Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-10-03
aINosoN MURDER TRIAL TO be
CALLED At CLINTON NEXT
WEEK..
ELMER LlsroN MAY HANG
AS RESULT OF CRIME
State to Insist on Capital Punishment
For Man Who Killed Sweetheart
Defense Said to Be Prepared to
Spring Sensation = Murder Was
Most Sensational.

Clinton Oct. 3.-Perhaps never In the
criminal history Of the state OF Iowa
has there been a case 80 full Of sensa
tional details as the one which will be
called for trial on next Monday morn
ing when Elmer Liston will be given a
hearing on the charge Of murder in the
first degree for the Staying of pretty
May Ringson. County Attorney w. J..
Keefe declares emphatically that he
will demand that Listens own life pay
the penalty for the murder Of the girl.
Clinton county and its prosecuting
attorneys have seldom demanded that
murderers pay the penalty on the gall
lows. But in this instance there ap-
pears to be a determination on the
part Of the state to make struggle for
that punishment, should Liston be
found guilty On the other hand, it
is said that Liston and his attorney are
just as determined to make spirited
contest to save the prisoners neck from
the hangman's moose.
The Terrible Crime.
Saturday morning. May %, 1910.
Elmer Liston barricaded himself
in an upper room of the Rfngson resi-
dence and standing over the dead body
Of May Ringson defied the united
forces of the police and sheriff's de-
partments to arrest him. For hours he
stood in that blood -besmirched room Of
death and argued with the officers who
stood upon the stairs, around a corner
and pleaded with him to surrender.
With guns trained on the door Of the
room in which he stood, shotguns aim
ed at the only window in the room and
the house surrounded by armed men,
reinforced by the fire department with
a lead Of hose. the man stood at bay,
his only answer to the pleadings being
a threat to kill whoever came to get
him and then kill himself. Then came
| Chief Of Police Thomas Hudson's en-
| treaty to remember his wife and fam
| lily, which caused the man to suddenly
lose his nerve, cast his revolver IN the
| hall and surrender, while tears coursed
down his cheeks.
The state will show how Liston had
been keeping company with the girl,
evidently forgetful Of his own wife and
two daughters It will show how the
girl had apparently attempted to get
rid Of him and how he had threatened
to shot her, but had been finally per-
suaded to leave Clinton and go to
Galesburg. Ill.
| The testimony will lead up to the
fateful morning It will show the bor-
rowing Of the revolver in Galesburg;
the night trip to Fulton and the regis
| tering In a Fulton hotel under an
assumed name. Then will be told the
story of that awful morning. How
Liston early in the morning started
for Clinton. wearing a disguise con-
sisting OF an automobile cap, goggles
and overalls, and driving a livery rig,
will be brought out.
Shot an Officer.
Next will be shown the meeting Of
| the girl and Liston or rather her rec
ognition OF him, despite his disguise.
as he waited on the corner Of Camanche
and Olney avenues for her: how she
dispute In the house and the fleeing Of
the girl to an upstairs room. followed
J by Liston will be rehearsed. Next will
be told the shooting OF Officer William
Lorenz. as he responded to call
| The officer. it will be remembered,
found the room containing Liston and
the girl with the door shut He de-
manded admission: the door was
opened and Listens gun barked. the
bullet striking the officer in the chest.
Again the door opened and the officer
fired his gun. Then he staggered down
the stairs and was conveyed to his
home, while Officer Mike O'Herron
stood guard over the room. concealing
himself in an adjoining room. Rein
forcements soon arrived, all Of the
police available, the sheriff's force and
volunteers being rushed to the scene.