Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-10-14
DICKINSON CASE SOON.
Trial on a Charge of Murder Of
Irene Blydenburgh to BE
Called Thursday
BOTH SIDES ARE PREPARED
After Delay of Year Famous Case to Be
Heard-Dickinson Returns From
West, Accompanied by His Family
Trial Will Occupy Two Weeks
Story Of the Crime.
Special to Times Republican.

| Special to Times Republican
Des Moines, Oct. 14.-H. Is. Dickin-
son will be placed on trial for the
murder of Irene Blydenburgh of Edora
Thursday morning. Dickinson, accom-
panied by his wife and three children
/ will arrive in Des Moines tomorrow
morning from Lincoln, Neb., where he
has been spending the summer solicit
ing life insurance.
Irene Blydenburgh died on the after
noon Of September IL, 1906, and now
after numerous delays the men charged
with her murder are to be brought be-
fore the bar of Justice. Dickinson and
DR.. E. y. Gadd Were indicted on Oct.
gree. DR.. Gadd secured $4,000 bonds
Immediately, but Dickinson was com
PEELED to spend a few days in Jail. 1t
was decided to try Dickinson first but
at each term of court up to the pres
ent he has managed to have his case
continued. County Attorney De Graft
had made all preparations to try the
case during the May term but Dickin-
son came in with a request for anoth-
er postponement. He said that his wife
and children had been i'll and he was
without money. He also needed time to
secure evidence to combat the testi-
mony of new witnesses, of whom the
county attorney had given notice. 80
his motion asserted. But now both
sides are ready for trial and there
will be no more postponements.
The trial will occupy two weeks and
it will undoubtedly be one of the most
sensational ever held in Polk county.
County Attorney DE Graft has secured
former Assistant County Attorney II.
o. Brennan to help prosecute the case,
and Attorneys McHenry & Jones and
John T. Mulvaney will appear for the
defendant. 1t is probable that special
venire will be required from which to
make up the jury. If Dickinson is
guilty County Attorney De Graft ex-
poets to put DIR. Cfadd on trial early in
the November term.
Story Of the Crime.
Irene Blydenburgh was an attractive
and innocent telephone operator at Ell
dora Her father. e. S. Blydenburgh,
was serving term in the penitentiary,
having been convicted of killing her
stepmother. He was acquitted recently
at a second trial and will be here to
assist in the prosecution of the men
charged with taking his daughters
life. Irene and her three brothers made
up all that was left of the little family.
Then Fl. B. Dickinson. a handsomely
dressed and well hammered life insur-
ance agent, came to Eldora. He met
the attractive telephone girl and she
fell in love with him. They saw much
Of each other and frequently testified
to the grand jury. Once they made
trip to Marshalltown and stayed over
night at a hotel, the state will attempt
to prove. The hotel register will be
tered the girl as his wife. Then it be-
came whispered about in Eldora that
the young life insurance man had "a
family in Des Moines. Irene's brothers
heard the rumor and pleaded with her
to give him up But she refused to
heed their advice.
During fair week last year the girl
secured a leave Of absence from the
telephone company and came to Des
Moines. 1t is alleged that she had been
invited by Dickinson. He secured
room for her at the home Of Mrs. Jes-
sic Cook. S27 Sixth avenue, and she
was introduced to the family as Miss
Irene Edwards. One day she went
down town and came home ILL., She
went to bed and DR.. Gadd was called.
But the girl grew worse. She insisted
she be taken to a hospital, but there
was no money to pay the bill Dickin-
son had not even paid her room rent
On Friday DR.. Gadd removed the sick
girl to the home of M. Hillias, 1907
Clark street. Here she died the next
Tuesday afternoon.
An autopsy was held and the doctors
pronounced peritonitis as the cause of
death. Afterwards Coroner Beck held
a secret inquest and the verdict con-
frmed the decision Of the doctors.
But the police, County Attorney Mil
Ter and the dead girls brother, were
not satisfied. They continued the in
vestigation, and finally DR.. Gadd con-
fessed that her death was due to GRIM
[nal operation. He declared, however,
that she had performed it herself, call
ing him in afterward. Dickinson was
at Corning, Iowa, and brought
to Des Moines, where he was placed in
Jail. The grand jury took up the case
and on October 9, both Dickinson and
DR.. Gadd were indicted for murder in
the second degree.
An Alleged Confession.
On the afternoon of the girls death
Rev. =. T. Coyle, retired minister, no.
titled the police that an abortion was
about to be performed at the Hillias
home. Shortly afterwards he tele-
phoned that the operation had taken
place and the girl was dead. Later he
said the girl had confessed to him her
trouble and told him of the intended
operation. Then Coyle mysteriously
and ever since his where
abouts have been unknown.
Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Hillias, the wo-
men with whom the unfortunate girl
roomed during the time She was in Des
Moines, will be two of the most i'm
portant witnesses for the state. A
number of witnesses from Eldora,
Union and other neigh
boring towns will tell of the relations
hat existed between Dickinson and
the girl The attorneys for the de-
tense claim to have important evidence
which has never been disclosed, and it
IS possible that the trial will disclose