Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-15
YOUNG MCCORMICK IN coNFEs.
SION. SAYS WOMAN cAARMER
HAD NO PART.
POLICE BELIEVE HE Is
SHIELDING PARAMouR
Confession Of Couple Arrested in Chi.
easo For Crime Near Hedrick Shows
Murder Was Most Brutal Mecor-
mick Believed Msllott Possessed
Large Sum Of Money.

Chicago, Oct. 15.-Clarence Nc
Cormick, Missouri farmer boy, and
Mrs. Ruth Mccullough, a snake
charmer." for love of whom McCor-
mick shot and killed irwin Mellott,
started last night back to Ottumwa,
Iowa, to stand trial on murder charges.
Before leaving. Mccormick, not yet
10 years old, born and reared in the
little Missouri town Of Lancaster,
told how he had been inspired by
the charms of Mrs Mccullough to
join the street show with which she
was connected. Mellott, lured by the
excitements of the travelling show and
son of a wealthy farmer had just be-
come its owner and Mccormick was to
act as a barker.
Motive Was Robbery.
To get money to wed Mrs. McCul-
Tough. who was to get divorce, Nc
Cormick shot and killed Mellott, ac-
cording to his confession to the po-
lice. Mccormick and Mrs. McCul-
Tough then walked to Hedrick. Iowa,
Stole a ride on freight train to
Monmouth. ILL.,. and then came to Chi
cago on a passenger train.
A letter to a boy friend from Nc
Cormick caused them to be traced
here and they were arrested just af-
ter they had spent the last of the
money taken from Mellott. In his
signed confession. Mccormick exoner-
ated Mrs. Mccullough.
The two. We're in the back seat of
Mellott's automobile. Oct 6, mile
from Hedrick Il fired four times y
said Mccormick. "but the bullets were
so small they onlys stunned Mellott
Then l. beat him with monkey
wrencha until he was dead"
Mccormick told the police that he
met Mrs Mccullough AT Oskaloosa.
her former home where she was known
as Ruth Mcf.lrea.
Was With Street sho,v.
she was with street show which
! exhibited five footed COW and fiji g
snakes said the prisoner. Il met
| Mellot;, when he got the sho,v ana
| sf0e irf exchange for an automobile.
MellottH hired me as barker and 1
was tosget a good salary if the ex-
! hiptiof made money. 1t vent broke
q Milton. Iowa
/ Mrs. Mccullough said she married
w. II. McCnllough, cook and bar
! tender with a floating address, two
years ago She said she did not
know whether he had divorced her.
Mccormick said that Mrs McCul-
lough's maiden name was McElrea
and that she was the daughter of a
! Knoxville, Iowa. farmer.
Taken in Ottumwa.
Mccornaick's confession follows:
ON or about oct 6. 1914, j got a
man BY the name Of Mcilott 10 take
Mrs. Ruth Mccullough and myself out
IN his automobile, telling him we We're
going to meet one Jessie Springer oi
Pacilwood. Iowa. OF course, Jessie
Springer was not there aud we went
| from Packwood to Oskaloosa. arriving
there about $50 y. m. From OskalOo>a
We started back TO Ollie. iowa.
When we were about a mile from
Hedrick / decided to shoot Meliot Ia
get his money. fred four snots. He
did not die instantly and resisted me
when l took his money and watch.
got S23 in currency and his watch
which pawned for So.
Takes All Blame.
MIR Mellott leaned over in his seat
after l shot him and the car ran into
sand bank. I shut off the gasoline
and the car stopped. Mellott was iy-
ing still in the car before lett it,
wish to state that Mrs Ruth sMcCul-
Tough. who was with me in the auto
mobile. had no part in planning or
killing Mellott.
My sole object In killing Mr.. Mel
lott WAS to get money as had no
moneys no Job and very few clothes
for myself or Mrs. Mccullough.
thougha Mr.. Mellott had about s1Ol
on his9person whenlI decided Sto kill
him.. asShe was farmer E,-
The young womans statement was
brief:
Clearance Mccormick said ne needed
money and was going to get some and
saw him put revolver in his pocket
but l did not know what he was going
TO- do. with the revolver. That evening
he.and I went out with Mr.. Mellott in
his Automobile.
Crime About Midniaht.
'1t was about midnight when Clar.
ence Mccormick shot Mr. Mellott ]