The morning call., 1891-04-14
DEAD In THE CELLAR.
Chastity Find Made by Officer
De BlOis.
The Missing Mrs. Fossem Discovered Under
Her House Murder Suspected by
the Police.

"Whew What smell |" observed OFF,
Ger de Blois as he opened the door Of the
curiosity-shop at 1902 Stockton street about
o'clock last night. THE old woman must
be here somewhere, or there are lots OF dead
rats under the floor"
The officer was looking for Mrs. Bolle
alias Feist, alias E. C. c. Fossem. who has
been missing since Monday, the 9th inst.
and the story in connection Herewith was
published at the time in THE CALL.
A crack was noticed under heavy stove,
and it was discovered that there was trap
door underneath. The stove was removed,
and with slade the trap-door was pred up.
With lighted candle the officer and CALL
reporter descended into most uninvitlng
hole, from which an almost unbearable
stencil issued.
THE MISSING BODY FOUND.
A half dozen dogs belonging to the rock
cry we're barking, twenty birds were sing
ing, five parrots were jabbering and two
ring tailed monkeys were cutting up CHASTITY
antics. The pale glare of the candle threw
a dim light on bundle lying on a heap of
saw-dust and other rubbish that had been
thrown together.
Approaching it with handkerchiefs over
noses it was soon seen to be the dead body
of the missing woman. 1t presented most
repulsive signt, being badly decomposed
with the face covered with blood, and
every evidence of foul murder surround
ing it. On her back she lay with her right
arm across her face, as if attempting to de-
lend herself against some assallant.
APPARENTLY MURDER.
The cellar is not more than four feet deep
and from all appearances the woman had
been murdered and the body slowed away
where it was found. On being notified re-
representatives. from the COroner's Office soon
appeared and removed the remains 10 the
Morgue.
From the examination made there it could
not be determined whether the woman was
struck with an instrument or not, nor in fact
how she came to her death. The remains
were too badly decompOSed to tell anything
about il until an autopsy is made to-day.
The police feel assured, however, that it
was murder from the TACT that there was
no way for the woman to have fallen into
the cellar except through the trap-door, and
it is impossible that she should have placed
the heavy stone on top of it.
AS soon as Chief Crowley heard OF the
circumstances he called together the entire
detective force for consultation, and placed
nearly all of them on the case.
CLEw TO WORK ON.
The information that they have to work
on is that man named Andrew Hedgeberg,
or Heidelberg, rented the store for the
woman about three weeks ago. second
hand establishment was opened by the
woman with $50 that she received from
this man. This evidence was received from
party living at 81 Stevenson street, who
knew the person in question.
He states that Hedgeberg had been here
about nine weeks and came from Baden,
Germany; that he was about 40 years of
age and an engineer by trade This is the
man that the police want and for whom
they are now diligently hunting, as he is
suspected Of knowing how the unfortunate
woman came to her death.
IDENTITY OF THE DECEASED.
From letters found in the shop it was
evident that the deceased was native of
Denmark. Among her effects was found a
letter addressed to the DANISH Consul. She
was about 90 years of age at the time of her
death.
From letters and papers it appears that
the dead woman lived from Novemb Der. 1876,
to 1889 at 63S Mission street, aud subse-
Quently at 81 Stevenson street. until she
started restaurant at 1911 Powell street in
April Of 1889. She was a cholera nurse in
Copenhagen in 1866.
Numerous begging letters were also
found, one of which was addressed to
Charles Crocker and another TO the Danish
Ladies' Benevolent Society the latter find
ing that she was not a worthy object of
charity.