The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1918-08-22
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
Prominent Wayne County Farmer
Kills His Neighbor and Then
Committed Suicide.

morning three miles east or CofyuoH,
when Adam Holman took ms shol
gun and killed Ed Snyder. the SHOOT
Ing occurring in the public highway
just west of the Heilman home, al
ter which Holman went to his own
home and shot himself in the head
with the shot gun, blowing Off the
whole side Of his face
Mr. Heilman lived until O'Clock
in the afternoon, when he passed
seriousness after his self-lnfllcted
wound. ,o
The shooting occurred about 1880
in the morning, and was witnessed
by Mrs. Henry Alexander, who was
in the yard at her home, about
hundred yards from the scene OF me ne
affected by the shock that she was
unable to talk about it. The shoot
ing was also seen by a small Snyder
boy, who states that Mr.. Snyder
started to run, when he was brought
down by the shot.
After the shooting Mr.. Heilma1n
leading to his home, sat down by
the side of the road, and attempted
to shoot himself With the gun, but
seemingly shot over his shoulder, in
stead OF into his head. From this
point he turned into the road lead,
ing to his home, and met Mr.: ana
them he had killed Ed Snyder and
intended to kill himself. Mr.. Clark
demonstrated with him and went in
to the yard of the Holman home,
when Heilman threatened to kill him
if he attempted to take the gun from
him.
ton, called his young son and Or
dered the boy to get him some shells
which the boy refused to do. His
father grabbed him and choked him.
and threatened to beat him with the
gun unless he procured the shells.
The boy got the shells and gave to
his father, who went to the SCUM
residence and in less than a minute
the report of the gun was heard and
Heilman was found on the ground,
with the side of his face shot away,
the lower jaw, tongue, a part OF his
nose and lip being gone or hanging
by shreds Of flyesh.
home and medical aid summoned,
but it was seen that it was only a
question of short time until he
would die
The double tragedy is the result
OF worry over a long estrangement
between d. w; Snyder, a brother OF
u ohSu anu f mii,u,t ma ~,
more, D. w. Snyder owning the
farm on which his brother lives at
the present time, which is just west
of the Heilman farm. Mr.. Heilman
and d. w. Snyder have never been
able to agree on anything, except
that they did not like each other,
other. Neither had good word for
the other, and instead of trying to
patch up their differences they
brooded over the fancied wrongs
done, one to the other.
In this feud the remainder of the
Heilman and Ed Snyder were seem
ingly good friends, and always were
except they did not
change work, as farmers generally
do, this being explained by the fact
that D. w. Snyder did not want
Heilman on his farm and by chang
ing work Heilman would have to go
This trouble with D.. w. Snyder
has preyed on Heilman's mind for
several years. and it is said he has
walked the floor many nights, wor-
rying over some grievance, although
this was not generally known
On the day before the tragedy the
son of Mr.. Helman had some words
outfit, where all were working, in
Guiding Ed Snyder, and it is sup
posed he told his father of the oc-
currence.
That night Mr.. Heilman was great
ly excited, and after retiring it is
ed the floor the greater part of the
night
When asked by Mrs. Heilman to go
to bed and sleep he answered that
he could not sleep, that "Snyder's
were driving him crazy
Early in the morning he procured
his shot gun and mounting a horse
near the Snyder residence. 1t is
thought he discovered Mr.. Snyder in
the Snyder barnyard, or starting to
come up the road with a team, rid !
ing one horse and leading the 9TH
er. Heilman tied his horse in the
south part of the field and walked
where he evidently waited until
Snyder came up. 1t is not known
there were any words or
not, but it is thought Heilman threat
ened to shoot Snyder, who probably
ran to grab the gun, when Heilman
shot him, the cad taking effect in
the top of the left shoulder and neck,
evidently causing instant death.
,
found shortly after by men from
crew from the Wray farm,
just east of the scene Of the shoot
ing, and taken to his home, life be-
ing extinct when the men reached
The body, which was lying on it's
face, in the middle of the road. i
That Heilman was absolutely in
sane at the time Of the shooting
there is no question, as. all his acts
we're those of an insane person. '
That an honored citizen such as Mr..
Snyder should lose his life and the
.areer of Adam HeilmaB should be
.hus finished casts gloom over the
entire community, and all people
sympathize deeply with the families
If both men in the tragedy, the /
worst ever occurring in this county. !
The funeral services of Mr.. Sny- !
Ter were held yesterday, while that |
IF Mr.. Heilman are to be held to- |
lay. !
MIR. Snyder leaves wife and two
children, while Mr.. Heilman leaves !
, wife. who has just returned from |
J., fol Sc in