The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-20

briefest apology for human
form. The skull was devoid of animal
matter, fell to pieces when touched and be-
came dust. The teeth fell from the jaw
bones, the arms and legs were too frail to
be picked up and the hands and feet
crumbled when placed in the receiving
box. The corpse burned in a one-and-a-
half story frame house without any un-
usual means to hasten Its destruction
would be easily recognizable.
The fact that Radloff showed his 81 ,50O
roll of bills to Frederick Pruessing, the
baker, and to A. Z. Stewart, his neighbor,
seems to show that he wanted TO leave
evidence that he had large sum of money
on him. This would support the
theory of robbery and murder
which he intended should go out to the
world. The pistol shot fired at IL o'clock
on Friday night would also help this
theory. Then the match was applied and
the house and its lifeIess tenant soon be-
came ashes. Then Radlof stole away
into the woods, and got back
to the haunts of men. probably
by some circuitous route, travelled
hundreds of miles away, and played
dead" picturing to himself the scene of
On tnc QloCOfCIS
of his ruined home and his substitutes
ashes.
That is the story of what happened ac-
cording to the theory accepted by many
shrewd men who have studied the mystery
and sought a solution. Exactly what
part Kostrauch played in the plot only
he, the police officers and Radlof know,
and they wont tell yet.
There is equal uncertainty as to what
connection, if any, Mrs. Radloff had with
the scheme. She appears not TO have
lived happily with her husband, though
she claims she has. The fact that she has
three times attempted suicide, twice by
morphine and once by chloroform, goes to
prove the contrary.
Dr.. F. Ballard, of Fremont, saved her
life in each case. The last attempt will be
remembered by people in Seattle because
it was noted in the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
February about midnight Mrs. Radloff
tried to end her life by morphine, but was
caught in time to DE taken to DIR.
Ballard, at Fremont, who administered
an antidote, and sent her in to DR.. P. B. NJ.
Miller. She was found by reporter at
DIR. Millers office in the Occidental block,
but the husband claimed that she had
taken the poison by mistake, and in the
attempt to keep the facts of the case and
her identity from the newspapers he gave
the fictitious name of William Martin.
Concerning the insurance on Radloff's
life much has been said, and number of
contradictory statements have been made.
The total amount was SIS, 900, of which
$50, 600 was in the New York Life. $50, 900
in the Equitable and SIS, 900 in the Mutual.
Barber & Mitchell, the local agents for
the New York Life, say that he applied to
them on March 9. He was examined.
passed as first-class risk in every respect,
and the application was then forwarded to
the home Office. The policy was returned
in due course and delivered to Radloff.
Instead of taking the policy on
the plan of annual payments, he had
the arrangement made for paying
quarterly, and the company had received
only the first quarterly installment.
Barber & Mitchell incline to the theory
that Radlof is yet alive and will be found
very soon.
f. L. Stinson, agent of the Mutual, said
that Radloff had applied to his company
about month ago, and had received in
due form policy for $4,000, upon which
he had made the first annual payment.
Mr.. Stinson said it made no difference
whether Radloff had given cash or a note
for the policy, for in either case the policy
had been issued and was in force.
William ]. Morphy, Seattle agent of the
Equitable, declined to say whether Rad
loft was insured with his company or not,
and as to the question of the liability of
the company he would neither deny nor
affirm. Another agent of the company,
however, stated that the policy had been
issued for $4,000 and was now in the Of
fee of the company here. Though the
policy was not delivered, it was, neverthe-
less, in force. because Radloff had given
either cash or note for it. This agent
further said that the company would not
look with favor upon any attempt on Mr..
Morphy's part to shuttle or evade the
question of liability on policies once issued.