The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-02-11
OTTUMWA STIRRED
BY AWFUL MURDER
PROMINENT YOUNG WOMAN KILL
ED IN HEART OF CITY.
ALSO ROBBED AND ASSAULTED
Miss Clara Rosen, laughter OF Fred
Rosen, Retired Merchant, Was
the Victim Of the Revolt.
@ in Crime.

Ottumwa, Feb. 6.-This city was the
scene Of an atrocious murder commit.
ted early Friday evening and thus far
the murderer has escaped, The crime
was cruel and atrocious beyond be-
lief. The perpetrator in addition to
committing murder is guilty also the
crime of assault and robbery. The
victim was Miss Clara Rosen, aged
about 20 years, daughter of Fred Rosen
retired dry goods merchan of the city,
old and well known residents. The
murder was committed in the heart OF
the residentce district at the corner
of Dora and Cara streets. The corn
er is somewhat secluded and is back
ed by high terrace, caused by the
grading of the streets. The victim
was. struck on the head by sharp
stone or some other instrument, She
| fell, On the spot as is indicated by "a
pool of blood. The body was then
dragged or carried up the terrace a
distance of fifteen feet above the
sidewalk level and possibly distance
of between forty or fifty feet from the
corner. 1t was thrown. into a cellar
excavation where a residence formerly
stood and an attempt made 10. cover
| it with brush and debris to conceal 1t
from sight, The body gives evidence
of having been ravished ana before
being thrown into the cellar the head
was again pounded almost into jelly.
The bones of the nose and face are
badly mashed and the skull is terribly
crushed A brooch and a diamond
ring worn by the girl were taken, as
was also a shopping bag which she
carried.
The body was found about half past
three o'clock this morning by a
brother of the murdered girl, who was
one of the seaching party who had
been out looking for her.
Miss Rosen left her home about $3.50
o'clock in the evening to go to the
home of her sister, Mrs. Gust Nelson,
who was to accompany her TO a church
entertainment She wa within a half
block of the sisters home when the
| murder was done. Mrs. Nelson grew
| impatient when the sister did not ar
| rive, and ,telephoned. Being informed
that she had left her home more than
| an hour before. Mrs. Nelson became
worried at her tardin ass. Nine. and
ten o'clock came and the girl had not
appeared at her home or her sisters
place and the family became alarmed,
nf hn whore n
girl could have gone failed to give
a clew to the strange disappearance.
Searching parties were now organized
and the police were notified, r..r.
The ground between the two homes
had been gone over many times with,
the finding of the body was seen by
merest chance. A brother was stand,
ing at the corner where the murder
had taken place, looking toward the
terrace. The grass and the ground
had been covered with a thick coating
of frost. The terrace gave the ap'
pearance of having Deen disturbed
Tracks were plainly seen upon eXamin.
alton and the pool of blood was found.
The terrace also gave evidence of
something having been dragged over
its surface. The brother, quickly
mounted the, elevation, and going to
the excavation was mortified at the
sight which confronted him. r.
The handle of the shopping bag was
tightly gripped in one of the hands,
but the bag itself, which had con-
taincd a sum of money, was missing.
The glove of the other hand had been
torn away and a diamOng ring taken
from the finger. A diamond brooch
was also, missing. This was later
found near the scene of the crime.
The stones had been removed.
Two young ladies, the Misses Avery,
saw a man hurrying away from the
vicinity of the murder about eight
o'clock. He seemed in great hurry
and was continually looking back over
his shoulder A lad living near the
place saw man run across the back
end of his yard. SO far as Is known
these are the only clues in the hands
of the police. ....