Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-09-09
MYSTERY ENDED.
BartnoIin, the Chicago Murderer,
Found Dead Near Riceyille.

Bartholin, the Chicago Murderer,
Found Dead Near RicevilIe.
Nearly everyone in this vicinity has
been interested in the story of the
murder by VIII Bartholin of his moth
er and bis sweetheart, Minnie Mitch
ell, In Chicago, few weeks ago, and
In the subsequent search for the mur-
derer, but were startled to learn on
Saturday last that that the remains
of the murderer had been found near
Riceville dead at his own hands, hole
through his head from bullet from
a S2-calibre revolver still clerched in
his left hand, indicated that his death
was instantaneous.
On his person was found his written
confession dated Aug. 81, three let
ters presumably from Minnie Mitch
ell, one Of them dated as far back as
last November, a watch and small
amount Of money. The letters have
not yet been given out for publication.
The confession is as follows:
BARTHoLIN's CONFESSION.
wish to state that am the Bar
tholin the police are looking for, L
also wish to certify that 1 had no as
sistance of any kind from any one.
Thompson, Claffy and Counselmana are
all as Innocent as an unborn child and
should be freed at once. 1 cannot 90
into details in regard to the crime.
They were not planned. 1t was all
Minnie and 1 could do. My mind il
wandering, such drop in life in so
short time. Two months ago, trave-
ling in the best of company, to-day
leading the life Of Hoboes, "a murder
er." 1 intended to go into details and
tell all but l can't get my mind cen
tered, even my hand writing is dis
graceful. But above all things 1 ask,
clear everybody from under suspicion
There Is no second party and am the
last. VIM. J. BARTHoLIN.
AS near as can now be ascertained
Bsrtholin left Chicago on work train
on Aug. s, for Riceville, hiring out as
q section hand under the name of
George Edwards. He worked with
the crew only half day and then
quit, alleging the work to be too hard
for him. He then secured work with
threshing crew, and afterwards with
a farmer, Charles Hoeft, five miles
south of Riceyille where he remained
until Aug. %, when he left and was
not seen again until he registered at
the Wilkes Hotel in Riceville, Aug. 80
where he stayed all right and until
nearly noon, Sunday, when he, started
south down the track. In the after
noon he made some inquiries of Jerry
eastman and wife who he met on the
road near the place where he was
found. eastman offered him work
and Bartholin agreed to begin work
for him the day following, but instead
evidently went about 200 yards to the
place where he was found dead, lying
dead behind shock of flax in a field
on the j. Clark farm, one mile from
Lowther. The discovery was made
by Joseph Pratt on Friday evening.
DR.. T. S. Carpenter, county coroner,
was at once summoned, and empan-
neled a jury consisting of VIM. Cash
man, Jerry eastman and Michael
Howard, who rendered verdict OF
suicide.
The Identification of the body as
that OF Bartholin is practically com
plete. Owing to the decomposed
state of the body, it was ordered
buried Immediately after the inquest,
but was e1humed the day following,
for Identification by a brother of
Minnie Mitchell and detectives who
came out from Chicago for that pur-
pose. The brother identified the
clothing on the corpse as being that
worn by Bartholin in Chicago, and
several physical peculiariities were
identified fully. The lower jaw was
removed and sent to Chicago for fur
ther examination as to some peculia
dental work which is expected to yer
ify the identification already made
The bcdy was inferred at Riceville.