The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-11
WEIRD TALE OF MINNESOTA.
Farmers Believe a White Dog solved
Old Murder Mystery.
From the New York Times.


Shakopee. Minn.-One morning seven
years ago the entire Minnesota valley was
Mortified by the news OF a murder in
this quiet little city the night before. Mr..
and Mrs Spierman, an aged couple, oc-
cupying, with their little grandson, one
of the stone houses built during the pc
rod of Indian troubles back of the town
and on the Minnesota river bluffs. were
all found dead. each one shot in head and
body. That there had been a struggle was
evident from the position of the bodies
and blood stains about the rooms.
Search was unavailing, and the murder
ers were never found. Rewards large
enough to put several detectives on the
trail were offered, but the case was given
up as a mystery that only time could
solve. Suspicion rested for months on rel
ativeS of the old couple to such an ex-
tent that they were practically ostracised
in the community.
Events occurring this year have refresh
ed the memories of old settlers in regard
to this murder, and now many believe
the true murderer has been revealed. About
five miles south of Prior lake, east of this
place, stands the old Roach homestead,
the buildings erected in the territorial
days of the forties by David Roach. For
many years the place stood vacant and
for rent. At last a tenant appeared one
Henry Bloom, who had in 1890 resided in
Shakopee. Bloom was anything but an
agreeable man to meet He was a typi-
cal hunted man in appearance. with the
rowing eye of one always on the lookout
for trouble. He was moody and silent,
and with his wife made no acquaintance
about the country. He always went arm
ed, either with a pitchfork or a gun.
Among the neighborhood farmers he was
known as the "craZy man of the Roach
place." and was Stunned accordingly.
One day Bloom made a murderous ass
sault on neighbor, an old man named
Richardson, who had gone to Blooms
place TO borrow some tool. He came upon
Bloom sitting back of the barn talking to
himself in low tone, and so engrossed
In the conversation that he did not see
Richardson till the latter had heard sew
eral words of the talk. Then, with a
cry of rage, Bloom started for the in
truder with his pitchfork, and did not give
up the chase till the other was safe with
in his own doorway. The affair made a
great sensation, and Bloom was let alone
more severely than ever. The rings grew
deeper under his eyes and fear was most
apparent in his hunted look. Harvest
was over, the grain stacked and one night
not long ago a neighbor, overtaken by a
storm, made his way to Blooms house
for shelter He was admitted and shown
to a room uD stairs, while Bloom sat in
the kitchen, his gun resting in the corner.
About midnight the visitor was thirsty
and slipped down the old stairway to the
kitchen for drink. The storm was over
and bright moon made everything visl-
BILE. In the full glare of the moonlight
that sifted in through the great south
window still sat Bloom his head thrown
forward across his knees, apparently
asleep, but with the ever-present rife
leaning against him. The guest was amaz
ed and stood in wonderment watching the
man. All of a sudden quick steps were
heard patteriug UP the yard from the
barn, at the sound of which Bloom seem
ed galvanized into life and raised his head
with an exclamation of terror He lifted
the gun to his shoulder and covered tho
door toward which the steps were COM
ing. The door flew open, and there in
the moonlight stood a great white dog.
Blooms gun flashed and the dog fell dy-
Ing The frightened watcher declares the
sounds made by the dog were almost hui
man. and it's bowls were bloodcurdlng. He
alleges that as the death struggle was
nearly over a human-shaped figure rose
from the dogs PROSTATE form and floated
away in the moonlight, and there came
from it these words, in the voice of the lit
tie Spierman child:
you shot me once. but you can't kill me
no more"
At these words Bloom rushed from the
door and tore away up the road while the
guest, greatly alarmed, hurried to the
barn, and, hitching up his team, made for
home as fast as he could. Early the next
day he returned to the scene with several
neighbors among them the sheriff. They
found Blooms house deserted. The grain
was left unthrashed and the horses, except
one team, were hungry for food The
house was empty, and at the door lay the
body of a white dog.
Bloom and his wife have not been heard
from since, and the sheriff of Scott county
is anxious to find the man who, it is now
generally believed committed the murders
seven years ago. But for the discovery of
the body of the dog at the door, and the
sudden flight of the Blooms, the neigh
bors would refuse to believe the tale of the
man who claimed to have seen the ghost
ly midnight tragedy but those corrobora-
tive details have convinced the county
that here IS more In the m1tter than they
can explain.