The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-09-09

n. IL. Musgrave frustrated I'm His Plan to
Secure $4,000 Insurance.

The Musgrave mystery at Terre
Haute, Ind, has been solved The man
who would have the world believe him
dead Is alive and well I'm Chicago.
Charles M. Trout, the young real estate
dealer who was strongly suspected OF
completely in the conspiracy, confessed
all at the Coroners inquest and was
placed under arrest for arson, perjury,
and conspiracy to dofraud.
Frederick L. Marklc, brother-in-law
to tho fugitive real estate dealer, set the
ball rolling. He is a citizen of repute,
and he had too much on his mind about
this case 1t troubled him, and when
he was called before the Coroner he
Alter he had told his story the police
took Trout into custody. When he
learned that Markle had exposed the
conspiracy he weakened, and then he
also went before the Coroner In a
room closet t. all save the police Of
cia's Trout was for two hours the most
supreme object of interest He was
de- ected to a pitable degree and he was
in an'intehse state of nervous agitation.
The story OF the desperate attempt to
swindle the insurance companies by this
fugitive forger with $40, 900 on his life is
sensational in the extreme Musgrave,
according TO both witnesses, is now hid
ing in Chicago under the alias of Il. G.
Thornton. Markie gave tho fugitive's
whereabouts as 4345 Berkeley avenue
and Trout gives l. as 7436 ST Lawrence
avenue. Just how this discrepancy oc-
ours is not apparent. Markle is married
TO Ali- grave sister and the latter was
greatly agtated, believing her brother
had really met a terrible fate. A few
days after the log cabin fire Trout con-
tided to Markle that Musgrave was
really alive, and that 1t was just
scheme of his that he was working
AS Musgrave had borrowed $500 from
Markle which the latter needed badly,
he got Musgrave address from Trout,
and going 10 Chicago saw him near the
Oakland Il ote at Drexel and lakewood
toulevards. Musgrave was greatly sur
prised TO see him. Markle wanted to
know what object lie had in acting in
this manner, in becoming fugitive on
the face OF the earth once more, as IL
one experience was not enough for him,
and Musgrave answered that he wanted
the insurance.
Markle tod him he could not hope to
escape, as detectives were everywhere
on his track, and the fugitive said If he
only had 500 he could make his way in
safety to England. Musgrave paid him
$40 on account. He did not seem to have
much money, and his appearance was
changed, according to Markle, SO that
he could scarcely be recognized,
although he was not in any manner dis
guised.
,Musgrave wanted to see him again
next morning, but Markle did not go
back Musgrave told him in the con-
versation that the remains found in the
cabin were those of skeleton he had
bought August l. at st. Louis. He paid
sos for the skeleton. 1t was shipped
August II TO Chicago in the name of L.
B. Burnham.
Trout's story, giving the way in which
the CHASTITY scheme was worked, was de-
cidedly thLilling Musgrave conceived
the idea of insu ing his life heavily and
then disap; caring, and he effected $780,
900 insurance on his life-S10,C0) in tho
United ; ates Mutual Accident, IS, 900 in
the Htna, and Sl5 600 in two Their COM
panieS. He made 500, 900 ayab,e to his
mother, Mrs. sarah Musgrave SIS, 900
to his unmarried sister Anna, and S.
600 to Miss Catherine Mclaughlin, Of
Minneapolis, Mimi, o whom be was en-
gagged to be married.
He and Trout had a conference at
Chicago Aug. ., and two weeks later
they met at Hillsdale. The Friday
night before the fire Musgrave and
Trout returned to Terre Haute from
Hillsdale, the former carrying the box
containing the skeleton, a box about
foot square and two feet long, across the
prairie to the cabin. Musgrave took up
his abode in this lonely hut early Satur-
day morning 1t was agreed as part Of
the scheme that Trout should work some
prominent knights of Pythias friends Of
Musgrave to visit him at the cabin so as
to establish eonclusively that he was
there. This Trout successfully accom-
plished.
Sunday night Musgraye and Trout
took the skeleton out of the box to ar
range it for the cremation Trout says
that when Musgraye saw it he shivered
and could not do anything. SO Trout
said: "This thing has gone too far to
go back now" and he arranged the
skeleton himself in the straw on the
bunk and placed the Knights of Pythias
emblem bearing Musgrave's name and
addre SIS near it
Then Musgrave fired the cabin 1t
was really his tracks that the farmers
UTdCcl W lnc COIHlltlu. huSRGdNo
waited until he saw that the fire had
good start and then he cut across the
prairie and caught the north-bound
train for Chicago. Trout had started
for Terre Haute before the hut was fired.
All that was left to burn besides the
skeleton was Musgrave's valise, specta-
Giles and knights of Pythias badge. He
was going to leave his shoes, but Trout
oh. ected, saying that it would create
saspicions to buy new pair at Tecum-
sch or Terre HautP.
Trout says the mistake that was made
was in no: leaving his shoes and the
buttons of his pants. The skeleton was
one such as is used in museums. rung
together by catgut. Trout is the most
detected mortal on EARTH and he takes
his arrest very kecnly
Detective Schumacher, of Chicago,
thinks the letter from Musgrave's sister
to Trout several days after the fire,
which was intercepted by the pc ice and
published, In which she asked about in
terest on money in Hudnu's bank, was
q cipher MESA @ There was no money
I'm that bank or any other.