The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-23
THE PLOT is ALL OUT.
Radlof Conspiracy Unfolded at
the Inquest.
MRS. RADLoFF is ARRESTED.
Kostrauch Tells How the Inharmonfous
Couple Agreed on = swindie-Adoiph
Krug As . Detective.

house was held yesterday afternoon, and
the evidence conclusively proves that they
are all that is left of the body of Il. b.
levin, and that William Radloff entered
into conspiracy with Kostrauch to
swindle the life insurance companies by
burning his house and the body. kostrauch
told the whole story in straightforward
manner, and his evidence also duplicates
Mrs. Radioff as party to the plot. The
coroner's jury found that the remains
were those of levin, and Immediately
afterwards Kostrauch and Mrs. Radioff
were arrested on charge of arson and
lodged in Jail.
The man who gave the information
which led to the unraveling of the whole
plot is Adolph Krug. the city treasurer and
Radloff's former partner. 1t was he who
first turned suspicion on Kostrauch by
calling attention to his contradictory
statements, and with such good material
TO work on as they found in that individu-
ais pockets the police had tolerably plain
sailing, requiring no great detective ability.
The cipher letter received by Kostrauch
from Radloff shows which direction that
animated corpse took in his fight from
the town where he baked bread for the liv-
ing and roasted the dead, and, unless he
has changed his plans, he ought not to be
difficult to find. scared German with
light hair dyed black and with sore feet
has enough peculiarities to attract atten-
ton anywhere.
A crowd began to gather in front of Bon
ney Stewards undertaking rooms an
hour before the time set for the beginning
o. the inquest, and by o'clock Columbia
street was blocked halfway across, SO that
pedestrians with difficulty forced their
way through. The rooms where the in
quest was held we're packed, many people
standing up. John f. Miller, prosecuting
attorney, examined the witnesses and
Coroner Horton swore in the jury, which
was composed of j. F. Patterson, Christie
pher Thomas, William Gehring NJ. Dins-
more, a. l.. Stewart and G. c. Millinger.
The first witness called was DIR. +. Il.
Ballard, OF Fremont, who testified TO the
personal appearance of Radioff, and said
that hc~last saw him on the morning of
April II about 10 O'Clock. Radlof called
70 see him about the payment of an account
for medical services.
At this Juncture Attorney Miller In
CURED for Mrs. Radloff She was not in
the room and he telephoned to Thompson.
Edsen d HUMPHREYS, her lawyers, that the
inquest was in progress and that if Mrs.
Radlof wanted to hear all that was going
on she had better put in an appearance
Immediately.
DIR. Ballard then further testified that
Radloff was married. his wife being about
20 years old and that they had little girl
about years old.
Just as the doctors testimony began to
refer TO the burned remains the father and
brother of X. B. levin, of Fremont,
whose body was stolen, put IN an appear
ance. Continuing, the doctor said he saw
the remains of the body found in the ruins
of the burned house and that
all that was left was the pelvis
bones, part of an arm, about six
inches of the femur, fragment of the Jaw
bone and several small pieces of fingers
and toes. On the right hip was piece of
striped dark trousers and fragment of
gray WOODEN drawers. 1t might be the
skeleton of William Radloff The doctor
drew diagram of the house.
The next witness was George Stewart,
who lives about three-fourths OF a mile
from Radloff's house. He told precisely
the same story that he did the day the
building was found in ashes. He made
W
Eadloff the next morning at o'clock and
drive to town with him. When he went
10 keep his appointment he found the
place burned.
II was evident that Stewart knew a good
deal more than Attorney Miller wanted to
bring out at this point, for when he left
the stand Mr.. Miller said: Don't go
away. want you in a few minutes"
Margaret Bauer, who lives a short dis
lance from Stewards place. testified 10
taking with Radloif the day preceding
the burning of the house.
Chris ibson, another rancher, stated
that he saw Radlof on Friday, the 18th,
about noon, and talked with him. Rad
Ion appeared to be in the best of spirits
While lbson was on the stand Mrs.
Radlof, attired in mourning. accom-
panied by her sister, Mrs. John Wright.
arrived. The crowd parted and the two
young women took seats in a room adjoin-
ing the one N which the examination was
going on, As soon as bison lett the stand
Mr.. Miller called for Mrs Radloff. She
came forward, as cool and collected as f
she was in church. She gave her answers
without hesitation in clear voice. She
was asked:
When were you married?
In isSe.
when did you see your husband las,f
A week ago on Monday.
Where?
AZ Lake Bay
What were you doing therer
was visiting my parents until the time when
nv husband aud myself should start for Europe.
lie came over TO Visit youg
Yes
han h.xx hi
tTp alones
Yes
HAD he all the money he neededr
Ncs.
How did he get ~
dout know. He simply told ne that he had
tho money.
lie had mortgage on his place, didn'thef
Yes. lie tod me he mortgaged the place for
$50
psd he have his lie Insured.
Yes
For how muchH
Fifty I'VE thousand dollars.
no you know ia what companies policies were
takeng
Ia the Mutual Life, New York Life and Fou,t.
able
Wasn't IL rather an extraordinary thing for
him 10 carry 80 much insurauccf
Well, YES But told him had had nv for.
tune told. and that he was gong TO die violent
CcatA inside OF vest
How was he 10 dies
don't kaow. only that he was die violently.
Where was il that yea had your fortune told
where d,d you see this womanf
In restaurant down here.
How .1as acot
About three or four months
What uue interviewed before you had your
husband get out the polic,esg
NcN-s0He time,
nIl your husband believe in the prophecy 0!