Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-30
mud. thsy assert. his socks would sure
" have been muddy.

In standardization Of his theory that
Wheelock did not take his own life
Main related numerous incidents to
show that the banker was always IN
the best of spirits Main said he was
closer to Wheelock than any other man
in Colfax, because Of their numerous
business deals He told Of land deal
in which he entered with Wheelock,
trip to the country to see some hogs,
a trip to Wheelock's farm, Wheelock'
family relations and many other incl
dents. wheelock's attitude on these
occasions, gust q few weeks before he
disappeared, caused Main to declare.
Whssloek Not Gloomy.
"wheelock never gave the slightest
hint but that ne intended to stay In
Colfax the rest of his life and that
his life was the brightest. There was
some leverage brought to. bear. I can
not believe and do not believe that ne
committed suicide
Mrs. Graben, in her further testl-
mony, said that she talked to York
the Saturday following the Monday
Wheelock disappeared. even before the
bankers body was found. He told her,
she said, that they were trying TO
mix him ZIP in the wheelock case. She
further said she had known York for
four or 'dve years and that she hrst
met him when she was demonstrating
coffee in his grocery store.
IT never heard of any letters be-
tween York and Miss Edwards, the
witness stated. Mr.. York has been
to cur home several times. have met
him on the street at times: We have
attended theaters-my husband, MI.
York and myself-but know nothing
of his domestic affairs at home.
Two Sets Of Tracks.
S. F. Goodrich, cousin of Wheeiock'
declared he found two sets OF tracks
leading into the river where Wheel-
ock's body was found. One ne as
serted, led to the very spot where the
body was recovered. He further salo
he has never seen the little memoran-
dunn book found on Wheelocks pooy
and which mysteriously disappeared
from the possession of Coroner Lee.
Mrs. Richard Sharpe. who mas oeen
mentioned in the case. gave no eVi-
dence Of Importance. She lives IN COZ
fax. Her name was mentioned by sew
eral witnesses in connection with that
of Mr. Wheelock.
Morrow Stevenson, former asslsta,ll
cashier of the bank, said that Wheei-
ock instructed him to pay all OF YORK
checks without question
To Re.enact River Scene.
The bend in the Des Moines river
inst above the junction with Beaver
creek where the body Of NJ. B. Wheel
ock was dragged from the water, VIII
furnish the setting for strange ana
UNIQUE scene today. With the Same
BACKGROUND and under the same con-
dirions. an effort Will be made TO re-
produce the last acts attributed TO tne
ha nker for the benefit Of the coroners
jury.
A man as nearly the same physical
makeup as Wheelock as can be secured
will be taken to the spot. equipped with
waders and with g. sack of rock ap-
the same weight as that
discovered attached to the body, will
be asked to walk out towards the CEN
ter of the river. Arrangements Will
be made by Coroner Lee for boat
near the spot, to prevent an accident.
Decide Upon Experiment..
The experiment was determined up
on at a conference held following the
afternoon participated IN by Coroner
Lee County Attorney Guthrie and
Jurors Ammons, Mercer and Fair
weather. So much doubt has been ex-
pressed as to whether man Of Wheel
ock's physique could have made his
way into the middle Of the river carry
ing 100 pounds Of rock that 1t was de-
cided to hold the test.
{oy1 to- 10
minds of members Of the jury Of foul
play in connection with Wheelock's
death. Since visiting the scene they
have refused to credit the theory Of
suicide. Evidence secured In the in
quest has strengthened the belief that
the banker was murdered and his body
placed in the river.
While the task Of carrying the heavy
sack Of rock into the river, which must
have been negotiated by Wheelock If
he ended his own life, is not regarded
by the jurors as the most improbable
point in the suicide theory it was de-
termined upon as the most accurate
basis for a test being made.
May Discredit Suicide Theory.
Members Of the Jury point out that
if it is demonstrated today by actual
experiment as lInpOSSlDle 1Or an OrCl-
nary sized man to make his way thru
the muddy river bed with the weight
attached to Wheelocks body the sui
eide theory will have been entirely dis
credited.
J. w. Maine. a stock raiser near Col
fax and an intimate friend Of Wheel
ock. testifying before the coroner's jury
yesterday declared that he did not be-
lieve the banker had destroyed his own
lie. Main said that Wheelock could
not have carried the sack of rock found
on his body. He testified that the bank
cashier was a man Of CHEEKY d'sposi..
ton and told Of business trans actions
started just before his death which, ne
said, would not have been started by
person who had suicide in mind.
1t is probable that the letter alleged
to have been written by wheelock to
his wife apprising her of his intended
act will be submitted to another hand
writing expert for an opinion. William
Maish who passed on the letter last
week. pronounced the writing as
Wheelock's and then after comparing
it with signature on the register Of
downtown hotel stated that the letter
might have been written by the same
hand is the signature.
cUMMINs TO SPEAK.