The San Francisco call., 1896-02-23
Two Bodies Shipped in Trunks
From Council Bluffs to
East DeS Moines.
TELL-TALE STAMP ONA STROUD,
Clever Capture by Detectives Rela.
tives Are Horrifed Over the
Shocking Outrage.

EAST DES MONIES, Iowa, Feb. o.
George Smith was arrested this morning
for having in his possession checks of two
trunks that were shipped from Council
Bluffs yesterday afternoon containing one
body each. One body was that of man
aged about forty. The other was that of a
woman of about thirty-fve years. The
trunks arrived last evening and attentio Il
was called to them by the fact that bloc d
was dripping out OF one of them in the
Rock Island baggage room.
Detectives Jardin and Johnson watched
the depot ali night. At o'clock this
morning Hackman Weaver presented
checks for the trunks. He took them to
the Drake Medical School, where the bodies
from graves robbed here recently were
found, and was arrested while unloading
them. Smith came up Just then and was
arrested also.
The bodies have the appearance OF being
those OF the better class OF people. Much
excitement was occasioned by the dis
covery, as feeling already ran high against
the school. The authorities are in COM
munication with the Council Bluffs au-
thorities.
a inquest was held here tonight over
the bodies of Jacob Helm and Cora Peter
son, found in two trunks that came from
Omaha last night. The testimony devei-
opeQ very little of Importance. Cal
Weaver, q drayman who hauled the bodies
from the depot 10 the medical college,
stated that Smith, the man arrested for
having the bodies in charge had engaged
him 10 do the hauling and told him to
come 10 the office OF DR.. Wilmot Mccarthy
as soon as he had delivered the trunks and
he would be paid. Smith said he would
have money as soon as the bodies were de-
livered and that he would get it at Dr.. Nc
Cartny Office. DR.. Mccarthy is a mem
Der of the faculty of Drake Medical Col
lege, and prominent local practitioner.
He is also County Physician.
OMAHA. NEBR, Feb. 22-On the in
formation from Des Moines that two
bodies had been found there which seemed
% have come from Council Bluffs or
Omaha, detectives from this city went this
evening TO Mount Hope Cemetery, six
miles north of the city.
This cemetery is used as a burying-
ground for the bodies from Emanuel Hos
pital. The sexton was positive that the
graves had not been disturbed, but when
they were uncovered, in spite of the fact
that they had been apparently left alone,
1t was found that two bodies were missing,
one being that of Jacob Helm, buried from
Emanuel Hospital, February ?, on whose
body was shroud on which the name of
the hospital was stamped. The other
grave was that of Hanna Larsen, who
died February Il, and was buried last
Wednesday, the 19. Both died from
tvphoid fever
The house in which the sexton lives is
about half mile from the two graves.
which are out OF sight owing to q hill. The
sexton has been there seven years and
bears good reputation.
1t is believed here that the man arrested
at Des Moines is one of the Burton gang.
The description fits one William Glasgow,
who has had one trial for highway rob-
berry, or it NAV be Stanley Claycomb, who
was arrested for grave robbery about two
or three years ago, but who was discharged
for lack OF evidence. Helm was cousin
OF leading tailor here and the woman
was well known. The relatives are much
wrought I'D over the affair