, 1896-10-29
THE SIDING TRAGEDY.
NO CLUE AS TO PERPETRATOR
OF THE FIENDISH
CRIME.
Coroner Miller Returns E.o2, the Scene
A Story CT Bygone Days-'The
Jury Finds That the Murder Was
Wilful-Sherit; Grant Unraveling
the Mystery.

Coroner Andrew Miller returned from
the scene of the Wurl tragedy, near Tie
Siding. last evening at Z o'clock, but
says there is nc additional evidence
that would lead to the apprehension
of the murderer. or ever point to the
man who has committed this horrible
crime.
AS Coroner Miller and Sheriff Grant
went up the hill Tuesday afternoon
the sheriff got off the train opposite
the ranch and walked across, the ranch
being but a short distance from the
track at one place. Mr.. Miller went
on to Tie Siding and from there to the
ranch, arriving at about 7 p. m. 1t had
become so dark that it was decided to
permit everything to remain unmolest-
ed TIL Wednesday morning. and make
the examination of the premises in the
light of day.
From the evidence and circumstan-
ces. it is evident that Mrs. Wurl, after
returning from the neighbours house
Monday afternoon. entered her home,
changed her clothes and then proceed
ed to the barn to do the chores. Two
cows had been admitted to the barn,
and it is evident that she was lust get
ting them in when she was first struck
by the concealed assassin, for the body
lay near the loo through which they
were admitted. The fiend had secured
a boulder with which he struck
the first blow. He then seized a
novel standing in. the corner of the
barn and finished his deadly work,
dealing his helpless victim blow after
blow about the head. The shovel was
replaced in the corner wher it was al
ways kept. The murderer then went to
the house and searched for money,
tRmbling up the bed somewhat and dis
tuEbing the furniture. A small box
in which nearly a hundred dollars was
kept was found and the money all tax
en-. After this had been accomplished,
1t evidently occurred to the brute thai
he had better make sure of the death
OF Mrs. Wurl. He procured a shoe
knife from the kitchen and returned to
the barn, where he cut the throat of
his victim with this dull instrument in
the most horrible manner. AT first he
have concluded to take the weap-
on with him. for it was found some dis
lance from where the body was dis
covered.
From all the circumstances 1t Is be-
lieved by the officers and neighbors
that the deed was committed by some
one familiar with the ranch and the
habits of the Wurls. for a day was
chosen when Mrs. Wurl was alone. 1t
had been her custom to have her
nephew come and stay at the ranch
when Mr.. Wurl was absent in the city,
burt upon this occasion the nephew
h idea that an ordinary tramp per-
petrated the deed is also secuted, for
the reason that any mar could have
robbed the place without adding to his
crime hat of a f1endish murder and the
chance of being hanged. Mrs. Wurl
was a small woman and could have
been easil overpowered by any man.
STORY OF THE PAST.
Many years ago Mrs. Wurl was the
wife of another man and they lived
upon Sand creek. They lived. It is
said. %unhappily together. and finally
parted, the husband departing for parts
unknown, swearing that he would be
avenged in time to come. The deserted
woman secured a divorce and married
Ludwig Wurl, the couple shortly after
moving to their present h%abitation on
Harvey creek. Some hint at the idea
that perhaps this husband of bygone
days has returned to wreak vengeance
upon his former wife. but it is hardly
possible that hatred could exist even
in the most depraved human heart
t~hroughg such a lapse Of time.
THE CROWNER'S QUEST.
Coroner Miller summoned William C.
Mclean, Arthur Chessbro and Charles
E. Woodland as a jury and yesterday
proceeded with an inquest into the
manner in which Mrs. Wurl came to
her death.
The first witness examined was Clara
L. Broadhurst, who testified that Mrs.
Minnie Wurl came to her home ON the
26th day of October at II a. m. and
that she left there to go home at 2:3O
p. m. She was dressed in a black skirt,
blue and white flannel waist, pink fas-
%cinator. red and black shoulder shawl
and brown gloves and carried a basket
on her arm. She had IS cents In her