The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-02-08
LEON, IOWA. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1912.
GOLD NUGGETS LEAD TO CRIME.
Aged Los Angeles Lady May Die
From Beating by Burglar.

| FROM beaClnS Dy burSlar.
From the Los Angeles, California
News, Of Jan. 23rd, we CLEAN the fol-
lowing account of fendish crime
committed in that city, the victim
being Mrs. James v. Dilley, an aunt
of Mrs. J. F. Rumley, of northwest
Of Leon, and sister of Mr.. J. D.
Strong, a former we'll known resident
of this county, now living at Geary,
Oklahoma.
| Mercilessly beating the aged wom-
an into insensibility to get at a. store
of Klondike gold nuggets, which are
family heirlooms, thug who may be
murderer rified the residence of
Mrs. James V. Dilley, No. 230 West
Fourteenth street, yesterday morn
ing and escaped.
Mrs. Dilley, who is 6S years of age,
is at the California Hospital suffering
from fractured skull and numerous
bruises and is not expected to live.
Her husband has offered reward
of $500 for the capture of the mis-
creant.
Police detectives who failed to get
a description of the fellow who at
tackled Mrs. Dilley are acting on the
theory that the robber is the same
who attacked Mrs. Sarah A. Curtis,
aged 76, at her home, No. 1016 Aus
tin street, on the 18th inst, in much
the same manner. Mrs. Curtis's as
sailant gained entrance to the house
in the same way, it is thought, pre-
tending to be searching for FUR
nished room to rent. The finger
prints left each time correspond,
they say, and they are searching for
tall, fairly stout fellow of about 80
years Of age, with dark complexion,
dark hair and light suit.
Mrs. Dilley rents four furnished
rooms, and a sign advertising the
fact was displayed on her house yes
terday. Her husband left about $3.50
o'clock in the forenoon for walk.
He returned at $40 O'Clock and
heard groans. He is somewhat deaf
and could not Immediately locate
them. He came upon the form OF his
wife, lying beside the bed in her
room on the floor, her face and head
covered with blood. She could only
say, ''They struck me; they were up
stairs" She soon relapsed into un-
consciousness.
Dilley hurried to the grocery store
at No. 226 West Fourteenth street
and procured the assistance OF Il. r.
West, the proprietor. Mrs. Christina
Bushey, No. 1851 South Olive street,
close friend of the injured woman,
also came, and a doctor who was
summoned at first thought she had
suffered a stroke Of apoplexy. He
Isoop discovered the fracture. how
ever, and Mrs Dflley was removed
to the California Hospital, where she
was attended by DR.. Michael Cream
er. DR.. Creamer found that the
aged woman was suffering from
bruises over the left eye and a frac-
tured left arm. Up to a late hour
she had not regained Consciousness
and was sinking.
Dilley summoned the police and a
search of the premises was made. A
broken electric treatmen cabinet was
found near the place where Mrs. Dill
1 ley had lain in her own blood. Later
a battery, torn from the case, was
found under the bureau with blood
and finger marks plainly showing on
it. The tug had undoubtedly done
his cruel work of beating the woman
| Will Luc ACdNy OoIICAJ. AS uSISS
tives took possession of the battery
with it's valuable finger-print evi-
dence.
In an upstairs room, Mrs. Dilley's
handbag, empty, was found. It had
been torn open and the contents,
about $40 and gold watch, were
taken. The thief made strenuous and
finally successful efforts to locate the
twelve gold nuggets, valued at over
5000, which Dilley procured in Alas
ka, finally locating them in dresser
drawer. Dilley is firmly convinced
that the thief was looking for the
gold, as the possession of the mug
gets was known to many persons
Towels which the fellow had prob
! ably attempted to use as a gag, were
found upstairs.
Suspicion was at first directed to-
ward a former roomer, an iron work
er, who had left the house without
notice week ago, after acting
strangely. This man, however, was
located at work at the Baker Iro1
, Works.
Mrs. Dolly Schenk, No. 7O5 Lor
, ena street, a daughter of Mrs. Dilley
} whose grief turned to anger at the
perpetrator, is conducting an inde
pendent investigation into the tden
tity of the thug.
At the Christian Church.