Delaware County in Iowa

Unidentified White Male

Homicide

Unidentified White Male
Age Unknown
South Fork Township
Delaware County
September 1910

By Nancy Bowers

On November 24, 1910, human remains were found in a thicket along the highway on the Charles J. Murray farm in South Fork Township three miles southeast of Hopkinton near Monticello.

The body was that of a male. His flesh was decomposed and eaten by wild animals; only a small portion of his right leg was intact.

Although no weapon was found near the body, there was a .22 caliber bullet hole in his right temple.

Coroner L.J. Bowman empaneled local citizens J.C. Parott, John Murray, and J. Smith. After viewing the body, the jury declared the man was murdered.

The victim wore a soft brown felt hat, a black and gray striped suit of substantial material, and good shoes.

Courtesy photo Museum Victoria

An Elgin watch similar to this one was found among other possessions on the dead man’s body.

His pockets contained no identification but many other items: 15 dollars, a large jack knife, a notebook without anything written in it, a prayer book, several handkerchiefs, two medals — one marked “Whitcomb” — and an open-face Elgin watch in a silver case with a charm on the chain. The case was numbered 138033 and the movement was numbered 1024613.

When these details were made public, a Miss Gearhart of Hopkinton came forward to say a man wearing the clothes stopped at her house and asked for something to eat on Labor Day — Monday, September 5 — and the occasion of the Woodman of the World annual picnic in Hopkinton.

While he ate, the man had a long talk with Miss Gearhart. He said he was walking to Dubuque to visit a nephew and that he was married but had no children. He gave no clue as to his name or residence.

When he left, Miss Gearhart gave him a prayer to carry and it was in his pocket.

Because the man’s money and watch were not taken, there was speculation the incident was suicide.

However, local authorities said death would have been instantaneous and if he killed himself a weapon should have been near the body. It also appeared the body was dragged into the thicket and hidden.

Questions and comments concerning the unsolved September 1910 murder of the unidentified man should be directed to the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office at 563-927-3135 or to Iowa Cold Cases through the Contact form.

Sources

• “May Identify Dead Stranger,” Waterloo Evening Courier, November 24, 1910.
• “Monticello Mystery Remains Unsolved,” Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, November 25, 1910.