Evening journal., 1889-06-11
A YOUNG FIEND'S CRIME.
Otto Leuth Murders Little
Maggie Thompson. -
THE BODY FOUND IN A CELLAR.

The DiabolicaI Deed of Cleveland Lad.
The Girl Was Assaulted and Then
Killed with Hammer-young Lenth
Confesses His Guilt.
CLEVELAND, O., June 1l-Maggie the
pretty s-year old daughter of Jacob Thomp-
son, Of No. "a Merchant avenue mysteriously
disappeared May s Detectives, oonstables
and private citizens engaged in the search,
tracing numerous clews all over the city and
state, but without avail Maggies murdered
and dismembered body was found by acci-
dent in the cellar Of house only seven doors
from her home, and the crime has been def
nitely fixed upon a 16-year-old lad and his
confession obtained.
The house in which the body was found is |
No AZ Merchant avenue. Underneath are |
two circular cellars, one for each family, and |
the cellars are accessible only TO the respec-
tive tenants The building is owned by Henry |
Leuih, and the front part was occupied by |
Ieuth, his wife and his son Otto, young
man Of H.
The Body Makes Its Presence Felt.
At the time Of Maggies disappearance and
for two weeks later Mrs Leuth was in the
hospital and her husband out of the city.
The sole occupant of their part of the dwell
ing was young Otto Two or three days be-
fore the return Of Mr.. and Mrs Leuth the
Shevells, who occupied part Of the house,
complained TO Otto of bad smell He ex-
planned that rats had probably died in the
cellar and that mattress up stairs was full
of worms, and promised to attend to them
He carried a mattress and feather bed into a
shed, and for some days the smell was less
noticeable.
The Discovery OF Crime.
After the return of Mr.. and Mrs Leuth
they noticed it also, and the neighbors began
TO complain, Sunday night the smell be
came intolerahle, and the Shevells Joined
Mrs. Ieuth in insisting upon n thorough and
immediate investigation Of the premises
Mr. Leuth took lamp and commenced an
exploration of the cellar, and under part Of
the house, beneath the floor and about mid
way between the well like vaults, he dis
covered the naked body OF child partially
covered with rags. The head and one arm
; were severed from the trunk. Almost para
lyzed with fright, Leuth hurriedly impaired
the news Of his discovery TO his wife and
rushed over to the police station to give the
alarm
The body was horribly mutilated and de-
composed but every one present was conf
dent that il was Maggie Thompson's body
The skull was found 70 have been broken in
at the forehead in three places. One wound
was over the right eye, cne on the left
frontal bone close by the hair and one in the
left temple. The jaw was also broken and
the right arm had been torn off at the elbow,
but the trunk was too badly decomposed TO
give any further clew TO the nature Of the
assault All the clothing was off and had
been piled upon the body.
The body was removed to the morgue and
a further examination Of the premises made.
A bcx OF chloride Of lime was found near
where the body laid and boys jacket, part
ly eaten by the chemical The police ar
rested the i've occupants Of the building and
lodged them in the Central station. MIR. and
Mrs Leuth immediate y established com
plete abb, and were released and rigid
cross examination Of all the parties was al
once instituted. Otto affected 60 treat the
whole matter as a good joke. He answered
avery question promptly, and declared that
he had never seen Maggie in his life, aud did
not know how her body came 10 be In the
,ellnr.
Under steady and slrllful cross examination
he became uneasy and wavering in bis re-
plies, and when confronted with the bloody
feather bed, brought from the shed, bis bra
vado departed and he broke down completely.
Little by little the truth was wrung from him,
and finally, unable to stand the strain he ex
pressed a willingness 10 make a clean breast
of the whole affair.
The story of the Crime
Otto said that he had met Maggie Thomp-
son near his own door and when she asked
J him for button for her string he promised
to give her one if she would 60 with him into
the house The unthinlSing child followed
the young brute upstairs and there be nt-
tempted to assault her. Failing he picked
up a heavy hammer and struck the gir
down Death gave him horrid privilege
Then be covered up the body and left tn,
house For week he did not sleep IL, tn,
house, ard at the end Of that time carried th,
body 10 the cellar.
Young Leuth is about feet Z inches tall
very slender and will hardly tip the scales a
40 His facial characteristics show neither
viciousness nor mschievousness. His uppei
lip is thin and is tapped slightly by a some
what thick under lip His nose Is large ans
straight, while his eyes are brown an,
SMALL with no indication Of cunning. Sine
his confession be has teen moaning and cry
ing and leggng for means Of self destruc
ton He seems TO realize for the first tim
the enormity Of his crime. During the pas
month he frequently approached Mrs ThomI
son and with seeming indifference asked
Maggie had been found
Aside from this affair the boy had nov,
developed any depraved instincts He HI
an undoubted talent for music and play
well on the violin, but has shown no tast
for reading OF any kind. He is closel
watched for fear hemay commit suicide.
the police court bis demeanor was abb
and cowardly. He waivsl examination.