The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-11-10

by those who know him. He worked
here when the elevator was built. Police
man Smith was turnkey while Messman
was IN Jail and Messman took quite
liking for him and used search him out
evenings while employed Oh the elevator.
lie was brought before Judge Ander-
SOD, IN the absence of Judge Cratic, on
Monday and plead not guilty. He mani
tested great distress while the complaint
WAS beng read His face was ashen and
his limbs trembled. The examination
was continued until November Il.
The belief IN Mlshicott IN Messman's
guilt is general But it is difficult to
fix the probable time the deed was com
mItted. Though Messman denies 1t, the
barn was the place where he usually
slept. The blanket which he used for
covering and Bahis' coat were found on
tie hay in the barn. The murder was
committed after dark as lantern WAS
splashed with blood. The door of the
barn wac closed as blood spatters are on
the wall and the inner surface of the door
and 1ne on the outside. The theory Is
that Bahls was lighting Messman to the
barn and was struck down Immediately
after entering, and after accomplishing
this job he murdered the old lady, using
the cobble stone when was kept In the
house to keep the bed room door open
There are some lpeXplIcable matters con.
uected With the tragedy. Bahls cottage
Is In the heart of the village, facing the
main street. There was a political gath
eriug that evening and a ball. The band
was out and muny people on the streets.
1t is difficult to understand with the OPP
portunities he had Why he should have
selected time most open to detection
He says he arrived at his brothers, a
dlstanc- of eight miles, at O'Clock Sat-
urday evening. His slster-In-law at first
corroborated him, but on Monday she
said 1t was O'Clock. Her sons say they
left the house for the bail at and Ernst
was GOT then there. Sheriff Muth's The
DRY is that The murder WAS committed
about 3 O'Clock and that Messman then
set out for Two Creeks and reached there
about s. He does not believe that q
| light was seen IN the house at 10, Or If
| the murder was committed after 10. that
Messman returned from his brother
house He also thinks that Messman
| went across fields, as no one encOun tered
| HIM on the road notwithstanding there
we're number OF people out tina. night
| owing to the speech al the dance.
| The sheriff says Messman did not deny
| his guilt when first arrested. But did
| later and stated that the blood spots
came on his clothes from the killing OF a
chicken. The trousers are old and the
blood spots very faint. Ii the trousers
| were cleansed, 1t was by sponRing rather
than Washing as the glazed cakes OF dir,
from contact with the heel OF the shoe
are still there. There is some evidence
Of sponging above and below the knees
| ri
which Messman wore. He denied having
any clothing at his brothers and hlt
sister-ln-law sustained him. On Mon
day the sheriff told her Ernst wanted his
shirt and she produced a garment which
had been washed. There was Sl.25 found
in Messman's pocket. A jackknife wal
also found which had been newly sharp
ened, bnt there were inches IN II. 4
iackknlfe had been used to pry opeI
one of the drawers of the bureau which
had been ritied IN the home of the muir
dered man and It's edge must have com
10 contact with the bolt, judging iron
the manner 1t was inserted
August Drews says be saw Messma
at Mlshlcott as late as three o'clock. n
consequence is attached to the fact tina
Meseman had not been seen through tn
| day as he seldom went out while spend
ing his time at Bahls. Their custom VIZ
TO send for pail OF beer and drink 1t Il
home.
: Bahls had some fear of Messman. Ii
; deed all the people had distrust of hir
and thought he was good man to lie
alone. He was marrle0 twice. His fire
wife died and the second one secured
divorce from him. His past characte
tells against him now. Even so oonsery
alive man as Ira Boyer set out to cal
ture the. fellow firmly convinced he
guilty. Mic 1erens and Eph. Oswal
made search OF Bahls' house under til
! | direction of the district attorney. The
. found S6,175 10 notes and mortgages, al
1 S646 in cash, all being gold except sos
= The gold was concealed in the celia
! The balance of The money was found !
various places, some being found in tt
lower drawer of bureau all the oth'
drawers of which bad been forced opene
Bahls was one of the early settlers
/ Mishisott. Both he and his wife we
highly respected. No inquest was he
over the remains the district atto-ne
- thinking it unnecessary. The funeral
8 the couple took place yesterday.