Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-05-17
bEASL.EY'S RE-
PUTAT|ON BAD
Montgomery Gill; News Ac-
cuses him of Draft
Dodging and Other
Crimes.
HAD OUT
Had Also Married Another
Woman Since Leaving
Webster City.
HAD WARRANTS OUT

The Montgomery CID News, pub
lishcd at Hillsboro, some twenty mile:
north of Greensburg, which is the Gun
ty seat of Bond county. has the follow
ing interesting news story in its issue
Of last Thursday concerning Harley O
Beasley. who is well known in that seq
ton Of the country:
Harley Beasley, son of the late J
u. Beasley, who died Of infuneza al
his farm south of Vanburensburg. al
the southeast corner of Montgomery
county, about six months ago, shot
and killed his wife and their two
little boys at their home in Webtsel
City, Iowa, Sunday and as we go tC
press the Officers have been unable tC
locate the murderer as he disappeared
after committing the terrible crime.
Harley Beasiey is about % years old,
weighs about 165 pounds and is Il ratll-
er good looking young man. He was
born and raised on the farm south OF
Vanburensburg where his mother and
three brothers, Forest, Emil and Nor
maj now live.
Harley never was a success as the
head Of a family and failed to provide
for his wife, who afterwards left him.
He was continually getting into
trouble and had the general reputation
Of being dishonest and unreliable. He
was also high tempered and figured in
considerable trouble, although nothing
of a serious nature until the beginning
OF the war.
Evades Draft.
At that time Beasley was not liv-
ing with his wife but when in danger
ri being drafted he resumed relations
with his wife and as he then belonged
to the militia at Vandalia, he secu:cd
exemption from military service by
swearing that he was a married
and had two children dependent upon
him.
After securing exemption IRON ser
vice, Beasley failed to provide for his
wife and she went TO Webster City,
Iowa, taking the two little boys With
her. 1t then became generally known
that Beasley was never legally married
to the Koonce woman and about a year
ago Beasley married Miss Lena Rad
amacher Of Va~nburensbnrg. He had
heard that she had $500 in the bank
but after marrying her he learned that
the sum was only $50 and he did not
live with his new wife.
Recently Beasley brought the eldest
of the little boys home with him and
his mother has been keeping the child.
The federal officers We're notified
Of the fact that Beasley had lodged the
draft by making false affidavits and Il
federal warrant was issued for his
arrest. The sheriffs of Bond. Mont
g0mery and Fayette counties were no.
titled to arrest him and he narrowly
escaped being caught ear Fillmore
only last week. A relative came to his
aid, however, and carried him out of
the community in All auto.
Suspected Wife.
Beasley evidently took his little boy
and went straight to Webster City,
Iowa, where he killed his wife, prob
ably because he thought she reported
him to the federal authorities.
Harley came back to Vanburensburg
several months ago from Iowa and
at that time he was walking on
crutches and he told acquaintance that
his wife had stuck a butcher knife in
his leg when they were having a fight.
The remains of the murdered woman
and her two little boys were sent to
Mulberry Grove for burial. the funeral
being held there OF Thursday Of this
week.
The murdered woman is survived by
her parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Henry
KoOnce, Of Mulberry Grove, and by a
sister and brother.
Harley Beasley has a mother and
three borthers living in this county
near Vasburensburg and he also has a
brother, Alma, who works in a garage
at Mulberry Grove. and a sister, Cc:dir,
wife of Edgar Tedrick of WOburn, III.
1t will be remembered that Robert
Beasley. al uncle of Harley, was tried
for murder in this county, and acquit-
ted about twelve years ago. Bob BeaS-
ley and Il companion named Smith.
Guarreled V G a girl at Vanburens-
burg and Beasley killed Smith, claim
ing he did so in self defense.