The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-07-09
YANKTO|N|I|' 'Gt'||R GIRL is y
SLAIN BY CRAzED
INDIAN IN YARD
An * Convict Holds
Sweetheart at Bay
With Gun.
CRIME REVOLVING
CRIME REVOLVING
Enraged Relatives Nearly Kill
Murderer, Who Is Quar-
ter Breed.

YanktOn, S. D.-The coroner's Jury
investigating the death of Miss Nellie
Brewer last night, was still in session
at 2 O'Clock this afternoon. New de-
velopments are believed to be under
consideration. The public was barred
from the investigation.
Yankton, S. DIN one of the most
sensational crimes in South Dakota
in recent years, Charles Bowman, a
quarter-kreed Indian from Wagner,
S. D.. killed his cousin, Miss Nellie
Brewer, by shooting her twice
through the breast and once through
the head.
The killing occurred in the stock
yards shortly after 9 o'clock, while
the girl'sIparents, Mr.. and Mrs. Riley
Brewer, land her sweetheart, Ralph
Ford, were endeavoring to break
their way into the enclosure, from
which they had, been driven by the
Indian at the point of a gun.
AS soon as the shots were fired,
both men rushed into the yard and
nearly killed Bowman with a beer
bottle. The crime occurred a short
distance back of the tents of the
Sells-Floto circus, where the Indian
had dragged the girl.
Indian Dangerous Man.
From all reports, Bowman had
been greatly infatuated with the girl,
who was engaged to De married on
July % to Mr.. Ford. While under the
influence of liquor, on previous DC
casions he had threatened the lives
of both the girl and her sweetheart
He is said to have been intoxicated
and crazed with liquor at the time
of the crime. ~ J
The victim of the crime, with M
Ford and her parents, was standin,
on the circus grounds last evenin,
when Bowman, s~appFoached: Hts de
meanor was threatening and the girl
jumped in front of her sweetheart
apparently fearing that the Indian in
tended t sshoot him.
Bowman drew agun and, compel;
led the gifl to go with him back Of
the circus tents. Her relatives and
Mr.. Ford followed at a distance, be
ing kept away@by thesgun Of the@1n-
dian. He finally wrenched a board
from the enclosure of the stock
yard, forcing the girl, to enter.
Police We're Summoned.
In tho meanwhile, Mr.. Ford had
become frantic and telephoned FOL
the police. In the space of a few mo.
ments. they heard the girl scream
in agony and then heard three shots
fired. They rushed inside and found
Bowman bending over the body Of
tho will DIV <1io {s-,@ ~01;oo bod nv
rived. they found the father. mother
and sweetheart of the girl in an al.
most crazed condition, with Bowman
lying nearby, his head almost beaten
to a pulp and a blood-stained beer
bottle nearby.
The Indian was rushed to a hospi-
tai by the police and the body of the
girl taken to the morgue. BY this
morning, the Indian had recovered
consciousness. To local newspaper
men, this morning he declared thai
he remembered events leading up "a
the crime, but of that he had no rec
objection. *
The city Of Yankton is greatly stir
red by the crime and there has been
considerable talk on the streets this
morning. A, coroner's jury was sum
moned today and went into secre'
session this afternoon. Mi. Ford was
locked in the county jail as q materi
al witness for the state, although eff
forts will be made to have him re
leased under bail.
Bowman has q bad reputation IL
the vicinity of Yankton. Less thar
a year ago he vas released from tn,
p%enitentiary. He was known to b.
dangerous when under the influence
of liquor. The revolver with which b,
is believed to have killed the girl wa
purchased only recently.
Miss Brewer and Mr.. Ford hav'
been engaged to be married for SOM
time. Their furniture already has
been purchased In preparation TO
the coming event. Mr.. Ford has al
ways borne a good reputation aroun'
Yankton.
MT MA N