Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-08
TWO UNDER ARREST
FOR Old CRIME
F. e. GUTHRIE AND c. L. EDDY
CHARGED WITH MURDER At
BELLE PLANE.
INDICTED FOR KILLING
MRS. GUTHRIE TEN YEARS AGO
Coroner's Jury at Time of Woman's
Death Returned Verdict of Suicide
Guthrie Former Prominent Citizen
Eddy in His Employ as Spy at Time
Guthrie Arrested in Wisconsin,.

Special to Times Republican.
Vinton, Feb. S.-Francisco e. Guthrie
and George l.. Eddy are under arrest
on the charge of murder of Guthrie's
wife at Belle Plaine, Iowa, ten years
ago. Guthrie was found at Shell Lake.
Wis, and arrested by the sheriff there
at the request of Sheriff Blair, of this
county, and Eddy was taken into GUS
tody by the sheriff at Belle Plaine late
yesterday afternoon.
Both men were indicted as principal
and accessory by the grand jury last
Wednesday on the charge of murder
and the matter was kept quiet until
both men We're secured. Guthrie was
at Mason City last Wednesday but left
there before Sheriff Blair was able to
get him and it was found that he had
gone to Shell Lake, Wis.
The case was investigated by the
county officers at the request of Cover
nor Carroll, who furnished them with
list of sixteen witnesses, many OF
whom were summoned before the
grand jury, and sufficient evidence was
found to warrant the return of the in
dictment. Both parties have been sus-
pected and the matter has been con-
tinually agitated by the people Of Belle
Plaine ever since the wOman's death.
but the matter was not brought to a
head until this time.
History Of the Crime.
On Dec. 27, 1900. the body Of Mrs.
F. E. Guthrie was found in her bed at
her home in Belle Plaine with revol-
yer wound in her throat and a pearl
handled revolver lying in her hand
across her chest. A coroner's jury was
called and returned verdict Of death
by suicide. Since that time a number
of things have come to light which
pciIt to a plain case OF murder, either
i ny Guthrie or Eduy or by both. 1t *
alleged and admitted by Eddy that two
weeks prior to the woman's death he
was offered $500 by Guthrie to secure
sufficient evidence against Guthrie S
wife that she was committing adultery
with one Weathers, Of that city; that
in the meantime Guthrie kept in the
background and Eddy watched the sus-
pected couple; that he secured evil
dence enough for Guthrie to secure a
divorce and was paid $3.50 by Guthrie
and was still kept in his employ but
before he had secured enough evidence
to satisfy the husband the woman was
found dead and the balance of the
money was unpaid: that during said
period prior to her death Eddy was APP
preached by Guthrie and asked how
| much he would take to blow up Wealth
! ers' house with dynamite some time
| while his wife and Weathers were
within. This offer was rejected. Eddy
| all OF the time has denied any compile
ity in the crime, but admits that he
| was furnished with a revolver by the
husband during his researches.
Guthrie WelI-to-Do.
! AT the time Of the alleged murder of
| Guthrie's wife, Guthrie was well-to-
do citizen of Belle Plaine. Trading was
his business and at one time he was an
extensive land owners in that vicinity
He built the Belle Plaine opera house
and at one time was owner of a furni-
ture and undertaking establishment.
Eddy at times was in the employ OF
Guthrie in different capacities and has
always been day laborer and at the
time of his arrest was employed in the
Northwestern freight house at Belle
Plaine.
Sheriff Blair left vinton last night
for Shell Lake, Wis, to bring Guthrie
to vinton for trial in the present term
of court.