Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-02
MONTGOMERY RESIDENTS HOLD
MASS MEETING DESPITE vii.
KERsoN.s ARREST.
DETECTIVE ENJoMEp
FROM MAKING SPEECH
Gives Bond And Appears at Meeting
But 10 Prevented From Making Ad-
dress Thru Action Of Jones Faction
in Securing Court order-Father of
StiHinger Girls Pleads For Justice.

Red Oak citizens and residents from
all parts Of Montgomery county was
held Saturday afternoon TO raise funds
to carry out an exhaustive investiga =
years ago.
Prosecution of the guilty parties if
ferreted out, was demanded. A prellm-
mary fund of 500 to start the work
was raised at the meeting despite the
fact that J. n. Wilkerson, former Burns
detective, was arrested earlier in the
day and was enjoined by court order
from speaking when he finally appeared
at the meeting.
From the platform ii was openly
charged that an attempt is being made
to railroad" Rev George Lynn j.
Kelly, now in Jail at Logan, charge
with the crime TO the insane asylum.
Wilkerson's arrest created a sensa-
ton. He has been leading figure for
four years in the attempt TO bring the
murderer to Justice. The detective is
charged with conspiring with William
Walker, Edward Boiler and Harry
Nave, Of Atlantic, now in Jail at Corn
ing. to rob store at Villisca, owned by
r F. Jones, former state senator. 1t is
alleged that hey hoped to obtain pa
pers bearing on the murder case. Jones
has been exonerated by a grand jury
and brought suit for SANDER unsuccess-
fully against Wilkerson.
WiIkerson Muzzied.
wilkerson gave bond and returned
IN, cd q IN, to attanI q
ing. He hurried to the hall 10 tell what
he had discovered concerning the MUIR
ders, but was prevented from speaking
By restraining order served by Sher-
eff r. A. Dunn Of Montgomery county.
Tie thanked the audience for attending
the meeting. but was not permitted to
say more
The injunction prohibited Wilkerson
from holding public meetings or at
Hempting TO influence jurors. witnesses
lcr officers summoned for the trial next
AEePtember OF Lynn George J. Kelly, it
snterant clergyman.
After Wilkerson was forced TO retire
Zoe StiIlinger, father of the two girls
iwho were slain with the Moore family
lat villisca in 1872, addressed the audi
sence.
Father Pleads For Justice.
With tears streaming down his
.cheeks, he declared that he would con-
attribute money as long as he had cent
eand would work as long as a drop of
sbiood remained in his veins along the
Fines now being pursued to solve the
smurder mystery unless it is proven TO
fhim that the wrong line Of investiga
zion is being followed
Il want Justice" he said. FOR the
murder Of those two little girls of mine
whom I remember seeing for the last
Aime as they went down the road. way
ang their handkerchiefs in goodbye to
me
The reason never saw them again
was because soon after they said good
tbye to me the murderer's ak so mutt
Hated their faces that they were not fit
ITO look upon
I Clarence Miller of Red Oak declared
tthat since Rev Lynn George J. Kelly
was placed in Jail at Logan, charged
with the Villisca murders several at
ttempts have been made TO persuade
khim to go to the asylum at Clarinda.
He declared that those in authority
'have said that no one else will be in
Fdicted for the murder until Kelly IS
Hrie6
Plot to Railroad Kelly.
IF they can put Kelly in the asylum, :"
Miller said, 'he can be kept there and
1t will prevent anybody else from be-
ing tried for the Moore murder"
Others who spoke at the meeting
were Swan Rosander. L. B. Penton and
Ed Peterson. prominent Montgomery
county farmers. Harve Willett John
montgomery and ice Stillinger, of VIII
Hsca subscribed 800 each toward the
further Investigation Of the murders, J.
w NOEL and J. L Gourley of Villisca
contributed $50 each, and Swan Ros-
ander, Mrs. E. T. Ericsson, A Newall
and j. Holden s25 each and the bal
ance of the 800 funds raised was in
IS and $40 contributions
Citizens OF Red Oak are aghast at
the power apparently behind those who
seek to prevent further investigation of
the AK murders g.. rF.t F.. .r-t
These same influences. prominent
citizens allege, have prevented the dis
covery of the murderer even tho near
~ five years have passed since the two
little Stflinger girls and the entire Joe
Moore family were slain by the ak