Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-06-24
ELMO c. TOMPkINS CHARGED
WITH KILLING HENRY ALEX
AMBER, OF FERGUSON.
BODY FOUND IN LINN
CREEK ON APRIL II
Tomokins Arrested by Sheriff Edgar
After Tompkins Had Had Long In
terview With County Attorney Ray
p. Scott-State Claims Motive Was
Robbery First in Drunken Row.

the murder of Henry Alexander, of
linear Ferguson, whose body was found
in Linn creek in the rear of 21s Player
street Tuesday, April II. The charge
was filed by County Attorney Ray P.
Scott in Justice Peek's office, and was
sworn to by AleXander's brother Jack
Alexander, living one half mile west
of Ferguson.
Tompkins' arrest followed long
conference with County Attorney Scott
in the latters office in the Masonic
temple. When the conference ended,
which Scott said today developed
nothing. Sheriff Edgar arrested Temp
kins and locked him in jail.
Son Discovers Body.
A peculiar detail that develops now
in connection with the arrest is that
it was Tompkins stepson Floyd Clark,
aged IA, who is said to have discov-
cred Alexander's body in the creek,
and who hurried home to tell his
mother. Mrs. Tompkins notified the
police. The Tompkins home is about
a block east Of where the body was
Found in driftwood back of where the
garden of Mrs. Adelia B. Johnson dips
down into the creek bed. The rear Of
the Tompkins property runs to the
creek bank, and it is only little moe
than a block along the creek from
Tompkins cottage to the drift that
presumably caught and held the body
as 1t hoaled down stream. All along
the creek, on both sides, the gardens
end in a fringe Of thick weeds and
brush that make the water Of the
creek, which runs between high banks
invisible except from on the very
banks.
AIlese Murder About April II.
The complaint alleges the murder
was committed ION or about April IL"
If this is a fact the trees, brush and
weeds that cover the banks OF 1.-The
creek and hide it from view may ex-
plain why the body was not dscov
cred sooner.
The theory Of the state. according
to County Attorney Scott, is that the
motive for the murder was either rob-
berry, or that Alexander was killed in
a drunken fight oyer a card game in
which Tompkins and others are al
legged TO have sat in the second or
third Saturday night before the Tues
day when the body was found. I
Where the row occurred, or where
the card game was played. or who
were members Of the gang. have not
been divulged. It is known, tho, that
no other arrests have been made.
Inquest Divulges Assault.
Evidence procured by the officers
and disclosed by physicians at the
coroners inquest indicated that I'M
consciousness or even death, had
been caused by assaul Two severe
bruises were found on the forehead
when the body was dragged from the
creek. These indicated either assault,
or were caused when the body was
thrown or fell into the creek. This
evidence. pointing to murder, was
given more weight when physicians
made a post norton examination and
testified at the inquest that Alexander
was dead when the body entered the
water, for no water was found in the
lungs.
Investigation Revived.
Evidence furnished to and procured
by County Attorney Scott and Sheriff
J. G. Edgar within the last two weeks
caused an investigation of the case TO
be renewed This evidence satisfied
the Officers lIdL lhcl "oS w.
dence to hold Tompkins for the
murder.
Tompkins is said to have denied all
knowledge Of the crime in the con-
ference with County Attorney Scott
Friday night. He repeated the denial
to T.-R. reporter who saw him in
Jail this forenoon. s......
Declares He Is Innocent.
I'm not guilty" said Tompkins. Il
don't know anything about this crime.
I've been a sober. hard working man.
II can prove that by the neighbors
I've been with my family constantly
and I haven't taken drink for more
! than a year.
! Questioned il he ever did drink
| Tompkins admitted that he used to
drink some.
That he knew that he was going to
| be arrested and that he had time to
| escape before the officers closed in on
| him, Tompkins advanced as proof of
his innocence.
I've known for a week" said he,
that would probably be arrested for
this crime. I didn't try to get away
because I'm innocent. They haven't
got anything on me for this because
! I'm not guilty"
| Has No knowledge Of Row.
! Questioned specifically as TO whether
or not he was one of gang that in
| Guided Alexander. who ''rowed,' or
were in a poker game that broke up
in fight. Tompkins denied all knowl-
! edge of any such incident
! IT don't know Alexander he said.
and he added that so far as he knew
| Alexander had never been in the
neighborhood of Player and Second
street He denied also that he had
ever gambled.
Lived Here Five Years.
Tompkins said he was As years of
age and that he was mason and con-
crete worker. He has done contract
ing in a small way during the last
year or so.
/ Tompkins said he had lived mere for
I five years. About the first year OF
that time the Tompkins family lived
4 on the n. A. Evans farm, west Of the
1 city, Tompkins said. Since then they