The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-21
Mcdonald Found Dying In a
Stable at Bloomington, ILL.,
HEAD WAS BADLY BATTERED
Police Unable 10 Unravl tho Mystery Sur.
= rounding tho Tragedy 10 a Barn 10
Which Two Boys Were Sleeping

Bloomington. ILL.,. Oct. 2l.-The most
mysterious crime In the history OF Bloom
ington was the murder OF Claudius Cleon
Mcdonald. a horseman OF Pontiac who
was found with skull crushed. lying on
the floor Of Frank Edwards livery barn
In this city.
All efforts of the local detectives to un-
ravel the mystery have proven futile
The coroner's jury failed. The grand
jury now In session. is wrestling with
the case.
The police department was unable to
ind evidence warranting holding any
one and the coroners jury was also
afraid to recommend the commitment OF
any person. The facts secured were then
turned over TO the grand jury.
The battling feature is the absence OF
motive. The relatives OF the victim
think that he had large sum OF money
upon his person the night he was killed.
The police differ in this respect. They
found 20 cents only and say that II rob-
berry had been the motive this change
would have, been taken in addition TO the
supposed roll OF larger size.
HEAD BADLY BATTERED.
The manner In which the head OF the
murdered man was battered is another
puZzling feature. The police argue that
the ordinary highwayman or thief simply
the manner in which McDonald's skull
was crushed something more than mere
desire for theft animated the murderer.
The head of Mcdonald appeared as IL
powerful man had belabored It with
heavy iron rod or bar. The skull was
crushed and sections as large as a mans
hand were taken out by the surgeon. That
the victim did not die for many hours
could only be attributed TO his remarka-
BILE vitality.
He never recovered consciousness HID
den In a manger in the barn was found
an old axe. on which blood spots were
discernible. II Is presumed that this
weapon was used. although the fat side
only was struck. II the edge had been d.
rected against the head OF the victim
there would have been no question about
the nature of the means used. IL some
other weapon was used IL has been con-
cealed.
The coroner's jury was In session for
three days and a large number OF Wit
nesses were examined. Their testimony
failed 10 disclose the identity OF the as
sassin or any motive for the deed.
STORY OF A QUARREL.
Harry Polling. youth who resides In
Farmer City, told OF an alleged quarrel
between Mcdonald and a man named MI
chael ODonnell. lie swore that he saw
Mcdonald last about 10 o'clock at night.
Mcdonald coming In 10 feed his horses.
Witness slept all night in the hay NOW
In the Edwards barn with boy named
Mccain; Mike Mcdonnell and Mr.. Keck-
ley were sleeping in the office. The wit
ness said that ne and Mccain were at
tracted TO the large opening used to throw
hay down TO the ground floor by loud
talking between Mcdonald and O'Donnen.
The witness said that the conversation
was something about feeding hay. and
that he heard O'Donnell say: Don't use
that hay or / will charge it," Charge
It." replied Mcdonald. This was all OF the
dispute witness heard.
The story OF Polling was corroborated
by Clarke Mccain, who also slept In the
barn the night OF the murder. He testi1ed
that O'Donnell told Mcdonald that II he
used any more hay IL would be charged
to him. Mcdonald replied that ne could
charge IL. .
The prevailing opinion is that IL the
right person can be induced TO talk the
mystery will be cleared. II is looked up
on as remarkable that no one should
have heard any sound OF a scuffle or cries
for help The apparent circumstances
connected with the killing make II ap-
pear as II the encounter must nave peen
a noisy one and the murderer could not
| have gotten the best OF his victim with
! ont some one hearing words exchanged.
STOPPED BY NEGIoEs.
Ahout two months ago, shortly after
/ McDonald came 10 this city from Pom
| tiac. he was stopped by party OF negro
| men and women and robbed OF 500 Inc
| theft was charged mainly to woman
who was credited with taking the money
| and she was placed In jail 10 await the
| action Of the grand jury.
II may be only coincidence, put the
| day before the murder the suopoenas
,,'ars served upon Mcdonald and the ne
yroes sunposed to know something about
the hold-up. notifying them to appear be-
| fore the grand jury.
| Az McDonald was the prosecuting wilt
ness. IL was barely possible that some
friend of the female prisoner may have
sought 10 remove him. The authorities
onnear 10 have ignored this feature OF the
| case. -
The police think that Mcdonald was
KILLED in n drunken quarrel and that one
~ his companions OF the previous even
ing NAV be able 10 tell something OF the
| crime. The probing In this direction
| however. has been futile.