Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-28
den and. in view Of the murder, some
what unusual

den and. in view of the murder, some
what unusual.
Wild Bill" Brand did not come in
on any of the regular trains, the
brakemen at New Virginia declare. He
Just appeared suddenly on the Car
raher farm, said he had been sent there
by Des Moines employment agency,
and in less than two minutes Mrs.
Carraher had employed him.
This is the story told by Banker
Billy Davidson, administrator of the
estate OF Carraher. He was at the farm
when Brand met Mrs. Carraher sup
posedly for the first time. He said 1t
was the most peculiar meeting he ever
witnessed, although Mrs. Carraher pro-
fessed to be unacquainted with Brand
and never to have met him before.
Another peculiar thing about Brand
coming to New Virginia is the fact
that none OF the people who meet every
train saw Brand The station agent
never saw him enter the city, though
he was at the depot when every freight
and every passenger arrived. Brand
Just seemed to pop up on the farm.
No one saw him come.
Net $1,000 on Trade.
Banker Davidson handled the funds
of the Carraher estate and he states
that from the time Brand came, there
was quarreling over the money. Bank
er Davidson contaminated the deal
whereby the Curraher farm was trad
ed for land near Plankinton, S. D., and
alton of over $1,000 coming to Brand
and Mrs. Carraher, SO he said.
Brand and Mrs. Carraher quarreled
frequently after their marriage, it is
said, but it is now the belief Of the
New Virginia citizens that the quar-
rels were all in good faith, but might
possibly have been merely for effect.
They point to the fact that although
Mrs. Carraher left New Virginia be-
fore Brand did and in huff as the
result of a quarrel over money, the
two are now living together near
Pianklnton and cards have been re-
cetved from her stating that 1--WE ar
rived all o. K"
Another circumstance which Is the
subject for considerable gossip among
the New Virginians is that immediate
~ upon the finding of Carraher's body
Mrs. Carraher posted a $500 reward for
the apprehension Of the murderer, then
few days later quickly withdrew the
reward. This reward was placed with
Banker Davidson.
Before Carraher's murder no COM
plant of cruelty on his part was heard
from Mrs. Carraher. SO 1t is said. But
after his death, the citizens say, she
told how harsh he was toward her and
how he kicked her so hard in the side
that she would have to have an opera
ton performed. They disbelieve this
story, too, and think 1t was told to help
the lads story to the effect that he kill
ed his father because he was cruel to
him.
Toll of Mysterious Men.
There Is also some talk in New
Virginia about mysterious men who
We're seen about the Carraher place
after the murder, one man in particu-
lar who looked like a person of low
caliber and who was about the place
shortly after the crime had been COM
mitted
With all these facts the citizens of
New Virginia are going to demand a
complete and thorough investigation Of
the murder. They will ask that the Of
fcials refuse to be satisfied with the
boys confession; that they go beyond
1t. run down all clues and fathom to
the bottom all reports and circum-
stances surrounding the killing. There
have been other murders in that vicin-
ity which have gone by without being
cleared up. they say, and nothing but
q complete investigation will suffice
They may ask that no indictments be
returned at this session OF the grand
jury. but that action be postponed I'M
til the crime has been thoroughly in
yeStigated