The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-17
READS LIKE HOLMES.
Record Of an Alleged Murderer
Arrested Here Yesterday.
KILLING OF A SERVANT GIRL
ChaFKeA Against A. A. Austin, Who
Detective Courtney. OF Minneapolis,
and Rogers Believe to Be Allsop.

A man giving the name OF James E.
Allsop was arrested yesterday afternoon
at o'clock in the postoftice building by
Detective John Courtney. OF Minneapolis.
and Detective Philbrick, Of the local force.
on the charge OF murder. committed ku-
gust q. 1894. IN an isolated place on the
shore OF Lake Superior, Eear Duluth,
MINI.
The victim was Miss Lena Olson. a work.
ing girl, who had $50 in cash on her person.
Her slayer was A. A Austin. and accord
ing to the claims OF Detective Courtney
and the belief of Chief of PoGce Rogers.
James E. Ailsop is none other than A. a.
Austin It Is believed that Allsop has nu-
merous aliases. but SO far he is known SIM
ply as Allsop, and ii remains to be posi-
lively proven that he Is Austin. The proof
obtained, although c!rcumstantial, is very
strong. and the additional evidence found
in Ailsop's valise yesterday afternoon
after his arrest assists the case of the Min
neapoils detective In g material manner.
Allsop practically admitted, when placed
under arrest, tina; he was the same man
who used to live in Tacoma. It Will be re-
called that the wife Of a man named Allsop
was killed there about 1890 In a runaway
accident at East Tacoma. There was con-
siderable talk about the affair, but that
was all.
The prisoner denied. after being arrested,
Duluth tragedy.
His Minneapolis Record.
In March. -ss4. Austin made his appear
ance In Minneapolis. where he went to
an employment Office, and represented
himself as weIl-to-do widower from Los
Angeles. He claimed that he had daugh-
ter II years cid. and was looking for
trustworthy housekeeper. money being no
object IL the proper woman could be Sc
cured.
The employment agents introduced him
to Lena Olson, very highly respected
servant girl, who had in her possession
about $3.50. earned by hard work.
Austin Immediately set about to get the
money from the unsuspecting girl and
Matched plot that was not only success
full. but showed him 70 be of the same
stamp as II H. Holmes. the multi-murder-
err who will be executed at Philadelphia
May for the murder OF Julia Conner
Pearl Conner. Ned Connor. Annie WILL
Jams, Eina Van Tassel. Emiline Cigrand-
B. F. P.szel. Howard Pitzel and others.
After having ingratiated himself into the
good graces of Miss Olson, Austin persuad-
ed her to accompany him to Duluth. MINI.
under promise OF marriage. The fatal trip
was taken August Fl, 1894, and, according
TO evidence in possession Of the police of
Duluth, Austin enticed the lone woman to
an Isolated place on the shore Of Lake
Superior. near Duluth. and there in the
darkness Of night and when no human
being was near. he choked her until she
was insensible, and with large club
broke her skull After robbing the body
of his victim. Austin left the city the same
night. and disappeared as effectually as II
the earth had opened up and swallowed
him.
Reward Offered for Him.
The police Of Duluth searched the coun-
try in all directions for the find. and to
stimulate even more vigorous inquiry
the state of Minnesota offered $3.50 reward
and ST. Louis county $3.50 more for his ar
resi-. leaving of that little clause of and
conviction"
In the course of the investigation as TO
Austin's record, alleged facts were devel-
oped that warranted the police in stating
in print that Austin was believed to be a
professional robber and murderer. Week
after week passed. and still the where
abouts of the murderer was as much a
mystery as ever. Circulars were sent all
over the country announcing that 500
would be paid for the apprehension of one
A. A. Austin. whose description was as
follows: About six feet high, erect build,
4, to 40 years Of age. weight 1870 pounds,
dark sallow complexion, prominent nose.
dark eyes, long face; when last seen wore
medium sized black mustache. sprinkled
with gray, sideburns the same: black hair
and shiny. combed well down over the
forehead: would be partly bald il hair
was combed back forehead high and
broad. with a face tapering to the chin.
his upper eyelids hang down or fold over,
showing a surplus of skin: hair black and
thin on back of hands. He is good talk
err VIII be liable TO be found among tin
horn gamblers"
Even this failed TO bring any response.
and IL looked as IL the murderer OF Lena
Olson was destined to escape mans pun
ishment for his awful deed.
The Detectives Clue.
Fortune had It. however. that about
three weeks arc Detective John Courtney.
OF The Minneapolis force. discovered a clue
which LED him 10 believe that James z.
Allsop, who was arrested in Minneapolis
in the winter of 1892 on the charge of
swindlins George H. Holiday ex-superln-
teudent Of the Tacoma Light and Water
Company. out OF $500, was none other
than a. A. Austin. Courtney Immediately
Inquired Of the Duluth police force for m
formation a. 20 Austins aliases. He re-
ceived word back tina; they did not know
him by any other name than Austin. Then
Courtney followed out other clues. which
he does not give TO he pubic. One thlag.
however. may be said. and that is that
Courtney oh;ained from Duluth certain
specimens OF ;he writing OF Austin. ana
hal them compared with writings OF AL
SOP in Minneapolis.
The result was = such a startling nature
that Courtney felt assured that IL he
could place his hands on Allsop he would
have the murderer Of Lena Olson. The
matter was placed before Chief OF Poi.ce
Y. NJ Smith Of Minneapolis. who evident
Is thot ght Courtney was on the rfzht
rack. Tor be gave him leave 81 absan-e.
The matter was kept very secret. and
when Courtney lctr Minneapolis April On
the chase 81 ass life The only person U;har
than himself who knew about his iusan-
tons Vas Chief CT Police smith. Court
ney was making a big hunt. but he felt so
sure OF his game thar he wiilinEly uu.
Up his own expenses. He felt positive tha.
A}lsop was on the Pac.8c coast. and. ac
c1rdins 70 his calculations. in san Fran
cisco.
Hot on tho Trail.
When Courtney arrived IN san Francis
co he worked qalc-ly. and soon 70. tra,a
~ his man. but discovered that he had
jumped norta- The detective Immediately
followed and arrived in Seattle Friday.
Ap-il - Re d.d ~ot succeed in locating his
man but obtained valuable lrfarnafl9-
regarding Als00's life In Tacoma in yea~s
past. james Sheehsr. who Is an old fried
g Courtney. accompanied him 70 Tacoma
saturday, .Ar~il Il. and did what he could
- help his friend locate fne greatly. A.
sired nan Developments were sez- r7,x-
ever. and 81 he detective and Sheehan rs-
turned 20 Seattle. Las. Tue~fav t-7t,-l-s-.
Vent 20 Tacoma again ard learned tina,
ANsop hal called OF his second wife ana
daughter iha' day and then left the city
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