The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-14
who Is Alleged tn Have Killed Minnie
Mitchell. His Fiancee, and
His Mother.
OF THE INSPECTOR
WHO EXAMINED THE MEN WHO
WE'RE ARRESTED ON SUSPICION.
Another Theory by the Police-Miss
Mitchell May Not BE Dead. hut
Away with Her Lover.

Chicago, Aug. lS-Ihe ponce obtained
their first clew of value in the Bartholn
case tonight. and developments that will
go far toward solving the mystery are ex-
pected within twenty-four hours. Inspector
Hunt late tonight found a woman who de-
clared that at daybreak the morning
following the night Minnie Mitchell dis
appeared in company with William Bar
tholin she saw Oscar Thompson. driver for
a laundry company, and who is now held
in custody by the police. John Claffy. the
barn boss for some concern. and a man
wearing a Panama hat and dark sack
coat in front OF the laundry at daybreak.
They were standing beneath a bright arc
light and she saw them plainly. She re-
sides I'm the neighborhood and knows both
men well.
While the police have always contended
that Thompson. who was a boarder in the
house of Mrs. Barthoiin. had knowledge of
her death. they had not suspected that he
was in any way connected with the murder
of Minnie Mitchell. The woman, however.
was positive in her statement that she
Thompson and Clany in company with the
third man az the time and place mentioned.
She knew both of them and declared that
there was no chance Of her being mis-
taken. The description of the third man. as
far as II describes anybody. Is description
of Bartholin the night he was last seen
with the Mitchell girl.
Officers were at onoe sent in search OF
Claffy and he was taken into custody with
out difficulty The police will talk 10 him
later. Thompson was then called into the
office OF Inspector Hunt and Informed that
he had been seen with Claffy and Barthoiin
ON the morning following the night OF the
killing of the Mitchell girl. The informa-
ton had a marked effect on Thompson, and
g. wx4Nr rNaen 60 h.a ehs fnH
of collapse. He rallied. however, and de-
clared that he was not there and knew
nothing OF the case in any way. The police
pressed him hard, but he would not alter
his statement. although he was plainly
much worried. After the interview In
spector Hunt declared that he was more
Thompson has guilty knowledge OF the
murder of Mrs. Bartholin. and thought that
before long he would weaken and tell what
he knows.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
'I cannot give the name OF the woman
who gave me the information about the
three men," said the inspector. but I am
positive that she tod ne the truth. She
knows Thompson and Clafry personally.
and there IS not one chance in thousand
of her being mistaken. We had not sus-
pected Clany of being in the case at all.
and her statement that she positively
recognized him makes IL impossible that
she should have been mistaken regarding
Thompson, whom she knows as well as she
knows Clany. The description of the third
man fits Bartholin as far as IL goes. and
feel confident that we are on the right
track and will have all the strings in our
hands before long"
The woman tonight was confronted with
Thompson and while he was forced TO ad-
NIT that he knew her and she knew him,
ne denied her story. The woman declas ed
that a light-colored cap. which Thompson
had attempted TO throw away. was ono
that he wore at the time she saw him un-
der the electric light. When asked why he
threw that cap away 10 wear the one he
had on when he was arrested, he hesitat@d
and then said: Give me until tomorrow. /
will talk with you then. This plea was
taken as an indication that ThompsOns
wall OF stolidity was broken down at last
by the strong evidence he had been con-
fronted with and the police think he will
tell all he knows tomorrow. They expect
he will confess TO share in the muir
dere
Clanv. after Thompson, was confronted
with the woman IN black. He al first said
he did not know her, but Immediately ad-
mitted that he did when she called aim
years old. The woman repeated the story
in exactly the same way she told IL al
first He denied being with Thompson and
Bartholn at the time and was Immediately
locked up.
The police had received during the day
the usual number OF ciews concerning the
amounted 10 anything. They admitted that
they did not know what had become OF him.
There was a feeling among some or the po-
lice officials to-day that the nude body OF
the woman found in the field and buried
Minnie Mitchell was not that OF the young
woman Coroner Traeger to-day was
asked to exhume the body. but inssmuch
as the family OF the girl did not join in
the request he declined 10 disinter IL. He
said the body was so decomposed that such
action would be OF little avail In settling
doubts as to Identity. The coroners ply
sician and other well-known medical men.
/ however. state in positive terms that eight
/ davs' exposure could not have effected such
/ a change in a body. Working this the
\ ory the police have sent out tracers 10 find
I William J. BarthOlin and fiancee together
I alive Efforts are also being made 10
\ Identify the supposed Mitchell body as one
I of the numerous other women who have
/ been missing The Mitchell family has
/ taken no steps 10 clear up the mystery
/ about the body. apparently being satisfied
! that the clothing scattered about where 10
/ was found was sufficient Identification
Judge Neely to-day appointed Harry ].
/ Williams receiver for the property OF Mrs.
/ Anna Bartholin. upon the application OF
| Henry Diest. the owner OF the mortgage
! OF $500 on the house at 1910 Calumet
I avenue Ia his application the petitioner
stated that he believed Mrs. Bartholin had
\ been murdered by her son William, and
that the house was at present In the pos
/ session OF the police. He feared that
\ soon as the police withdrew from the place
Y vandals would enter and ruin the house.
/ and for this reason he prayed for the ap-
pointment OF a receiver.
IN JOPLIN on MONDAY.