Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-16
MEN HAD PLEADED
GUILTY TO CRIME
Prisoners Take Sentences
Stolidly-Sheriff Will Take
Them to Fort Madison
Tonight

Arnold thinner and Thomas Grimes,
the confessed murderers of John Ca
vim, well known Henry county far
mer, were sentenced to life imprison-
ment by Judge Withrow, at 10 o'clock
this morning and will be taken to TT.
Madison tonight to begin their SEN
tence. When the trial Of the case was
called Monday, both men Greater a sur
prise by pleading guilty to the murder.
Judge Withrow after hearing the evi-
dence to determine the degree Of muir
der, pronounced 1t to be murder In the
first degree, and announced that he
would pass sentence this morning.
Hundreds Hear Sentence.
The court room was crowded to the
doors this morning when court con-
vened, and many could not secure ad-
mittance. The two prisoners were
brought to the court house from the
jail through q crowd lining the street
IA front OF the building, but there was
no attempt at d demonstration against
them.
Both men realized that their fate
must be met squarely. They realized
that their lives were hanging In the
balance and that the alternative to a
tragic death on the gallows was a liv-
ing death within the penitentiary walls.
Grimes, who is colored took his SEN
tence without moving muscle. Zim-
fner broke down and cried. The wild
ow and children of Gavin occupied
front seats in the court room. Grimes
white wife and Zimmers sister were
also present. Grimes is about 80 years
old, thinner %. Judge Withrow Std
he felt sure Grimes had planned the
crime but the evidence was not suf-
ficient to prove it. Had such been the
case, he Std he would have imposed
the death penalty on the negro.
The Crime.
3 Calvin was set upon by Grimes and
thinner while returning from New Lon
don, to his home, four miles west of
the town, on January, %, last. The
murdered man was at hog sale in
New London and fell in with zimluer
and Grimes there. They started home
with him, a. quarrel ensued and the
two men murdered. Gavin in cold
blood. Near the body was found
a fence rail- covered with hair and
blood. When the body was found the
next morning by a passing farmer, an
Investigation was begun that resulted
in the arrests of thinner and Grimes. 1t
was found necessary later to take the
suspects to Burlington to avoid a pos
sible lynching so wrought up were the
people of New London and the vicinity.
A few days later Gavin's aged father,
who was ill when he was told of the
murder. s;ccumed, his end hastened
by the excitement.
Have Restless Night.
Both men passed a restless night.
thinner especially, seemed unable to
shake off the strain of the day Grimes
after ne went to sleep did not awaken
till morning. thinner appeared to
to have a clearer appreciation of the
enormity of his crime, and from the
first told what is believed to be the
truth. He at no time has tried to
shield himself, but il, all of his mar.
ratiyes fully and freely incriminated
himself. Grimes on the other hand
from The first attempted to through
the entire responsibility on the should.
the story told by Grimes on the wit
ers of thinner
Zimmmer Would Kill Grimes.
Zimmers attitude after listening tc
ness stand wherein he sought to throw
the entire responsibility of the crime
on the former, has changed to one OF
tndescribable hatred of the most
deadly character and should the
younger man succeed in getting hold
of Grimes another tragedy would most
certainly transpire. thinner openly
declares that if opportunity should pre-
sent Itself he will kill Grimes for his
cowardly perfdy in seeking to escape
his share of the crime.
There was absolutely no sympathy
for Grimes in any quarter. There
seems tc be feeling tnat he was the
Fringleader of the plot, that he drew
thinner il. the scheme and that very
probably Gavin was a Gead man before
Z ZiInmer took part in the murder, for il
will be remembered that thinner de
clares that when he gor to the two mer
Gavin was lying on the snow, @till anc
iifeless ard that while lying th.re he
struck hila twice with q seven loot rail