The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-22
Authorities of Burlington and ST.
Louis Doubt :. y. Dahlmap's
Story of His Crime.
CORONER TAKES NO ACTON.
Police Say the Case Is in HIS
Hands-He Maintains That Mrs.
Dahlman Died From
Consumption.

The confession of : T. Dahiman. the Sc
I-cais shoemaker who surrendered 10 The
authorities Of Burlington, Ia. stating that
he had murdered his vile on March .. 1875,
in this CITY is now believed by the local au-
thO-itics To he merely tin" delusion of dis
ordered brain. This view il also taken by
the police At Burlington. and the fact that
Dahlrlan roVe=ted mis- story of the crime
Yesterday is; not considered 10 have much
weight in tie matter.
D.hlIpan j. a shoe maker and vas follow
ing his trace in this city IN March. 1891. but
was in poor health and made little money.
His wife was sick constantly. on the night
of March q his wife died AT their home. No.
es;l South Tenth street. ana pahiman sum-
rnoEs.i two women living in the n ishhoT-
hood 20 prepare the body for burial. They
were Mrs. john Bergman of No @3:s Men
ard street and Mrs. Fred Wilger OF No. %kis
South Tenth street
IL was recorded at the mortTary office that
the woman had died of consumption and a
burial permit was issued Dah.mann went
South and later to burlington. where nc mas
confessed that on the night Of March =,
1881. he smothered his wife with 4 pillow.
thinking tina; in her weak state death WOULD
no q relief on the strength of this confess
sion he is being held by the Burlington au-
thcrities.
Dablrnsu's story was believed at nrst. but
The authorities at Burlington made no
move until those Of this city were heard
from.
A dispatch from Burlington, however,
states that il is now believed by the police
that Dahlman's mind was upset at the time
by the mental and physical strain
upon him and that he has been men
tally de.ansed ever since. His employer in
Burlin gton s W. Norehardt. yesterday
sent a lorg letter 20 Dahlman's Children
Alice. aged H. and Walter aged il-giving
IL as his opinion that their father was not
responsible for what h. said ne had done.
Jaiier CrOnin Of Burlington IL OF the Opin-
ion that Dahlman Is mentally sound ex-
c.pt on this one subject. while County AZ.
torney Clark believes that the whole con-
fession is but a fancy Of a dlsordered brain.
Dahlman yesterday made the ADDED STATE.
ment 20 the Burlington police that ne was
positive that his wife Was choking to death
at the time and that she would have died
he was quietly awaiting the action or The
law He has been under suspicion of IN
sanity for some time. the Commissioners OF
Insanity having nearly made up their mines
to send MIN 10 the asylum a few mcntns
ago.
Detective McGrath detailed by CHIEF
Desmond to follow Up the case. and the
Chief yesterday said tnat NClirath had re-
ported IL as his belief that Dahiman did not
commit the crime. Mctirath saw the Cor
orer and the two women who laid out Mrs.
pahlmans body. and he reported that all
indications Were that the woman had died
a natural death.
Coroner LLOYD stated positively that the
woman had died of consumption and IL IS
not understood thar he will take any action
in the matter. The police consider the case
in the CorOE.rs hanGs. and will not act
In the matter, so IL is a; a standstin