The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-09-29
BURIED WRONG MAN.
After Being Identified and Inferred as
Victim of a Murder, Ed Wassen
Turns Up Alive.

Sioux City, Ia, Sept. 27.-Afte,
spending $500 in burying their sup
posed brother and offering $500 fol
the capture of mis- murderer. the broth
ers of Edward Wasem of Yankton, S
D., have discovered that he is alive
and that they have wasted their time
and money upon the corpse of an UNI
known man.
Now John C. Wasem of Woonsocket
and a brother who is a banker at Har-
rlsburg, 5. D., a~e literally kicking
themselves that they parted with $500
or their good coin to lavish their affec-
ions upon the remains of one who was
probably a tramp.
IL al came about through a mistake
IN Identifying a body taken from the
Missouri river near Dakota City, which
had marks exactly like those OF Wa
sem.
Offered Reward for Murderer.
Not only did the brothers give the
body a fine burial, but they put up $500
reward money and secured a similar
offer from Yankton. Further, they
hired men, at an expense of about SEQ,
TO search the grass along the river
where 1t was supposed he was thrown
IN after his murder in Yankton.
on July % Edward Wasem of Yankton,
who formerly resided in Sioux Falls. is
alleged to have been involved in a saloon
tight in Yankton. It is said he was
knocked insensihle and thrown out Of the
back door of the saloon. His brother,
John Wasen, of Woonsocket, went to
lankton on learning of Edwards disap-
p~earance, and instituted a search. All eff
forts, however, were unavailing, and the
disappearance seemed complete. About a
month ago the body of a man was taken
from the river at Dakota City and was
buried without being identified. Only a
week ago. did John Wasem learn Of the
finding and burial Of the man at Dakota
City.
Identification Was Complete.
He notified his other brother at Harris
burg, S. D., and together they fastened
to the Nebraska town with the hope Of
finding their dead brother and burying
him as they knew he deserved. The body
was, at their request, exhumed and the
identification established to their entire
satisfaction. A peculiar scar on the hand,
the color and texture Of the hair, the con-
tour and weight of the BODY, all spoke elo-
quently of the apparently unmistakable
likeness to the missing brother. A cor
oner's jury found the dead man was Ed
ward Wasem.
With sad yet weary hearts they con-
cluded that they had found the remains of
their brother, who had been so ruthlessly
and foully murdered, and arranged the de-
tails of the burial. A choice lot was
bought IN the cemetery. an elaborate cot
fin was procured and everything usually
found at a first class funeral was provided.
h sleuth hounds on the trail of the muir
derer In South Dakota ~redoubled their en-
orgies and saw visions of the $500 which
was to be paid them In the event of the
capture of the right men.
Simply Was Away on Business.
Yesterdays developments, when the
supposed dead mar came back to life and
his ordinary haunts, cut short the quest
of the man hunters. and brought to light
the explanation of Edward Wasem's dis
appearance. He had merely taken a bust
ness trip out into the state, intending to
look up some real estate matters, and had
known nothing of the excitement which
his disappearance had created.
Edward Wasem is deaf. SO that his
of hearing of the affair was rem
dered all the more difficult. 1t is said he
c~ontemplates going soon to view the grave
where he was supposed to have been
buried and where the $500 was srsant in
his burial.