The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-17

For Anything Which May Tend to
Cast Light Upon the Horrible
Mystery.

crossed, point strongly to a sensation
equal to the famous Pearl Bryan case.
The body is undoubtedly that of q
young woman not over thirty years of
age, and the head is missing together
with other parts OF the body. Her
weight was under 100 pounds, and from
her apparel she was unquestionabiy a
woman of some station, or, at least.
possessed of a refinement and taste
which would distinguish her from the
common class. Her costume is COM
plete summer affair of stylish makeup,
such as is worn by lake jewellers, or
visitors, at social functions or yacht
ing parties, consisting of a heavy white
duck skirt, light waist with pink floral
designs, and underwear of good mate
rial. The silk Jersey shirt is of cream
color, and the chemise extensively Or
namented with embroidered lace, While
the waist was incased in pair of high
grade summer corsets. On the left
foot was found black stocking with
white toe and heel, rolled down about
the ankle, but the foot was without a
shoe. The other foot and leg from
the knee joint is missing, together with
the head and both hands.
The nature of the clothing and the
state of preservation of the cloth OPP
poses the original story that the body
had been exposed to the elements a
great length of time, and leads to the
belief that the girl met her death not
longer ago than the early summer
months Coroner Nelson learned that a
young woman disappeared from Cen
a OptOhpr
account of a love affair, and has not
since been heard from, but it is be-
lieVed that the body is not that of
this young woman, as, had harm be-
fallen her, the body must have been
exposed over a year, and the condition
Of the remains lying at BantZ' under
taking rooms and the clothing seem
to indicate a shorter lapse of time.
There is also some portion of the flesh
tissue left on the unknown frame,
which is believed would not have been
the case had much more than a few
months passed with it exposed to the
weather.
The opinion of the physicians who
have examined the corpse as to some
missing members is that they were de-
vOured by animals, either dogs or
wolves. But this theory does not ap-
ply to the head which is believed by
cred. No portion of the skull was
found near the body, and it is not
thought that animals would have COM
pletely deVoured the member or have,
with such apparent lack of destruction
to the trunk, decapitated the body and
dragged the head away. On the other
hand, however there was found about
the upper part of the body a quantity
of hair which would seem to indicate
that the head had originally been at
tached to the corpse where it was
found. The hair is several inches long
and dark in color, having an auburn
tinge. The fact that the hairs are All
about~the same length leads to the be-
lief that the dead girl probably wore
her curIs short and tightly to her head;
The spot where the body was dis
covered is on the edge of an isolated
wood just over the brow of a hill
known as the Hawks Back" a small
eminence about four miles northwest
Of White Bear lake, and half mile
distant from Lambert's lake. The hill
is reached by a road which is rarely
frequented except by hunters or farm
ers, the latter teaming over it only
during the haying season, when it fur
nishes a short cut from a meadow at
the bottom of the hill. The topog
raphy of the vicinity and the position
in which the body was found gives rise
to the belief that it was carried to the
Hawks Back. Furthermore, the fact
that the corpse lay beyond the top of
the hill on the side away from the road
is thought to show that the location
was selected with a possible view of
hiding q crime. When found the body
lay face down, and the left leg, which
remained attached to the trunk, was
twisted, as though the corpse had been
dropped or thrown TO the ground. 1t is
possible to reach the road running by
the hill either from the direction of
White Bear lake or by the road lead
ing out Rice street If the young
woman was dead when her body was
left on the Hawks Back, and this IS
the general opinion. it is thought that
it was taken to the hill in some sort Of
a conveyance and carried up the iii
cline. then thrown over the brow Of
the hill into the woods, where it was
found by John De Lonais in his rabbit
hunt That the girl may have sought
this spot for a lonely suicide is pos
sible, or she may have wandered from
Bald Eagle or White Bear lake and
died from natural causes or exposure,
but neither of these theories is con-
sidered tenable by Coroner Nelson and
the physicians interested in the case.
Then, too, there is no report of any
one missing from either of these re
sorts and transient summer visitors do
not frequent Lambert's lake, it is said
The nearest house to the scene of the
CHASTITY find is one on an island in
Lambert's lake, which is untenanted
1t is nearly a mile from where the
body lay and none of the farmers III
the neighborhood recall the presence of
women about the place.
The police have been called into the case,
and from this source come two theories re.
garding the mystery. Within several miles Of
the Hawks Back is resort said to be fire.
quented by women of bad character and sport
ing men. High revel is said to be held at this
place and fights are said not to be uncommon.
In this connection it is pointed out that the
dead woman may have been killed or in
jured in debauch at the resort and her body
taken to the out of the way place where it was
found, to cover up the affair, or possibly that
she may have taken her own life, and this
means of disposing of the body was resorted
to to avoid any embarrassing investigation.
A search of each of the city's resorts will be
made to ascertain, If possible, whether or not
any of the inmates have mysteriously disap-
peared. Another of the police theories is 10
the effect that the woman may have been
member of a camping party composed or the
same class of people frequenting the resort
referred to. 1t is said that these people are
accustomed to camp during the summer near
some quiet unfrequented lake, ard that the
Disappearance of this class would be possible
without causing more than a passing notice
from those with whom she associated. Chief
of Detectives Schweitzer will confer with
Sheriff Wagner today relative to thorough
investigation. The finding of the body outside
of the city limits places the matter in the
hands of the sheriff, but should this official so
desire. the police department will assist in
solving the mystery.
Coroner Nelson will to-day thoroughly ex-
anime the corpse and.the clothing. The bones
will be washed and cleaned, when the prob
able manner in whieh the missing members