Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-07-12
MYSTERY or TWELVE YEARS
STANDING CLEARED Up ~
sioux CITY DETECTIVE.
HALF DRUNKEN MAN
GIVES CLUE TO CRIME
Edward Dillon. Witness u Shooting,
Names John Clark a. Slayer Of John
matths~s-shet intended for An
other Man According 70 DilIen's
story-Murdsrsr Now 10 Dad.

SIOUX City, July 1.-THE overhear.
ing Of conversation between two
nalf drunken men in an alley near the
Wall street viaduct by Detective A. G..
Curtis has resulted in clearing up a
sious City murder mystery Of about
twelve years standing.
The entire east side of the city was
aroused over what was then believed
to be the cold blooded murder Of OHM
Matthews. who had prior to the time
Of the shooting been connected with
the Pullman car strike. 1t was sup
posed at the time that persons whose
enmity Matthews had made during the
strike had been responsible for the
shooting.
Matthews was shot down shortly be-
fore 10 o'clock in the evening while
standing In front Of a. saloon on the
northwest corner Of Fourth and Iowa
ing up the alley. but from that day to
this had never been Identified.
Curtis Hunts Out Witness.
The matter was reviewed in its en-
tirety in the conversation! heard by
Detective Curtis. In It the name Of
Edward Dillon was mentioned as an
eye witness to the affair. Dillon Is now
employed by George Potter in Sec
ond- hand store near the viaduct.
Mr.. Curtis then proceeded TO pro-
cure statement rem Dillon. He also
recovered q pisto! that had been found
nearly two years later covered with
rust. on a roof near the place where
the shooting took place. The family of
John Matthews still lives in Sioux
City. The culprit being dead. no ac-
ton can be- taken by the authorities.
but the police department is extreme
ly gratified at having the mystery at
last cleared up.
Edward DiIIon's Story.
The statement made by Dillon fol-
lows:
On the day of the shooting of John
Matthews at the corner of Fourth and
Iowa streets. Sioux City, Iowa. was
with John Matthews, Phil Kelly and
John Clark most Of the day. We were
working at the stock yards and in the
afternoon had drawn our money and
went up town. We had been drinking
considerable, and at about $3.50 O'Clock
in the evening we were in the saloon
on the northwestern corner Of Fourth
and Iowa streets Al Brubacker was
also with us.
There was some trouble in the saloor
betNeen Phil Kelly and John Clarke
and Kelly hit Clark q couple Of time.
with his fist About this time Bru-
hacker left the saloon. saying he was
going home. I started to leave abou,
| the same time. and Kelly and Mat
thews came out of the saloon and got
just around the corner on Iowa street
Clark had also come out Of the saloon
and was about thirty feet from the
corner on Iowa street, Just north OF
Fourth.
About this time heard a shot fired
and turned abound quickly and saw
Clark still holding the gun in his hand
There was only one shot fred and
Clark Immediately turned and ran north
on Iowa street to the alley and then
ran west thru the alley. was standing
in the middle Of the street at the time
the shot was fred. Clark and Mat
thews never had any trouble as far as
know. and do not think they were
very we'll acquainted. and I think the
shot was intended for Kelly. Clark had
accused keIiy OF causing MS domestic
troubles.
did not say anything about the
shooting at that time, for the reason
that I was afraid Of the gang. and this
is the first time have made state
ment regarding It,
understand that some time after
the shooting Clark served term in the
Nebraska penitentiary and after HIS
release came back to Sioux City. His
wife in the meantime had secured q
divorce from him. and shout two years
ago Clark died in one of the Sioux City
hospitals.