Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-11-06
Further Particulars of the Horrible
Murder in LIE Scuer County.

To tie Editors Of the Minaesotian:
The following is undoubtedly one of the
most foul and atrocious murders ever COM
mitted in any community. For its brutality
It has scarce an equal in the annals of our
country, and committed as it was undoubted-
l. to obtain paltry of sum of money, we
can but look upon the perpetrator as villain
of the blacklist dye. 1t appears from testi-
mony adduced at the inquest that the unfOr-
tunate nan, J. Bodel, came 10 Mortified in
company with man by the name Of Charles
Rienhart, who induced him to come to Lanes
burgh, lie Sueur County, by representing to
Bodell that land could be purchased cheap in
that vicinity, and also, that he (Rienhart,)
would sell him claim cheap.
They accordingly arrived at Union Lake
remaining over night In the morning they
Tired conveyance to Cody's, within five or
SIX miles of their destination, and remained
there over night This was on Wednesday,
the 9th Of October. Leaving in the morning
on foot, they were observed passing the house
of Mr. Walker about u O'clock this was
the last place they were seen together, and is
about half a mile from the place where the
body was found.
About half past one o'clock, the same day
Renhart called at the house of a German
by the name of iIanSher, and requested din
ucr. Immediately after dinner, he borrowed
Al, |, LII - O.
a bad place on the road" About two o clock
he returned to the house of Mr.. Walker, com
planning of thirst and asked for cup Of cof
fee he remained there in conversation, unit
near four o'clock, and then left, going in the
direction of Mr. IIansher' house, the distance
being three fourths of mc,-but did no
reach there until dark In tbs morning hi
started for and arrived about ten o'clock a
Lexington, and there remained until the fol
lowing Wednesday, and then left for LIE
Sueur
The said Bodell had promised to return t.
Union Lake, and not returning, enquire,
were made as to his whereabouts. The cir
cumstances being suspicious, a search wa
Immediately made by the citizens, which re
suited in finding the body of Bodell buried il
sequesterted spot near marsh, some TWEEN
ty or thirty rods from the road, and about
half mile from the house of Walker, bearing
evidence of violence and foul play, there be
ing bullet hole Immediately above the lief
eve, several stabs on the back of the head
and the throat cut After the inquest, tn
ioiy was removed to Lexington and deposit
ed in the burial grounds. Said BOdell was
resident of Worcester, Mass.
At meeting of the citizens of Lcxingto
and vicinity, held on Tuesday, October 26tf
1858, Immediately after the return from tn
burial Of the unfortunate man, j. BOdell VIII
was murdered October 9TH, in the town {
Lanesburgh, Burroughs Abbott was called t
the chair and f. Ii. Dennison appointed a
Secretary, when it was unanimously
Resolced, That committee of five be aI
pointed TO draw up letter of coincidence t
the widow and distracted family of the dc
ceased The committee were as follows: w
II. Childs, I. \. Potter, F. NJ Ireland, S. I
Richardson and S. l.. Shirel.
The committee retired ard after an absenc
OF half an hour, returned and reported le
ter which was unanimously adopted by til
meeting. 1t was then
Resolred, That copy of the circumstance
connected with the murder and the subs
ouent proceedings of the citizens be publis
ed in the Belle Plain Enquirer St Paul Mr.
yEsorIAS, and the ST. Peter Free Press.
B. ABBOTT, Chairman.