Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-08
Joe Hopkins, Packing House
Employe, in Jail Charged
With Brutal Crime
HOPKINS WAS NEAR SCENE
Unable to Give Accurate Account Of
His Whereabouts and to Explain
Other discriminating Circumstances
Miss Rosen Popular Among Swedish
Residents.

OlluLiW d, feD. "a formal cndrYO
of murder in the first degree was TO-
day filed against Joe Hopkins a col
ored government meat inspector at the
Morrel packing plant, by the chief cf
police. He is accused Of the fiendish
murder of Clara Rosen on Friday
night.
Hopkins was this morning charged
with the murder following the dis
covery by the police that his footprints
closely resemble those found about the
scene of the murder, and following the
testimony of Mrs. Ed Mather, wife Of
an Ottumwa alderman, that she saw "a
negro running from the spot where the
murder occurred about the time il is
supposed the crime was committed.
Hustled Out Of Town.
Hopkins was hustled out Of town ia
prevent possible lynching and will bs
given hearing when quiet is restored
The police and the family of Miss
Rosen have given up the theory that
rejected lover or tramp was the mur-
derer. It is now believed the Ottumwa
negro. is the criminal Hopkins was
suspected because Of his reputation for
following white girls and insulting
them. 1t was never before openly
charged, but developments today show
he frequently has been pursued and
once was badly beaten for his unwel-
come attentions to white woman
Hopkins has been a confidential en-
ploye of the Morrell packing office for
years, and is at present eovernment
meat inspector.
Girls Eianca Arrives.
Sanford Carlson. the f,ance of +ha
murdered girl. arrived from Irontonl
Wyo.. this morning and ID taking an;
active part In aiding. tYa nolica rs m
rayeI the murder n,vsfaru,
"a n.... .i,...,..,:.-
Tho no,i!e e,,,rd.y ~. Z, ,,aa ~, r,,.
nects ~ <fsn,+ =, -.
- M;sa pasa -. -. .sAs.,I =. -
lxins who i. an,r,,ovaa = . era,,a,,
rnent meat insnactor ~ - ,oo.1 r,a,.;--
inc house ,s ~ 1a,, ha,,;ns 80 sa;IsS -
evn1ain h;s ,vharsa, [ a,o,,+s , e 81 s+ha - t;,aa
of +ba r,urdar
Hon,,ns +as+,m.a 4b.+ 10 ,a,t tha
~. o,,ire, h,,sa - ~ 49, ae.a.a,,
ana go -. ~ 49,,
tbraa h,,s;r.s., ,,a,,aas - 49, 80
q OF hi 1,ov,,o o,-b;ol,
some distance hevond the scene Of tha
murder - - - =
He stated that ha did not ,a.va ,ha
house nm Friday nirht .ftar .rr;1,;,.,
home some time hefore 9 O'clock Tbs
fact. however that he did NOT wo.k
Saturday is believed nv the police To
indicate that he desirad to conceal
something.
Three theories are being worked
upon. The murder NAV have been done
by a moral peryert who desired to
cover his crime by robbery. Plain rob-
berry is another motive. and the third
is believed by the police to be jealousy.
The fact that Miss Rosen was to have
been married this spring it is argued,
may have maddened some unsuccess-
full suitof.
Witnesses before the coroner's jury
testified to seeing a man in black
overcoat and cap in the vicinity of the
crime shortly after it occurred. Anoth-
er witness says that colorcd man
an overcoat was. seen to have
crossed the street huriedly to avoid be-
ing recognized.
Was Reared in Ottumwa.
Clara Rosen was born in the city
OF OttumWa, Nov. 13, 1879, and re-
'ce1ved her early education in the pub
lie schools. She also attended the
Swedish school in the summers at the
Swedish Lutheran church, in which
church she was baptized. She was a
graduate of the Ottumwa high school
and later attended the Ottumwa Com 4
mercial college, from which she also
graduated In bookkeeping. She was
employed until two months ago with
the Anderson Clothing Company.
From early life she cultivated the
art of music, and for the past fifteen
years she has been a member OF the
choir in her church. For several years
previous and at the time OF her death,
She Was chief SODrauO SOlO1St IN the