Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
Say Outrage Committed
I 1's''os o,!s,s,so !'ss,.sso ss',Sr'sssgh
Was Response.
TOLD DETECTIVES
TO SHIELD WOMAN
Had Promised Her That HI
Would Not Reveal the
Facts Concerning Her

Clarence Mccormick, aged 10. charg-
ed with the murder OF I. w. Msllott
on last October 6, took the stand In
his own defense at 1920 Thursday af-
temoon and for six hours continuing
this morning and into this afternoon,
he told his story Of the crime and
events leading up to 1t and subsequent
In straightforward. unflinching man
ner. Cross examination was expected
to be begun sometime this afternoon
and arguments will probably start
Saturday.
The defendant was preceded on the
stand Thursday afternoon by Mrs,
Mary Brewster, proprietor Of the hotel
at Belknap, Thomas b. Hale OF LAM
caster, No., DR.. G. A. Schriener OF
Ollie, Mrs. Ella Howell, proprietor OF
a hotel at Moulton. Frank Bugh OF
Oskaloosa, Jesse Williams Of the la
Clede hotel, Ottumwa, A. M. Cowger
and w. H. Rodibaugh, owners OF the
bloodhounds at Agency, and the boys
father, James Mccormick OF Lancaster,
Mo. Their testimony In the main
bore out statements made by the
young man when he took the stand.
Tells Of Early Life.
Clarence Mccormick began his story
by telling the jury that his age was 19
years, was born on a farm near Ian.
caster, Mo-, had never been in trouble
before and had never been In court
room before. When about 12 yenrA
old, he said. he left the farm and came
to Lancaster with his father and moth
er; that he left school when In the lat
ter part of the first high school year;
that his parents were church mem
bers and that he attended Sunday
school every Sunday while he was at
home.
He said that his first trip away from
home was in the summer OF 1912,
shortly after he had left high school,
when he went to Oklahoma to visit
his sister. He stayed there until
about holiday time Of that year, max.
ing his way by working in the harvest
fields, baling hay and other such work
near his brother-in-law's farm. After
spending few weeks at home, the lad
said that he came to Ottumwa, worked
about month at the packing house
and then began work at the Ballingall
hotel. He said at first he was employ
ed as an elevator boy and later was
changed to the services Of a bell hop.
The witness stated that he did not
have any trouble with any of the en-
ployers, either in Oklahoma or while
here and that it was while employed
at the Ballingall during the late win
ter months of 1913, that he first met
Henry Simons, the president Of the
Western Hosiery Co., Of Chicago.
Mr.. Simons, at that time, according
to the witness, was out with his spring
hosiery samples and he went with the
travelling man at the mans request,
acting in the capacity Of sample boy
and packer; his work being to unpack
the cases and keep the sample room In
shape when they were showing theiI
wares to the different customers. Ha
then, after he had finished his spring
work with Mr.. Simons, went home and
stayed in and near Lancaster all Of
that summer with the exception Of
few weeks when he went to Bloom
neld to work on paving Job beina
done there at that time.
Goes With slmons Again.
Early that fall the boy received
word from Mr.. Simons, telling him
that he was wanted again for the fall
campaign, and to come into the Chi
cago house for few weeks, to work
inside before going out on the road.
He did this and was busy for several
weeks, packing cases In the shipping
department. After that he went out
on the road for the fall work and leav-
ing Mr.. Simons about November 1,
1913, went home to Lancaster. In
few days after arriving there he re-
ceived word from Mr.. Simons that a
Mr. Sossna, who was the proprietor of
a chain of five and ten cent stores In