Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1903 — MT AYR TRAGEDY [ARTICLE]

MT AYR TRAGEDY

Fuller Particulars of the Terrible Affair are Nov Given. Medwerfti a Former Resident of Jasger Comity. Its Wife teadent of Jcrdaa Township. Fuller particulars are now -available of the terrible tragedy in Newton county whereby Charles L Medworth, an estimable yonng farmer, and a former resident of •ffaspercomity, loet has -life. John, the murderer bad worked for Medworth going oo four years. Qe was a good band but very -moody and irritable and wonld never talk, about himself, nor tell bis name. But was always called John, '‘Dutch Jo-ha” or ■“Dutchy.” It is now stated however thait his last name wasOleton, and that he oame from Ken tacky, bnt it is not known for certain thatei-ther statement is true. John and Medworth had had some little trouble, and a neighbor of his stated to a Rensseluer man several weeks ago, that John was a man be would not keep about him. And that because Medworth had criticised a bay stack John bad put up, John- had drawn a pitchfork on him.

JohD, whose intelligence seems to have been of a low order, got it into his head, some time ago, that Medworth had been talking about him, or “telling lies on him’’ as he expressed it. Medworth, to satisfy him went with John to the parties to whom Medworth was said to have talked, and at the time eat:sfied John that he had not done bo. John continued surly and said he would leave, but at Meiworth’s request remained until the harvesting was done, and then left, about 10 days before the murder. The two men settled, but Med-

worth had not enongb money to pay John in full, and offered to go to Mt. Ayr to borrow the money, bnt John said he would wait nntil Medworth thrashed. When John went away his good feeling seemed to be restored. He went up near Pembroke, north of Fair Oaks, to work at ditching. Medworth, knowing John’s moody and dangerous nature and 4hat he still harbored the idea that he bad talked about him, followed him to Pembroke and remained with him two whole days trying to oonvinoe him that he had not so talked. When he went away he told John if he was not satisfied he would remain another day, but John said he was satisfied it was all right. Saturday night John stayed at the Grimes hotel, in Roee Lawn, and left Sunday night for Rube Gandy’s place,

where stayed until Monday morning. Monday about 11 a. m. he appeared at Medworth’a house, about five minutes before Medworth returned from a trip to Mt Ayr. John asked Mannasa Miller, the other hired man, where Mrs. Medworth was, and it is now supposed that he meditated some orime against her, perhaps to murder the whole family, luokily however, Mrs. Medworth and her children were away after black berries. When Mr. Medworth got back he got dinner and all three men ate together. John asked Medworth how his corn was and seemed to be feeling pleasantly towards him. Medworth and John then sat on the west porch while Miller began grinding a sickle, some 30 or 35 feet distance, but in full view of the other men. Very soon Miller heard a shot on the poroh and looking up saw Medworth trying to get into the house, and saw John fire another shot in

Medwoith’s back, at which Medworth partly fell, and Miller beard him say, “For God’s sake John don’t shoot me any more,” Miller did no|, as has been stated, hear any quarreling or angry talk between the two men, before he heard the shot.

Medworth on entering the house went into a room used as a pantry and shut the -door, also evidently picking up «22 sporting rifle belonging to his little boy, but, which was unloaded. John after getting into the house, went and scoured a loaded shot gun, and Milter heard him foroe the pantry door open, by rnnning against it John then shot Medworth twice more -at dose range, oaoe probably with the shot gun. John then began saturating the , carpets and doors of the bouse with coal oil. Miller' approached and wanted to get Medworth out John threatened to kill him if be did not let Medworth alone, and and said ‘‘he was dead as hell.” He allowed Milter to take, his own clothing from the house, however, tilling Miller to get his olothes and get away damn quick, as he was going to burn the bouse. After firing the Bouse John went into another room up stairs, and fired still another shot and Miller who had staited away, turned and saw John at a window up-stairs. Miller thoroughly frightened, left and ran to his father’s house

about 80 rods, and gave the alarm, and then to the next nearest house, that of H. W. Prince, who formerly lived a few miles northwest of Rensselaer, In the meantime Mrs. Geo. Brown wes driving past the Medworth house, going to Mt. Ayr Bbe saw the fire, tied her horse and approaohed the house, and saw John at the up-stairs window covered with blood, and told him to gbt out or he would be burned to death. He raised hie bead a little, but made no answer and disappeared from sight. About this time a little German neighbor boy 12 or 13 years old, arrived and thought Jobn was Medworth. He olimbed up on the porch roof and looked in at the window, and saw John on the floor apparently just breathing his last. By this time the house was too much on fire for any one to enter it and it soon after fell in. Everything in it was burned up. *

When the ashes were oold enough the bodies were searobed for. Med worth’s was found on the ground nnder the place where the pantry was. John’s was on the groand under the plaoe he had been seen, at the window. They were about 20 feet apart. Right by John was bis 38 oaliber revolver, and four or five feet away, the shot gun. Both bodies were fearfully burned, the heads, arms and feet being totally oonsumed. They were distinguished only by the positions they occupied. They were too badly oonsumed to ascertain the natnre of their wounds, but Mr- Med«ortb, who lay on his faoe, had a great hole in his ohest which was thought to have been caused by the shot gun though the fire may have caused it. After the bodies were recovered au inquest was held by Justices J. M. Hufty and George Dearduff. Their verdict was that John murdered Medworth aud then committed suicide.

Tuesday morning the murderer’s body was plaoed in a rough board bsx and buried *t North Star oemetery, without- services of any kind. Mannassah Miller, the only witness of the tragedy, is the son of David Miller, living near where Medworth lived. He is about 25 years old, and a very worthy young mao. Any reports that have been circulated tbat any suspicions were

harbored against him, in the neighborhood, as being in any way connected with the terrible affair other than as a horrified spectator, are wholly without foundation. Charles I. Medworth, the murdered man, was a most worthy, honorable and industrious citizen. He was about 37 years old, and born in Illinois, bnt has lived most of his life either in this county, or close to its border, in /Newton connty. Fcr a long time they lived jnst over the line from Jordan Tp. August 29, 1889, be married Lillian Keen, daughter of Hoff man Keen, of Jordan, the ceremony being performed here in Rensselaer, by Rev. B. F. Ferguson, at his offioe. His wife survives him and their two little sons, three and seven years respectively, After his marriage he lived for a time on Mr. Keen’s farm, in Jordan. Since then they lived at various places in Newton Co. The four years last past near Rose Lawo. They moved to the plaoe where he m t his death, in February of the present year. father now lives near Rose Lawn and be also leaves several brothers and sister*. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon, at Goodland, and was very largely attended. He was buried in the Goodland cemetery.