Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-11-09
Officials Probe a Dark Mystery
in the Forest.
THEY OPEN A LONELY GRAVE
just at tho Point When the InyestIgat ton
Seemed About to Become Interest
ing, the Old Man Laughed.

tbs heart OF forest of tamarack and black
pine near the northern boundary of Spo-
kane county, suspicious looking grave
was opened yesterday forenoon in the pres
enee Of Deputy Sheriff Pugb, Coroner d. c,
Newman and Prosecuting Attorney Fem
ton, who were accompanied to the scene by
two medical experts, n court stenographer
and newspaper reporter.
The grave was on the lard of Solomon
Herman German rancher, whose l5-year-
old son Julius, disappeared from his home
two years ago last August, and has not since
been seen BY his former neighbors. The
disappearance had given rise to many ugly
rumors, and when Harry Hutchins, a
bright lad OF l6. reported the existence of
the new-made grave, suspicious that had
not before been uttered were voiced by in
dgnant neighbors, and n general demand
for an investigation was made.
Suspicious circumstances.
Julius and his old father had been known
10 quarrel violently, and the old gentleman
frequently inflicted corporeal punishment.
julius had remained away from home
nights, through fear, the neighbors said. oil
punishment to follow his return to the pa
rental root tree. Solomon Herman and his
| did not discuss their affairs with their
neigh bors but rcpulsed them with curt re-
| plies. So when young Hutchins reported
| the existence OF the grave, all the sus.
| picious looking circumstances were remem-
borcd, and there was "A general demand for
an official inquiry.
The Investigation.
| Deputy Sherifls Pugh and Cole. the coro-
ner and the prosecuting attorney proceeded
| to Deer Park on the Spokane Il Northern
| railway yesterday morning. DIR. Dulton
| went from Spokane and Dr. J. l.. Smith of
| Chattaroy was telegraphei Tor. Grant J.
| Bowman accompanied the party as steuo-
| graphcr, AT Deer Park wood wagon was
engaged to drive Two miles west TO the Her
man ranch.
The authorities knocked at the door of
| Hcrman's little home.
I'VE have come" said Deputy Pugh, ito
| investigate a grave somewhere near your
| house. Can you tell us where 1t is"
There are five in the graveyard, half u
mile east OF here tho old man replied,
| pointing. That's all. On my land, you
saye guess you must be mistaken. What
! would / DC doing with grave out hereg'
| AS he spoke Herman wound up quaint
old German toy that set pasteboard shoe
maker to drawing threads and whistung
prodigiously over his hard work.
Shovels had been secured and father and
son accompanied the officials to a spot go
yards south, IN the edge of the clearing,
| where mound of soft earth was mark ed
bya charred log set on end.
There's tbs headstone,h Conrad OBJ
| served nonchalantly.
The old man smiled family. Conrad
shucked his coat, seized another shovel and
worked like Trojan. -Four feet down the
spade struck something that sounded hol
low. The officials exchanged gIances. The
old man meanwhile talked necessarily o.
A., AZ. IL. -
stenographer unostentatiously, but faith
fully, re corded every word.
The Old Man Laughs.
At tho point where the investigation
seemed about to bear fruit Hermans smil,
widened into grin. and burst into louc
"Ha, no." The son looked up from hi
work and laughed. The hollow sound wa:
repeated several times, but the boy contin-
ued TO dig industriousiy until, out of on,
corner he dragged something with hi
shovel and said:
Here's a hoof and horn. Which viii
you have iirst2'
And the father laughed until genuin,
tears came.
"I's my little Jersey COW that died las
July, he said, between paroxysms. "Wha
a good joke on the gentlemen who came III
here to have little inquest"
Everybody laughed when the grave dig
gers unearihed the decomposng head.
log chain was attached and the amin al wa
drawn out. The excavation was CONTINUED
two feet further without adding to thu
ghastly find.
How the Boy Disappear
Herman told tho officers his version o
the disappearance of his boy julius.
was over two years ago, he said, that tn
Dov struck out. Julius had cost him 10
of money by his pranks. Once he haC
stolen several dollars from his father
hoard and spent the money for valentines
big s.x-bit affairs. Six he sent to girls IL
the neighborhood, and one he gave Thu
school teacher for addressing the envelopes
Then he was always into mischief Her
man went on, land when he went | sale
let him GO and make his own living"
Where is he now?" asked Corone
Newman.
II don't know. and / don't care. II
is Il good radiance" was the reply. -
heard once he vas in Cheney but don
know. My neighbors made all kinds O
talk. One fellow he came IN and aske,
, me if | had killed the boy. | said &c
: out OF here, you - -, or ! tell you
never was such a lickiag like you will get,
and he got out pretty quick
Herman has a patent to 100 acres, G
,, which 40 are slashed and partly cleared
Ho is building a new house. and. being
cabinet maker. has spent many long winte
nights finishing the interior When com
pleied it will be country cottage in
thousand. The old man and his boy ar,
community to themselves. They ar
| prodifaH n naar Park vrif