Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-17
Case of Emma Ripke, Held For
Murder Of Young Attorney,
Most Interesting
POTTS FAMILY IS PROMINENT
Dead Man. Who is Said to Have Come
From Family Prominent in Social
and Business Circles in Philadelphia,
Had Been in West About Ten Years
"Details Of Tragedy.
ecIal to Times-Republican.

Council Bluffs, Oct 17.-If Emma
Ripke, the comely young woman who
was arrested ami is being held for the
murder of Frank Keith Potts, the
young attorney, had planned for
months to accomplish the death Of her
companion, she could scarcely have
hoped for as successful an ending as
she realized up 10 certain potet, but
house of cards fell and she at once
Tell under suspicion. The case is one
Of the most interesting and puzzling
ever recorded.
Doctor Was Completely Fooled.
DR.. BellinSer, who was called to the
rooms OF the couple at midnight by
other roomers, saw that the man was
dying and accepting the statement Of
the Ripke woman, which was to the
effect that Potts was subject to heart
failure, left after short time and
thought little OF the matter. Under
taker Cutler. who took the remains to
his rooms, found almost the moment
he removed the covering from the
body. the tell-tale wound over the
heart. He at once notified the police
and the coroner. and short time later
the girl wan placed under arrest.
Told Conflicting Stories.
Notwithstanding the circumstances
showed The man had died from the
revolver not. the presence in the room
OF revolver, and other usually ac-
uompanying circumstances. the girl
maintained she did not know Potts mad
been shot, and IL SO, how 1t could have
occurred. She declared he entered
their rooms complaining of feeling bad
ly, after having drunk q glass Of beer
and that .. little later he was dead.
The revolver had been held againsl
Potts breast and the powder marks
were carried into the heart lining. No
blood was visible anywhere, the bull
let being Of small caliber and the
hemorrhage being entirely internal.
Couple Had ouarreled.
The couple had frequently quar-
relied since their first meeting in Lin
coin, Neb., last May. when Potts was
IN the employ Of the auditing depart
nent of the Burlington railway. They
lived together in Omaha before COM
ing here. The girl twice caused the
arrest of Potts, once on charge OF
seduction and again on charge Of
oastardy, both suits later being dis
missed Miss Ripke claims to be in
u delicate condition. She told the Of
.lcers they were to have been married
today, and that she had prepared .
white dress and other wearing appare,
for the occasion, but the police have
been unable to find the trousseau.
Potts Carried Some Insurance.
A. j. CrHara, Of Omaha, former
roommate Of Potts, who had met Miss
Ripke, talked with her after her ar
rest, when she remarked that it would
probably be difficult now for her TO
collect Franks insurance. O'Hara said
he guessed 1t would. O'Hara said
Potts had mania for gambling, and
that he was constantly in debt, owing
to indulgence In this vice. At the time
Of his murder Potts was employed by
the Means Grain Company, and also in
special Omaha cases for the Civic Fed
GRAFTON, which has been active against
the saloons. Miss Ripke said Potts
was in terror because Of evidence he
had succeeded in securing against some
of the saloon men.
Family 10 Prominent.
Young Potts is understood to have
come from family prominent in So
cial and business circles in Philadel-
ptia. He had been in the west about
ten years, and his record, outside OF
his connection with the Ripke woman.
is said to have been excellent. His
downfall appears to have dated from
the time he met the girl in Lincoln,
which brought him many embarrass-
ing entanglemsnts. For time he went
under the name Of Frank K. Morris.
atho for what reason has not been dis
closed.
Miss Ripke says her former home
was in Frankfort, Kan, where she says
her mother is now living, her father
having gone to Seattle. Persons who
were first on the scene in the death
chamber say she exhibited some
symptoms of grief. but that they boru
every appearance and indication Of
having been forced. The girl, while
having told conflicting and confused
stories, excites the wonder Of the po-
lice officers.