Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-14
TALK OF THE HOUR.
kuschmann Murder and Subse.
quent Developments.

quent Developments.
sUBsTAKTIATEs EARLY THEORIES.
Ceaclssivs Evidence In support Of sas-
piesoas which ut First were Secuted at
A Chain Of seasatioaal Circumstances
EstabIishsd by The Argus.
The tragic climax of the long line
OF theories established with ref
erence to the murder of Fred
Kuschmann, which came yesterday in
the suicide of Henry +. Bastian, is
the talk of the hour in Rock Island
county. and the demand for copies
of THE ARGUS last evening contain
ing the full account of the last SEN
saiional feature demonstrated how
kcenly public interest is conferred in
the Developments. As a matter of
fact the perfecting press I'm
The ARGUS building was started
up several times after what
was thought to be q supply
sufficient to satisfy the demand had
been run off. The repetition of this
process served, while indicating the
public interest in the matter, to also
evence the superior advantages pos
sessed by The ARGUS in its mechan-
ical, as we'll as news department. for
handling events of such magnitude.
Aside from the suicide of Bastian,
there were brought to light from
official circumstances yesterday facts
the effect of which was to vindicate
the attitude of The ARGUS in its pur-
suit Of well founded theories of MUIR
der. While from the first The ARGUS
was satisfied that q crime had been
committed, and its conviction was
strengthened day by day as it pur-
sued its investigation, being in pos
session as it had been for q week of
the fact that human blood had been
discovered on the Bastian premises.
and similar evidences OF a most
atrocious deed, which it was not at
liberty to disclose until such time as
the proper authorities we're prepared
to give their sanction. it neverthe-
less felt satisfied beyond a doubt Of
the nature of what had happened.
Yet it was obliged to confine itself
to the association of the Mclaughlin
fire, the mysterious circumstances
envelOping the finding of Kusch-
mann's body, the strange position of
the overcoat, the missing cap, the
unaccounted for disappearance of
other men who had worked on the
Bastian place and the contradictory
statements and other inconsistencies
coming to it alone.
Discouraging Circumstances.
Despite the conclusive evidence
possessed, there was much to dis
courage in the skeptical view taken
by many in Black Hawk township
and the natural disposition the
part of some to discountenance re-
Elections which they believed to be
unfounded; yet knowing that no one
who with unbiased feelings and
prompted only by desire that JUS
tice be done, could 90 into the depths
Of its surroundings without having
but one conviction, there was but
one thing left to do and that to give
such Information as was admissible
from time to time and await the fu-
ture to disclose such other particulars
as were known, but which could
not justly be made public then.
A murder had been committed State 8
Attorney Searle felt satisfied in the
early stages of the developments.
So did Sheriff Hemenway, Deputy
Sheriffs Ransom and Hull, Constable
Eckhart, Robert Kuschmann, Thomas
Campbell and others who either in
their official capacity or as friends of
the murdered man had looked into
the matter and the further the inves-
LEGATIONS went either by any Of these
gentlemen or The ARGUS on its own
account the plot deepened, evidence
of Q dark and bloody crime came to
light. As far as The ARGUS is con-
cerned, it pursued its course with
but o single aim, that Of its duty as a
paper. without doing injustice to any
and with the deepest consideration
for those to whom the sus-
pense and final blow has come
with most crushing force, and for the
widow whose trial is now overwhelm-
ing and painful beyond description.
To her and those who are dear to her,
to the members of her own family
and household, the tenderest OF hu-
man sympathy should be offered.
No Thoughts for His Wife.
The fact that Bastian in his last
message had no parting thought Of
his wife, much less any consideration
for the future welfare of her and hers
unless she has an exclusive letter
from him-has been the subject of
considerable comment, and while it
has increased the sense of feeling for
her. it has not alleviated the intens-
ity Of thought that has been aroused
toward the man who has destroyed
himself.
Bastian's funeral will be held from
the late home tomorrow morning.
Before you try anything else for
the blood take Simmons Liver Regu-
lator. 1t is the best blood medicine
because IL il che hest liver remedy.