Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-24
HELD PENDING OUTCOME OF
INVESTIGATION OF
SHOOTING.
MRS. MoReAN's CON EDITION
SHOWS LITTLE IMPROVEMENT
Story Of Turbulent Married Life Of
Mrs. Morgan Related by Sister,
Mrs. Floyd Roberts, Of London
Mills, Ill.-Polieeman's Story Does
Not Tally With Drivers Narrative.

Following a day Of investigation of
the shooting Sunday afternoon re-
su!ting in the probable fatal injury
OF Mrs. Rhoda Morgan, and the
wounding of her husband, Charles
W. Morgan. at the latter's apart
ments, 10 South Third avenue, Coun-
~ Attorney A. B. Hoover, directed
that Morgan be detained until fur
Their evidence might De secured. Nor
san spent the night in the county
Jail. No charge has been filed
against Morgan but IL is the inten-
ton OF the county attorney to hold
him until it can be established who
dld the shooting.
Mrs. Morgan's condition today was
said to be fully as good as Monday,
ana early this morning there were
encoura bling signs of slight improve
ment, especially as the patients
temperature was about normal. She
rested well last night, for the first
time since the tragedy. In her lucid
moments, which have become more
frequent since Monday noon, Mrs.
Morgan has been able to reply to
questions put by the county attorney
and others regarding the shooting.
Mrs. Morgan Repeats Story.
Four times Mrs. Morgan has made
the same statement regarding the
tragedy, each time charging Morgan
with the shooting. Sunday Mrs.
Morgan told Sister Luke, Of the
Deaconess, that Margan fired the
shot. Monday morning a similar
statement was made to Mrs. Charles
c. Dollarhide. Monday afternoon
the statement was repeated to the
county attorney, and Monday night,
for the fourth time, the brief story
was told to Mrs. Floyd Roberts, Of
London Mills, Ill, sister Of Mrs.
Morgan, who arrived on an evening
train.
Il was largely on the statements
Of Mrs. Morgan and other evidence,
which has tended TO tear down the
original theory of the police that
Mrs. Morgan fired all the shots. that
has caused the detention of the
husband.
contradicts Poli,sman's Story.
Officers "offman, who was first
called to the Morgan apartment after
the shooting, stated Monday that
Mrs. Morgan had said that she did
the shooting, but according to a
statement of Charles Smith, patrol
driver, who took the officer to the
house and who accompanied Coffman
up the stairs 10 the scene Of the
tragedy, Mrs. Margan was not heard
to mention the shooting nor to say
a word after the arrival of the officer.
She was moaning, according to the
driver, but he did not hear her
speak. smith says he remained on
the upper floor with Cofman and
aided in making an investigation OF
the rooms. He was not at all times
close to Coffman but thinks It i'm
probable that Mrs. Morgan could
have made an intelligent statement
after their arrival. Monday night
officer JCoffman reiterated that his
statement regarding what Mrs. Nor
gan said was the truth.
DR.. Callison, who arrived soon
after. stated that Mrs. Morgan made
no statement after he reached the
house.
Tracing Record Of Morgan.
That the married life of Mrs. Nor
gan had been unhappy was the evil
dence volunteered by neighbors and
friends, who assisted in tracing the
| past record of Morgan.
Mrs. Roberts. sister OF Mrs. Nor
gan, who came Monday night from
| her London Mills home, today told
| the story of Morgan and the sad mar
rted life OF her sister. Mrs. Morgan
J and Mrs. Roberts are daughters Of