The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-17
MYSTERY GETS DEEPER
STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
DEATH OF BERTERMANN.
Evidently Did Not step from Train
to His Death in the Pitts
burg Tunnel.

, A special to the Journal from Pittsburg,
received last night, says: The coroner OF
Allegheny county and the police de-
partment of Pittsburg were simply par
alyzed to-day by developments in the
mysterious death of Benedict Berter-
mann, of Indianapolis. whose mangled
remains were found in the Pan
handle tunnel May 2. The first real evil
dence that the architect was not killed COM
ing into Pittsburg Friday evening, April 70,
but that he spent Saturday and Sunday in
Pittsburg was brought out to-day when
the members of No 10 engine company ap-
peared before Deputy Coroner Moreland and
made affidavits that Bertermann had spent
Sunday afternoon in their engine house, on
Second avenue, where he had gone to look
at a famous performing dog which had been
written up in the papers east and west.
A picture of Bertermann published in the
Pittsburg Dispatch led to this Identification
which has upset all theories of the coroner
and deepened the mystery surrounding the
death. Before Deputy Moreland would ac-
cept the affidavits of Lieut.. Michael O'Con-
nell and Firemen John Mcmillan and
Thomas Dunn to-day he called on F. B.
McQuiston. of the Dispatch, to produce the
photograph of Bertermann, which had been
given him by Geo. c. Stelhorn, of Indianap-
oils, and from which the Dispatch picture
of May 4 was taken. The recognition of
Bertermann by the firemen was instant, and
the three made afidavits. Seven other men,
bers of Engine Company 10 were willing to
swear, but Deputy Moreland decided that
three were sufficient.
Lieutenant O'Connell said tonight: Mr..
Bertermann. whose body was found in the
Panhandle tunnel Monday May g. spent two
hours Sunday afternoon in our engine house.
from to 6. He came in asking to see our
dog, who climbs ladders, jumps into the
net from the third-story window, etc. He
said he had read about him and wanted to
see him. He was so gentlemanly that he
won us all and we made the dog perform
for him. He told us he was on his way East
and had stopped off in Pittsburg that he
had missed his train and didn't care to go
back to the hotel, as he was superstitious
about turning back He didn't tell us at
what hotel he was stopping and We didn't
ask him his name. He had not been drink
Ing and seemed to have travelled much as
he told us of personal experiences at fires
in Germany and England. When we saw the
picture in paper some days later
we notified the police that the man was not
killed on Friday night, that he was alive
and well in Pittsburg on Sunday afternoon.
and that we would swear to it. We did not
accept the theory of Conductor Woolrich.
or the dining car, that Bertermann had
FALLEN Off his car on Friday evening We
knew better, and, not hearing anything
from the police, we decided to 60 to the
coroner ourselves, even though the case had
been closed with a verdict of accidental
death: We are all positive as to the man"
Ihe question now bothering the authori-
ties is, was there d crime committed on
Sunday evening, May /? A4Jrgue Superin-
tendent Loughrey, Undertakes Wood and
Flannery as well as Deputy Coroner TAFT.
all of whom handled the remains of Berter-
mann, are on record as swearing that the
body was not yet cold when found, and that
death, had resulted not eighteen hours be-
fore the remains were found. Deputy Coro-
ner Moreland tonight sent the full state
ment of facts to Duncan, Smith e. Horn
brook, the indianapolis attorneys, who have
been retained by the relatives Of the dead
man.
Speaking of the case tonight Mr.. Moreland
said: Il am simply nonpIussed My only
theory now is that the man walked into the
tunnel and was run down. We have exam
ined every hotel register in Pittsburg and
cannot find where the man stopped He
would scarcely have any object in conceal
ing his right name at a hotel"