Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-14
NEWSPAPERS AS DETECTIVES

Libel Suit at Detroit Which Throws Light
Upon q Mysterious Disappearance, and
May Possibly Lead TO the Detection and
Conviction of Murderer.
DETROIT, Jan. ia libel suit which has
excited deep interest in this city terminated
this afternoon. Just three years ago the
present month girl named Martha Whitta
suddenly disappeared. Her foster parents
lived some miles in the country, and she had
been in the habit of spending part of the
time with them and other friends in that
vicinity, and part of the time doing domestic
work for various parties in the city. Some
eight years before she had been on intimate
claiming that it was an appreciative gift for
work done for him and not otherwise. On the
day of. her disappearance she came In from the
country telling her friends she was going to
collect the money on the note.
DISCOVERY OF THE BODY.
Nearly three months after her disappearance
her body was taken from the Detroit river
three miles below the city, being bent together
and feet led, and the body enclosed in cof
fee sack, with every appearance she had been
imprisoned therein and thrown in the river.
terms with young man named II. s. Peoples,
and considerable lover-like correspondence
passed between them, but subsequently ceased,
and Peoples afterwards married another girl.
Martha, however, kept up acquaintance with
him, and almost up to the time of his mar
riage lived with him as member of his
family receiving nothing bat board. About
five years since he desired her to leave his
house. He also gave her his note for $500,
Such crime naturally excited the deepest in.
terest and investigation was pushed vigor-
ously, but unavailingly to ascertain the authors
Of the hideeus deed. A post mortem exami-
nation showed at some previous time the girl
had been mother, new and startling reve-
lation to her friends and acquaintauces, with
whom her character was above suspicion
Her trunk was subsequently opened, and
some clothing, a package OF letters and d
few trinkets taken possession OF by officers.
The note for $400 was never seen or heard OF
afterwards. Several months subsequent to
all this the two newspapers of this city hav-
ing seen the letters and been given many other
facts from the police, who had been searching
for the murderer, published long articles Civ
ing these details, with comments, the whole
pointing strongly toward Peoples, although
no direct charge was made. Peoples did
nothing about the matter then,
asserting that he expected to be ar
rested and called on to defend himself.
Ihe pOlcemen, however, were never aOle
to obtain conclusive proofs against him or any
body else, and gradually the matter died away.
Peoples then commenced
LIBEL SUIT
against both papers, claiming $4,000 dam
ages in both cases. The first of these suits
has been on trial the past two weeks. and elic-
tied the deepest interest The defendant, Gas
tifred, undertook to prove that Peoples was a
guilty man. Much evidence they relied on
was ruled out, but enough was shown to raise
a strong suspicion that Peoples long ago Sc
duced the girl, and that the latter by
her opportunities for money and
her knowledge of unpleasant facts
connected with the burning of two
houses belonging to Peoples, rendered him
anxious to get her out of the way. This was
fortified by the fact that the $500 note was
never found on her body, or with any of her
papers, although pocket book in which she
carried the note was found with thimble and
soue papers on her person. Plaintiff, him
self, was not put on the stand, which tended
greatly to increase popular dlstrust and
strengthen the case for the defense. The jury,
after six hours absence, returned verdict of
no cause of action.