Carroll County in Iowa

Carroll in Carroll County

Addis Lyman

Homicide

Addis Lyman
17 YOA
Carroll, IA
Carroll County
February 23, 1905

By Nancy Bowers

When the body of 17-year-old Addis E. Lyman was found on February 23, 1905 beside the Chicago and Northwestern Railway tracks near Carroll, it was assumed he fell from a train car on which he hitched a ride.

However, an autopsy by Drs. Kelley, Johnson, and Patty showed that Addis was shot once behind the right ear with a .32 caliber bullet, which was retrieved. An inquest ruled his death the result of “foul play.”

No gun was found at the scene.

It was believed Lyman was traveling alone at the time he was shot.

Investigators questioned employees on the train at the time of the murder, but the case was never solved.

The Life of Addis Lyman

Addis E. Lyman was born in November 1888 in Harrison, the son of Lucy and Thomas A.E. Lyman. He had two sisters, Clarice M. Lyman and Marian Lyman. At the time of his death, the family was living in Carroll.

Information Needed

Questions and information about the unsolved 1905 murder of Addis E. Lyman should be directed to the Carroll Police Department at 712-792-3536, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office at 712-792-4393, or to Iowa Cold Cases through the Contact form.

Sources

• “Addis Lyman Was Shot,” Spencer Herald, March 3, 1905.
• “Iowa State News,” Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, February 27, 1905.
• “Mysterious Murder Near Carroll,” Bedford Free Press, March 2, 1905.
• “Mystery In His Death,” Waterloo Times-Tribune, February 24, 1905.
• “Mystery Surrounds Young Lad’s Death,” Sioux Valley News, March 3, 1905.