The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-08-26
THE CHICAGO DOUBLE MURDER.
Minnie Mifchcu's Eurder UnsoIyed
hts as tn Body Identity.

Chicago. August 2o.-After an inves-
ing over a fortnight and a two days
coroner's inquest. the authorities are
still in doubt whether the body OF n
murdered woman found AZ the corner
OF Seventy-fourth ard State streets was
really that Of Minnie Mitch=il. Three
men stand accused OF completely in
her death and that OF Mrs. Annie Bar
1holin and are held in heavy bonds TO
the grand jury. Yet Patrolman Wat
son, who found the body could not tell
its sex because OF it's advanced decom-
position
Coroner's Physician Springer seated
that the body must have been exposed
ten or twelve weeks befre the brain
could ave been absorbed. Even the
coroner's i1ry. when il rendered a YER
dict today, recommending that Oscar
Thompson. Edward Counselman and
John Ciaffy be held 10 explain TIE
death, stated that the body was sup
posed TO be that of Minnie Mitchell.
Articles Of clothing found mar the
dead body, however, were identified by
the Mitchell family and a week ago
the body was bui led as Minnie Mitchell
by relatives of the girl who have been
$50 4lA "a u ~ C-AI III "aS last
seen in the company Of her sweetheart.
William J.. Bartholin.
Two witnesses, Lieutenant Healy and
w. NJ. Allen. testified that Counselman,
an intimate friend Of Bartholin had
told them the fugitive wanted lionel
with which TO pay for a So steal oper-
alton on the Mitchell girl - a north
side hospital.
With this conflicting testimony 70
hinder, the police are almost stalled in
their search Tor William Bartholin,
whom the c~oroner's jury recommended
should be apprehcnded.
The verdict OF the c~oroner's jury
practically leaves any further investi-
cation as to the supposed death Of
grand jury. State Attorney Deneen
will return 10 the city soon n will
take up the charges against Thompson,
Claffy and Councilman.
More tangible results are expected
from the proposed inquest in the case
of Mrs. Anne .Bartholin which will be
resumed tomorrow. For this murder
Oscar Thompson is held as principal
and Counselman and Claffy as access
sories, although William Barthclin is
being sought on the suspicion Of natri-
eide as well as for the murder of his
fancee.
While the testimony of a wig-maker,
who identified a switch of falst hair
as one she had made for Minnie Mitch
ell, DR.. JOS. Springer, the %coroner's
physician, steaIfastly maintained tina
it was not her body and gave the coro-
ner the following statement:
"On August Sth l held a pOstmortem
examination upon the body of an I'M
known woman (u~nidentified). On in
spection | found the body in a bad
state of decomposition. / found the
scalp, shoulders and arms destroyed by
absorption. | found the abdomen con-
tracted, the skin drieG and the tissues
of the pelviS destroyed by absorption.
l found a bullet hole One-fourth of an
inch in diameter in the center of the
back Of the head, in the center of the
occipital bone. On opening the skull l
found the brain totally destroyed, the
skull empty. | found a small fattened
bullet lying at the base, the vertibrae
of the back protruding and the tissues
destroyed. In my opinion the said un-
known woman came to her death from
a bullet wound in the head
DR.. Springer declared it was his opin-
ion hat death must have occurred
from 8 to Il weeks preceding the find
ing of the body, in order TO allow the
disintegration of the body as it was
found. He declared that quick lime
had not been used.