Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-11

A murder most brutal, and en-
shrouded in mystery. is battling the
police and sheriffs officers today
Shortly after o'clock Monday even
ing unknown assailants attacked Welio
Tsonoff. Bulgarian section hand en-
ployed by the Chicago & Northwestern,
beat his head into pulp with ma
sons crack hammer; then set fire 10
the boarding car in which the crime
was committed. near Seventh avenue
and the Northwestern tracks, in an ef-
fort to hide the crime.
Pour Kerosene Over Body.
Lying in a pool OF blood the dead
body of Tsonoff was covered with ker-
osene, taken from lamp burning in
the car, and from can used by the
occupants of the car. Shortly after the
crime was committed two Italians,
Joseph Engle and Vito Tricola. saw the
broke the windows in. and pulled the
burning body out of the car. The two
Italians covered the body with snow
Officer On Ground Early.
AS is almost invariably the custom
Of Desk Sergeant r. G. Goodale, who
lives in the eastern edge of town, he
CONS to work thru the east railroad
yards. and incidentally covers a beat.
Goodale got 10 the scene of the MUIR
der not long after the TWO Italians dis
covered the murdered mans body. The
Italians were gesticulating excitedly,
and tried to tell the officer what had
happened. Goodale followed the men.
grasped the situation at glance. and
summoned the police department and
coroner.
Robbery the Motive.
The motive for the crime was rob
berry. according TO Colo Penchost and
Lumbi Iginotoff, the TWO native COM
/ panions of Tsonoff. The two Bulgarians
say that their comrade had $50 on his
person. The money was missing, but
had ii not been stolen it would prob
ably have been consumed, as the lower
part Of the mans body, together with
the clothing covering it, was badly
icharred
Back of Victims Head caved In.
The murderers, as it is believed that
here must have been at least two in
the attacking party, meted out swift
death to their victim, and made theil
escape from the scene of the crime jus
as quickly. The heavy hammer, which
the section men had in their car Il
use in breaking coal, showed the mark:
of both blood and hair.
Tsonoff's head was caved in by blow!
dealt from behind and there was an
other fracture over the frontal bone
on the left side of the head. Their
were several other cuts and bruises
about the mans body. evidencing {
struggle before the death blows wer'
administered.
Story on Time Disagrees.
In trying to figure out the probabl
time that the crime was committed
> discovery and incidents inmediatel
following the crime, do not agree.
The three Bulgarians quit thei
. including Tsonof, walked to the too
house, then on to the boarding ca
where Tsonoff was left to make prep
arations for supper. One of his com
panions had come down town frol
the depot to buy supplies, and the 9th
3 er, after helping get the fire read.
went to the Third avenue sub-post;
q station. The man who accompanie
9 Tsonoff to the boarding car says
81 was there about ten minutes at least /
: have taken five minutes at least 4
have walked thefour blocks and stoppe
at the tool house, and another ten mir
Z utes would have brought the time
I SIS. 1t was rs when the two tia
/ ians claim 10 have discovered the fir
and Sergeant Goodale says it was n
l later than 5:.20 when ne was on Il
I scene.
Both Italians Arrested.
While not having any direct eyiden
against the two Italians, Joseph Eng
and Vito Tricola, the two men we
arrested this morning at about 8: 80 !
] Chief of Police w. E. Nicholson. T
] two men are in Jail. The reason f
! holding the men is said to be that TIL
We're the only ones seen near the see
of the crime. Engle is employed
Z the section, and Tricola works for t
A. E. Shorthill Company. No lar
sum of money was found on either
the men.
Coroner Empanels Jury.
After learning the facts as best
could from the excited foreigners
] the scene of the crime Coroner E.
Jay ordered the body removed TO
Howard Wilbur undertaking parlo
where it was prepared for burial.
Today the coroner empaneled a il
composed of DR.. D. A. Collision, E.
Wallace, and A. L. Stern. The inqu
will be held at the coroner's office,
the fremont block, at 1890 tonight
Murdered Man Has Family.
The two companions of Tsonoff s
. that their friend has a wife and f
. children in Bulgaria. Tsonoff is s
by his companions to be about 35 ye
old. He appeared to be man Of alb
40, and was of strong build, about
feet tall, and weighing about
pounds.
! Tsonoff's watch was not stolen, {
was found on his person when the b,
was examined. A letter from Freel,
Bros. railway labor agents, lis So
Canal street, Chicago, was also in
mans possession, and was written
R,,Ioariap TsonoFr hod, 1,eer in