Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-17
BOY CONFESSES TO MURDER
Killing Occurred Four Months Ago,
but Proof Of Crime lacking.
ONLY WITNESS SINCE DIED
Youth Says His stepfather Drove
Himself aud HE Brother Out of
the House Before Fatal
shot was Fired.
1Frnm a stnff CorrespondentN

father, r. ]. Carraher, four months ago
Carraher was found face down in ditch
a quarter mile from the house with a bull
let hole in his neck and his skull crushed.
Mrs. Carraher, mother Of Harry Bell, and
two daughters had gone 20 Delaware four
days before to settle up an estate and left
Harry Bell and 7-year-old son with Car
raher. Two days after the murder the
boys appeared at neighbors with a note
they claimed they had found in their home
ostensibly signed by Carraher, and read
ing:
Good bye, boys. I'm gone. I'll not see
you any more"
search was started and the body found
soon afterward. Three months later the
mother married George Brand, who came
to the farm to work as a hand. The 7-year-
old son died OF dphtheria and he was the
only possible witness Officials were sus-
picious that the father had not committed
suicide, but could obtain nothing from the
boys. Brandt who subsequently married
the widow. is said now to have secured a
confession. Harry Bell now says the step
father drove them from the house several
times. Finally when they returned and
he started toward them, Harry discharged
a shotgun at him. and when he fell struck
him in the head with an axe.
Woman Attempts Suicide.
Despondent over domestic trouble, Mrs
Floris Hast, wife of Louis Hast attempted
suicide by drinking carbolic acid. Later
she expressed regret she had not taken
enough to kill herself.
Packard Leaves state.
Governor Packard of Marshalltown, who
returned today from Seattle, where he had
spent some weeks, will leave Iowa and
make Seattle his home. He had been su-
perintendent of the cattle department at
the state fair for many years, and under
his management for several years It had
been the largest exhibit of breeding cattle
In the United States He was one time
governor Of Louisiana, and later for years
consul at Liverpool For many years ne
had devoted much attention to agriculture
and was instrumental in getting the pure
stock food law and weed law in the statute
books.
Move to Gust Mayor.
The trial of Mayor A. M. Henderson OF
Marengo for removal from office for unfit
ness to hold office will be held tomorrow
at Marengo before Judge Byron w. Pres
ton Of Oskaloosa. Mayor Henderson will
be defended by Wade, butcher & Davis of
Iowa City; Henderson & Henderson, In
dianola; Dover & Murphy, Marengo, and
John F. Cronin of Marengo. The prosecu-
tion will be Attorney General Byers. as
sisted by County Attorney w. ]. Kirby OF
Marengo This will be the first trial under
the Cosson law. passed by the last egis-
lature.
BrownIee Wants Damages.
| A. b. Brownlee Of Shannon City has
asked the railroad commission to help
him collect damages from the Great West
ern. In June the flood washed some OF
his lumber onto the railway right-of- way
and the company used II without paying
for 1t. A week ago a train killed his COW
and day or two ago killed his calf and
before any more damage Is done him he
would like to zee the claim agent.
Exhibit at Fair.
The State Board of Control will this
year make an exhibit Of the products OF
the state farms at the Iowa state fair
Hon. John Cownie, chairman of the board
has long been proud Of the products OF
the state farms over which he has 6
people shall know what the state institu
tions are doing. The exhibit will be IL
the agricultural building.
More Against wOnderberry.
State Horticulturist Wesley Greene saiC
today he would not claim the $1,000 reward
J offered by Burbank If his Wonderberrl
: was proved to be nothing but nightshade
but he took from his desk some NOR
:
8 were sent him by X. NJ Hlgginboth o
Eldora. Ia. One was grown from Won
r derberry seed and the other grew natural.
I'm his barnyard. Mr.. Greene was unabl
to distinguish any difference between tn
J plants 1T might in time be possible t
! develope the nightshade into an edibl
/ berry," said Mr.. Greene today, but ther
], is no particular need for It in Iowa frOu
the fact that we have an abundance o
! berries to satisfy every human nee,
. already. But Burbank has not develops
i the Wonderberry into anything Of valu
q thus far"
Hale for Postmaster,
A boom OF considerable proportions ha
! been started for w. G. Hale for postmaste
|, OF Des Moines. Mr. Hale is editor O
! the Des Moines Daily News, He was Dor
In southern Iowa and was in newspape
e work for some years at Creston, Ia, an
;, then went 70 Omaha where he worked 1
b a trade paper for a time. For the las
ten years or more he has been connecte
Y with newspaper work in Des Moinei
i most of the time as editor OF the New
!. Rifle Team Leaves.
y The fifteen members of the rifle tear
!, Of the Iowa National Guard left De
% Moines today for Camp Perry for III
4 national shoot along with the officers c
i, the team There are a number OF me-
men on the team this year
Merchant Attempts Suicide.
5, l.. Gnsberg, q Des Moines merchan
!, attempted suicide on the Pennssl slvani
5 flyer between Chicago and Atlantic Cit
l. last night He was taken from the trai
4 at Columbus, o., and placed in a hoI
10 pital. His wife and son-in-law were wit
him He cut his throat with a pen knit
a doctor on the train gave immediat
attention and he is not thought In gres
z danger Temporary insanity is given
= the cause.