Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-04
FORMER LIFE CON.
vIcr COMPLETES TERM CON.
MUTEp ~ GOVERNOR.
SERVED FOURTEEN YEARS
FOR ARSON AND MURDER
kovak Convicted Of Burning Store at
WaIford Knowing Man Was Sleeping
Thsrein-capturs in Alaska After
Long search-Novak Gives His Yer.
sion Of Affair for First Time.

Cedar Rapids, Sept. 4.-I.ast night at
midnight, Frank A. Novak went from
the Fort Madison prison a free man.
second degree and was sentenced to
life Imprisonment by Judge Burnham,
Of Vinton.
The charge against Novak was the
burning of his store at Walford with
the knowledge that Edward Murray
was lying on a lounge in the store.
The theory of the state was that Novak
enticed Murray into the store. that a
body would be found, and that the
public would conclude Novak had lost
his life, and that insurance upon both
his life and property would be secured.
Fiess to Alaska.
When the news first went out Of the
burning of the store, 1t was stated
Novak was missing, and later in the
day when a burned body was found,
1t was supposed to be that of Novak.
But closer examination revealed the
fact that dental work on the teeth and
the parts Of q shirt found, proved con-
clusively that the body was not tina.
of Novak. Later Murray was found
missing, and the body was identified.
Novak was traced to Iowa City and
to Omaha. An examination Of the
tickets returned to the general office
of one of the railroads after having
been used, revealed one, which was
signed by the owner in the name of
F. A. Smith. The writing was iden-
titled as that of Novak. This ticket
was good to Victoria, on the western
coast. The detective in charge push
ed on to Seattle and then to Victoria,
and found a man answering the de-
scrpition of Novak had sailed on a
ship the day before. He followed, as is
stated in the story below, and became
one of the party to the Klondike.
Trial Attracts Wide Attention.
Possibly no other case in Iowa at
tracted the attention that was given
to the trial of Novak at Vinton. His
action in leaving the country was
against him. Had he remained at
home. had he given the alarm when
the building was on fire, he would
never have been convicted.
The following version Of the Novak
tragedy is presented by Mr.. Novak. The
article was not written by Novak but
is from the pen of newspaper man
who frequently visited Anamosa sew
eral years ago anG talked with Novak.
1t is the first time Novak's version has
ever been published. He maintains his
innocence, and refers to his wander
ings. They are interesting. to say the
least. The statement follows In part:
Novak Store Burns.
ION the night of Feb. 8. 1897, the
store with its contents and the adj
joining office, together with what
wis said to be one Edward Murray,
character around Walford, were en-
tirely consumed by a fire Of sudden
and unknown origin. 1t was the Gus
tom Of Mr.. Novak to have an en-
ploye sleep In the store. Upon this
occasion the employe was away on
an evenings pleasure and was one of
party having a team belonging to
Mr.. Murray. Mr.. Novak while watt
ing for the return Of the boy. that
night. had busted himself about the
store locking the doors and windows,
and making general preparations for
the night, when Murray entered. He
to wait there for the return of the
party with the team. Mr.. Novak al
lowed Murray to sleep upon a cot in
the rear Of the store, while he settled
himself comfortably and fell asleep in
the front part Of the store building.
Mr.. Novak was awakened by fire and
smoke almost smothered. He CROPPED
his way to the front door. and sound
ed the alarm. Thinking of Murray. he
then went to the side Or ha!f-hase-
ment entrance to the building, and
was about to re-enter the building
when he observed that the door which
he had securely. fastened but a short
time before. was open. and he con-
Guided that Murray had left the burn
ing building.
Few people there are, who exper-
fence an absolute loss OF hope and
courage The measure OF such an
estate is not within the reach Of
just description, altho often APP
preached But in the case of Mr.. Novak
it appears as tho the limit of his
physical courage had been reached.
and after standing back in the con-
of his loss. and Of the pre-
ceeding experiences. he left the scene,
never to look upon his
sorrows. there, again. He wandered
aimlessly along the railway track to-
wards .Amana, a station to the south
and west of Walford. He continued in
this way thru Amana, thence wound
up his weary tramp to Iowa City.
At the depot there, he bought ticket
via. the Rock Island for Omaha. and
while doing so, stated to the agent that
his destination was of no concern to
him. just so he could get into a sleeper
and rest On his way to Iowa City,
Mr.. Novak stopped at farm house
for his breakfast He was so we'll
known thruout that country that his
presence there was marked with hos
pitable treatment. 1t was that visit
which subsequently led to the trail
of his journey. and more particularly
marked the fact that he had not been
burned in his store fire as at first as
sumed.
Novak Reaches Alaska.
"a month later, March 4. the date
of McKinley's inauguration. Mr.. Mo-
yak landed at Juneau, Alaska. He had
gone from Omaha. to Portland. thence
to Seattle, from which point he had
boarded a steamer for Alaska. Mr..
Novak had left Walford with limited
of money. just what he hap
pened to have in his pockets at closing
time the night his store burned And
when he arrived at Juneau he was
.