Gilpin observer., 1902-09-11
BARTHOLIN'S BODY.
CHICAGO FUGITIVE DIES rY Hls
OWN HAND AT RIcEvILLE, IA.
Corpse Of Suicide la Exhumed and
Positively Identified as That of Mur.
derer of Mother and Sweetheart
Story Of His Flight.

derer Of Mother and Sweetheart
Story Of His Flight.
Riceville, Ia, Sept. S.-The body
which was buried here Saturday and
which was believed to be that oil wiz
lam Bartholin was exhumed and posi-.
lively identified as that of the Chicago
double murderer.
The Identification was made by
William Mitchell, a brother OF one OF
Bartholin's victims, and Detective
Andrew Rohan of Chicago. DR.. A. j.
Coey of Chicago, who came here with
Detective Rohan, cut out the lower
jaw of the dead murderer, which con.
tanned the two gold crowned teeth,
which have figured SO largely in the
description sent broadcast throughout
the country, for the purpose OF iden
tifcation. The jaw will be taken 10
Chicago by the detective.
Bartholin's body was found last Fri.
day afternoon, about six miles from
Riceville, by ]. G. Pratt, resident Of
Riceville. Mr.. Pratt was driving tc
Elm and when passing fax field saw
the body lying against a stack of flax
Thinking 1t was man asleep, he paid
no attention, but on returning found
the man still there and upon investI.
cation, discovered he was dead, with
revolver lying by his left hand.
Coroner Carpenter was notified ana
the body was removed to an undereaz.
ing establishment at Riceville. There
j. B. McCook. editor of Riceville pn-
per, discovered that the dead man
bore striking resemblance to the
published pictures of the Chicago
murderer.
The text of the confession left By
the suicide, as made public by Dr. Z.
S. Carpenter, coroner of Howard couu-
ty. follows:
ITO Whom It May Concern:-l
want to state l am the Bartholin the
police are looking for. Also wish to
certify had no assistance of any kind
from any one. Thompson, Claffy and
Counselman are all as innocent as an
unborn child and should be freed e.
once. l cannot go into details in re-
gard to the crimes. They were not
planned. 1t was all Minnie and l could
do. My mind is wandering Such g
drop in life in short time. Two
months ago travelling in the best Of
company; today living the life of no.
boes; a murderer. ] intended % go
into details and tell all, but | can't
get my mind centered. Even my
handwriting is disgraceful. But above
all things, / ask, clear everybody
from under suspicion. There is nc
second party; I am the last.
"W. ]. Bartholin.'
Several notes to Bartholin, signed
IN. NJ" and identified by William
Mitchell as the handwriting of his
sister. were turned over to the broth
er. who seemed eager to prevent their
publication. One is a specimen of the
rest. 1t is addressed to Dear Will"
and informs the recipient that the
girl could not meet him that night.
Inquiry here developed that Bar
tholin came to Riceville Aug 6. before
the bodies of Mrs. Bartholin and Miss
Mitchell were discovered Thomas
Phee, contractor doing some work
here for the Great Western road. ad-
vertised for laborers in Chicago Oh
Aug. 3, offering free transportation to
the place of work. Among those who
responded was Bartholin, who hired
under the name of George Edwards.
He worked at the construction work
for but hah day and has since been
working on a threshing machine ana
in the harvest fields. until last Satur.
day morning. when he was last seen
leaving Riceville in the direction of
the place his body was found