 last, after William Powell's home had been broken up and the guilty persons shielded. it is alleged, by an influential po- ltlcal friend. pr. Powell declares that his brother was driven to his death by a | clique in Cambridge.
 | It is said Powell went to Cambridge to 1 live about the time of the death of the domestic. the facts of which he learned accidentally. His own domestic life was ! unhappy. He suspected several men of l of x.,it It wife and encountered as a result perse- cution which it Is said drove him to sui | eide.
 First stories detrimental to Powelrs business was circulated. Then the crowo made 1t their business to offend him or the streets. Men came to him at unex. pected hours day and night to his home and to his office and told him he had bet ter leave town. He refused to be in- | tmdated.
 Then Comes the Climax. | Finally came a climax. Powel awolSe one morning to find 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 a mob. | Then Powell summoned his brother. They talked all night long, William detailing
 
 his wife; the prosecutions and the threat | of death.
 What shall do?" he asked In de- spair.
 Go after them," replied his adviser | You know something of the death of this Swedish girl. The men prosecuting you arc involved in that case. Go after them."
 Refused to Prosecute Friends.
 Two detectives arrived in Cambridge as a result to work up evidence in refer ence to the death of the domestic. w b Powell took the evidence to Attorney Streed and asked him to prosecute the men. Streed refused to do 1t, because it involved some of his best friends. William D. Powels suicide followed. w. D. Powell believes that Streed and some of the sus- pected men quareled an in the heat of dispute Streed betrayed knowledge of the domestic's tragedy.
 My brother" said Dr. Powell today, | twas bounded to death by a clique of men who control everything in the ad- | ministratlon of law In Cambridge His knowledge of the girls death passing to Streed, shifted to the latter the fatal mark of that gangs enmity. If Streed was murdered, it is a simple matter for the Cambridge authorities to figure out who are the persons interested in bring Ing about his death. But they have pur- posely suppressed the truth, which If re- vealed may lead to the discovery of Streed's murderer and bring to light an other murder"