The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-05-19
- II yxxsoS,s sxxIx1ou,

L
The A.sshass's Mysssrisss piaas,sasasss 1.
1887 ~ ths Usassthsd 6eass.
The discovery and exhumation Of q
male skeleton last week on the ranch Of
John Donovan. on the Lake shore oppo.
SITE this city. - detailed In our last q.
sue. has served to renew the interest Of
our older residents In what wss some
yesn ago known ~ the sudden and
mysterious disappearance Of business
man Of this city named Jsnson.
In 1889 or 81 the frm of Jensen 4
hcCabe was conducting . lucrative bus.
Ines In the jewelry and stationery lines
In the building that, until DESTROYED by
iare some weeks ago. stood In the rear
OF the present paintstore Of the Rosen
Bros. Times were lively aud money
plenty In those days. and the firm was
known to possess considerable cash, e.
pecialiy Mr.. Jensen. Ono starlight ev.
sning In the summer Of 81, Jensen, &C.
cording to the story related BY McCabe,
bis partner, was called out Of the store
BY two men who seemed to know him
well. but who were stranger to Nc
Cabe, and the trio strollsd away togeth.
o. In the direction Of the lake beach.
where they entered row-bost and went
slowly out upon the water a IL for q
pleasure trip.
From the moment the boat and ito
occupants disappeared In the haze that
hung darby blue" over the lake. Mr..
Jensen was lost to his relatives, TO his
friends. and TO the world ~ completely
a. ii the earth had opened and engulfed
him. At least, the most extended in.
quiry and search In every likely (and
unlikely direction failed to reveal the
slightest trace Of him. Neither were
his two companions ever seen here
again. 80 far as Is known. The weather
on the night In question was calm and
tho water as smooth as mirror, 30 that
= case Of accidental drowning was not
probable. The boat, too, which in such
m event would very likely have been
picked up in daylight. was never found.
The conclusion finally arrived ut was
that Jensen had been decoyed upon the
lake 0F the proceedings were rs related
BY McCabe) by supposed friends and
there robbed OF the money and valua-
bles he carried on his person and his
body thrown into the overwhelming
waters OF this inland sea. Considerable
was engendered at the time,
md suspicion was at last aroused that
might know more regarding |
The disappearance OF his partner than
be had chosen TO reveal: but before any !
Acuve steps had bsen taken TO test this |
'uspicion McCabe quietly left the coun-
ny. and In the lapse OF time the matter
has been almost forgotten.
The finding Of the skeleton mention
ID. its good condition, the locality Of its |
ntsrment. the fact that il is the skele.
.on Of = white man and not Of m In.
iian. added 10 McCabe's statement that
Jenfon and his companions were pro.
,eeding across the lake In southwest
MY direction when last seeu-these in.
'idents have awakened somewha, the
interest in the Jensen affair. What IL
more probable. granting McCabe's story |
% have been true. than that the unsus.
pccting jeweler was decoycd TO the op-
'osite shore by some tale OF rich min.
'ral discovery. there robbed and killed.
md his romans hastily concealed In
he soil AT that date the site OF Don.
vans ranch, and. In fact, tina, whole
western shore. was a primevai wilder.
hess seldom trodden by white feet. Az
er thus disposing OF their victim II was
IN easy matter for the murderers TO de.
cend TO the river and thereon float
way TO utter obscurity.
And IL. after all, McCabc was lying.
thorough excavation Of the ground
'cncaih the ruins Of the partners old
tore might yet reveal the truth.