The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-05-09


eral days. unearthing new traces Of
Bastian's deeds. Three murders are
now conclusively traced TO Bastian. &C
cording to neighbors, and many think
four other cases of mysterious disap-
pearance are in reality murders, COM
mitted by him. One Of the crimes
charged against Bastian by his neigh
bors is the killing of his 2-year-old
child five years ago. His other sup
posed victims are three farm hands,
Lauderbach, Kreinsen and McCaffrey,
and a colored nurse named Parish, who
disappeared about the time Bastian's
baby died. There is a great deal Of
conjecture in these cases, but the peo-
pie who three weeks ago wanted to
mob Sheriff Hemenway for suggesting
that Bastian killed Kuschmann would
now believe any charge made against
him.
Aside from the way in which Bastian
kept up his dual life, II he was really
a murderer, this change of sentiment
is tho most remarkable part OF this
strange case which is so full of posi-
bilities. No one can guess Its Magp'
tude When Sheriff Hemenway e..
to connect Bastian with Kasc' -egal
murder the people Of Nh -nmann'
farmers along Min Or IN and thu
to keep away and lex warned hin
suit against h,' o. ,eneu 10 trine
tian's charar' Il Tor defaming Bias
hodv w.s .er. Even after Bastian's
49, :, found hanging in an out
ley would not credit the stories
a@' when the first skeleton was nm
sArthed the sheriff was accused of bav.
lug painted 1t to strengthen his case
H9Weyer, there has been a great change
y lssllas, and aow lhsEa il talk Of re.
moving Bastian's body from the GENE
terry to the potters' field as a mark OF
resentment.
The case has attracted widespread
attention, and people from every d.
rection are visiting the Bastian farm
and carrying away numberless souven-
irs OF the spot. The bloody buffalo
robe, the buggy, and other objects con-
nected with the murder of young
Kuschmann have been bought by the
farmers near by, and are regarded as
treasures. Nothing remains on the
farm except the buildings, all else
having been sold at auction, and the
crowds OF visitors watch every chance
to carry away chip OF these.
Henry Bastian, who is now charged
with seven murders, with forgery. ar.
son, and other crimes, was born near
Rock Island twenty-six years ago, and
has lived on the farm near Mill Creek
most Of his life. He was a prominent |
member of his church and was regard
ed as an upright man by his neighbors
during the five years in which IL is now
supposed he was killing his farm
hands, burning barns, and robbipg his
friends and relatives. Since the day
he was married and came into posses
sion OF the farm he has lived a dual
life, not even his wife having any sus-
picion of his crimes. His sister Car
rie, who lived with him most of the
lime, Is suspected by many of having
guilty knowledge of his acts. but States
Attorney Searle, the sheriff, and the
coroner, working together. have not
been able to produce any evidence
against her.
The last murder committed by Bas-
ian, and which resulted in the dis
overy OF his other crimes and led to I
lis suicide, was the killing of Fred
Suschmann on February 2g last. I
whose people live in Rock q
sland, had worked for Bastian for a !
ear, and on the day he was killed told I
he latter he was going home and want a
his money. Just how he was killed a
ill probably never be known. About 6
o'clock that night Bastian entered a
he house of his nearest neighbor, An o
IN Weigle, and said he had found !,
.uschmann's body in the road where
had been thrown from his horse. T
asian said later the farm hand had