The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-03-12

On Monday last a man reached this
city on the 2:10 P. NJ. train having rough
box in charge which he said contained
the body of child The box was about
four feet long and seemed to have been
gotten up quite hastily. He had the box
removed to the Goodrich depot, as the
body, he said was to be shipped to Stur-
geon Bay. The drayman thought the box
quite heavy while he was aid1ngin chang
ing it from the car to his wagon. The
man tore off the card on the box which
was either a certificate of death or the ad-
dress. On being told that the card should
be allowed to remain on the box he re-
piled that it made no difference as he
would keep it in his pocket and accom-
pany the box. Soon after having de-
posted the box at the Goodrich ware
a farmer had agreed 20 take it to its des-
tination. He had the box taken to Coot-
way & Guttman's livery stable and asked
permission to have it remain there for
short while. He said the box contained
glass. About o'clock he called for the
box and proceeded with it in his arms
down Buffalo street toward the river.
The boy noticed him place the box on the
sidewalk and rest after he reached the
corner but kept no further watch OF him.
On Tuesday morning the box was found
near large hole in the ice which had
been cut to release the dipper of Truman
& Cooper's dredge. The box was empty
but scattered about was a quantity of
straw which appeared to have been taken
from bed, some rags which had the ap-
pearance of chatting againt raw flesh, and
little heap of lake sand. The SUPPOSE
ton is that the sand was used to sink the
contents of the box. The man has not
been seen in the city since the box was
found and there seems to be mystery
hanging around the whole proceeding.
Did the box contain the dead body of
some person and was it thrown into the
river? Was there crime back of this
attempt at concealment? are questions
valnly seeking an answer.
1t was learned on Wednesday that the
man was unable to carry the box in his
arms to the river and hired q hand sleigh
from one of Frank Grun's boys paying
him five cents for the use of it. A man
coming from the Goodrich yard saw him
dragging the sleigh along with the box
on it. The box slid off while crossing the
river and he replaced it and passed on.
The men employed to drag the hole yes
terday, drew out an under shirt which
had the appearance of being IN the water
only short time. The rags in the box
and those scattered about were pieces OF
old clothing well worn.
Borcherdt who has charge of the bag
gage department at the depot, expressed
some surprise at the kind of box used,
when in answer to his inquiry whether
the box contained a corpse the man re-
piled it did Henry Herzog says the box
was not too heavy for the body of child,
if as he supposed when handling it, it
had coffin within and ice. He remon-
strated with the man when he tore off
the card from the box but no attention
was paid him.
The place selected to get rid OF the
contents of the box was quite we'll seclud-
ed. The dock is quite high near the rail-
road track and the dredge screened the
man from observation in two other direc
tions, while boat which lies in front Of
the dredge eifectually concealed him.
LATER:-It was learned Wednesday
afternoon that the box was put on the
cars at Sheboygan. 1t was the body of
a child who had died of measles and was
kept in the house three days after death.
Then the father set out with the body
ostensibly for Clay Banks. 1t was clear
ly his purpose not to proceed further
than this city. The mems is Fritch,
a Finnlander. Chief Born says he thinks
it is religious custom with these peo-
pie to consign their dead to the Wa
ter. Fritch simply observed this Gus
tom when he thrust the body of his child
into the ice hole in the river at this place.