The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-23

time and we Wer,. to start East from Lake Bay.
BY what line were you goingF
We hadn't made any arrangements for our
travel.
What kind Of clothes did your husband wear2
Usually gray woo.en underclothes and dark
trousers.
While Mrs. Radioff was giving her testl-
mony Kostrau,.h, who had in the mean
time arrived in charge of Officer E. +.
Harding, stood in front of her about eight
feet away and scanned her face closely.
Not once did he take his eyes off her.
When Mr.. Miller said: THAT will do.
Sheriff, call L. Kostrauch." all eyes were
Immediately t5irned on the prisoner. At
the mention of his name he started in
voluntarily, but in an instant regained his
composure and was quite as cool as Mrs.
RadIof When he was sworn by the
coroner to tell the whole truth and moth
ing but the truth. SO help me God, he
said:
al objec; to the word God"
"Then you affirm"
ayes"
''Tel the jury all that you know about this
case" said Mr.. Miller.
Kostrauch Hesitated moment, drew
deep breath, and turning around until he
faced the jury, began:
"well, gentlemen, about a month and half
ago William Radloff came TO see me in South
Seattle, but DIDN'T find me, and SO l went
to him. He told me that he and his wife had
been having q good deal of trouble OF late, and
that they had concluded to separate. They
didn't have much money, and so they went to
scheraing to get enough on which they
could live comfortably. He said that he made
up his mind to dig up a body and burn it, and
flgnr, trff eratf no inSr1
on his life He made me an offer OF $500 if
would aid him. and-I consented 1t wasn't
long after when he went to his neighbor Pat
terson, and borrowed horse. He had wagon
himself, and the next night at II o'clock he
hftched the horse up and ! went with him TO
Greenwood cemetery, and together We dug up
body-unknow to me at that time. We buried
the body in RadlofF's chicken yard, coffin and
all The body was there about month.
Here the witness hesitated, and Mr.. Mil
Ter said; well, what next did you doP"
Kostrauch Continued:
About three four days afterward, on FRI
day afternoon, he gave me s. and said tor me
to rent a room ia town. aided him from time
to time with his work and was out at his house
good deal after this. On Friday, the 18th,
about noon, l went out to the house alone.
RadlOf came along afterward. We aug up the
body in the chicken yard and carried coffin and
ell into the house. l helped him get the body
in shape. We dumped 1t out of the coffin on
top OF the bed and set fire TO it,
Is that ali you did before you set fire to the
house?
On, no. I shaved Radlof-cut off his mus
taehe and dyed ais hair, which Is light, black
He put on his best suit of clothes.
DID you do Anything to the body at all? Did
you dress it up?
No, left it lust as it was; but Radlof wanted
IN b. -.
mitted. SO he took an ak and crushed in the
skull of the corpse and then cut both legs off.
Did you cover it up?
Yes. Radlof put a quilt over IL.
How did you set fire 10 the place?
Radlof fixed IL candle about an inch long and
litit He argued that the candle would burn
forty minutes. At the base of the candle was
line OF cotton string, creased SO that it would
burn sure. At the end of the string was a pile
OF shavings saturated with coal oil.
Did you saturate the body with coal oil?
No, sir; but 5stars we fixed a candle Just as
We did down stairs, SO that it would be sure
and burn.
What did you do with the coffin?
Rasilof left the coffin in the house, but to
leave no evidence, he took away the metal ham
dies and corners, and everything that wouldn't
burn, and buried them
Where did he bury them3
/ don't know.
When we started the fire we went avav. 1
started towards the city by way of Green Lake,
and Radlof went towards Portland. Though
he was disguised, we didn't want to be seen to-
gether The same evening Radloff came to Sc
attic on Vest street car, aud saw him take
the s: AS Northern Pacific train for Portland. He
was going TO San Francisco.
Did Mrs. Radlof know OF the existence OF the
body in the chicken yard?
Yes.
She was there after the body had been buried
there?
Yes; she came out afterward.
How deep Yves it buried?
About two feet.
How do you know Mrs. RadloH knew the bod
was there; did you have any talks with her
about it?
No, / never talked much about It, but she fire..
quently limited and let me know that she knew
all about it. she called the body "her good
friend
What did you do after you saw Radloff off on
the train?
went ont or Queen Anne hill, where could
see the building burning.
You could see the light from the fire?
Yes plainly.
What then did you do?
went 10 Pruessing's bakery aud had supper.
Did Radlof buy his ticket at the ticket office:
No; boughr it two weeks ago for him.
Did RadIof give you anything else beside.
the s.?
Yes; he gave me a certificate OF some stock he
had in the Morning Star mine. 1t called for 100
shares At 81 a share.
Did he send an insurance policy to his wife1
Yes.
You are sure?
Yes; he sent 1t to her from the house II was
a registered le:tes.
Did be have an insurance on the house2
lie said he hal.
u you ever hear OF anything about this for
tune telling business
Yes: Radloif told me ali about it, It's not so
to Tell it Tor this truth.
Then there il nothing in that7
No, sir. rs aot true.
Did You pay ioE a box at the posto!fice In the
name oil Fred n. Foster2
Yes. sir; kgdloG was TO write 10 me in thai
name. / was To stay around here and let hin
kgOw which way the wind was blowing
Did you get letter from him since he weni
away?
Yes. sir. Il was seat from Portland.
Is this the letter Handing him a letter written
in German elEheE)?
Yes.
How do you know il came from him. Did h,
give you the key
No. gave him the key
Explain its characters.
can't very we'll have the key In my head
bat cant explain it iGielligentiy.
What does il say
Witncss takes the letter aad reads: Direct IN
care OF New Atlantic hotel. san Francisco"
When did you get this letter.
don't know ,laughipgiy). The police got Il
Thcy took il cgt OF the box while was in jail
Did you cxpeet to be arrested
] WASH, al ali surprised. | didn't know
EeErer I MgsL1 lie pglt in sail slariginn m
not l knew Il was probable that would.
How long have you been III iallg
Siucc last S,turIay.
Ff.,.g ala ara v,4ts