Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-30
TRY EDITOR FOR MURDER.
Missouri Editor Stabbed Judge i
Court Room at Richmond, Mo.

fnisSCuTI GutSoF StdOpcc SGO9c VI
Court Room at Richmond. Mo.
Richmond, Mo-, Sept 30-Of wide
spread interest thruout not only Mis-
souri, but the Middle West Ia the trial
OF Robert S. Lyon, Editor OF the Rich
moad ConservatOr, on charge Of first
degree murder in the stabbing to death
Of Judge Frank P. Divelbliss Of the
house here, April Z. The trial Is set
for the October term OF the Ray coun-
ty circuit court, beginning Wednesday.
Lyon was arraigned In circuit court
here May II, a coroner's Jury returning
the verdict that Judge Divelbltss came
to his death from knife wounds inflict-
ed by Robert S. Lyon" Following this
announcement, Lyon was charged with
murder IN the first degree and his bond
was placed at $4,000. Lyon Is now
out on bond ~ prominent business
men and farmers from all sections Of
the county signing his bond.
The stabbing OF Judge DiveIbliss oc-
CURED IN q corridor of the Ray coun-
ty court house. There were no eye
witnesses. Judge Divelbliss was stand
ing in the office OF G, e. Meyer, cir
cult Clerk, the morning Of the tragedy,
when Lyon entered The Judge left
the room and proceeded toward the Of
flee Of Sheriff c. W. Higdon, intend
ing to remain there, according to a
statement made by Judge Divelbliss.
until Lyon had transacted his business.
In a dirnly lighted hall, Lyon later met
Judge Divelbliss. According to a state
ment by Judge Divelbliss, Lyon threw
his arm around the judges neck ana
began welding a knife.
The Judge was stabbed nine times.
eight cuts being in the abdomen and
one in the lower chest near the heart
He was taken to his home. where he
died Of his wounds the evening Of
April 10. Lyon surrendered to the sher-
| riff following the stabbing.
The trial promises to revolve about
four bits Of evidence said to have been
preserved by the prosecution and the
defense. These are the pocket knife
with which Judge Divelbliss was stab
bed, the judges dying statement, a
broken umbrella belonging to Lyon
and the editors coat, said to have
three knife cuts In 1t. The knife and
the dying statement are in the pos
session Of the prosecutor. D. A. Thomp-
son. Ownership of the knife has not
| been established, Lyon, IN statement
he is said to have made, asserted the
! knife fell from the Judges pocket dur
| ing the scu+t!e II inc nail and ih.t
| he picked It UP and used it in self de-
| Tense.
A small town newspaper fight and a
heated political campaign resulting in
the breaking Of former friendships are
said to be back Of the incident In the
two campaigns for the circuit judge
Ship Lyon supported Judge Divelbliss,
| but in the Democratic congressional
primary Of 1918 Lyon took the side of
! Representative ]. w. Alexander, who
| was opposed by Judge Dtvelbliss. Dur
ing the campaign, Lyon said the Judge
made q speech attacking him personal
| ly, and that sit might have been con-
sidered sufficient provocation to shoot
a man" The News, q staunch support
er OF the circuit judge, printed smart
| ing editorial attacks on Lyon. for which
the editor of the Conservation is said "
| have held Judge Diyelbliss responsible
| Judge Divelbliss attracted wide at