THE GOVERNOR, STRANGE LETTERS, ANOTHER DEATH & THE UNENDING ENDING
Continued from: NUMLEY ESCAPES
Denison Bulletin – September 18, 1902
Governor Cummins Offers $300 Reward for Capture of Negro
Through the efforts of County Attorney O'Hare and Sheriff Bell, Governor Cummins has been induced to offer an additional reward of $300 for the capture of the negro murderer, Numley, who escaped from the county jail last week.
Nothing has been heard directly of Numley since his escape. It is still the belief that he has been hiding close in fields and woods since is escape, traveling nights, if at all, and that he is now more liable than ever to show himself. He is a well-marked negro and should be captured with proper vigilance and effort by the officers over the country. Sheriff Bell has not at all given up the idea that he will be secured again. The sheriff has been working on some important clews lately and with this additional reward, making $350, somebody should catch the murderer soon.
Albert B. Cummins, Governor
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Denison Review – October 7, 1902
A LETTER FROM NUMLEY
R. Shaw Van Neither Denies or Affirms That He Received One
Attorney Shaw Van is very noncommittal in his replies as to whether or not he has heard from the escaped murderer William Numley. It was reported that such was the case but Mr. Shaw Van refused to make any statement save he knew Numley was alive and well, that he was safe from the clutches of the law, and that he had not been wounded by the shots fired from Sheriff Bell's revolver. How Mr. Shaw Van could know this without having heard from Numley, or one of his friends, is unexplainable. So far this is all that has been heard of the man who escaped through the Sheriff's carelessness, and as Mr. Saw Van was the prisoner's attorney it is not likely he will put them on his trail.
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Denison Bulletin – October 27, 1902
COSTS CRAWFORD COUNTY NOTHING
The Denison Review, in its last issue states that Numley, the negro murderer, has likely been recaptured, and in connection with the item makes what it must know are absolutely false and misleading statements. Whether it is done with the idea that its readers are fools or ignoramuses, we do not know. We refer to the statement that the escape of Numley has “already cost this county thousands of dollars.”
The escape of Numley has not cost Crawford county one postage stamp yet, and it will not cost it a cent. Sheriff Bell has borne all the expense so far in trying to get track of the negro and has put hundreds of dollars into the search, besides making a personal offer of $50 for his recapture.
The other misleading statement is that the other negro, McLane, alias Wilson, who had been held as a witness, was released from the county jail on the advice of County Attorney O'Hare. This negro was dismissed on instructions from Judge Elwood. He had been held as a witness before the grand jury, and the fact that the grand jury had convened the week before made it impossible to hold him any longer. The law puts the limit on the time a man can be held as a witness, and the county attorney nor anybody else can remove it. If the Review wishes to instruct its readers correctly in the matter it will make the correction.
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Denison Review – October 21, 1902
NEGRO MEETS TRAGIC DEATH
Released as Witness Against Numley, Killed by Cars
William McLane, alias William Green, the negro who was held here as a witness against Numley for the murder of the Milwaukee brakeman at Arion, was released from custody on Fiday. On Saturday he was killed while attempting to board a west bound North Western freight at Dow City. The body was literally ground to pieces and but for the fact that he had been seen about the station but a few minutes before by those who knew him it would have been almost impossible to have identified the remains. McLane was supposed to know a great deal more about the murder than he would tell and it is also presumed that he assisted Numley in his daring escape from Sheriff Bell. As there was no trace of Numley it was decided to release McLane and this was done on Friday. He had a few dollars received as witness fees.
Listaman Photo of trains from Charter Oak Pictorial History Book
It seems strange that he should have gone immediately to the scene of the murder and that he met his death but a few miles from the spot where the crime was committed in which he was more or less involved. It is also passing strange that it was left to a locomotive to avenge the death of the former railroad man. It is said that McLane thought himself haunted by the ghost of the murdered man and that he was considered by the other prisoners of the county jail as being insane on the subject. The coroner was immediately notified of the death and took charge of the remains which were turned over to Undertaker Wise at Dow City.
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Denison Bulletin – November 13, 1902
A letter to the Dead
Sheriff Bell received a letter this week which interested him greatly, even though it did not convey any real information. It was a letter from the wife of the negro, McLane, alias William Green, who was killed at Dow City two or three weeks ago, and was from the south. It was addressed to McLane and stated that she had heard he was in trouble up here at Denison and wanted to know what was the matter, she did so want to see him again. Doubtless the poor woman had not heard of the terrible death of her husband, and was at a loss to understand why he was confined in jail up here in the wicked north. Of course, the sheriff will give her the desired information, and then if she meets her black hubby again it will be through some address other than that which the sheriff is able to give her, as the remains were buried by the coroner and and are now probably past identification or recognition.
Photo illustrative only
The question which interests the sheriff is how she came to find out McLane's address was Denison, Iowa, and who gave it to her. Was Numley down south and called on her? Who can tell?
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Several sightings of the escaped Numley came in from across the nation, including Omaha, Cincinnati, and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, up until 1913. Each alleged sighting was investigated, but to no avail. It appears the escaped murderer was never apprehended.
THE END
