A COFFEY COUNTY MURDER
A telegram from Burlington today says that John Allen, a merchant of Ottumwa, Coffey county, was shot and instantly killed last night about 9 o'clock. He and his wife had gone home from the store and were just entering the door, the wife in advance. Allen was shot while standing on his door-step. An alarm was raised and citizens searched the grounds. Tracks were found leading from a shrubbery to the home of a young man named James Harris. A shotgun, freshly discharged, was found in his room and also a pair of shoes were found in the fence corner identified as Harris', which fit the tracks in the soft ground. Harris was arrested and is now in jail in Burlington. Allen has been a merchant of Ottumwa a great many years, and was a highly respected citizen. There has not yet developed any cause for the cold-blooded assassination. Excitement is running high and lynching is freely talked of, yet the citizens will stand by the officers nad let the law take its course.
John Allen was postmaster under Harrison and was universally admired. It is hinted that there may be a family tragedy behind this murder.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Saturday ~ April 21, 1900)
Sunday night it was given out that Harris had been brought to Emporia for safe keeping. A double guard was put at the Coffey county jail and several Burlington citizens deputized. An attempt was made at Ottumwa to get a crowd together but by hard work of the officers, it was prevented. According to an unsupported rumor of the confession Harris admits that the murder was planned by him and Mrs. Allen and that he was to have portion of the life insurance. Harris, so statistics show, had $150 mortgage on his farm. He says the woman promised to pay it off and give him $150 besides. Harris is 26 years old, dark eyes and hair, and of a stout build. Mrs. Allen, his alleged accomplice, is a woman 33 years old and has three married daughters. Feeling is still running high and the confession has added oil to a fire. Lynching is freely talked of. On the other hand the officers say they will never give their man up. Joe Morier, a brother of the accused woman, arrived in Emporia today. He firmly believes in his sister's innocence and is consulting the Maddens.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Monday ~ April 23, 1900)
Mrs. Allen, wife of the Coffey county murdered man, was implicated in the murderer's confession and is going to stand trial. She still is firm in declaring her innocence. She has employed Madden Bros. to defend her. The preliminary will be held either Friday next or a week from Friday.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Wednesday ~ April 25, 1900)
A telegram from Burlington today says that John Allen, a merchant of Ottumwa, Coffey county, was shot and instantly killed last night about 9 o'clock. He and his wife had gone home from the store and were just entering the door, the wife in advance. Allen was shot while standing on his door-step. An alarm was raised and citizens searched the grounds. Tracks were found leading from a shrubbery to the home of a young man named James Harris. A shotgun, freshly discharged, was found in his room and also a pair of shoes were found in the fence corner identified as Harris', which fit the tracks in the soft ground. Harris was arrested and is now in jail in Burlington. Allen has been a merchant of Ottumwa a great many years, and was a highly respected citizen. There has not yet developed any cause for the cold-blooded assassination. Excitement is running high and lynching is freely talked of, yet the citizens will stand by the officers nad let the law take its course.
John Allen was postmaster under Harrison and was universally admired. It is hinted that there may be a family tragedy behind this murder.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Saturday ~ April 21, 1900)
Sunday night it was given out that Harris had been brought to Emporia for safe keeping. A double guard was put at the Coffey county jail and several Burlington citizens deputized. An attempt was made at Ottumwa to get a crowd together but by hard work of the officers, it was prevented. According to an unsupported rumor of the confession Harris admits that the murder was planned by him and Mrs. Allen and that he was to have portion of the life insurance. Harris, so statistics show, had $150 mortgage on his farm. He says the woman promised to pay it off and give him $150 besides. Harris is 26 years old, dark eyes and hair, and of a stout build. Mrs. Allen, his alleged accomplice, is a woman 33 years old and has three married daughters. Feeling is still running high and the confession has added oil to a fire. Lynching is freely talked of. On the other hand the officers say they will never give their man up. Joe Morier, a brother of the accused woman, arrived in Emporia today. He firmly believes in his sister's innocence and is consulting the Maddens.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Monday ~ April 23, 1900)
Mrs. Allen, wife of the Coffey county murdered man, was implicated in the murderer's confession and is going to stand trial. She still is firm in declaring her innocence. She has employed Madden Bros. to defend her. The preliminary will be held either Friday next or a week from Friday.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Wednesday ~ April 25, 1900)
A COFFEY COUNTY MURDER
A telegram from Burlington today says that John Allen, a merchant of Ottumwa, Coffey county, was shot and instantly killed last night about 9 o'clock. He and his wife had gone home from the store and were just entering the door, the wife in advance. Allen was shot while standing on his door-step. An alarm was raised and citizens searched the grounds. Tracks were found leading from a shrubbery to the home of a young man named James Harris. A shotgun, freshly discharged, was found in his room and also a pair of shoes were found in the fence corner identified as Harris', which fit the tracks in the soft ground. Harris was arrested and is now in jail in Burlington. Allen has been a merchant of Ottumwa a great many years, and was a highly respected citizen. There has not yet developed any cause for the cold-blooded assassination. Excitement is running high and lynching is freely talked of, yet the citizens will stand by the officers nad let the law take its course.
John Allen was postmaster under Harrison and was universally admired. It is hinted that there may be a family tragedy behind this murder.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Saturday ~ April 21, 1900)
Sunday night it was given out that Harris had been brought to Emporia for safe keeping. A double guard was put at the Coffey county jail and several Burlington citizens deputized. An attempt was made at Ottumwa to get a crowd together but by hard work of the officers, it was prevented. According to an unsupported rumor of the confession Harris admits that the murder was planned by him and Mrs. Allen and that he was to have portion of the life insurance. Harris, so statistics show, had $150 mortgage on his farm. He says the woman promised to pay it off and give him $150 besides. Harris is 26 years old, dark eyes and hair, and of a stout build. Mrs. Allen, his alleged accomplice, is a woman 33 years old and has three married daughters. Feeling is still running high and the confession has added oil to a fire. Lynching is freely talked of. On the other hand the officers say they will never give their man up. Joe Morier, a brother of the accused woman, arrived in Emporia today. He firmly believes in his sister's innocence and is consulting the Maddens.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Monday ~ April 23, 1900)
Mrs. Allen, wife of the Coffey county murdered man, was implicated in the murderer's confession and is going to stand trial. She still is firm in declaring her innocence. She has employed Madden Bros. to defend her. The preliminary will be held either Friday next or a week from Friday.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Wednesday ~ April 25, 1900)
A telegram from Burlington today says that John Allen, a merchant of Ottumwa, Coffey county, was shot and instantly killed last night about 9 o'clock. He and his wife had gone home from the store and were just entering the door, the wife in advance. Allen was shot while standing on his door-step. An alarm was raised and citizens searched the grounds. Tracks were found leading from a shrubbery to the home of a young man named James Harris. A shotgun, freshly discharged, was found in his room and also a pair of shoes were found in the fence corner identified as Harris', which fit the tracks in the soft ground. Harris was arrested and is now in jail in Burlington. Allen has been a merchant of Ottumwa a great many years, and was a highly respected citizen. There has not yet developed any cause for the cold-blooded assassination. Excitement is running high and lynching is freely talked of, yet the citizens will stand by the officers nad let the law take its course.
John Allen was postmaster under Harrison and was universally admired. It is hinted that there may be a family tragedy behind this murder.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Saturday ~ April 21, 1900)
Sunday night it was given out that Harris had been brought to Emporia for safe keeping. A double guard was put at the Coffey county jail and several Burlington citizens deputized. An attempt was made at Ottumwa to get a crowd together but by hard work of the officers, it was prevented. According to an unsupported rumor of the confession Harris admits that the murder was planned by him and Mrs. Allen and that he was to have portion of the life insurance. Harris, so statistics show, had $150 mortgage on his farm. He says the woman promised to pay it off and give him $150 besides. Harris is 26 years old, dark eyes and hair, and of a stout build. Mrs. Allen, his alleged accomplice, is a woman 33 years old and has three married daughters. Feeling is still running high and the confession has added oil to a fire. Lynching is freely talked of. On the other hand the officers say they will never give their man up. Joe Morier, a brother of the accused woman, arrived in Emporia today. He firmly believes in his sister's innocence and is consulting the Maddens.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Monday ~ April 23, 1900)
Mrs. Allen, wife of the Coffey county murdered man, was implicated in the murderer's confession and is going to stand trial. She still is firm in declaring her innocence. She has employed Madden Bros. to defend her. The preliminary will be held either Friday next or a week from Friday.
(Emporia Gazette ~ Wednesday ~ April 25, 1900)
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