Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-18
linn TRIMBLE OF UNION
VICTIM BRUTAL MURDER
CONTINUED From First Page.)

would have been richer by less than
$35, for this sum, which was In the
place in addition to the $15 secured,
was partially represented by drafts and
creamery checks, which would have
availed the thief nothing.
When Undertaken Rowley took
charge of the body he found Trimble's
bill book sticking out of the mans
vest pocket The dead mans left hand
was almost within grasp Of the purse.
Trimble's body also lay over the pock-
etbook thrown by Lloyd Trimble at the
murderer.
Murderer Gets Good Start.
When the night watch rang the fire
bell to arouse the sleeping populace to
action, people from all parts of the
town answered the summons. Some
came armed, and others unarmed,
thinking only of fire. Sheriff Walsh.
at Eldora, was immediately notified by
telephone, and an armed posse out of
Union began the search The murderer
had a good lead, however. and altho it
was easy to track him after daylight.
the trail was unsuccessfully followed
all day.
Sheriff on Scene.
Sheriff Walsh arrived at Union at
2:15 Sunday morning. Deputy Sheriff
Ed Meyer and G. w. Park, former dep
uty sheriff Of Hardin county, came
with the sheriff as far as Clifford, and
took up the watch there. believing that
point the logical one for the assassin
to seek as an avenue for escape. The
trains at Clifford were all searched, and
all trainmen were notified and furn-
ished with a description of the muir
derer. A description was also wired to
the Marshalltown police, and every
farmer on every rural line in this part
Of the county was told to be on his
guard.
Knew Country Well.
The man who killed Linn" Trimble
knew the surrounding territory pretty
we'll, Judging from the circuitous route
he took, and the manner in which he
avoided railroads and main travelled
thoroughfares. Out of Center street in
Union, the murderer ran two blocks
west of Corfe's drug store corner, then
swung to the north, and again little
east by north.
Mitten First Clue.
Here the first clue, outside OF the
tracks in the snow showing a long
stride of man making great haste,
was found. 1t was mitten. of ordinary
ticking, lined with canton flannel This
was picked up near Mason's pasture.
The fugitive went directly to the north
after his easterly squirt, and passed the
Joe Lepley farm. He cut every corner
that would save him an extra step.
Thru the Newly timber, over little
to the north of the jeff Smith house,
then north on the main travelled road
200 yards, the trail led. Here the man
left the road and took to the corn field,
going in a northwesterly direction for
half mile.
Trail Lost Near Eldora.
He then went straight north to Mrs.
J. Burchs farm, near Clifford. The
trail then led north to the sand pit that
lies south of the Northwestern tracks,
i'm the western edge of Clifford; then
west to the Upton farm. North from
there the murderer crossed the North
western tracks. passed to Joe Smiths
corner, and there struck the main tray
eled road, at point three miles south
of Eldora. Here the trail was lost.
Description Of Murderer.
A good description of the murderer
was obtainable, by reason OF the tact
that so many people in Union had seen
him during Saturday. The man is de-
scribed as being about 20 years DID,
five feet ten, or eleven inches tall.
weight anywhere from ITO to 100
pounds, depending on how much might
be allowed for the many clothes nc
wore. He had full face, wore no
beard, but had not been shaved for
several days. His hair was long, ana
dark brown in color. His outside CLOTH
ing consisted of corduroy coat, with
a sheepskin collar. a pair of yellow bib
overalls, presumably of canvas, and
yellow leggins. He wore a cap, and
pair Of overshoes.
Find Murders Clothing.
The first real clue definitely estab-
fishing the fact that the murderer
touched at Eldora, came late yester-
day afternoon, when a bundle OF CLOTH
ing was found in buggy back of Lee
Marks barn, in the south part of Ell
dora. This clothing is without doubt
that worn by the man at Union, ana
by discarding 1t he has been able to
better disguise himself by appearing in
the garments worn underneath the
canvas garb.
The clothing that was found at Ell
dora, which is now in possession Of
Sheriff Welsh consists Of a corduroy
coat, size AZ, two pairs Of overalls. size
40, one yellow and another blue
striped, and the mate to the mitten
found near the Mason pasture. The
thumb of this mitten was blood
stained In a pocket of the coat was
found $12O in dimes, doubtless change
taken from Trimble's restaurant till.
In the clothing were also a cold chisel.
a black muslin face mask, and six door
keys.
Town Thoroughly Searched.
Following this discovery the town Of
Eldora was thoroughly searched, but
nothing more was found. It has been
learned that at $3.50 Sunday morning
Marshal Tom Scurry, Of Eldora, and
Edward Gearhart, who works at Car
penters restaurant at Eldora, saw al
stranger while coming from the Ell
dora depot to town. Scurry and Gear
hart were in the searching party
and had been watching the trains. The
man passed them without speaking,
and they did not question him, as he
had on dark clothes.
Was Stranger Seen Right Man?
1t has also been learned that a
stranger, who Is believed to have seen
the same man. seen by Scurry and
Gearhart, asked Will Brown, Of Eldora,
where he could get something to eat.