Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-31
Mrs. Henry Anderson
Shot While Lying
in Bed.
HUSBAND BY HER SIDE
No CIeW to Indicate House Had
Been Entered by Out
Siders.

Cambridge, Ill, Dec. Jl.-Ihe myS-
teriOus murder of a woman has been
added to the record of eight murders
and six suicides in or near this little
prairie town in the last - months.
Mary Anderson, wife of Henry And
crson, a rich retired farmer, was shot
dead while in bed with her husband
and a 9-months-old child early yester-
day. Although circumstances point to
burglary as motive, other phases lead
the authorities to believe that some
other cause may be responsible. The
husband, crazed by the killing is too
irrational to give a correct story.
Negro Arrested.
p A negro who said his name was viii
Jackson was arrested on suspicion at
Galva. He tells "a seemingly straight
forward story.
Anderson told the sheriff he was
awakened at o'clock by hearing his
wife shrek. 20, Henry" Jumping
out Of bed, he ran downstairs in pur-
suit of a flying figure, which disap-
pcarcd when the kitchen was reached.
Later Anderson told Coroners Physi-
clan Westlnd that he had seen two
men.
Watch and Jewels Not Taken.
\ small pockctbook containing $17
in bills is said by Anderson TO be
missing. I'm plain sight on the dress
ing case lay an open jewel box con
taining "A gold watch and Jewels To
the value Of several hundred dollars.
A wallet under the mans pillow con
tanning S105 was untouched. and no
disorder was visible i'm the room.
The lock on kitchen window was
broken, but neighbors declare that that
was smashed accidentally several days
before. Faint marks on the window
sill have been construed by the local
TO show that entrance was
gained through it. When neighbors
arrived it was found closed, but the
kitchen door was open.
Mrs. Anderson was 2G years old and
her husband 80. They have been mar
Tied three years. She was a daughter
Of the late Isaac Sprouse of Nekoma.
H.. nine miles south. She has FIVE
brothers and two sisters. The mother.
20 years old, is here. She is pros
tratcd.
Married Life Apparently Happy.
Neighbors say that the life of the
couple has been unusually happy. For
he first year of their married life they
lived on one of Anderson's farms i'm
Dsco township.
Mrs. William Whitney. a sister, de-
,laros that no love affair of glrlhood
lays could furnish a motive.
The house, which is one of the larg-
,st in Cambridge, is surrounded by
arge yard. The ground is so soft that
footprints are easily visible. c. A.
\ye and John PieTson. neighbors who
lrrived at the first alarm, declare that
10 footprints could be seen. To escape
rom the yard a man must pass through
me of several breaks in the hedge.
Apparently the ground had not been
rod on since the heavy rain of the
,yening before.
The house was searched thoroughly,
lut no gun and nothing which gave the
slightest clew was found. The revol-
,er was held so close to Mrs. Ander-
sons face that it was burned by pow
Ter.
Inquest Begun.
The inquest was started this morn
ng. George H. McClung being dele
,ated TO act i'm the absence of the cor
,ner Judge c. H. Chesley was named
Is foreman of the jury. But little test
mony was taken and that related to
he fastening of the window through
which the murderer is supposed to
ave entered the home and was given
y those who made an examination i'm
nediately after the crime had been
The husband is in a state of nerv-
us collapse and is unable to testify.
lie will not be put on the stand till he
calmer.
Jackson, the negro who was arrest
d. was released today, his innocence
aving been clearly established. No
ther arrests have been made.