The evening times., 1899-04-20
bSSlSSINAfED BY
an INVISIBLE HAND
Ranchman Killed in a Strange
and Startling Manner.
Slain With the Knife He Murdered
His Partner With.
Met Death On His First Visit to -hs
Scene Five Years After the
Tragedy.

odSAiuS, o. ~, hPIu SV.-Sudiice H.
Casmer Is In jail here charged with the
murder Of Frank W. Hoppe on April 2.
His defence is that the crime was COM
mitted by a man already nearly five years
in his grave.
The residents of the neighborhood are
SO firmly convinced of something SUPER
natural in the killing that 1t is doubt
full IL jury can be found in the county
to convict a prisoner who alleges such
manifestations.
In the simmer Of 1892 Hoppe and Thorn
as Barber formed a partnership. bought a
bunch" of cattle and engaged in business
as ranchmen. Both were bachelors and
lived in a sod house eleven miles north Of
this place.
For two years they got on we'll together.
Then dispute arose concerning division
Of profits. Hoppe left the ranch and COM
menced suit against his partner for an
accounting. Before the case came to trial
a settlement was effected, the partnership
was re-estabiished, and the men resumed
housekeeping together.
About TWO months aftervard Hoppe rode
into town and gave himself up to the au-
thorities with the explanation that Bar
ber had assaulted him ard that he had
killed him In self-defence. On visiting
the house the officers found Barber lying
where he had fallen. lie had evidently
been sitting or standing in front of rude
fireplace in the cabin and had been killed
by a knife-thrust between the shoulders.
The fact that he was stabbed in the back
gave the case an ugly look.
Heppe's version was that Barber was
reaching for a gun kept over the fireplace.
AS there were 10 witnesses TO controyert
this story the prisoner was acQu tied. Pub
lie opinion was 90 strongly against him.
however. that he sold his interest in the
ranch and left the country.
While Hoppe was in Jail the knife with
which Barber was killed disappeared in a
most mysterious manner. The night before
the case was called the prosecuting attor-
ney saw the knife in his safe. He locked
the safe and sat down for an evening S
work Before leaving he reOpened the safe
and was astonished to discover that the
knife had disappeared. He had not left
the office during the evening nor had any
one but himself entered il Nothing else
in the safe, which contained considerable
sum OF money, was disturbed.
Soon after Heppe's departure it began to
be whispered that strange things were hap
pening about his deserted cabin. Passing
cattlemen said that groans, imprecations,
and shrieks for aid issued from 1t, that at
night lights flashed from the windows, and
that sometimes a figure was seen moving
about inside The majority spurred by at
top speed after dark. The bolder scofed
at the tales, but no one cared to inyes;i-
gate closely So far as known the hut was
never entered from the time Hoppe left it
until the night Of April 2.
Hoppe himself and Casmer were the first
to revisit it. After spending nearly five
years on the Texas cattle ranges Hoppe
returned to the Northwest and obtained
employment on a ranch nearly leo miles
north of Earling. Winter storms drifted
many head of his employers cattle to the
southwark. and Hoppe and Casmer, fei-
low -herdsman, were detailed to round
them up
On the Cd they entered Presho county.
Toward evening a snowstorm set in. Both
men were exhausted and blinded by snow.
Casmer suggested riding into Earling for
shelter. On the way Hoppe led him, either
by accident or design. toward his old sod
house. Hoppe proposed stopping there for
the night.
The house was in very dilapidated
condition. but the cowboys built fire on
the hearth. produced their provisions and
a flask OF whisky and were soon comforta
ble 1t was late when they arrived. and
when. after partaking Of their impromptu
luncheon, Hoppe seated himself on
stump in front Of the fire. on nearly the
same SPOT where Barber had been stabbed
FIVE years before, Casmer thinks it was be-
tween IL and l o'clock.
Casmer says he had steped to the door |
to see whether there were any signs OF |
cessation Of the storm when he was star |
tied BY yell of agony from his companion. |
Pushing inside he found the latter lying |
on his face in front of the fire, his fore |
head actually in the embers and a knife |
sticking in his back. Afraid to stay in |
the house longer he mounted his bronco |
and started for Earling. He was unfa-
miliar with the country and soon became
bopelessly lost.
Such was the story which he told when
found early the next morning, wandering
aimlessly over the prairie. His rescuers
him to the cabin Hoppe was |
still on the floor with the knife sticking |
his shoulder blades. On drawing |
It out the spectators were horrifed TO dis |
cover that it was the same weapon which |
had so mysteriously disappeared from the |
Presho county prosecuting attorneys safe. |
Casmer was brought into town and lock-
I'd up. Though he might have pleaded
self defence with at least as good |
chance of acQuittal as Hoppe he insists
hat the latter was killed by an invisible
ssailant The knife has been fully iden-
ifed as the same as that with which Bar
yer was slain. Public opinion is strongly |
With the prisoner.