Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-09
SHEDS NO LIGHT ON THE MYs-
Terry SURROUNDING TRIPLE
MURDER NEAR vANcLEvE.
INQUEST BEGINS AT
MELBOURNE TODAY
Large Crowd Attracted by the Inquest,
But Public is Barred New Jury
EmpaneIed by Justice Bollenbacher
Girl Knew of No Trouble in Hardy
Family.
Family.

The inquest over the dead bodies of
James Hardy and wife and their son
Earl, victims of the brutal triple muir
der near Vancleve Sunday night, began
this forenoon at 11:15 at the town hall
of Melbourne, W. H. Bolenbacher,
mayor and justice of the peace, acting
as coroner.
The inquest resulted in Melbourne
being thronged with people such as has
never been seen outside of a Fourth OF
July celebration. The business part
of the town assumed an aspect of a
county fair, teams lining the streets,
and people being congregated mere ana
there discussing the murder and eX-
| pressing their opinions and theories.
Disappointment For Crowd.
There was disappointment for the
| crowd, however, owing to the fact that
the public was excluded from the hear
ing. Neither were the witnesses per-
mitted to hear the testimony, and were
kept in waiting until called for Ray
mond Hardy was taken to Melbourne
this morning by Sheriff Nicholson, that
he Nigh be used as a witness.
Miss Starnes First Witness.
Miss Mabel Starnes, Raymond Har-
Idy's sweetheart, who had expected to
have become Mrs. Hardy Wednesday,
was the first witness called and was
on the stand for little over an hour
Her testimony failed to bring forth
!aynthing new in the case excepting
what is already known by readers OF
the Times Republican Miss Starnes
acted somewhat diffdent in her man
ner, and talked in tones so low that at
| times they were scarcely audible. she
was on the stand until adjournment
| for lunch at 1880. County Attorney
Egermayer questioned the young wo-
man concerning the home lie OF
which she was quite familiar, but the
witness said that she had never known
| of the family having any trouble among
them selves.
/ New Jury Empaneled.
| Because members of the original
| Jury empaneled for the inquest were
among the principal witnesses to be
used, and were at the Hardy home soon
latter the tragedy became Known IL
l. was necessary to secure a new jury.
Justice Bellenbacher empaneled as'the
new Jury B. F. Buchanan, William
Klauenberg and Robert tanning.
Had Worked For Hardys.
| Miss Starnes testified that she had
| worked at the Hardy home at different
periods within the past two years, most
| of her employment being at times
when Mrs. Hardy was i'll. Miss Starnes
| said she had been keeping company
with Raymond Hardy for three years,
| and that the marriage had been con-
ltemplated since last fall.
Hardys Had Known o. Wedding
| Miss Starnes testified that the Hardys
| learned of the approaching marriage
| two weeks ago, and that they had Of
fered no objections. She also SAID that
never had Mrs. Hardy suggested to her
| that she and Raymond had better wait
awhile Miss Starnes said That 1t was
| Just one month today that she. QUIT
working at the Hardy home and re-
| turned to her own home to make prep
arations for her wedding.
When asked concerning whether or
not Mrs. Hardy had ever talked to
Raymond about helping him and hls
Young wife getting started in their
married life, she said that she did not
know. but that Mrs. Hardy had told
her one day that she was to have half
| of the chickens. Mrs. Hardy also told
| her that Raymond had nothing
Visitors Were Not Common.
Miss Starnes said that as far as she
| knew no other help had ever been en-
ployed at the Hardy home excepting
| herself, and she did not know of any
| one being on the place in two years eX-
cepting when Mrs. Hardy was serious
Nv ill. RAYMOND Hardy had no other
means of earning money than on the
farm, and he was paid no wages ana
had only what his father wanted to
give him. She knew of Raymond hav-
ing team Of ponies.
The last time she saw Raymond
prior to Sunday last was on Wednes-
day, June 1, when she and the young
man attended dance at klauennergs.
Tells Of Sunday Night.
Miss Starnes told Of the. scene al
her home last Sunday night. She
thought Raymond came at about .
o'clock and that she and her sister
and the 1atters friend, Arthur Bolloe-
fer were there, as were also her par
ents The old folks remained up until
about IL, and Raymond left at about
1890. She and Raymond were in one
room after the parents went to bed.
and her sister and Bolloefer were in
another.
Saw Nothing in Actions.
When asked if Raymond's actions
were any different Sunday night than
at other times, Miss Starnes replied
THAT she saw nothing whatever in his
actions Sunday night that would indi-
cate that he was any different from
other times. He did not appear to
have anything on his mind, or to be
worrying at all over anything. When
asked IL Raymond spoke of his father
and mother during the evening, the girl
said he had not. When questioned
about Raymond having said anything
about any unusual happenings at home
on Sunday. Miss Starnes said that later
in the evening he had told her about
finding the horse saddled and bridled
in the morning. When asked about
what he said the girl replied that it
seemed strange to him. Asked what
his father had said Raymond replied,
said Miss Starnes, that his father said
he had better not stay out late for fear
that some one had been around.
Yall<ed With Lover Monday Morning.
Miss Starnes was tiiSIs :s:;'sS::: 6 ~! !
AD1l - = 49, JSrv.< 1vr 11<x,