Wapello County John Doe was a young man who was murdered near Ottumwa, Iowa on November 18, 1935. Neither him nor his killer(s) were ever identified despite an intensive investigation.
Case[]
Discovery[]
The victim was discovered by a young water-spaniel owned by Harold Porter, who was hunting in the timber in the vicinity of the west yards of the Milwaukee Railroad. Porter's attention to the body was called when his dog ran to the spot and continued to bark. When he found the victim, Porter informed nearby section crew members working on the tracks.
The victim was found buried on the bank of Bear Creek, about a half mile north of Highway 34 leading west out of Ottumwa. He was buried under a pile of driftwood washed down by the creek and a large tree trunk was on his head. He was stabbed through the heart, beaten over the head with some blunt instrument, and strangled with a cord, similar to those used in tying bananas. Additionally, he had three deep cuts on the back of his head and his right jawbone was crushed.
About 200 yards from the murder scene was the remains of a hobo camp. A fire was still smoldering and there were signs of a struggle. Leading from the camp was a blood-stained path suggesting the victim was dragged to the grave. Officers found blood-stained clubs, which were believed to be used to crush his skull. Although the circumstances indicated the victim was a transient, Sheriff Harding indicated he was fairly well-dressed, recently shaved, and his clothes were clean with the exception of the mud thrown on him during the struggle.
Witness reports[]
The section men called by Porter stated that while they had been working in that vicinity all day, they had not seen or heard anything of the apparent fight. However, W.E. Brown, a perishable fruit inspector for the railroad, told officers that he had seen the victim accompanied by two men, walking through the yards and playing on his mouth organ at about 12:30 p.m.
The group was also witnessed by a Milwaukee employee of the extra gang working nearby, according to the Ottumwa Route 3 Foreman, J.A. Ferrel. After interviewing residents and the workers near the Milwaukee roadhouse, Sheriff Harding announced that a dozen people saw or fed hobos that day, some of whom saw and described the victim.
On November 29, 1935, a transient male named Charles Armstrong from Brooklyn, New York went to the police station after looking at photographs of the victim. He informed authorities he met the victim and a companion in jail at Muscatine, Iowa the night before the murder. The next day, a group of six transients came to Ottumwa on a Milwaukee freight train. The six composed of Armstrong, Jesse Youngblood, Stanley Kessel, the victim, his companion, and an unnamed transient. While enroute, they six played dice and the victim lost five dollars, although Armstrong maintained he saw at least $25 in his billfold. Armstrong never learned his name or his hometown.
Shortly after noon, Armstrong, Youngblood, Kessel, and the unnamed transient got off near the ballpark in the west end while the victim and his companion stayed on the train, stating they planned to go straight through Kansas City, Missouri. Since the day of the murder, he was "bumming" through Iowa and Illinois until he saw an article about the murder.
Investigation[]
On December 5, 1935, the relatives of Leonard Clarkson, who was from Peoria, Illinois, came to Ottumwa to observe the body. Leonard's family and friends believed the photographs of the victim closely resembled him. The next day, the relatives confirmed that the victim was NOT Leonard, although the two did have similar features. It is unknown if Leonard Clarkson was ever located.
On March 20, 1936, the victim was buried in a donated casket at Shaul Cemetery in Ottumwa. Initially, his body was to be sent to Iowa City for experimental purposes, but the local churches objected to the decision. The Johnson's Funeral Chapel and the Shaul Cemetery Association furnished the burial and Reverend A.D. McClure of the Pentecostal Church intoned short prayers.
Characteristics[]
- Apparently of "foreign birth."
- Dark skin.
- Dark brown hair.
- Brown eyes.
- Thick eye lashes.
- Large teeth.
- Scar on his right knee.
- Wart in the palm of his right hand.
- Pock marks on his face.
Clothing and accessories[]
- Black knit sweater.
- Blue zipper jacket.
- Two shirts, one blue and one black.
- Dark red necktie.
- Overall pants.
- Blue trousers under his overall pants.
- Leather wrist band.
- Mouth organ.
- Two keys.
- Eight-five cents.
- Safety razor.