Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-04
Ora Sample Held for Brutal
Murder of Mrs. Joseph
Richardson on a Farm
Near Belknap
SlGHTLESS WOMANI
UNABLE TO ESCAPE
Killing Was the Outcome Of
Quarrel Between Sample
and Richardson-Shot
Fired After Struggle


Belknap, June 1.-(SpeciaD- At
tracted to the front Of the house by
the noise Of quarrel and the sounds
of her husbands voice raised in anger,
Mrs. Joseph Richardson CROPPED her
way into the living room to stand
rooted in terror as she heard two men
struggling and cursing a few feet
away. A moment later she fell, strick-
en- down by the shot intended for her
husband. and within half hour had
bled to death. Ora Sample, wno fired
the fatal shot, was arrested short
time after and was lodged In jail at
Bloomfield last night to await trial on
charge OF murder.
Struck Down Old Age.
Ora Sample is a man of 35. Joseph,
Richardson, whom he sought out and
threatened to kill is past 10 and the
murdered Mrs. Richardson was about
the same age. Sample had been in
Ottumwa drinking. He left in the aft
ernoon to drive home, in company witn
John Locker, a neighbor. He is said
to have told Locker he was going to
have trouble with Richardson, and
Locker, unwilling to- be drawn into an
ARRAY. got out of the buggy before the
Richardson place was reached.
Sample Broke Way Into House.
Arriving at Richal dson's home,
which is about four miles northwest Of
Bloomfield, Sample called for Richard
son to come out from the house. The
latter refused. Then, according to the
testimony adduced at the coroner's in
quest this morning, Sample attempted
to break down the front door and enter
the house. He failed in this and went
to the side door which he kicked in
and entered the house.
Richardson was standing in the room
and the men grappled. There was q
loaded snot gun hanging on the wal,
and both men ,ried to get it, Neither
was successful and they fought arc md
the room. one load bei,g discharged as
each fought to wrest the gun from the
other.
The Woman Shot Down.
When the first shot was heard Mrs.
Richardson groTed ner way into the
room from the kitchen. Almost Total
| ly blind, she could Just distinguish
two forms locked together fighting
about the room. She screamed and
stood terror stricken in the doorway
Another moment and the second bar
rel of the gun was discharged, and
Mrs. Richardson fell, the load striking
her in the thigh and seyering the
semoral artery. She was dead in half
an hour.
A year ago Instructions were placed
on the Wabash track presumably with
designs on wreclking train. Sample
was suspected of this and his neigh
| bors placed the crime at his door, but
no charges were ever preferred
against him. The quarrel with Rich
ardson is believed to be the outgrowth
of the i'll feeling stirred up at this
| time.
Sample Claims Self Defense.
Sample claims self defense. He as
serts that while he was entering Rich
ardsons home the latter fired at him
twice, one shot tearing away portion
of his coat. The holes shot in the
coat he was wearing at the time ne
produces in substantiation of his plea.
But the state secured evidence at the
inquest that the first shot fired, which
alarmed Mrs. Richardson and lured her
to her death when she attempted to
stop the quarrel, blew away this por-
ton of Samples coat and not until
he had forced his way into the Rich
ardson home with threats to kill his
1enemy Davis county is stirred up
over the affair, and plans will be made
to guard Sample closely when his pre-
/ liminary hearing is held to prevent any
attempts of Richardson's neig0Eors at
| violence.
What Love Leads to.
/ Davenport, June L. Miss Maggie
Hermes. OF the village of Hampton,
was found dead in pasture about 9
mile and half northeast of the will.
age postofflce. Her throat had beef,
cut, and razor, which was picked up
a short distance from where the body
lay, bears out the theory Of suicide.
The body was discovered on the AL
bert Altman place by Henry Ferman
4 Every detail seems to support the
theory of suicide, and there seems to
be no evidence of a struggle or of fou
play. The body lay on the hillside
and fifteen feet farther up the hill lay
the blood-stained razor, indicating thai
, after she had dealt herself the death
wound the young woman hal slipped
or fallen down hill. Near 40 body
was also found a looking glass, pen
Gil AID pamphlet. The young Hom
an wore sunbonnet.
Il Tho s,,,,, o wopan 3:Sannaarod frnu