Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-29
Z. G. kooNTz, ARRESTED ~
OMAHA CHARGED WITH
SHOOTING MAN.
CAUSE FOR CRIME
NOT YET KNOWN
Mystery snrrouuds Fatal Shooting AZ
Omaha % Frank w. Smith, Missouri
Pacific conductor, BY Welt Known
engineer Dies Shortly After
-koontx Under Arrest.

Residents of the county will learn
with regret the serious trouble that
has come to one whom they believe
was former resident of this county
and neighbor. E. E. Koontz, who is Il
Missouri Pacific engineer. living in
Omaha, and in the service many years,
Saturday afternoon shot and killed his
friend, Frank w. Smith. Missouri
Pacific conductor. Much mystery sur
rounds the murder, and as yet no
theory has been advanced as to the mo-
tive for the crime. Smith died shortly
after the shooting.
Story Of the Crime.
The Omaha Bee of Sunday morning
tells Of tfe crime as follows:
prompted by a secret motive. E. E.
Koontz. Missouri Pacific engineer,
shot his lifelong friend Frank w.
Smith, freight train conductor at
Fifteenth and Nicholas street at 4:46
o'clock yesterday afternoon. Smith
died short time afterward from the
bullet wound in his right breast while
on the operating table. at st. Joseph
hospital.
"KOOntz was arrested an hour later
at his home. 1411 Madison avenue. by
Detectives Donohue, Heitfeldt, Wheeler
and Bellman and locked in a cell at the
police station, charged with murder.
1.-THE reason for his act will probably
remain a mystery until Coroner Crosby
holds the inquest. Koontz refuses to
talk of the affair or make statement
Of any kind and both his wife and the
widow Of the dead man are Frustrated
and can not talk.
Leaves Cab for Crime.
"Smith, was checking up his cars
preparatory to leaving the Missouri
Pacific yards on the run to Falls City
when he wassl1ot. KSontz left his cab
in the, engiI fof another freight and
shot his frieE6 sholfly before the Falls
city freight was sclkduled to leave.
"R. B. Wentworth and ]. B. Ford,
brakemen on Smiths train. who were
the closest to the men at the time Of
the shooting. left the city Immediately
after the affair and efforts to locate
them in Falls CITY to get their story
were fruitiess. II is understood from
other witnesses. however. that no
crucial moments y $500
Il ue only COHeTeHt WOTOS SOlleH lIOih
Smith were said while he was being
taken by DR.. Robert r. Hollister to the
hospital in the Bradley & Dorrance am
bulance.. These were asking to be put
Of his misery.
Formerly Close Friends.
until about six months ago. accord
ing to Harry, the 15-year- old son Of
Koontz. the two men had been very
close friends. They'had been at each
others homes and their wives had been
companions. The boy could not tell what
had caused the break in their relations
He said Smith Up to the time OF the
break had often visited the Koontz
home. but to his knowledge had always
been accompanied by his wife or a rela-
tive
MRS. Koontz refused to be seen. 1t
was said that she has not been in the
best Of health for several months and
the shock to her husbands act has rem
dered her condition very serious. She
il small woman and is several years
yonEer than Koontz. who is So.
Besides Harry, there are two Koontz
children, Vera, aged z, and Echo, II
years old.
"Mrs. Smith also was unable to make
q statement. She, too. has been in
poor health. having undergone three
operations, the latest last November.
The Smiths have one son. Fred, who Ia
employed as brakeman for the Chicago
a Northw estern railroad and lives in
Council Bluffs.
Smith was 45 years old and had
been employed by the Missouri Pacific
for twenty years. He lived at 2715
franklin street"