The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-12-27
oscar chitwood Shot to Death in the
jaiI Yard While Being Removed
TO Another City for Safe
Keeping.
EARLY MORNING HOUR
Act Committed at TWO O'clock In
the Morning and Appears to
Have Been Well Ar
ranged Plan.

lynching of Oscar Chitwood, charged
with the murder Of Sheriff Jake Houpt
in the jail at 2 o'clock Monday morn
ing, while a deputy sheriff was pre-
pairing to remove the prisoners to
another city for safe keeping, will not
20 llnayenged, If Chitwood's attorney,
Judge James Graham, establishes theI
identity of the men who formed the
mob.
Judge Graham declares the deliber-l
ate killing OF a handcuffed prisoner
was pre-arranged and that. not more
than five men participated in the
shooting. The attorney has requested
Circuit Judge Evans to call a special
session of the grand jury to ;nyesti-
gate The affair. grand jury will be
called Immediately after the inquest.
The lynching took place in an in
closure between the Jail and the court
house, built for the execution of an
other prisoner, who was hanged last
September.
The mob, evidently fully informed
Of Deputy Sheriff John Rutherford's 8
plans for Chitwood,s removal, entered
the enclosure quietly and, with only a
command to the deputy to throw up
his hands, shot the prisoner to death
1t is claimed three men did the actual
shooting, while some fifteen others
stood guard outside. s..
ItswAs said that an the members g
the Houpt family are in Rosebud
Texas, for the Christmas holidays
Deputy Sheriff Rutherford is a rela
live of. the Houpts.
The men who killed Chitwood prob
ably intended to use rope the.
brought with them. They had it Sc
up on the gallows in the stockade, bu
for some reason the plan Of hangins
was abandoned.
An inquest will be held tonight ant
Itis said direct evidence will be pre-
duced which will lead to the arres
Of the guilty parties.
A former policeman has given In
formation that he was asked 20 loi
the mob, and he will likely be con
PEELED 10 testify before the grand jury
IL not before the coroners inquest.
The statement of Deputy Sheri1
John Rutherford. who took Chitwoo
from the county Jail at O'Clock MOI
day morning, that there were mt
men in the mob is generally discredl
cd. and when he is called to the stan
tonight it is expected he will be con
PEELED to tell facts he is charged Wit
having held back.
The attorneys for Chitwood says !
asked for the removal of his cliei
Immediately after getting change
venue two weeks ago and can not a
count for the delay,
Several persons who live near u
courthouse. where the lynchlng Toe
place. declare they heard the sho
and looked toward the jail, but did n
see any men, One man was aero
the street, and. hearing the call OF q
deputy sheriff for help. immediate
ran to his assistance. He says the
was no one molesting officer or pr
oner at the time. Others declare U
call for help came almost Immediate
after the three shots were fired. The
persons sav they heard Chitwo
scream before the first shot W
fired.
The coroner has been trying
learn what the prisoner said when
fell into the hands of the lynchers /
prisoners in the jail could tell. hut
Is believed they are too badly frig
ened to say anything against the p
sons suspected.
Sheriff Jake Houpt was killed !;
Oscar Chitwood and his brotf
George. both mountaineers. VIC
Shooting up Hot Springs when
sheriff called on them to surrend
They fred at him and he wound
George Chitwood, who died lat
After many bullets had been
changed the sheriff was found de
Oscar Chitwood was arrested
the murder.