The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-02-05
Milton Fischer and Louise
Swearingen Plead Not
Guilty.
The Preliminary Hearing Set
For Tuesday, February
Fifth.
TheI Tell-Tale Handkerchief
TIE u cred Woman

Another leaf in the history of the mys-
FERROUS murder of Mrs. Maggie Fischer
was written TO-DAY, when her husband,
Milton Fischer and her sister, Louise
Swearingen were arIaigned before legal
tribunal for preliminary examination.
AT two o'clock this afternoon, Justice
Fishers office was crowded to see the pris-
oners and hear the plea. They were neat
ly dressed and gazed without finching at
Prosecuting Attorney Longan, as he read
the information, charging them with the
murder OF Mrs. Maggie Fischer.
Their attorney, Mr.. Steele answered "not
guilty" for Them and they took their seats.
By agreement, the date of the preliminary
hearing was set for next Tuesday, Feb
ruary 5th, at the criminal court room
The prisoners were then re-committed to
jail without bail.
THE PRISONERS.
The two prisoners have engaged w. d.
Steele to defend them, end this afternoon
they were taken from the Jail, where they
had spent two nights and day, and were
taken to Mr.. Seele's Office, that a confer
ence might be held. While looking very
much detected, Fischer and Miss Swearin-
gen were much more composed than they
were when committed TO jail Saturday
night, having become somewhat accus-
TONED to their surroundings They refuse
to be interviewed by reporters and are egi-
dentlg prepared to make vigorous de-
tense.
MRS. FISCHER BURIED.
The remains of the unfortunate Mrs.
Fischer, were ENCLOSED In a neat casket
furnished Undertaken David Ramsey, Of
this city, and on Saturday evening were
shipped to her relatives at Estill, Howard
county, where they were inferred yesterday
Her little girl will be taken to Howard
county and placed in the care of her dead
mothers relatives, as it is not probable that
Fischer will be able to breath fresh air for
some time.
THE TELL-TALE KERCHIEF.
The handkerchief which was knotted
around Mrs. Fischer's neck, was brought
to town bv Coroner Overstreet and de-
livered to Prosecuting Attorney Longan,
who turned it over to Sheriff Smith to-day.
Lit was at first thought to be a table nap
kin, but further examination shows it to
be mixed silk and cotton handkerchief
nearly white In the center, with a colored
border, and bears the appearance of hav-
ing been washed several times. This hand
kerchief will probably furnish the clue
to the identity of the MUIR
der, and every effort will be made to
trace it to Its proper owner. Various
stores have been shown the handkerchief,
but SO far nothing has been found TO
match it. 1t is probable that the article
was purchased at some other town, as it is
evidently several months DID, At least
here is fine field for detectives.
PUBLIC OPINION.
While there is no great excitement on
the subject, it was the theme OF universal
conversation yesterday and, to-day and there
was heavy demand to-day for copies of
the BAzoo containing the account of the
tragedy aud the details of the inquest.
written On the ground by reporter of this
paper detailed for that purpose. 1t is use
less to deny that great number of those
who read the account unhesitatingly ex-
pressed their conviction that Milton |
Fischer, or Miss Swearingen, or both of |
them, are guilty of the hor ible crime, but |
we are glad to state that this belief is |
coupled with a wish that the law may take |
Its course, uninfuenced by popular clamor
or tumult.