The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-17
William Radloff Burned to Gin
ders With His Home.
a FORMER FRIEND SUSPECTED.
He Is Arrested With Several In
eliminating Papers Upon Him.
Found in the Ruins of His Lonely
Home-Large Roll of Money in His

The house of William Radloff, well-to-
do rancher living on a branch of the Rich
mond Beach road four miles north of
Woodland Park, was found to have been
burned to the ground yesterday morning,
with the half-cremated remains of Rad
loft on the ruins of his bed ALI the cir
cumstances of the case lead to the con-
clusion that some person murdered
Radloff, robbed him of a considerable sum
of money which he had taken home on
the previous evening. and then fired the
house to destroy the eyinence of the crime.
Suspicion points to Louis Kostrauch as
the guilty man and he has been arrested
to await the result of further inyestiga-
ton. He had lived with Radloff for some
time, as they were old friends, and claimed
to have worked for him, but friends of the
dead man say he was sim ply taken into
the house out OF charity. He left the
rsnch last Tuesday. Radloff leaves q wife
and child, who left him about two weeks
ago and are now with Mrs. Radloff' IS
parents near Tacoma. Some facts in the
case seem to connect Mrs Radloff with
Kostrauch, though the evidence of that
nature is slight. Radloff also has brother
named Albert living in this city.
Radloff came to Seattle Friday morning
and on his way stopped at DR.. Billiards.,
In Fremont, and told him that he would
pay him later in the day bill of 500 for
medical attendance. He also ordered
Frederick Pressing the baker on Pike
street, between Fourth and Fifth. to have
his bill ready in the afternoon and he
would call In on his way home and pay it.
During the day he was with his brother
Albert and was seen with Kostrauch, who
had been living at his ranch until few
days ago. 1t is claimed that Radloff ex-
pected to realize a large sum of money
from some mining stocks, the sale of which
he had negotiated. However that NAV be,
he obtained a considerable sum from some
source and started home. He neglected to
stop at either the bakery or at
DR.. Billiards., but did stop at the
the house of a neighbours named Stewart,
who lives about mile from his ranch, and
took supper. Before going he offered to
pay his host bill which he owed him,
and, drawing large roll of bills from his
pocket, handed out $50, but Stewart was
unable to change it. Radloff then asked
Stewart to come to town the next morn
ing, saying he would pay him then. The
conversation was general, and Redloff
mentioned his intention of going to Ger
many in May. About o'clock he left for
home.
Early yesterday morning Stewart arose
and went to Radlof's house, expecting to
find his friend ready to start for the city.
The sight that met his eyes was far differ
ent from that he expected. The house
was burned to the ground and not trace
of living being could be found. A closer
examination revealed the bones of
human being lying upon the remnants of
q charred mattress.
A Swede who works for Mr.. Patterson, q
rancher. who lives near Radloff's house,
claims that he heard q pistol shot about IL
o'clock, two hours after Radloff left Stew
arts house.
Stewart notified the nearest neighbors of
bis discovery, and while some went to
watch the scanty remains others fastened
10 Fremont and telephoned to Coroner
Horton, who went on Bonney g. Stewards
dead wagon to the scene of the tragedy.
When the coroner arrived the ruins were
surrounded by small gathering of set
tiers. who had heard the news and hast
ened to the spot
The house, which was a one-and-a-half-
story, had been completely demolished,
and the chimney had fallen to pieces, COW
ering one corner, where rifle was sup
posed to be. The remnants of the bed
were on the west side of the house,
and contained nothing but the mere
skeleton of human being. The flames
had burned the bedcloth.s, the bed and
the mattress to ashes. The portion of
human form visible to the eyes of the
coroner consisted only of bones. all the
flesh being gone. The head was gone. the
legs and arms were nothing but ashes and
the links of the back bone crumbled to
dust when touched. The neck, portion
of the chest and both hip bones were in
fairly recognizable form, and stuck to one
oil the bones was piece OF cloth
ing. Although it was badly
burned, some of those present rec og-
nized the cloth as similar to that
worn by Radloff. 1t was well known that
Radlotf wore gold watch and chain, and
carried q revolver, but no trace of any OF
these articles could be found. Close by
the bones and half buried in cinders, an
ak was discovered. The handle had been
burned off Coroner Horton made close
examination of the blade for traces of
blood, but if there we're any. the chemical
action of the heat and fire mad destroyed
them. A shotgun and rifle known TO
have been owned by Radloff were missing,
but the bricks from the chimney covered
the spot where the shotgun stood, and tits
said that the rifle is in Tacoma at the
home of Mrs. Radlofi7s parents.
Coroner Horton impaneled jury, con-
nsting of NJ. Densmore, Chris Thorn,
William Gehring, ]. +. Patterson, A. Il.
Stewart and {. c. Mellinger. As no per-
son was present who could testify to hay-
Ing seen the ire. or observed any one
coming from Radloff's house the night
previous, the coroner instructed the jury
and adjourned the inquest until Monday
afternoon. thus allowing time for the col
lection of new evidence. The remains
were placed in a receiving box and brought
to Bonney & Stewards undertaking rooms,
where the brother Albert and Louis
kostrauch, who left the ranch last Tues
day, were waiting to learn the particulars.
As soon as the news of the tragedy
reached the city yesterday morning De-
tective Edward Cudihee was detailed 10
make close inspection for evidences OF
foul play. He visited the European house,
on Sixth street, where Albert Radon ana
Louis Kostrauch stopped. de learned
from the landlady that kostrauch had
been at the house the night before at s
o'clock, but whether he went out or not
she did not know. Albert Radon was
found later and impaired the news that