The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-11
EDWARDS STORY.
He is Supposed to Know About the
Bartholin Tragedy.

Bartholin Tragedy.
Denver, Col, Aug. 11.-Milton r. Ed
wards who formerly roomed at the
home of Mrs. Anna Bartholin in Chicago
and for whom the police of that city
have been looking in order to learn
what he may know of the murders of Mrs.
Bartholin and Miss Minnie Mitchell is
now in Denver. He arrived here at II
o'clock last night over the Union Pa
cif1c railroad and registered at the
Belvidere hotel under his correct name.
To a representative of the Associated
Press this morning he made the follow
ing sta atement:
1.-The reason that you have been able
to find me is that l wrote to Robert
Mitchell, the brother Of Minnie Mitchell
and told him why had left Chicago SO
suddenly. I related to him the fact that
l had become suspicious Of the actions
of William Bartholin and decided that
it would be unsafe for me to remain
longer in Chicago. AS soon as read
in an Omaha paper the story of the
girls murder, l wrote to the brother,
who was a personal friend of mine.
1.-The reason went to Omaha was to
secure employment. l had for some
time been working in Chicago for the
Chicago Terminal railway. was about
to go on my vacation when the un-
toward actions of William ABartholin
hastened my departure.
IT left the home of Mrs. Bartholin on
the night of the 31st of July. On the
1st of August I slept In a hotel down
town, fearing that my life was in jeop-
ardy, and as remember it, left on the
I'd of August. On the S1st OF July I
had gone to a room not my own III or
I, der to get where it was cooler. About
| 2 or o'clock in the morning I was
/ awakened by cat jumping on the win
! dow sill. This incident called my atten-
ton to the fact that the screen had
been taken out and on lighting the gas
and making a further exa nina ton I
discovered that the screen in that win
dow was the only one missing. As the
next day was pay day was fearful all
the rest of the night and / am now
! fully convinced that had I slept there
! another night 1 should have been muir
: dered in cold blood.
! Mrs. Bartholin had not been at the
house for perhaps Is days before left.
! William Bartholin, contrary to his GUS
tom, stayed about the house most of his
time and whenever l broached the sub
| ject of the welfare of his mother or her
| whereabouts he would Immediately
| change the subject. OF course 1 had no
| specific grounds on which to base any
| information for the police. but on the
| night of the 31st as I remember it. I
I spoke to several of the neighbors of my
| suspicious. Among these friends was a
Mr. Purd. who was an intimate friend
| of mine Mr.. Hunter who was rooming
| at the house also left and he went to
| Toledo o. On the same. night Mrs.
Mitchell. the mother of the murdered
girl, and her daughter-in-law. Mrs. Rob-
ert Mitchell, were callers at the house
and they wanted to know about Will
liam. who had not been seen for several
days, and where Mrs. Bartholin was.
At that time l told them of what I
feared, and advised them to get a de-
tective on the trail of Rartholin. If I
had known that the body of Mrs. Bar
| tholin was then lying under the floor of
| the basement of the house should GER
tainly have informed the police.
Il did not know Bartholin very well.
| because he was rather uncommunica-
tive. he was. in fact. more repellant
than anything else and. so far as I
know, had no following of friends.
Il have made no effort to conceal my
| identity. and I have uniformly. since
| have left Chicago registered my correct
name wherever I have stopped. If the
police of Chicago desire my return, ]
am perfectly willing to go back.
"Since have left Chicago have been
more OF less ill. ard this was one of the
rea asons why LETT Omaha I am now
employment Since have heard of the
denouement Of the mystery have suf-
fered no little from mental anguish
"I have letters here from some of the
influential men of Chicago and other
credentials showing my character
served in the Spanish-Anerican wal
and am menrher of the independent
Order of Odd Fellows. Lakeside lodge
No AGO.
Q. E. HUNTERS STORY.
Toledo O., Aug. u-O. E. Hunter g
former roomer with Mrs. Annie Bartho-
lin found murdered in Chicago. is nov
in this city He talks in a straightfor-
ward manner concerning his sever
months tenancy of the Bsrtholin house
He left Chicago on Friday. August
coming here in response to a letter from
! his brother, ex-County Treasurer Sam
uel A Hunter. His story is thus:
ITO the best of my recollection tn.
last time saw Mrs. Rartholtn was OF
July when I paid her my rent
| hardly ever saw her except on pa,
!, day. I often met young Bartholin at
| cigar store. He appeared to be a popu