Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-09-16
BARTHOLIN is DEAD.
TAKES HIS OWN LIFE IN AN IOWA
WHEAT FIELD.
Body of the Chicago Mafricide Is
Fuliy identified Coufession in His
Pocket-He Slew Both His Mother
and Minnse Mitchell.

William ]. BartAoIin, the Chicago fugi-
tive. is suicide aud the self-confessed
murderer of his mother aud his sweet
heart, Minnie Mifanell HI. shot out his
life while SITTING on a shock of wheat in
field neir Lowther. Iowa. probably on
Sunday, Aug. 81. The body was found
Friday night. A Howard Nonnty eoro-
ner's jury established the identity Of the
corpse.
In the pocket of the coat was found a
confession of the two unnatural crimes
in which B;lrthoiin attempted TO implicate
his sweetheart in the murder of his
mother. The confession ia ful follows:
To Whom 1t May Concerns | wish to state
that l am the Rartholin the police are look
ing for. also wish 10 certify that | had
no assistance Oh any kind from anyone.
Thompson, Claffy and Counselman are all
as innocent as an Saborn child and should
be freed at once.
cannot go into details in regard to tho
crime. They were not planned. IL was all
Minnie and could do. My mind is wander
ing. Such drop in life In so short Il time,
two months ago travelling in the best com
pany, to-day leading the life of hoboos a
murderer
/ intended to go into details and tell ali,
but can ger my mind centered Even my
handwriting Is disgraeeful. but above all
things / ask clear everybody from under
suspicion, there Is no second party and am
the last WILLIAM J. BARTHOLIN.
Besides the confession of the dead man
a letter from Minnie Mitchell was also
fouki in the clothing. That he should
carry written instrument of this charac-
ter with him which would Immediately
establish his identity II he had been ar
rested in life is another mysterious phase
Of the queer methods the young man
followed
The body of Bartholin was found Fri
day afternoon. 1t was first noted by 10
seph Pratt. well digger, when he en-
tered the field with a man named Dawes.
Pratt paid no attention to it until !
an investigation.
Killed with ReyoI yer.
The body was stretched across the Top
of stack of wheat sheaves. A revolver
was grasped in the left hand and ballet
wound on the jaw marked the Point
where the leaden missile started ON its
errand of death.
When Pratt ssst saw the dark object
lying on the shock of grain he thought
it was a sleeping man, but casting his
suspicious, if he had any. to the winds.
went about his work Later in the day
his curiosity got the better OF his earlier
unconcern and he returned TO the field
Hunting out the spot where the object
rested, TO his surprise and horror he
found lifeless body He waited at the
roadside until he could hail passing
team. In this he was soon successful,
and a telegram was dispatched by this
person to Coroner Carpenter at Lime
Springs.
The finder of the remains then returned
to the field Neighbors were called out
and care taken of the body. The cloth
ing was searched and the Bartholin con-
fession found. This was carefully scru-
tinized, and the letters and other docu-
ments contained in the pockets preserved
for the use and guidance of the coroner 5
jury.
This confession and accompanying pa
pers were later turned over to Coroner
Carpenter, who presented them to the
jury impaneled and then retained them in
his custody. At the inquest witnesses
concerned In the finding of the corpse
gave their testimony and identified the
confession and the letters as those found
in the pockets of the dead mans clothing.
The jury of three men. Jeremiah ard
William eastman and Michael Howard,
then returned the following verdict:
William ]. Bartholin died by his own
hand of a revolver bullet shot through
the mouth. BuliSs not found"