The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-07-17
CHARGED WITH MURDER
James Mcintosh Arrested fer Kill
ing T. 7. Stephens but ESCAPED
from Sheriff lorey.

r. T. Stephens, for many years a
we'll known citizen of Davis City,
died Monday morning, and an autop-
sy disclosed the fact that his death
was the result of being struck over
the head on the night OF April 26th,
while in the performance of his
duties as city marshal of Davis City,
and a young man of Davis City,
James Mcintosh, is fugitive from
Justice, having made his escape from
sheriff Lorey after he had been plac-
ed under arrest on warrant charg-
ing him with murder in the first de-
gree.
On the night of April 26th there
were several parties drinking and
talking in an alley at Davis City and
marshal Stephens went into the alley
to disperse them. He had just enter
ed the alley when he was struck on
the head and knocked down and the
fellow who struck him ran away.
There were several parties present
who saw the blow struck, but not
until Mr.. Stephens condition became
serious did any of them divulge who
it was that assaulted him. Soon af-
to fail in health and finally stroke
of paralysis followed and for several
weeks his condition has been critical.
His death occurred on Monday and
coroner Layton and county attorney
Sharp went to Davis City, and an
autopsy was held by several physi-
clans which disclosed the fact that
his death had been caused by two
blood clots on his brain which result
ed from the blow when he was struck
down, and these had caused soften
ing of the brain. After securing
evidence which verified the fixing of
the crime on James Mcintosh, an in
formation was filed at Davis City,
charging young Mcintosh with muir
der in the first degree and sheriff
Lorey was notified to come down and
arrest him. The sheriff was driven
to Davis City about 10 o'clock Mon
day night and after securing the
warrant went to the home of Mc1n-
tosh in the southwest part of Davis
City to arrest him. He found him
asleep in bed, and after being admit
ted to the house read the warrant
and placed him under arrest. Mcln-
tosh evinced no surprise and did not
even ask who it was he was charged
with killing, but said he would go
with the sheriff alright. He COM
menced to dress and talked of what
a hot day it had been, and as sheriff
Lorey was we'll acquainted with him
no though entered his head that Nc
Intosh would try to escape. He put
on his shoes and asked to be allowed
to 60 into the other room to get a
button hook to button his shoes, but
could not find it, and his wife but
toned his shoes with hair pin. He
then said he would get his cap and
was ready and stepped pack into the
kitchen for his cap. He called to his
wife and asked where his cap was,
as he could not find it. He rummag-
ed around in the kitchen for minute
or two when suddenly the noise he
was making ceased and sheriff Lorey
went into the kitchen, but Mcintosh
had evidently got his cap and then
kept on going for he had escaped
through the back door. There is con-
siderable shrubbery in the rear of
the house and when sheriff LOrey got
outside he could neither see or hear
him, and although the premises for
several blocks were searched no trace
of him could be found, and it is re-
ported that he travelled across the
line into Missouri short time later,
but up to the present time sheriff
Lorey has received no definite trace
of him.
Sheriff Lorey is a good and careful
officer and naturally is much chagrin-
ed at the escape of his prisoner and
will leave nothing undone to recap
ture him. He was simply taken off
his guard from the fact that he was
we'll acquainted with Mcintosh and
did not think he would try to escape.
Mcintosh, who is charged with
striking the blow which resulted in
Mr.. Stephens death is young man
about "a years of age, a son of John
D. Mcintosh highly respected farm
er residing a few miles southeast of
Davis City. He is married and has
a wife and two children, and has re-
sided in Davis City for several years
since leaving his fathers farm.