Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-05-11
FOUR-FOOTED WITNESS.
AHorse Detective Used In the Great
Missahickon Case in
Philadelphia.
The Novel EndeaVor Made TO Find
the Brutal Murderer, Who is
Supposed to be Dieterle.
Is II a Clue 7---The Actions of an
Intelligent Animal as De-
scribed by Witnesses.

PHILADELPHIA, MAY l0.-The interest in
the Stahl murder case increases rather than
diminishes. All classes are aroused. 1t is
the talk in the homes, on the street, in the
place of business. Detective Houser hopes
to solve the murder mystery of Wissahick-
on creek by novel and startling methods
He is attempting to place a moose around
Deterle's neck with the aid OF the accused S
own horse. He would shift the halter from
horse to man, he says The animal, an in
telhgent gray gelding, six years old, was
taken in charge on Wednesday by Coroner
Powers and on that night an experiment
was tried that is likely to be famous in
American detective annals. II the theory
Of the Coroner be correct, it was this horse
that drew the ghas;ly load to Thorps
bridge. 1t was this horse that Edward
Williams, hostler at the Valley Green Hotel,
saw passing, amid the darkness of the night
ofMarch 10. Ifth2 animal only remem-
bcred that midnight journey, perhaps he
could be got to give some sign if driven
over the same route.
Starting out.
Acting upon this ingenious idea Detective
Houser and DR. K. s. HuldekOper, the
Coroner's physician. quietly left the city on
Wednesday night, driving toward Chestnut
Hill with Charles A. Dieterle's horse hitched
To wagon such as the imprisoned butcher
has been accustomed to drive. They left
the WisSahickou drive at a point not far
from the bridge near Indian Rock, and the
horse, being given his head, took the Town
ship Line road, an uutrequented by-way,
aud went at a brisk trot to aud across the
bridge,
Here he hesitated an instant and then
took the road up the WiSSahickon. He
kept up his trot for mile further every
step tending to deepen the suspicion that
I'm the detective mind, hangs about his
master. At the covered bridge, just below
Hanwens dam. where StahrS manglCd
head and putrescent body were found, the
horse stopped at a level spot in the road, as
ii heSitatiug whether to cross or not. From
Hauwelrs bridge to Thorp's bridge the dis
tance is rather more than half a mile and
there are several points on the stretch Of
road where the drive runs close to the stream.
Soon after passing Hanwelrs bridge the
LorSc again stopped.
On Thorp's Bridge.
Thorp's bridge is an uncovered stone
StructGre. spanning the WiSsahickOn with
twin arches. All the facts thus far elected
point 20 this bridge a. the place where the
marll,d parts OF the murdered butcher
were thrown iuto the water. The horse aP-
preached the bridge at the sharp trOt he had
KEEP; up throughout the whole drive, and still
having his head. he turned TO cross the
bridge. Reaching a point on the structure
the intelligent animal kcenly watched BY
his deeply excited drivers, picked up his
ears hesitated. paused and at last stopped
stock still Wha, evidence this can posi-
bly DC before even Il CoronerS jury is not
stated 6y the detective.
The Vehicle.
After protracted search DieiCrlc wagon
which he used odeliycr goods has been found.
Ii was broken and was foUnd in Wm
Links wagon shop, at 1902 PalethOrp street.
The detectives clam that il Is the same as
the mysterious vehicle heard on the WisSa-
hickon road at night by James Wallace.
They also say that Dietcrie was seen in his
wagon that night, in the neighbOrhoOd Of
II. Cecillas Church. Coroner Powers said
last night: Il shall introduce some evil
dence on the hearing in the habeas corpus
to-day of kind that has never before been
presented in an American court, although it
has been in foreign tribunals 1t will make
a great sensation, and on it expect to base
a chain of oCcircumStantial evidence that will
in the end convict the prisoner A
prominent physician intends to-day to
aIpIy for permission to examine the eyes of
the head found in the WiSSahickon to see if
their retinG preserves any picture OF the
last sight seen by them.
This morning Judge Allison will hear ar
gument on a writ of habeaS corpus granted
in Dieterles favor immediately after the
verdict of the CoroaerS jury was rendered
on Wednesday, and at the hearing very
dramatic story will beput in evidence.