Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-10-05
MET DEATH
THROUGH ACCIDEr T
oman Was Burglarizing a
leighbor's House When
Boys Clothing Caught
Fire - Tramp Story
Then Invented

Burlington, Oct. 4-Mrs. Jack
athaway of Oquawka was not bru-
lily assaulted by tramp.
Her 4-year-old son, Leslie, was not
urned at the stake.
Instead it. has developed that the
ntire story Of the 1endish brute at
ack was invented by Mrs. Hatha-
way, when she returned home after
robbing neighbours house to find
her son dying from accidental burns
received in playing about the fire dur
ing her absence.
u It is believed, here that the story
told by Mrs. Hathaway which shocked
the whole community, was fabrica,
ton intended to shield herself from
the suspicion of her neighbors and the
wrath Of her husband.
The New Version
That Mrs. Hathaway was thief, Is
the assertion Of Sheriff ]. O. Amerman
last night. That the little boy met his
terrible end while the mother was
plundering the house Of a ueighbor, ne
states, can also be proven. That the
child lay suffering agonJ for hours
without medical attendance, owing, 1t
is alleged, to the mothers fear Of de-
lection Of her crime, is al1o stated.
These revelations were developed
at the corners inquest ahd have re-
suited in almost entirely wipiug out
the rage Of the community, which last
night expressed itself la posses Ct
men, searching for the unknown fugi-
tive whom they believed guilty Of
the most horrible crimes ever known
here.
Suspicion Aroused.
Mrs. Hathaway's statement at the
inquest, in reply to the questions Of
Coroner DR.. Kaufman, were vague
and rambling While she adhered in
tne main to the story told the night be-
fore, there we're discrepancies which
aroused the suspicion Of the jury en-
panelled to decide upon the manner Of
the boys death. Investigation showed
there was no indication that coal
oil from the can in the kitchen had
been used. There were no remains of
fire about any of the trees in the
orchard. There were no evidences OF
any terrible struggle upon The person
pf the woman, save a slight scratch
lpon her head,
The Climax.
neil CdulG CQG IoNSldllOll WHICH S6I-
tied the whole matter in the minds Of
the jury. Upon the feet Of Mrs. Hath
away were discovered a pair of shoes
Belonging to Mrs. George Hall, wife Of
the owner of the Hathaway home, who
lived short distance away. These
shoes Mrs. Hall had left at her home
shortly after noon, when with the rest
Of the family she went to town. When
f,1,lx 4 foxV, 1,< 1a{1 =,
shoes were missing, as was shirt
and few other small articles. Both
the skirt and the shoes were found in
The possession of Mrs. Hathaway
Mrs. Hathaway's own mother was a
witness against her. Her daughter
stated that the shoes which she was
wearing had been given to her by her
mother. The old lady was summoned
and testified with emphasis that she
had not given her daughter pair of
shoes since she had been married,
about eight years ago. The old lady
lives in Gladstone.
The Jury's Conclusions.
From the evidence there was moth
ing left save the conclusion that Mrs.
Hawthaway must have gone to the
Hall home between the hours of one
and three o'clock in the afternoon and
taken the articles.
The little boy was found burned
about three o'clock. Therefore he
must have met his sad accident in the
absence of his mother. For the same
reason it is thought that her story of
the attack of the unknown man can
not be true, as she was proven to have
been away from home at the time sne
said she had been attacked
Death Due to Accident.
These facts lead the coroner's jury,
consisting of Preston Plumer. John
Craven. VIM. Fliego, Gus Begerman.
Alex Nelson and VIM. Shorts. to bring