Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-08-11
Brutal Killing.
John Becker Found Murdered IN
Oak Gugch township.
The Deed Done Several Days Before
the Body Was Discovered E0dy
Found by rlatt Bauer 1t Was
in a Shocking Condition.
"a pal of the Murdered Man Suspected
OF giie Crime.

W $3.50
A most brutal murder was discovered
in Oak Gulqh township sunday evening.
Matt. Bauer who resides on Sec. %, had
been away from home most of the week
assisting a neighbor in harvest work and
upon reaching home about II p. M, Sun
day, started for the barn TO search for
eggs to cook for a supper before retiring.
Running his hand down into a manger,
he was Mortified at touching what he
instinctiyely knew was a dead body.
Raising his lantern he made sure and at
once set out for his nearest neighbors
and gave the alarm. The coroner was
notified, who empaneled a jury and set
out for that lonely part of the country.
The body had not been disturbed, lieing
face downward in the Manager with only
the back, partially bare, showing. The
gruesome task of lifting the body out Of
the manger being completed, it was dis
covered to be the body of a man in a
very advanced stage Of decomposition,
but from the shirt and pants and from
the gold filing Of a tooth it was identi-
fled as the body Of John Becker, a well
known resident Of that vicinity. From
the condition of the remains it was
evident that they had been in the mang-
er for some time. An examination re-
vealed the fact that he had been shot
once under the left eye, twice through
the chest, the balls passing entirely
through, and his head and body badly
hammered and bruised az if by the butt
end Of a rifle. This rifle was left by the
murderer in the barn; blood was obsery-
able on it, though it gave evidence of
having been washed and ever sand
papered. A new picket rope encircled
the ankles and from the way tie shirt
was drawn up it was evident that the
cor pse had been dragged some distance
by the rope and then toppled into the
Manager. Why the murderer should go to
this trouble is a mystery as the body
might have lain in these lonely hills for
months before discovery, unless it was
in a sort of hope of throwing suspicion
on Mr.. Bauer. The deceased was last
seen on Wednesday morning in company
with a man who undoubtedly committed
the murder that night as they were
camping out and while Becker slept.
A close search failed to reveal the spot
\ where the crime was committed. The
shoes, coat and vest, four horses and
buggy belonging to deceased are miss
ing. When found but 55 cents were in
his pocket though his relatives declare
he had about $500 upon his person.
This spoil was evidently what the murd-
erer was after and what he carried away.
The authorities have a description of the
fellow. who is said to have been in this
city not long ago.
Becker did not possess a very good
REPUTATION and has but recently served a
term in the state penitentiary. Since
his release he has followed horse trad
ing, etc, at which he was fairly success
full.
As we go to press a telephone message
has been received from Redfield which
states that the authorities there are
satisfied they haye the murder in custo-
dy Sheriff Sandvfg will leave for Red
field in the morning.
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T--Z $3.50 -