The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-08

had arisen Mrs Bartholn. contrary to her
usual custom, was not up. Thompson s
room was directly across the hall from
that of the woman and her son. The lat
ters door was wide open and he was
sleeping soundly, but Mrs. Bartholins
door was locked
Murderer's Explanation.
Thompson awoke the son and together
they made coffee. Oddly enough, nothing
was said Of Mrs. Bartholin's absence.
That night Tuesday, July g. when
Thompson returned from his work-he
drove a laundry wagon-Wil]iam Bartho-
lin was at home. There was nothing to be
seen of his mother and her door was still
closed and locked. In reply to Thomp-
sons question regarding her, the son said
she had gone to Milwaukee with a family
named Stahl.
With this news Thompson was content.
For some weeks things went on quietly,
the son telling various people of his
mothers absence and how she was get
ting along there. During the interval
Bartholin borrowed SIS from Thompson
and attempted to borrow IS more from
| another friend. But to several people he
showed large roll Of money during the
| same period.
The last day Bartholin borrowed money
was on Wednesday. July 30. Thompson
left IS for him at tho laundry office, and
ne called and received it.
Inc same evening he called on the
mitchell family, who lived at GOA Forty
| fourth street, about one block from his
| own home. He invited Miss Minnie to go
| with him for trolley ride. Together they
| started away. Miss Mitchelrs sister called
out. Don't do anything you will regret"
| and the couple turned and laughed. Miss
| Mitchell was never seen alive again.
The next day her mother received let
| ter signed wv. J. B. and to all appear
ances in Bartholin's handwriting. It
stated that he and Miss Minnie had eloped
and that they were their way to Cali
fornia, from which place they would again
| communicate.
| One of the Mitchell family went around
| to the Bartholin home to talk the matter
over with Mrs. Bartholn. They found the
house empty.
- Later in the day Thompson called on
| them in response to their request. He in
formed them that the mother was still
in Milwaukee.
Body of Miss Mitchell Found.
On Thursday. Aug. 7, the body Of a
woman was found on the prairie at Sew
ty-fourth and State streets. 1t was lying
about ten feet from the sidewalk and was
badly decomposed. There was a pistol
wound on one side Of the head and the
coroner at once announced that the WON
an had been murdered.
A few feet from the wornans body an6
scattered in all directions were articles
Of clothing which had been ruthlessly tori
from it. No attempt to hide the clothine
had been made.
For twentyfour hours the remains were
unidentified Then Lily Mitchell, the sis
ter Of Minnie Mitchell, called at, the po
. lice headquarters and positively Identified
the clothing as that OF her sister, Minnie
3 Mitchell.
Search for the Other.
The announcement of the identification
{ caused a tremendous sensation. The Chi
, cago papers sent out a corps Of men t,
investigate the house. fl the basemen
hammer and crowbar, also some article
, they discovered a blood stained ak, file
Of clothing with stains upon them.
But a more striking discovery was We
, to come. In the eastern end Of the base
+ ment, near the street, underneath a pill
Of rubbish, they found a new-made grave
The grave was opened and in it was foun
the body of Mrs. Bartholin. She had bee
strangled to death.
- Another search of the house revealed tn
r fact that she had been killed in her bed
>. room, then the body was placed in he
- closet and afterward taken down an
= buried in the basement
VIII Investigate Just the Same.
The charges preferred by the polio
q against Claffy, Thompson and Counselma
). will be heard by the next grand jury,
= said an attache Of the states attorney
e office. 1.-THE confession Of Bartholn
q not a ukase guaranteed to free everybod,
, The fact that Bartholin killed three peopl
a including himself, will add weight I
l. this piece of written testimony he le
e behind There may be other strong ev
" dence involving these three men,"