CHAPTER XV

A CHAPTER OF TRAGEDY

SUICIDES AND ACCIDENTAL DEATHS THE MURDER OF JAMES RICHARDSON-THE BASKET TRIAL THE SUSPECTED MURDER OF MRS. DULIN-ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY.

A chapter of tragedies is not pleasant reading, but it is a part of the history of the county. The tragedies of twenty years, between 1880 and 1900, have been here collected. They consist of thirteen suicides, twenty-one accidental deaths, two murders, one suspected murder, though a trial resulted in acquittal, and one attempted bank robbery.

The suicides were mostly caused by either domestic or financial troubles, while the cause of the two murders can be traced almost directly to the use of intoxicating liquors.

Of the accidental deaths, four were caused by live stock, five by railway trains; the other cases are nearly all assigned to different causes.

SUICIDES AND ACCIDENTAL DEATHS

On January 27, 1880, S. M. McVicker, a prominent citizen and farmer living on the Hawley town plat, about a mile and a half east of Blairsburg, went into his cattle yard and was attacked by a bull and so badly gored and bruised that he died January 30th.

About February 10, 1880, a young man named Johnson was chopping wood in the timber near Hook's Point, and about two miles from his home. A limb of a tree fell upon him, striking him upon the head, and cracking his skull from the back of his head near the ear, clear over the top of his head and down to his eye. As badly hurt as he was, he managed to walk home, but died the next day from his injury.

In July, 1880, John Eller, a farmer residing south of Williams, was riding a horse and carrying a gun. A small thunder shower overtook him and he was struck by lightning. The lightning struck the gun and was communicated by it to Mr. Eller's person. It tore off his clothes, melted a silver watch in his pocket, also melted the metal tacks in his shoes and a door key in his pocket. It marked him in stripes down the body and killed the horse he rode. The horse fell upon his leg and in this condition he was found some time afterwards. He was insensible and supposed to be dead, but he revived and though it was thought that he was so badly injured that he could not survive, he recovered and was still living in 1892.

In August of that year, George Collins, residing about four miles north of Webster City, went into an old well to clean it out and was stricken with what is commonly known as poison damps. He called for help and his father went down to help him and succeeded in getting him part way up when he found himself being so overcome with the damps that he could not bring him further and was obliged to let him fall back and only succeeded in getting out again himself with great difficulty. Other help was called at once, but George was dead when taken out.

He

Luther Sherman, aged seventy-three, committed suicide at Webster City, February 17, 1883. He was living with a son. He had had much domestic trouble which was assigned as the cause of his being mentally unbalanced. went to the barn as was his custom and was found later hanging from a rope attached to the rafters.

On May 7, 1883, occurred the tragic death of Isaac H. Brown, of Williams. who committed suicide by shooting himself with a double barreled shotgun. Financial troubles led to the rash act. Brown had been speculating on the board of trade and to cover losses had used money that came into his hands as postmaster and school treasurer. Fear of discovery and disgrace drove him to desperation and unbalanced his mind. He was a very highly respected man in the community where he lived, and had the unbounded confidence of everyone. He no doubt fully intended to replace all the money appropriated, but continued losses made discovery only a question of a short time and he had not the courage to face disgrace.

Van E. Perry, the little four-year-old son of L. G. Perry, was drowned at Bell's mill on the 4th of June, 1883. It is supposed that the little fellow tried to cross one of the timbers thrown across the head of the mill race, and fell in. When discovered, the little body had been drawn under the water wheel and was badly mutilated.

Another suicide in 1883 was that of Frederick Limping, a farmer living south of Williams. He loaded a gun and leaving the ramrod in the barrel, discharged it into the pit of his stomach. He was about thirty-five years of age and financial difficulties caused the deed.

Early in April, 1884, Richard Stevens, a hotel keeper at Jewell, was struck by an early morning train and killed. No one knew how the accident occurred. He left the house in the morning, saying he was going to the 3 o'clock train. When he did not come back at once, his wife thought he had gone to the depot to wait for the express. The conductor of the morning train found the body with the head severed.

Milo Tuttle, a prominent farmer of Liberty township died the 14th of April, 1884. He went to the barn about 4 o'clock in the morning to look after some horses that were fighting. In attempting to separate them, he was kicked in the abdomen and his death came about two days later. He was about fifty-five years of age, was well to do and prominent.

October 3, 1886, occurred a sad accident in Clear Lake township, resulting in the almost instant death of Mrs. Lewis Carey. The hired man had taken the gun out to shoot a hawk, but hearing a noise at the barn, set the gun down by the wood pile, while he went to see what caused the noise. Just at this time Mrs. Carey and her little son came out to get some wood and in some unaccount

able manner, the little fellow tipped the gun over. As it fell it discharged, striking Mrs. Carey in the side and breast. She lived but a very short time after the accident.

In December, 1886, a tragedy occurred in Lyon township. Frank Cockran and some neighbors were butchering hogs and Frank was handling the sticking knife. He had caught a hog and was about to use the knife when his feet slipped and he fell, the knife penetrating his abdomen. The wound killed him almost instantly.

A family feud between Hoovers and Dutchers, farmers near Homer, resulted in a shooting scrape in June, 1887. Hoover went over to Dutchers to complain about the latter's chickens and did so in such an abusive manner that Dutcher became furious and seizing his revolver, shot Hoover in the side. He was arrested and held under bond of $1,000 which was promptly signed by his neighbors.

In the latter part of January, 1888, Rev. W. W. Nutting, a Universalist minister, at Webster City, attempted to commit suicide by taking poison. Mr. Nutting had been at Storm Lake to preach the previous Sunday and on his return found that his wife had taken her child and left home, leaving word that she did not care to live with him any longer. He also found the town was alive with stories of cruelty. This alarming condition drove Nutting to desperation and resulted in the rash act. Prompt medical assistance saved his life. He was a strong preacher and had been particularily effective in his sermons on domestic problems. Nutting retained his position as minister, and about a month later, after a few days absence, he returned bringing Mrs. Nutting with him.

In May, 1888, Robert Glasgow was suddenly killed by a falling derrick at East Bridge in Webster City. He was a workman on the bridge at the time of the accident.

THE MURDER OF JAMES RICHARDSON

June 23, 1888, Ringling Brothers, then conducting a one-ring wagon show, visited Webster City and this visit was the occasion of a terrible tragedy. Thomas Basket, a local character, who was partly intoxicated, shot and killed James W. Richardson, an attache of the circus. The following account of the murder appeared in the Graphic:

Murder-A shooting affray occurred at the show ground last Saturday evening at about nine o'clock, resulting in the death of James Richardson, a man of about twenty-five years of age and a resident of Providence, Rhode Island.

From the many conflicting stories afloat, we gather the following facts:

In the evening Roll Brewer who was partially drunk threw a handful of peanut shells into Tom Basket's window and made an insulting remark to Tom. Tom followed him to the show grounds, knocked him down, kicked him in the face in a most brutal manner. Mr. Brewer's daughter was present and she to protect her father took a hand in the fight. Tom knocked her down and was giving her rather rough usage, when some of the showmen interfered. Tom. went down town again. He either had his revolver with him, or went after it

and in a short time returned to the grounds, threatening to "do up" the show generally.

When he returned to the grounds, one of the showmen told him to leave, as they had lost enough by his disturbance already. Tom refused to go and a fight occurred, the showman knocking him down. Several others took a hand and Tom was being roughly handled. Just then Marshal Hathway and Deputy Sheriff Atkinson arrested Basket, and Mr. Richardson coming up from the tent, threw himself between the officers and the showmen, to stop the row, remarking to the officers: "You take care of him, and I'll take care of these fellows." The officers had removed Tom until they were separated from the crowd twelve or fifteen feet, when Tom, who was resisting, whipped out his gun and fired— Atkinson says twice, but most of the others say once-shooting Mr. Richardson in the abdomen. He died at about 7 o'clock Sunday evening. Tom was placed in jail.

As soon as Mr. Richardson was dead, Coroner McCannon was summoned and arrived in the city yesterday morning.

A jury consisting of C. T. Fenton, J. M. Funk and S. S. Doak was impaneled and an inquest held, and a verdict as above indicated was rendered.

The whole affair is a most disgraceful and unfortunate one. The showmen are, so far as we can see, blameless in the matter. Indeed, we have never seen a more peaceable and gentlemanly set of men together than they appeared to be, and their interference to protect the woman and to keep order upon their ground, was nothing more than they were bound, in duty to the public who attended their entertainment, to do.

The murdered man was the magician, fire eater, and man who lifted the heavy weights in the circus. He was a man of splendid physical development. As we go to press, the funeral services are being held from the Willson House, conducted by Rev. Norris.

The preliminary examination of Mr. Basket is set for July 5th. D. C. Chase will appear for him. N. B. Hyatt will assist County Attorney Tucker in the prosecution.

Tom Basket had a fight in his saloon Saturday, in which he threw one Mr. House through the glass door, and for which he ought to have been arrested. He fought. Roll Brewer and his daughter late in the day. If the officers, whose duty it is to keep the peace and arrest law breakers, had done their duty, Basket would have been in jail and the blood of an innocent man would not now be upon his hands.

THE BASKET TRIAL

The trial of Tom Basket for the murder of Richardson was held at the February term, 1889. The jury finally selected consisted of Peter Leksell, of Marion township; Lars L. Hendrickson, of Hamilton; P. A. Swanson, of Lyon; J. II. Sweeney, of Lyon; O. N. Silvernail, of Williams; Geo. W. Kroskup, of Marion; David Hook, of Marion; H. E. Dally, of Webster; Alex Thompson, of Lyon; E. B. Miller, of Independence; Fred Lente, of Liberty; Joe Evans, of Marion.

A graphic description of the trial appeared in the Freeman of March 6th and we reproduce it here: