Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-22
WAS IL MURDERie

Finding the BODY OF Geo. EIetcher--Oha-
ciaI Notice Taken of His Death After a
weeks Delsy-Peeuliar circumstances.
Yesterday morning man drove into
st. Paul and reported that the remains of
George Fletcher had been found in a
swamp at Pigs Eye. Coroner Davenport
and officer Baer visited Pigs Eye yester-,
day afternoon and had the remains
broughtto this city. They were turned
over to Mccarthy s. Donnelly and are at
present in the morgue. n gax u sTS
Concerning this mans death the GLOBE
has had something to say ever since his
reported disappearance. The strange ru-
mors concerning the man, the threats OF
violence, the reported discovery OF the
body with rope around the neck, have
all been given due and exclusive publica-
ton in this paper. Last Monday car
penter who is at work on MIR. MayalPs
new building, reported that he had found
the body while fishing. No official atten-
ton was given the report and the matter
rested. 800
The next day lawyer of st. Paul stated
that man had called at his Office to see
about collecting $40 from Fletcher; in the
presence of the lawyer this man threat
ened the life of Mr.. Fletcher.
Yesterday the remains were found
among the willows by man named Zahn
and his son. Mr.. Zahn states that he
passed by the same spot on the day pre-
vious and saw no body. The remains are
horribly disfgured. The face is black,
swollen and bloody, and might be
taken for anything but human body.
The limbs were also bruised. The testl-
mony shows that the life of deceased
had been threatened by shiftless fellow
named Kelly. There were two brothers,
Pat and William, who had fused with
Fletcher about barge which they want
ed They had also had trouble about a
settlement The large man with whiskers
is described all the way through as hav
hing made the threats. He has suddenly
disappeared from the scene, as has the
barge The case is involved in mystery.
At the beginning of the week two tramps
| were at the police court named Kelly;
some one remarked that they were sus-
pected of killing Fletcher.
AS the latter suspicion did not come
before tho court, they were ordered to
leave town From the various reports
of this most tragic affair, there is an
ugly depth about the business which
has not yet been sounded.
THE INQUEST.
A partial inquest was held at S o'clock
last night, with the following jury, Ar
thur Mullen, M. J. Sullivan, s. g. Sher-
burne, Ohas. Ringwald, JIG. Donnelly and
| r. Ireland
MRS. FLETCHER.
Mrs. Fletcher, wife of the deceased
| was first sworn. She testified as follows:
My husbands name was George Fletcher;
had been married about ten years; reside
at Pigs Eye; last saw deceased week
ago Friday; he was picking up drift-wood
in Mayall's meadow; he was working
alone; he was in good health; he engaged
two men to work for him;
| they wanted to take the barge;
he refused to LETT them take it; they
threatened to drown witness; their names
| were Pat and William Kelly; they were
angry because Mr.. Fletcher would not
let them have the barge; the men were
strangers; deceased had not drank any
| that day; witness had called at the police
court some time ago and asked for war
rent for the arrest of the Kelleys; she was
afraid they wanted to murder her hus
| band
JAMES HAVEN.
Witness resided at Pigs Eye; was ac-
quainted with deceased; last seen him a
week ago Friday; witness had visited the
place where deceased had been at work;
he had not seen his raft; found blue
boat in the slough; 1t was turned over
and looked as if there had been row;
| it seemed as if some one
had jumped from the boat to another;
did not know the Kelleys; witness heard
that they had threatened him.
HENRY HAYWOOD.
Henry Haywood was next sworn. Wit
ness had known deceased for years; last
| seen him about three weeks ago; had seen
two men around the place; one was a
heavy-set man with black whiskers, the
other was small and light; witness had
been called to search for the body. 81
Frederick Zahn and John Leyde were
| sworn The former was with his father
when the body was found; they were
looking for drift wood; they ran across
the body; it was among the willows; there
was no raft in sight. Mr.. I.eyde testified
to assisting in the removal of the body.
The witness Zahn thought that he had
been kicked and stamped in the face; his
| jaw was swollen, and his face was bloody;
his muscles were also swollen;
the same men had previously called at
the store with Mr.. Fletcher; they asked
to be trusted for some beer and stated
that Fletcher had turned them out of
doors, they claimed that the latter owed
them; they talked about taking the raft;
the bag man said that if he didn't let him
have the raft he would tie rope around
his neck and drown him.
Mrs. Fletcher was recalled. Witness
testified that the two men had boarded
with her; they quit work; they wanted
the raft; deceased told them
that, they would have to
wait till Mr.. Mayall got home.
FREDERICK. ZAHN, SIR.
Witness had known deceased; found
his body in Pigs Eye lake, about mile
and half from his house; his raft was
not in sight; had visited the same place
two days ago; he was not there at that
time. ef @ afa
Mc VIM GEIsKNG.U N
Mr.. Geisking was the next witness; had
known the deceased; two men called at