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Show BLDGDHQUNOS TRAIL 1B0EBSUSPECTS Man and Boy Arrested in Connection With Butchery of Aged Couple. MASON CITY. Pec. 1. Charles Thomas, ?1 years old, and Jack Thomas, 13 years old, were arrested today as the suspected slayers of John P. Becker, S, a nd his wife, S3, wealthy Maon county residents, -who were found murdered in their home Sunday morning. Bloodhounds brought from Springfield to tial! the slayers went dlroctlv to the residence or" rhe Thomas boys, one mile north of the Becker farm. Empty shells found at the scene of the murder rallied with those found in a fourteen-shot .2?-ra!iher rifle found in the Thomas home. Bullets taken from the bodies of the victims also tallied with those In the cartridges in the gun. Eleven empty cartridges were found. Three were not discharged in the gun found at the Thomas home. The aged couple were made to suffer horribly beforo they were killel. officials said. Both bodies were mutilated and bruised. That the slayers intended to fire the premises to cenceal the crime is believed. The tons of two oil lamps had been unscrewed un-screwed and the oil poured over the body and clothing of Mrs. Becker. The torch was then applied, but the fire soon spent its force and went out. However, the clothing on the lower part of the woman's body was burned and the limbs left in a charred condition. The slayers secured approximately $14,-0no, $14,-0no, relatives of the couple said. Several thousand dollars was overlooked. The two Thomas boys live on a farm owned by William Becker, a son of the slain Becker and his wife. |