The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-01

sas a3. 4s1g
dow Was open, and immediately q the
first man entered tie study from fhS hall.
way, the other sprang in at thu study
window. Then, rs Mr.. Askern faced the
first man, he was assaulted and probably
clutched from behind by the other. The
revolver which MIR. Askern had doubt!
less grasped IS the first man entered, had
been wfenehed frein his hand, for his
fingers were torn and bloody. The
victim had then been probably gsrroted,
and in the struggle he had yclutched At
the curtains and torn them down: - Then
he had been overpowcred, thrown down,
and dispatched With / knife. No weapon
was found in rho room. A small clock
which stood on the bureau was upset, and
the hands pointed to ten minutes past
twelve-the hour which the murder had
been doubt lesssly sperpetrated.. This cir
eumstances, so trivial in itself, turned
out to be of singular: Importance. The
murderers. evidently quilted the premi-
ses by the front garden, for their foot.
steps we're discernible close to the iron
ratings. and on the white stonework
which supported them there was the
mark of bloody left hand, the fingers,
thumb and ball of the hand being very
distinctly 'm1ked. = As the H1Aurderers
had evidently wiped their hands on the
curtains before quitting the room, it was
believed that one of them had wounded
his left hand when in the act of cutting
the throat of his victim, and hence the
bloody imprint on the stone.
Measures were taken with all speed to
track the perpetrators Of the dreadful
crime, but it was some time before any
clew could be obtained. As to- the mo.
tive of the crime, nothing could be ar
ri~ed at. Robbery had been committed
III conjunction with the crime, but it was
not known that Mr.. Askern kept any
money or valuables in his study.
1t was found that Mr.. Askern had an
insurance on his life, in favor Of his wife,
for 100000, and in connection with that,
important information it was procured.
The insurance agent stated that about a
week or ten days before the murder, a
gentleman called on him and said that he
had been recommended by MIR. Askern
to apply to him for policy on his life,
adding that he had life policy for a
large amount in favor Of his wife. The
agent said that was the case, and there
upon the stranger observed that he con-
sidered it rather remarkable that Mr..
Askern had not cancled the policy since
his wife's misconduct. The agent replied
that Mr.. Askern intended to take out a
new policy in favor of his children, and
to cancel the other very shortly. The
stranger then made some further inquir
les respecting the policy for himself, and
promised to call again. The day before
the murder, the stranger again visited
the insurance agent, and fixed time for
medical examination. Hcinquired casu-
ally whether Mr.. Askern had arranged his
wife policy, and was informed that he
had not. He said he was surprised at
that, and departed.
In the meantime diligent search had
been made after the murderers, but with
out result, and there was no doubt but
that they had quilted the neighborhood.
A celebrated defective was employed on
the case, and all the facts were laid before
him. lie considered the statement of the
insurance agent ofvery grave Importance,
as suggesting motive for the crime, and
the theory on which he began to work
was based theron. After some little diff
ticulty he discovered where Mrs. Askcrn
was living with her paramour, and placed
them under surveillance. The man Pow
eli was living proaigate life, and sup.
ported himself and the woman who pass
ed as his wife, by gambling and other
disreputablc acts. They were residing
IN 1ctr c., ho
tective secured room in the house di.
rectly opposite, SO as to observe their
movements. Within a week of the muir.
der the mans habits were fully ascertain.
ed. His favorite place Of resort was in
Lambeth, near the river, where seafaring
men of all nationalities were accustomed
to meet for an evening, and gamble away
their hard-earned money. From the men
who kept this hell the detective learned
that Powell was absent on the night OF
August the 18th and that on the afternoon
Of the 5th he appeared there at an un.
| usual hour in company with man who
was stranger. For this man the officer
was anxiously looking.
On the evening Of August 18th Powell
and Mrs. Askern went together to Sad.
dlers Wells Theater, and the officer fol.
lowed them. At 9 o clock Powell quilted
the theater and retired to public house
near by. There he was joined by man
of medium heig hit, who looked like one
who had followed the sea. The two sat
together at a table and conversed in low
tones. After an hour spent thus. they
left the place, Powell returning toward
the theater, and. the other man going
toward City Road, tracked by the detec'
tive. Once the man stopped and lighted
his pipe. And the detective had sudden
fit Of coughing which checked his pro-