The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-10-20

1
admit in the signed statement.
The boys told that they came upon
Stoker at the Little brick saloon on
High avenue West, They Just hap
pened to meet him. They thought
he had been drinking. He told them
he was going away and would be
gone long time and asked them to
take a drink with him. Stoker said:
maybe you think that have no mon
ey.'' He took a large roll of bills from
his hip pocket and showed the boys
several hundred dollars. He wanted
to buy some more drinks. Johnson
and Cruzen advised him to go on
home, that he was in no condition to
be out. He asked them to take him
home, which they agreed to do. There
was a half pint of whiskey that some
one had bought and when they had
him in the room they, gave him an
other big drink from the flask and
then they left him. stoker locked the
door OF hfs room.
Fussing About Money.
| Mr. and Mrs. Roy Rowland. who
live at the Ellison place and have
rooms on the first floor, gave the pc.
lice some additional information when
they arrived home from a trip to the
country last evening. Mrs. Rowland
says that there was a disturbance at
the rooms more or less all night. Sew
eral men first came to the room
about eleven o'clock and there was a
lot of talking and noise and walking
about. People were heard coming
and going all night and various
sounds were noticed. Nothing was
heard, however, that sounded like a
person climbing on the porch.
Mrs. Rowland went to turn out the
| light that had been left burning in
the hall, about half past four Sunday
morning. She saw the light burning
in Stoker's room and heard him talk
| ing and fussing about money. She
could not distinguish what was said
only that he said money"
The body was found lying across the
bed with head and arms hanging down
over the edge. When Whitacre found
the man in this condition he thought
he was only drunk and went to lift
! him more onto the bed. Stoker was
fully dressed and was to all appear
ances as the boys had left him ON the
night before. .-a.,,.y.
Had Intended Suicide.
The man had intended suicide for
several days. He had stated that he
would make way with himself and to
numerous parties he left instructions
in case he should be taken away sud
denly, intimating that he had heart
trouble and might drop off any place.
He had told Mr. Gresham he wanted
him to care for his body if he should
die suddenly.
Soon after Stoker returned to Oska-
loosa from the west he approached
police officers and told them of his
troubles He said he would do any
thing II he could only go to his home
as he once did. He followed officer
Jake Jones about the streets night af-
ter night and had said he might want
the police as witnesses in his di-
vorce. case. He wanted the officers
to know what he was doing and that
he was doing all a man could do. He
had been about the streets at night
with Officer Harry Fl. Moody and
asked his assistance. officer Jake
Harshbarger had also been approach
ed in the same manner many times.
At none of these times did the man
appear to be in liquor and he stated
that he did not drink any more, that
had cut it all out.
Stoker went to the mayor at an
other time a couple of weeks ago, i'm
portuned the official to go to his wife
and intercede for him. He told police
that he could not stand the thing
much longer, that it was killing him,
and he must do something soon.
The boys were returned to the city
this morning and taken before the
mayor. There was no arraignment
at this time, however, and no plea.
They stated they would not resist con-
finement and a plea will be entered
later.
OOiOhSl VIII oil lh-
quest as to the cause of death as soon
as circumstances permit and evidence
can be gathered in way to handle.
The Autopsy.
An autopsy was conducted this
morning in the NJ. E. Cheesman under
taking rooms. DIR. s. w. Clark did
the work, assisted by DIR. Barringer.
A number of nurses and physicians
were present to witness the work.
The stomach was removed, also the
heart and other organs. The brain
was also removed, bisected and
found to be in a healthy condition.
The heart was also in a healthy condi-
ton. The organs were prepared and
shipped to the state chemist for analy-
sis.
cruzen's Statement.
|. Glen Cruzen. l got with Johnson
Saturday night about 1900 O'Clock.
Seen his roll of money and Homer
said to me lets get his money, Glenn
After that we took him to his room
and left him there. Went down
again and came back in about 80
minutes and climbed up on the porch |
and Homer pulled the screen out and
raised the window nm and went In |