Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-09
JACK OF STONES ABOUT
NECK WEIGHTED BODY DOWN
Papsrs Found on Body Give No Rsa-
non For SELF Destruction, Exospt No.
ties From State Auditor to File Re
port on Condition Of eank-coronsr
Decides Not. To- Hold Inquest

tho Citizens State Bank of Colfax, was
found in the Des Moines river near the
mouth Of Beaver creek west OF the
bridge on the Beaver road.
There was no farewell note in MI
Wheelock's effects. which included
about $1,000 in jewelry and cash, tho
thsre were a number Of papers. some
Of which indicated that he was harass-
ed by financial troubles and that six
days before he disappeared from Col
faxaJohn L. Bleakly. state auditor, had
formally demanded that he furnish
statement Of the condition of the Cit
izens State bank.
Last night friends and officials all
agreed that Mr.. Wheelock must have
Z been mentally unbalanced when he TOOK
his life, but no one would venture a
suggestion as to what had 80 preyed
upon him as to cause him to be IN that
condition.
Clothing Leads to Discovery.
Gus. J. Patek. private detective. who
had been engaged to work upon the
case growing out Of Mr.. Wheelock 8
disappearance, Sunday started scar N
of-the banks Of the Des Moines river
working north from town on both SIDES
OF the river. He met with no success
until he came upon a hat ana oVercoat
lying upon tho west bank OF the river
about 500 feet north Of Beaver creek.
NrI Patek left the clothing on the
river bank and Sunday night he not'-
fed 8. T. Goodrich. OF Colfax, a cousin
who was In charge Of the search 1or
Mr.. wheelock. Mr.. Goodrich came TO
Des Moines yesterday and, in company
with Mr.. Patek. visited the river. ne
a. once identified the clothing as be-
longing to Mr., wheelock. There was
nothing in the overcoat except an auto
mobile key. an tnterurban time table
and part of an envelope from the
Chamberlain hotel where Mr.. Vice.
lock vas last seen.
After breaking the ice around the
bank Baber and Strait began working
up and down the river. They founo
the water very shallow and at places
n, low that q man would have TO lie
down to drown himself. Later. how
ever. they discovered a hole about
sixty feet long and eighteen feet wiue
and SIX feet deep.
Mr. Baber had been working around
4his hole for some little time when MS
hooks nnally caught on Mr.. Wheelocks
clothing. He pulled out the oooy Iee'
arst. and brought Il to the bank. Tiers
IL vs.. found that the grain bag. flied
with rocks. was around the neck
Selects Desolats Place.
NJ wheelock selected a desolate
mace 70 and his life and his body might
never have been discovered IT ne mao
not left his hat and overcoat on the
river bank. The place Is about mile
due east Of the Beaver road, tho there
is no direct road leading to II.
There was every indication that MI.
wheelock deliberately sought to END
his life. He evidently had left Des
Moines on the Perry interuroan. a1'el
buying the rope and grain sack ana
writing the farewell note to his Wite.
He evidently dropped off the car at
Beaver avenue and spent Monoay hisu.
wandering about the country. TUESDAY
morning. II appeared, he filed the sack
with stones and after locating spot
where the water was deep, he prepared
TO drown himself It is not believed
that he could have found his way to
the place where he went in at night.
Finds Papers on Body.
When the body was brought to the
city Mr., Lee made a careful exaillina-
ton and took charge Of all the enects.
Included in these was Mr.. Wheelock' s
wedding ring. and diamond ring CIV
en- him by his father. S. 3. WheelocK,
shortly before his death in October, and
also SIP in cash and number OF
papers which may prove Of importance
Coroner Lee was forced to dry the
papers before they could be examined
and this inquiry later showed that
among other things there was . note
for $4,000. This was signed by Mr.
wheelock alone, and was payable TO
the Des Moines National Bank. 1t was
dated May 1s. 1913. and payable July
IL. 1913. This. the note showed, mad
been paid July 16. 1913.
There was also check for S1,s3S.2o
drawn by a Colfax firm and payable to
a large Chicago mercantile house. The
Chicago firm had turned this check IN
to a Chicago bank, which forwarded It
10 the Citizens bank for collection In
this way it came back to MT. Whee-
locks hands.
Letter From Banker.
OF tho letters found in Mr.. Whee-
locks possession there were but three
which appeared to be OF any signIh-
canoe. Two Of these were from bank.
err in a central Iowa town. They re-
vealed the fact that Nj. Wheelock had
been planning to increase the stock OF
the Citizens State Bank and take this
man in as a stakeholder. The outside
banker, 1t appeared was to move to
Colfax and take an active interest in
the bank.
The third letter was from Henry
Warrington Of Los Angeles. MI.
Wheelock's brother-in-law. It referred
to a proposed trip to the west by Mrs.
Wheelock and Mr.. Warrington said.
''We would love to see her and think
the trip would do her good, providing
she felt inclined to do so and provid-
ing circumstances made 1t possible. I
am sure you understand me-" In both
cases the word providing" was I'M
0erlined.
The telegram in regard to the bank
statement was dated Nov. 26 and read:
Citizens State Bank, Colfax, la. Please
: forward call statement for November
thirteenth at once. John L. Bleakly,
auditor OF state"
There we're two addresses on one Of
the cards found IN q pocket. They
were:
.Ray, 1917 Sixth avenue"
s'e10 Euclid avenue, J. n. MCGUIRE"
An Investigation showed that Ray
SO Dr.. Ray Miller, who lives ct 1907