The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-24
THE WOMAN YIELDS.
Mrs. Radloff Confesses Her
knowledge of the Plot.
DENIES BEING A PARTY TO IT.
Kostrauch Pleads Guilty, but the
Woman Maintains Her Innocence
Both Still in Jail.

regard to the RadloH case Is the Wnere-
abouts of Radoff himself. After a long
siege on Friday evening, in which she re-
sisted Chief Jackson's efforts to extort
confession from her. Mrs. Radloff at last
broke down and admitted her knowledge
of the conspiracy of which kostrauch had
told the graphic story. Radloff is wander
ing in the California forests, afraid OF his
shadow, while his two associates are In
Jail with the prospect Of long terms In the
penitentiary before them.
When Chief of Police Jackson arrested
Mrs. Radloff Friday evening at the close
of the coroner's inquest she was very dig
nifed and unapproachable, and assumed
an air of injured innocence. When she
was ushered into the chiefs private office
she sat bolt upright in a chair and abso-
lutely refused to talk; she would an
swer no questions at all, and for an
hour the chief endeavored to draw her
out, but without avail; she was always on
her guard. Finally the chief assumed
free and easy manner and started con-
versation on general topics, and at last the
woman lost little of her dignity. and,
before he knew it, was talking freely on
the case in point The chief led her on
and the woman talked good deal. Her
story in many particulars did not agree
with evidence in her own writing found in
Kostrauch's pockets at the time OF his
arrest. This evidence was produced and
the woman was not merely surprised, she
was completely overwhelmed. She broke
down after being four hours under the
strain and made confession.
The precise nature of the confession the
chief of police refuses to give out. He
says that the woman admitted that her
husband is alive: that scheme was ar
ranged to swindle the insurance COM
panies. She denies, however, that she
was a party to the crime. She says that
her husband told her that he had corpse
buried in the chicken yard, but that she
did not promise to aid him in any way.
When asked if she knew anything about
the insurance money she said that her
husband said he intended to insure his
life for 500, 900, but she told him it would
be too high; that it would arouse sus-
picion, so they agreed to place the insur-
ance at $55, 900.
During the confession Mrs. Ida Wright,
the sister of Mrs. Radloff. was in the in
spector's Office The chief came out and
said:
"Well, your sister has confessed"
II won't believe it!' cried the young
woman, springing to her feet, her cheeks
glowing.
''But she has," urged the chief.
sits false-she's innocentl"
"Well, she will tell you for herself"
answered the chief and he opened the
door and Mrs. Radloff stepped out. She
looked for a moment at her sister and
said:
'Ida, I've confessed"
Mrs. Wright stood for a moment like a
marble statue; all the color left her face;
then she almost went into Mysteries. Be-
tween her sobs she said:
"Then-you were-led into it. I'll never
desert you'll"
Yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock Mrs.
Radloff and kostrauch were taken before
Justice Neagle for hearing on the charges
of arson and grave robbery. Mrs. Radloff
discarded her widows weeds and was at
tired in plain black. She was very nervous
and her colorless face bore evidence of
sleepless night. Her former proud bearing
was gone, and she looked the picture of
despair. Her senses seemed numbed.
Mrs. Wright sat beside her. very pale but
composed. Kostrauch sat apart and was
totally unconcerned. He smiled and
talked with Constable Terry King, and,
noticing the despair written in the features
of the woman he had implicated in his
crime, he turned to the constable and
whispered: She'll attempt suicide on
her way to jail"
Kostrauch pleaded guilty to both of the
charges preferred against him. waived ex-
animation, and, in default of bonds in the
sum of So, 900, was sent to jail. When Mrs.
Radlotf was called Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney Caldwell told her that she need
not answer questions unless she so desired,
and, seeing that she was without an attor-
ney, told her that he was willing that the
case should be continued if she wished to
employ counsel. Accordingly the hearing
was postponed until next Wednesday,
Mrs. Radloff waited at the Justices office
until o'clock, but could not secure bonds
men and the constable conveyed her to
the county jail in coupe.
Mrs. Wright left for Tacoma last even
ing on the Bailey Gatzert. She will take
take care of Mrs. Radloff7s 2-year-old little
girl, and will be in the city Wednesday
and attend the hearing before Justice
Neagle.
The penalty for arson is one to ten years
in the penitentiary, and for grave robbing
one year in the penitentiary and $1,000
fine.