Evening journal., 1902-09-08
DOUBLE MURDgRBRI
COMMITS SUICIDE
Left a Full Confession OF His
Crimes
Identification Made BV William
Mitchell, a Brother Of One
ui BarlhOIin'S Victims


Riceville. Ia, Sept. S.-The body
which was buried here on Saturday
morning, and which was believed to
be that of William Bartholin. -was ex-
humed yesterday afternoon and posi-
lively identified as that OF the Chicago
double murderer.
The Identification was made by VIII
liam Mitchell, brother OF one of Bar
tholin's victims, and Detective Andrew
Rohan, of Chicago, who arrived here
from Chicago. DR.. A. j. Coey, of Chi
cago, who came here with Detective
Rohan, cut out the lower jaw OF the
dead murderer, which contained the
two gold-crowned teeth. which have
figured SO largely In the description
sent broadcast throughout the coun-
try for purposes OF Identification. The
jaw will be taken to Chicago by the
detective.
Bartholin's body was found last Fri
day afternoon about six miles from
Riceville by ]. c. Graft, a resident OF
Riceville. Mr.. Graft was driving to
Elma. and when passing fax field
saw the body lying against a stack Of
fax. Thinking it was a man asleep,
he paid no attention. but on returning
he saw the man still there, and upon
investigation discovered that he was
dead, with a revolver lying by his left
hand.
Coroner T. S. Carpenter was noti-
fed and the body removed to an un-
dertaking establishment at Riceville.
There ]. B. McCook, editor of Rice
vile paper, discovered that the dead
man bore a striking resemblance to
the published pictures of the Chicago
murderer.
The text Of the confession left by
the suicide. as made public by Dr. T.
s. Carpenter, coroner OF Howard coun-
ty. was as follows:
ITO whom it may concern-I want
10 state am the Bartholin the police
are looking for. Also wish to certify
had no assistance of any kind from
any one. Thompson, Claffy and Coun-
selman are all as innocent as an un-
born child, and should be freed at
once.
q cannot go into details in regard
to the crimes. They were not planned
It was all Minnie and could do. My
mind is wandering. Such a drop in
life in short time. Two months ago
travelling in the best of company; to-
day living the life Of hoboes, muir
derer. intended to 90 into details
and tell all. but I can't get my mind
eentered. Even my handwriting It dis
graceful
but above all things. ask to clear
everybody from under suspicion.
There is no second party; l am the
last W. ]. BARTHOLIN."
After the words 1T was all Minnie
and could do. stretches an illegible
scrawl. apparently showing that the
writer had no intention to connect the
girl with the crimes, to which he re-
ferred in the preceding sentence. At
the same time It is apparent that Bar
thOlin and Miss Mitchell shared in
some trouble. to which the suicide re
ferred.
Inquiry here developed the fact that
Bartholin came to Riceville August 6,
before the bodies Of Mrs. Bartholin
and Miss Mitchell were discovered.
Thomas Fee, a contractor, doing some
work here for the Great Western
read. advertised for laborers in Chi
cago on August 5. offering free trans
portation to the place of work. Among
those who responded was Bartholin.
who hired under the name OF George
Edwards. He worked at the construc-
tion but half a day, and afterward was
working on a threshing machine and
IN the harvest fields. until last Sun
day morning. when he was last seen
leaving Riceville in the direction Of
the place where his body was found.