The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-22
MYSTERY NO LONGER.
b. K. Lewrn's Empty Grave Tes-
titles Against Radloff.
kosTRAUcH SHOWED THE SPOT.
Robbery OF Grave Proved-A Relative
Recognizes the Remains - New
Facts About the Insurance.

burned a stolen body in his house was re-
moved yesterday, and the whole case now
stands forth plainly as one of the boldest
and most cunningly devissd schemes to
swindie life insurance companies on re-
cord. The fact that Kostrauch pointed
out the grave from which the body was
missing establishes the connection be-
tween the absence of the body and the
presence of the charred fragments among
the ruins of the house. The inquest will
be held at O'Clock this afternoon, and
then the facts may be expected to come
out in their entirety.
At las O'Clock yesterday afternoon
Coroner Horton went hurriedly to police
headquarters, where he was closeted with
Chief Jackson for ten minutes. At the
close of the interview the coroner
went direct to Bonney & Stew
arts, where he obtained some mys-
FERROUS articles. If any person had
been watching the police station fifteen
minutes later he would have seen two
seated covered carriage drawn by pair of
| spirited horses stop in front of the door.
| moment later Chief Jackson, accompa-
MED by young man, appeared
in the doorway. The young
| man was Louis Kostrauch, who
| is held on suspicion of connection
| with the Radlof mystery. Kostrauch was
| apparently in good spirits and had not
suffered from his imprisonment. He
| climbed into the carriage, took up the
| reins and drove off. In the carriage with
| him were Coroner Horton, Chief of Police
Jackson and John Wright, sexton of the
Odd Fellows cemetery, who had charge
of the Greenwood cemetery short
1fraa A.
| through the city passers-by gave little
| attention to the driver, but had they
| known that he was the person whom the
| police have kept for nearly a week from
being interviewed by attorneys, reporters,
| Mrs. Radloff or her pretty sister, it would
have been far different.
After passing over the Fremont boule-
ward. the carriage assembled the hill to
| Woodland park. took the road to the left,
| skirted the north side CT the park and in
| few minutes drew up before the
| gate of Greenwood cemetery. The
| party entered and went to the
| northwest corner of the cemetery.
where are located the graves that have
caused so much speculation during the
last week. Kostrauch was the center fig
ure and the observed of all observers. He
stood the test well and never faltered in
| the least. The row of graves containing
bodies of infants was passed and the men
| silently ranged themselves before the two
| graves which were supposed to contain
| the key to the mystery which has
caused so great sensation.
| John Wright, the sexton, stood with
| spade in hand, ready to commence work
| when the signal should be given. Kost-
| rauch was put to the test, and told to in
| dictate the grave which should be opened.
| A moment of suspense followed, but
| Kostrauch did not hesitate IN the least
| He pointed to the grave, the only grave
| which had headboard. Upon it were
| the words:
| R. B. Lewrn, aged 80 years. Feby. Is, 1892.
Sexton Wright followed his instructions
and drove the spade into the earth. His
| work was watched with more interest than
on ordinary occasions and he evidently
| took pride in it, for the pit deepened rap
| idly. Twenty inches below the surface
| the ground became very damp and the
| progress correspondingly slow. At
| depth of five feet the spade struck the box,
| and the hollow sound given forth acted
! like an electric shock upon the spectators.
| Their curiosity got the better of them and
| one and all leaned over the grave in
breathless anxiety as the last few shovel
| fulls of dirt was thrown from the top of
the box. The cover was unscrewed and
lifted off. The investigation had not been
fruitless. The casket with its lifeless oc-
cupant was gone.
| Having completed the investigation and
| verified their suspicious and probably
Kostrauch's statements. the party took
| their places in the carriage and drove back
| to the city. At $3.50 O'Clock Louis Kost-
| rauch was once more taken to his cell in
the city Jail.
The fact that the grave supposed to be
occupied by B. r. Lewrn was believed to
have been ritled came to the ears of the
brother-in-law of the deceased, who lives
| in Fremont. Straightway he came to the
city and found Coroner Horton. A
| brief consultation ensued, during
which they compared notes and
| the relative plainly indicated his opinion
and feelings in his countenance and by his
| actions. In company with the coroner he
went to Bonney & Stewards. In private
| they examined the remains and talked
| concerning the identity. 1t is understood
| that the examination of the remains con-
| firms the belief that they are those of
| Lewrn.
| In addition to the insurance on his life,
| Radloff had his house, barn, farming
| utensils and what furniture there was in
| his house insured in the Phenix Fire
| Company, of which o. A. Warehouse is
agent, in the name of his brother Albert
| for $3.50. Mr.. Warehouse has carried
Radloff7s fire insurance for four years, and
among other property the Radloff block
| on Sixth street, which was sold November
| /, 1890, to C. II. Townsend for So. 900.
| Radloff went to Mr.. Waterhouse October
| /. 1891, and said that he had bought
| chicken ranch and wanted insurance He
| made application for farm policy, which
| differs from others in that it covers the
| house. barn. chicken-house, farming uteu-
| sis and hay. On January 1, 1892, a new
| policy was made out in the name of his
| brother for 1855. Radloff explaining
| that he was gong to Europe, and that his
| brother Albert would occupy the place
| The policy was written, and at the same
| time Mr. Warehouse spoke TO him
about taking life insurance. Rad
loft was Indifferent, and could not
| be interested in the subject.
In strong contrast to his indifference on
this occasion appears the fact that in
March he made personal application to
the Equitable, of New York, for $40. 600
| This is a peculiar incident. as it is very
seldom that person seeks the insurance
agents.
The insurance men, who have detec-
| tives of their own at work, think they
| have nearly located Radloff and they ex,.
,acs TO -ipe- him m Ifgbt prohahtr in