The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1902-08-15
SOLVING THE MYSTERY
SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
EXPECTED IN BARTHOLiN
MURDER CASE
~,
POLICE GIVEN A CLEW
Chicago Woman Saw 6artho'in anG
Two Companions the Morning Fol-
lowing the Killing Of the Mitchell
snd One Of Them Promises to Make
q Statement.

snd One Of Them Promises to Max.
q Statement.
Chicago, Aug. 1.-THE police have
obtained their hrst clew of value In
the Bartholin case and developments
that will go far in solving the mystery
are expected within twenty-f0ur hours
Inspector Hunt found woman who
declared that at daybreak on the
morning following. the night in which
Minnie Mitchell disappeared In com
pany with William Bartholin, she saw
Oscar Thompson, driver for laundry
company, and who is now held in Gus
tody by the police; John Claffy, the
barn boss for the same concern, and
q man wearing panama hat and =
dark sack coat, in front of the laundry
at daybreak. They were standing be-
meath q bright arc light, and she saw
them plainly. She resides in the
neighborhood and knows both men
well.
While the police have always con-
tended that Thompson, who was q
boarder in the house of Mrs. Bartholin,
had knowledge of her death they had
not suspected that he was In any way
connected with the murder of Minnie
Mitchell. The woman, however, was
positive in her statement that she
saw Thompson and Clatfy in company
with the third man at the time and
place mentioned. She knew both of
them and declared that there was no
chance of her being mistaken. The
description of the third man, as far as
it describes anybody, is q description
Of Bartholin the night he was last
seen with the Mitchell girl.
Officers were at once sent in search
Of Claffy and he was taken into Gus
tody without difficulty. The police
will talk to him later. =
Thompson was then called into the:
h0ce Ut the inspector and informed
46at he had been seen with ClaRy* 1nds
'Bartholin on the morning following
the night of the
:. Killing Of the Mitchell Girl.
The information had q marked effect
upon Thompson and he seemed for q
minute to be on the point of collapse.
He rallied, however, and declared that
he was not there and knew nothing of
the case in any way. He was pressed
hard, but he would not alter his state
ment, although he was much worried.
After the interview Inspector Hunt
declared that he was more than ever
impressed with the opinion that
Thompson had guilty knowledge Of
! kh> ~ pAv$h01Sn
The woman was confronted with
Thompson and while he was forced to
admit that he knew her, and she knew
him, he denied her story. The woman
declared that a light colored cap,
which Thompson had attempted to
throw away, was one that he wore at
the time she saw him under the elec-
trio light.
When asked why he threw that cap
away to wear the one he had on when
be was arrested he hesitated and then
said: 'Give me until tomorrow.
will talk with you then"
This plea was taken as an indica-
tion that Thohpson's wall of stolidity
was broken down at last by the strong
evidence he had been confronted with,
and the police think he will tell all
he knows. They expect he will con-
Tess to share in the murders.
Claffy, after Thompson, was con-
tronted with the woman in black. He
1t first said he did not know her, but
admitted that he did
when she called him by name. Claffy
s a man about As years old. The
repeated the story in exactly
cLo %11J o$ IN
lenied being with Thompson and Bar
holm at the time, and was immedi.
ltely locked up again.
The police during the day had re-
,eived the usual number of clews con-
:erning the whereabouts of Bartholin,
,ut none of them amounted to any
hing. They admit that they do not
know what has become of him.