The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-05
DONE 70 DEATH
Glenn Snffern of Holland, Dick
insOn Co., Kansas,
Struck With a FishpIate and
His Throat Cut.
AFTER AWEEK PASSES
His Body is Found in the High
Weeds
Alongside the Santa Fe Track
Near Spencer.
HIS POCKETS RIFLED.
All His VaIuables Taken and
His Satchel Burned
BY the Pouring of Naphtha
Upon 1t.
HIS POCKETS RIFLED.
All His ValUables Taken and
His Satchel Burned
BY the Pouring of Naphtha
Upon 1t.

The body of a man who is supposed to
be Glenn Sufern of Holland, Dickinson
county, Kansas. was found yesterday
afternoon ten miles east of Topeka, in
Shawnee county, near the station of
Spencer on the Santa Fe. It was
badly decompOsed, and the man had
been dead at least a week.
Santa Fe section men cutting weeds
on the right of way -fourths of a
mile east of Spencer. found the body
lying in weeds six feet from the fence.
The man lay on his right side wearing a
suit of clothes, minus the coat, while
near him lay a blouse.
on the back of his head a long cash
had been made with a blunt instrument
and also his throat had been cut. His
left trousers pocket was pulled half
way inside out and the right one was
entirely opened. The pockets of the
vest had been rif1ed with the exception
of one on the inside in which the fol-
lowing letter was found:
Washing. D. c.. May %, 1897-Clem
Suffern. Holland Kan-Dear Sir: ours
reed as to Ben Smith notes. They are
in my safe, being shipped to me here.
r I viii hold them, collect
ing and renting to you as soon as
paid If you change your address write
to me where you go Yours,
J. P. CAMPBELL,
607 Lea Avenue,
GlenheW Building.
The letter was written on a letter
head of the j. P. Campbell Collection
Agency, Abilene, KAN" but it seems
that Mr.. Campbell had left Abilene and
gone to Washington, D. c. No other
papers were found on the body A
"a nd Of in "a or
A pair of black Worsted trousers were
on the body and over these a pair of
nearly new overalls had been drawn.
The overalls had been pulled down
enough to allow of getting into the
trousers pockets.
About four feet from the body the
Charred remains of satchel lay, and
near it an empty bottle. which. upon in
VestigatiOn, was found to have contain
ed naphtha. Nothing but the iron jaws
of the satchel and a pile of ashes re
mained of the baggage of Glen Suffern.
The naphtha had evidently been poured
over the satchel and set on fire.
Near to the body new fishplate was
found. 1t is the thin steel plate which
is used to join the ends of the railroad
rails tOgether.A pile of new ones stood
near the section tool house at Spencer
and this one found looks as if it We're
taken from this pile. It was undOubt-
edly the instrument used to deal the
death blow to Sufferin. The skull was
crushed. 1t is probable that this did
not instantly kill the man. for a long
cash was cut in the throat with a
sharp instrument which severed the
arteries Otherwise no other injuries
were found upon the body.
The section men who found the body
notified Section Boss Jacob Helbert,
who notified Coroner Westerfeld. A
guard was placed over the body and
this morning early the coroner went to
make an Official investigation. A Jury
was summoned and an inquest was
q a OF Of Ie
jury was: That the body before US
which is supposed to be that of Glenn
Suffern, came to his death by a blow
on the back of the head with a dull
heavy instrument, and also by having
his throat cut" The verdict further
states that death was caused at the
hands of someone, Ito the jurors un-
known"
The body was today brought to To
peka and it is being held pending the
positive identification, and further ar
rangements for the burial. Should the
BODY be not identified it will be buried
tomorrow.
There is little doubt that elem Suf-
fern was murdered for the purpose of
robbery The burning of the baggage
was done certainly to cover uD the
clues There is not the slightest tang
ible clue to the murderer AS the kill
ing must have been done at least a
week go the murderer has had ample
time to make his escape.
Section Boss Helbert thinks he has a
clue. lie says tnat a week ago Mon
day or Tuesday he saw a man coming
from the east whose face was badly
scratched and he seemed to have had
great struggle. He thinks this was the
murderer and that terrible struggle
had taken place prior to the fatal blow
with the fishplate. A German girl who
works at the section house says that
she saw a man walk past the section
house last Tuesday carrying a satcheI
answering the description of the muir
dered man.
The man was of slightly over medium
height, was about 40 years Of age.
weighed probably $50 pounds, was we'll
developed physically, had hair slightly
tinged with grey, smooth face and wore
good clothes over which oVeralls were
drawn. It is probable that he was a
stock man. How he happened to be
at this point is as yet as much of a
mystery as the murder.
J. P. Campbell is well known at Abb
Iene. lie is the man who wrote the
letter to Suffern. Holland is a small
station in Dickinson county not far from
Abilene.
It is probable that Suffern was muir
deFed somewhere near the railroad
right of way and afterward the body
Was carried to the woods at the side