The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1910-09-29
DOUBLE KILLING
At CRICKET CAMP
Murd ,rer Of Sweetheart in Making
Getaway Run Over by Train.
JEALOUS LOVER USES SHOT GUN
William Boston Enrased Because su.
sic Losson Accepts Attentions
From Others, Fires Load Of
Shot in Girls Body.

coal mining camp OF cricket, ABOUT
ten miles southwest of Oskaloosa
Saturday evening. A young colored
man, William Boston, aged about 20
or 80 years, shot and fatally hurt his
sweetheart, Susie Losson, of about
the same age. Physicians have no
hope for the woman, who is MORALLY
wounded. Boston was himself killed
by accident short time after the
shooting of the woman, being run over
by Northwestern coal train in try
ing to make his escape from the To-
cality. The woman may die any time
and can last only few days at most,
as the bowels were punctured and she
suffered great loss of blood.
Boston used shotgun The charge
carried away parts of the arm and
thigh, tore away the abdominal wall
and disemboweled the victim. The
story of the affair was hard to gather
on account of the inaccessibility of
the place Sunday.
Coroner Barringer was called and
gave orders for the disposition of the
body of the dead negro. If an in
quest is desired to determine the
manner of death, suicide or accident,
the coroner will go to Cricket or
Buxton this afternoon. The story as
gathered from several sources and the
threads patched together tells of love
and jealousy, a quarrel, the unwar-
ranted assault and the speedy aveng-
ing of the murderous act of the man.
Justice has been done and Mahaska
county saved thousands of dollars in
court costs.
Some say the shooting was unwar-
ranted and without provocation, while
others assert with as much confidence
that the girl brought the affair upon
herself by teasing and tormenting her
lover. Many stories have been told
and the rumors sifted disclose the
following conditions: s.a
William Boston was a young mine
worker, an energetic and thrifty
young colored fellow, who has been
about the camps in this and Monroe
counties. He has been going with"
the lesson girl for "A length Of time
that warranted the neighbors in re-
porting that they we're to have been
married soon. He was steady COM
pany" and when Susie made eyes at
other young fellows, and entertained
them at her home, it made talk
among the folks about the camp and
tale-bearers went to Boston with stor-
les. Unpleasantness between Susie
aud Will had hnop rnmorad md Gonna
say that she tainted" her lover with
the information that as long as he was
away and the other boys were good
to h :, she saw no harm in enjoying
herself in their. company. Boston did
not like this state of affairs. He
thought that his attentions to the
girl gave him priority of claim upon
her affections. An understanding ex-
listed between them that Saturday
night should be reserved for him. 1t
was his night off and whatever else
may have been done on the week
nights, Saturday evening was to be
kept for him. Boston was detained
and was tardy in coming Saturday
evening When Boston arrived at the
house of the father, J. w. Losson, he
was surprised, indignant and injured
in both pride and feelings to find his
place by the side of Susie pre-empted
by another. He went into the parlor,
but the atmosphere wasSnot congenial
and the tardy one grew morose and
sullen. 1t Is said that Susie did not
help matters by her acts. She seem.
ed more intent on listening to her call
er's conversation than she was soli-
citous for her lovers comfort and
peace Of mind Boston was angry and
he i'll concealed the fact Of his dis
pleasure. The jealous rage within
him and the frivolty and bantering of
the girl aroused a savage passion
within him. This was not the only
occasion he had been turned down
by the girl and the resentment he mad
harbored for weeks suddenly burst
forth in an insane determination TO
end IL all. 81 .ss
Boston is alleged to have left the
room without disturbance, but sullen
and morose in act and mood. He said
no word, but went forth and procured
a shotgun. When he returned the 9TH
er sutton was still at the house and
the girl was laughing and having the
best kind of a time. Boston came
into the room carrying the gun. The
absurdity of the man carrying a shot
gun was amusing to Miss Losson and
her company. Boston seated him
self near the girl, who occupied a
corner of sofa or low folding bed.
The visitor was on the opposite side
of the room. The girl had taken an
odd position. She was leaning for,
ward, her chin resting in her hands
and her elbows placed on either knee.
The muzzle Of the gun was pointed
directly at her body as it rested
across the lap of her lover.
The intent of the angry Boston will
never be known, Whether he had de-
liberately planned to shoot the caller
or the girl or indeed II he intended to
shoot at all. Susie was made nnconl-
Portable bys the gun barrel pointing
in her direction. She leaned forward