Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-03
BODY OF TRAMP. BARBER FOUND
BY POLICE IN DAVENPORT
SHOP. ..
PROPRIETOR OF SHOP
CHARGED WITH MURDER
James /. Ryan Said to Have Clubbeo
John Fox to Death With Curtain Pole
Third Member Of Booze Party
Charges Ryan With Crime - Second
Murder in Shop in Six Years Time.

Davenport, April 3. The body of
John A. Fox. said to have been tramp
barber was found by the police shortly
after o'clock Monday morning at
James l.. Ryan's barber shop, 104 West
Second street. 1t had lain in pool OF
blood since Saturday afternoon, while
Ryan and Isaac l.. Tracy had partici-
pated in a drunken orgy all day sun
day
Ryan is being held for the murder on
the confession of Tracy, who says that
the proprietor of the shop beat Fox
over the head with a curtain pole Sat
urday afternoon. Both Ryan and Tracy
We're found in a drunken stupor at the
rear of the shop Monday morning.
This is the shop Of which John Hass-
man was proprietor about SIX years
iaso. Hassman was murdered IN the
rear Of the shop by William Cochrane'
Fox and Ryan, according to Tracy 5
confession to the police, had been on
drunken spree for the past three weeks
Last Wednesday they were joined by
Tracy. Saturday afternoon, according
to Tracy, Fox broke curtain rod whlle
attempting to pull down the curtain III
the front window of the barber shop'
This no doubt enraged Ryan who &C
cording TO Tracy, picked up the broken
pole and struck Fox over the head, Kill
ing him. Both Ryan and Tracy re-
NAMED in the barber shop Saturday
night and all day Sunday and Sunday
night until Monday morning while
Foxs dead body was lying n the bar
Der shop back of the stove. Both were
placed under arrest by the police after
the body was discovered.
RYAN is being held on a charge of
murder, while Tracy Is being held as 4
witness RYAN, however. was too drunk
to talk when arrested so it was impos-
sible to secure a statement from nm.
Tracy at the time he made his state
ment. was also suffering from the ell
fects Of the prolonged spree and it was
with difficulty that he told the story.
Second Murder in Shop.
SATURDAYS murder is the second
murder that occurred at this barber
shop. About six years ago John Hass-
man. proprietor Of the shop, was shot
and killed by William Cochrane. Coch-
rane shot Hassman while the latter
stepped from the rear door. Cochrane
was later taken to Clinton. where he
was tried and convicted on a charge or
murder in the second degree. He was
sentenced to serve thirty five years at
the Fort Madison penitentiary. Coch-
rane died at the prison less than year
ago.
The barber shop is less than hun
dred feet from the barn in which Ar
thur Wundram was found dead about
five years ago, and resulted in Isaac
Richardson being tried on charge Of
manslaughter. Richardson. who was
proprietor of the Miller hotel bar is
said to have caused Wundram to be re-
moved to the barn, where he died dur
ing the night as a result of the cold
and alcoholism.
Tracy was one Of the BARRIERS who
was recently arrested when the raids
were made on the barber shops and the
BARRIERS charged with violating the
Sunday closing law Tracy at that
time was employed by James F.
shaughnessy. proprietor OF barbe!
shop at 324 East Second street.