No one had seen Percy Smith since he had gone to buy cattle from a man near Council Bluffs, Iowa. When police were called, their search led to Corliss Bruntlett, a man with a hidden past. They soon discovered that he was concealing an even darker secret that would shock their community.
Sources
Haws, Dick. Iowa and the Death Penalty: A Troubled Relationship 1834 – 1965. United States; 2010.
Farmer Held for Questions in Smith Case. Council Bluffs Nonpereil, 12/10/1947
Bruntlett Funds Tied by Injunction. Council Bluffs Nonpereil, 12/12/1947
Claim Bruntlett Not Telling All. Council Bluffs Nonpereil, 12/13/1947
Bruntlett’s Wife Refutes Story Details. Council Bluffs Nonpareil, 12/13/1947
Await Report on Knife in Smith Case. Council Bluffs Nonpereil, 12/14/1947
Bruntlett Confesses Shooting and Burning of Percy Smith; Will Face Murder Charge. Council Bluffs Nonpereil, 12/15/1947
Bruntlett Admits Killing Farmer, Burning Body. Evening World-Herald, 12/15/1947
“Mom and I Gave Up Hope Thursday,” Smith’s Son Says of Slain Father. Evening World-Herald, 12/15/1947
‘Bruntlett Shows No Remorse.’ Evening World-Herald, 12/16/1947
Grand Jury Given Case of Bruntlett. Evening World-Herald, 12/17/1947
FBI Judges Bones Human. Evening World-Herald, 12/18/1947
$9,800 Returned to Smith Family. Council Bluffs Nonpareil, 12/20/1947
Burrows Will Defend Bruntlett. Council Bluffs Nonpareil, 1/28/1948
Bruntlett Makes Plea of Guilty. Council Bluffs Nonpareil, 2/3/1948
Five Testify in Bruntlett Hearing Here. The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, 2/4/2948
Bruntlett Sobs He’s Sorry Now. Morning World-Herald, 2/5/1948
Hanging Fate for Bruntlett. Evening World-Herald, 2/6/1948
Death Edict to Be Appealed. Omaha World-Herald, 2/10/1948
Bruntlett Thinks Death Too Severe Penalty for His Act. Council Bluffs Nonpareil, 2/11/1948
Denies Clemency To Bruntlett, Sets Hanging July 6. Des Moines Tribune, 6/6/1949
Bruntlett Due to Be Hanged on Birthday. Des Moines Register, 7/3/1949
Bruntlett Hanged At Fort Madison. Cedar Rapids Gazette, 7/6/1949
Bruntlett Shouts in Death Cell. The Des Moines Register, 7/6/1949
Bruntlett Dies Calmly. Des Moines Tribune, 7/6/1949
State Historical Society of Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Iowa Death Records, 1888-1904
ear: 1940; Census Place: Hardin, Pottawattamie, Iowa; Roll: m-t0627-01198; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 78-11
Eulalia M “Dolly” Capel Smith. Findagrave.com
Percy J. Smith. Findagrave.com