The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-08
Man Found Dead in RiceleId
 Is BarthoIin,
HAD GOLD CROWNED TEETH
An Editor Saw Likeness as Coroner Was Investigating the Case, Re- memberina the Deserip-
 tlons Sent Out.

Riceville, Iowa, September 7.-The body which was buried here yesterday morning and which was believed that of William Bartholin was exhumed to- day and positively identified as that of the Chicago double murderer. The iden- tihcation was made by William Mitchell, brother of Bartholin's murdered sweet heart, and Lieut.. Andrew Rohan of Chicago, who arrived here this morning from Chicago. Dr. A. J. Coey of Chica- go, Bartholin's dentist who came hero with Lieutenant Rohan, cut out the low CT jaw of the dead murderer which con- tains two gold crowned teeth which have figured so largely in the description sent broadcast throughout the country for purposes of Identification. The jaw will be taken to Chicago.
 Bartholin's body was found last Fri day about six miles from Riceville by J. G. Pratt of Riceville. Pratt was driving to Elma. and when passing a flax field saw the body lying against stack of flax. Thinking 1t was a man asleep he paid no attention at first, but on return
 
 upon Investigation discovered that he was dead. revolver was lying near his left hand.
 Editor Identifies Body.
 Coroner T. S. Carpenter was notified and the body was removed to an under taking establishment at Riceville. There J. B. Mccook, editor of a Riceville paper, discovered that the dead man bore striking resemblance to the published pictures of the Chicago murderer.
 The Confession.
 The text of the confession left by the suicide as made public by Dr. Carpenter, coroner of Howard county, follows: ''To Whom It May Concern.
 T want to state am the Bartholin the police are looking for. Also wish 70 cei- tify had no assistsnce or any kind from any one. Thompson, Clafry and Counsei- man are all as innocent as ar unborn child and should be freed at once
 T cannot go into details in regard to the crimes. They were not planned. 1t was all Minnie and I could do. My mind is wandering. Such a drop in life Tn d short time. Two months ago travelling in the best of company; roday nvIng tho life of hoboes; murderer.
  all, but I cannot get my mind centered Even my handwriting is disgraceful.
 But above all things, nsx 10 clear everybody from under suspicion. There is no second party-I am the last
 wv. J. BARrHOLIN."
 It transpires that Bartholn came to Riceville August 6, before the bodies or his victims, Mrs. Bartholin. his mother, and Miss Mitchell. his sweetheart were diGCOUarpd Dt<,. coing some work here Tor the Great Western road advertised in Chicago for laborers cn August 5, offering free trans- portation to the place of work. Among these who responded was Bartholin He hired out under the name of George Ed wards. After reaching iowa he worked with the construction gang for half day and then went to work with a threshing machine and in the harvest fields Last Sunday morning he left Riceville and went in the dlrectron ox the place where his body was found That was the lest seen of him here.
 When Bartholin registerec at the Wilkes hotel as George Edwards he told the clerk he was ill and wanted a seclud- ed room. He took advantage or tnIs pIea. of Illness to have his meals sent to his room, where he remained most of the time. Wilkes, the proprietor of the hotel, says Bartholin was at his place seven days before starting into the coun- try Bartholin found ready employment as a harvest hand on the rarm or John Higgins, where he worked for a week. No one there can recall having seen him read a newspaper and few at work on the farm had had time to learn of the Bartholin mystery. Bartholin returned August 30 to the Wilkes hotel. The next day it Is supposed he killed himself. At all events 1t is considered certain that he wrote his farewell confession in the Wilkes hotel on August 30.
 An impression had gained ground here that an immense reward would be of fered for Barthalin dead or alive. Some placed the figure at $17.500 When the coroner's jury yesterday returned a yer dict that the remains of the suicide wero those of Bartholin a frantic effort was made to secure the reward
 Today two score of detectives and newspaper men arrived from Chicago with the brother of Minnie Mitchell to confirm the Identification of the body. It had been presumed that Bartholfn might have killed man and deposited notes on his person in order to end the search for himself with the impression that he had committed suicide. but Lieut. Rhoan, Dr. Coey and William Mitchell are convinced that the body is Bartho- lin's.
 It transpired today that Bartholin had been in correspondence with woman in Chicago, who had endeavored to aid him financially after his arrival here One of these letters Bartholin accidently dropped from his pocket and Charles Hoeft, the second farmer for whom Bar tholin worked, read a few lines of it. Bartholin, however. took the letter from him after he had read the first lines. Hoeft states the letter was addressed George Edwards" and began My Dear est Will'' as he remembers it the letter read:
 along as best you can"
 Then came a reference to some money matters not yet settled in Chicago for which the receiver of the letter had evi- dently been looking.
 Continuing 1t said: Keep a stiff upper lip and I'll be able to help you soon.'