Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-02
SUCH WAS EVIDENCE BROUGHT
OUT IN coRoNER's INQUEST
IN MURDER CASE.
EMPHASIZE FACT THAT
CONFER WAS UNBALANCED
Coroner's jury Secured and Facts Of
Murder Retold as Matter Of Record
Theory Of "Robhers" Completely Dis
Observation-Disclosures Examined In
clude Confer

~ that Mrs. Minnie Milan was in
fear Of John Confer, was brought out
at the first part OF the inquest conduct
ed by Coroney A. r. Lynn and County
Attorney Ray Scott at Pursells under
taking parlors this morning. A coron-
er's jury composed of T. c. Weatherly
A. c. Sharp and a. A. Nicholson, was
secured this morning, and five witness
es in the persons of Rev. and Mrs. L. E
Gallagher, DR.. j. +. Strain, Rev. G. F.
Barsalou and Oliver Gorsuch, a farmer
living near Milan's, We're examined
The inquest was adjourned at noon
until 1870.
There was very little brought out in
the testimony that was not given in
advance of the inquest, and that APP
peared in the news story OF the murder
in the Times Republican OF Thursday
evening.
Tell Of Mrs. MiIan's Fear.
The testimony given by both Rev.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gallagher, DR.. Strain and
Rev. Barsalou, all pointed TO the fact
that Mrs. Milan had been afraid OF
Confer. Mr.. Gallagher testified that
when he took the shotgun from Confer
an expression Of great relief came over
Mrs. Milan's face, and that her entire
attitude seemed TO be one OF relief. Rev.
Mr.. Barsalou testified that Mrs Milan
screamed and said the words, Bad,
bad" when Confer approached her
Confer Tells Of "Robbers."
Another important fact that was
brought out which would tend to prove
that Confer was mentally unbalanced,
civ ny Gala -ner
Barsalou and Oliver Gorsuch, that
Confer seemed in a phlegmatic state OF
mind. Barsalou said that while Confer
was communicating with DR.. Strain.
he (BarsaIou) watched Confer closely.
but was unable to detect any sign Of
emotion in his face or actions. Gorsuch
said that Confer had gone out doors
with him ard endeavored to show Cor
such how the robbers" had come into
the house. Gallaghe testified that
when Confer first came and told Gal
lagher of the fact that Milan was dead
and Mrs. Milan wounded, Confer had
the shotgun with him. Rev. Gallagher
said that Confer explained that he was
in hopes OF catching the robbers SO
be brought his gun along. The gun
was loaded. DR.. Strain testified that
there We're no indications whatever Of
any robbers having been in the house
or around the premises.
Dr.. Strain on Stand.
The exact time Of Mrs. Milan's death
was set at HAS, or when the sheriff's
car, in which she was being brought
into town, was about half way into
town Testimony that indicated that
Confer approached very near to his
victims before he fired was also given
by DR.. Strain, who said Confer could
not have been more than ten feet away
from Mrs. Milan, and not much farther
from Mr.. Milan. DR.. Strain also stated
that death came instantly to Mr.. Milan.
but that it would have been impossible
to hit both Milan and his wife with one
shot.
Altho Rev. Mr.. Barsa1ou testified that
ne was unable to account for the shots
on the west wall Of the bedroom in any
other way except that they were fred
from the outside, he stated that the
broken window glass was on the out
side. which would indicate that the
window could easily have been broken
from the inside. Rev. Mr.. Barsalou
also stated that he believed Mrs. Milan
might have staggered and fallen
against the window, thus breaking it.
Bits Of flesh and blood on the window
sill were discovered. corroborating this
theory. All of the testimony related
in Thursdays T.-R. was again given,
merely as a matter Of record.
Confer to Be on Stand.
Confer, who Thursday signed con-
fession of the crime before the coroner,
was a witness this afternoon before
the coroner's jury. Coroner Lynn's OBJ
ject in brin ging Confer into the inquest
was TO put on record the testimony
that was afforded by the confession Of
THURSDAY
The inquest will not be finished until
late this afternoon.