Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-09
WIFE IS SEEN.
Mrs. Henry Bastian is Inter-
viewed.
AST0UNDED BY REVELATIONS.
A Noble Woman Who Sus-
pected no Wrong.
Trusted Her Deceptive Hus-
band to the Last.
BELIEVED IN CARRIE BASTIAN.
Formal Request to Reopen
Kuschmann Inquest.
Operations Suspended at the
Farm for the Present.
Trusted Her Deceptive Hus-
band to the Last.
BELIEVED IN CARRIE BASTIAN.
Formal Request to Reopen
kuschmann Inquest.
Operations Suspended at the
Farm for the Present.

A lady representative of a New
York journal came to Rock Island
yesterday accompanied by staff art
list, having been assigned the duty of
writing up the Bastian crimes. She
called at THE ARGUS office before 60
ing out to the farm. and it was sug-
gested that she would be more capa-
bic OF interviewing the afflicted
widow Of Henry Bastian than anyone
else, for while the public has been
anxious all along to learn Mrs. Bas-
tian's story. believing as all do
in her and sympathizing with her in
her awful trial. yet none Of the
papers have felt that even the duty
of the hour warranted intruding
upon her presence at this time. Mrs.
Bastian is at the home of her father,
NJ. T. johnson, in Black Hawk town.
ship. 1t was there that the lady rep
resentative Of the press saw her yes
terday. 1t was the first time she
has granted an audience to any other
than those who are dear to her since
the terrible ordeal through which
she has passed, for added to her indies
scribable grief, she has not risen from
her sick bed.
Impressed With Mrs. Bastiap.
81 found in Mrs. Bastian," said
the correspondent, "a noble, inno-
cent woman. AS ! looked into her
face l could tell even before she
spoke what q terrible sorrow she has
passed through. She has simply
been dazed by what has happened,
and wheo she told me that she had
never had reason to do otherwise than
trust her husband to the utmost and
believe in him. l knew she was
speaking from the depths of her soul.
l raw how painful it was for her to
even allude to what has happened,
aud l know too we'll how to sympa-
thize with my own sex and add to
ones cup of sorrow by expecting
her to speak further than is neces-
sary on so delicate n subject.
realized from the moment that
met her that my duty had been per-
formed, for a glance at her open, in
telligent countenance is all that is
necessary to satisfy one that nobody
is so grievously shocked as she by
the revelations. She is completely as
founded. She was not made a conf
dent by her husband even to his or
binary business Transactions. l find,
too, that she has never had reason to
doubt her sister-in law. Carrie Bas-
tian, who had made her home at the
farm during the last month or more.
and she believed in her. She stated,
too, that Carrie was home the even
ing of the Mclaughlin fire. No one
can meet Mrs. Bastian without being
impressed with her character. She
is broken-hearted woman, and the
full measure of consolation which we
all yearn SO much to offer cannot
prove the balm that we would have
it. We can but pray that it may
soothe and comfort. The anguish
Of the victim OF cruel deception is the
bitterest Of ALL"
NJ. T. johnson Seen.
| OohhSUhs vi
Henry +. Bastian, was seen this
morning by an ARGUS represe NATIVE
1--WE believed in Henry Bastian up tc
the discovery Of the body on tn,
farm" said Mr.. johnson. "but We
have nothing more to say now. w,
simply cannot understand it," Mr.
johnson stated further that through
conversation with his daughter ht
had learned that nothing of the ma
ture of suspicion entered her mint
the night Of Kuschmann's death. AL
though she knew something had hap
pened but she did not know the ex
tent OF it. She was in the house al
the evening. after her HUSBAND
went away. as she supposed to lool
for Kuschmann after the horse re
turned, but her sister-in-law
Carrie Bastian. was in aud out dur
ling the evening.