Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-11
IOWA. OCTOBER
SELF DEFENSE 70 Be
PLEA Of MRS. RUSH
(Continued From Page IL

lCO0tlnueQ from rage L.
hours in court she gazed steadily at
the carpet. Later she lifted her eyes
and appeared more concerned in the
proceedings Her demeanor Is quiet.
subdued. and ladylike. No trace or hint
Of bravado or exultation can be traced
in her features. voice, or manner
Miss Warner a Spectator.
Miss Lulu Warner the former Shef-
field telephone operator who figures as
a principal because Of her alleged rela-
tons with Rush. was early in the court
room and was one of the most interest
ed of the spectators.
Like Mrs. Rush she also was dressed
in black. relieved by touches OF color
on her hat and the trimmings of her
long coat
Miss Warner has been suhpoenaed as
a witness. and it is expected that her
testimony will furnish some Of the SEN
sAtionS of the trial.
Unless exceptional or unexpected de-
lays interrupt, it is believed the case
will go to the jury before the week is
over
History Of the Tragedy.
No other tragedy in years has so
shocked and interested franklin and
surrounding counties. The known de-
tails OF the murder and those ether de-
tails that the busy tongue of gossip
has woven into the fabric of the case
are the principal topics OF converse
ton on the streets. in stores ana in the
homes. BY reason of the homicide the
little village OF Sheffield has leaped in
to more than county wide prominence.
The Franklin county court house is
now the center of the limelight of pub
lie interest. Sentiment is divided for
and against the imprisoned woman.
Much sympathy, which. especially at
Sheffield. went out to Mrs. Rush in the
days following the murder, has in Il
measure been Withdrawn as cool rea-
soning took the place OF an almost hys
terical excitement and many now do
TO, attempt TO justify Mrs. Rush in the
commission Of murder. They hold that
whatever agSravation there may have
been for the act. it was not sufficient
70 have provoked the taking of hui
man life.
Still Has Friends.
But the prisoner is not without her
friends. She has many. staunch and
true. They point to her blameless
life. her activity in the church. Tn
bounded sympathy goes out to her
from the old home town Of Osceola
where her sweet disposition and sun
ny temperament have made her many
friends. She's not the sort of wo-
man. these say. who would premed-
itate and commit wiltul murder"
From these Osceola friends and from
the old home there she voluntarily de-
parted a few days ago to come here
following her indictment to enter the
jail a prisoner. Since then she has
been cheerful, it is said. and hopeful
Of what the future has in store for ner.
Story Of the Crime.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rush had been resi-
dents of Sheffield not many months
prior to the tragedy OF Aug. 4. Both had
been prominent in the society of the
village. Both were active in the work
Of the Methodist church. Until at least
a few weeks before the murder appar
entity happiness and love lowered over
the household. Then jealousy crept in
to destroy these ties.
Miss Lulu Warner telephone opera
tor of the Sheffield office. is charged
with being partly responsible at least
for whatever jealousy Mrs. Rush felt
Tor her husband. Wagging tongues
mad been busy with the gossip that
had to do with the station agent and
the hello girl Much Of this gossip
vas ''peddled" to Mrs. Rush 1t in
creased her jealousy almost to the
point Of frenzy To il is credited the
impulse that prompted her to buy the
3S-caliber revolver at the Schmidt
hardware store in Sheffield the day
preceding the murder. Some hold il
responsible 70, the act that cost Rush
his life
Had Been lndisereet.
Gossip coupled Rush's name with
that OF central" in phone conversa-
sations and missives that passed back
and forth between the two And as it
passed from tongue to eager tongue
his gossip grew in volume and sa-
iiciousness. Nothing has been brought
out Yet. however. which connects the
two in any more than indiscreet rela-
t;ons. What the evidence may de-
velop on this detail is not yet known.
Miss Warner bore an excellent repu-
tation, and her skill as an operator
was we'll known. Gossip says they
we're in each others company This
it is claimed, can not be proven. Miss
Warner has denied she was ever alone
with Rush. She is credited with ad-
hitting she sent Rush a post card
bearing the picture OF a man whose
arm encircled a woman's waist. 1t,
and perhaps others will be produced in
evidence at the trial.
Shoots and Tells Of Crime
However much of truth or falehood
were in the gossip that came to Mrs.
Rush ears. there is little question that
it stirred her jealousy to a point where
it all but unsettled her mind It is de-
clared it prompted the purchase Of the
weapon and drove her to her hus-
bands Office late in the afternoon Of
Aug. 4. Regarding what happened
there she alone knows. She was the
only eye witness. The news of the
tragedy that stunned Sheffield was first
told by Mrs. Rush. About o'clock of
the afternoon of the murder she came
to the home Of Mr.. and Mrs James
Hawke, who live short distance from
the station building. which stands iso-
lated. a half mile west Of the village.
To them she confessed the murder.
Iurrying to the depot Rush's body was
found.
Single Shot Brings Death.
According to evidence presented to
the grand jury Rush was probably
seated at his telegrapher's desk when
he was fired upon. The bullet struck
his left wrist, plowed thru it and into
his hot,v ranging downward thrr h;s