Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-05-30


brought into the basement, were found. |
The bones were turned over to num-
Der of physicians and all unhesitasingly |
identified them as those of human be-
ing and almost certainly female.
Mrs. II. H. Peterson, an estimable
lady, whose husband Is employed in the
waterworkS department, resides on the
north side of the church. She, Of course,
knowns Rev. Hermann intimately and
was well acquainted with Miss Clawson.
She knew nothing about the discoveries
made in the basement under her apart
ments, but talked readily.
"Mr. Hermann came back from the
east on Thursday of last September"
she said, "and on the Sunday following
Miss Clawson told me she was going to
visit friend on Center street, but would
return in the evening. She also said
that the next day, Sunday, she expected
to go out into the country for few
days to visit friends, but would come
back. presume she returned Sunday
evening, but do not know, as am not
member of the congregation"
"Do you remember the occasion when
Mr.. Hermann built fire in the fur
nacein
"Quite well. Ii was shortly after his
return. In fact, | saw him carrying
large sack down into the basement, but
do not know what 1t contained. l re
member that the fire created an intense
heat in the apartments, and remarked
upon 1t to my husband, but he did not
consider 1t anything extraordinary"
"Did you ever notice anything pecu-
liar about the relations between Miss
Clawson and Mr.. HERMANN"
mot at all. remember that on one
location Mr.. Hermann remarked to me
that Miss Clawson had made proposal
to him. didn't think 1t was very nice of
him to say that. Miss Clawson was a
good girl, and she cared great deal for
Mr. HERMANN From other persons it
was learned that Mr. Hermann returned
from the east recently, but left again
two weeks ago.
The acting pastor stated that his last
address was Kansns City, where he was
on May 9th, on his way to DEBORAH, Ia.
The relics found in the ash receiver
of the furnace furnish very important
clue. The bones, razors, knife and
buckles had become separated from the
mass through the action of the heat,
aud dropped through the CRATE without
being destroyed.
The clavicle is from three and half
to four inches long, and was first shown
to DIR. Richards, who instantly identi-
fed it and pronoun ,ed 1t to be probably
the bone of a woman. 1t was after
wards shown to Drs. Meacham, Wilcox,
Wright, Fowler, Niles and others, with.
out any explanation, and all agreed with
DR.. Richards statement. In addition
there are twelve or fifteen pieces of ribs
and eight or ten vertebrae, which have
also been pronounced those of a woman.
The blood smeared door of the fur
mace has been taken off and is now in
the hands Of DR.. Mecham. His tests
show il to be blood, and further that 1t
is not the blood of fowl.
As stated several sacks that had con-
tanned charcoal had been used in the
furnace on this occasion, and Dr., Rich
ards opinion is that the purpose was to
add to the heat and at the same time
counteract the odor from the burning
body.
The basement should properly be
called an excavation, for it is nothing
more. 1t is perhaps eight feet deep,
and is situated under the rear part of the
church. The entrance is through hall
opening into the rear yard, and ii was in
this hall that Mrs. Peterson saw Mr..
Hermann carrying the sack.
The furnace is about in the center of
the excavation, and of the sort usually
used to heat large buildings. a small
coal chute on the south side the base
ment is almo the only source of light
when the entrance door is closed, and
it is SO dark that nothing can be dis
cerned In the gloomy place.
The present whereabouts of Rev.
He mann are unknown, but efforts are
being made to locate him. Officers be-
lieve the mystery will soon be cleared.