The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-12
CHARGED WITH y. !. :.. +:
/. s.. KILLING: PARTNER
BLOODY THUMB MARK FIGURES
IN ARREST OF ERICKSON. .;,s~
Adams, His Brother-in-1,aw, Shot to
Death by an Unknown Assassin-En
tries in and Blood Spots on Note
book Held to Be Significant and Lead
to Arrest, :- ~ .,;.5.. =, -@>.is = -
q ~
Special to The Journal. Il

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Special to The journal. e s. - @,;, .n |
Escanaba, Mich, Sept. 12.-Accused of the 1
brutal murder of Gust Adams, killed one night
almost year ago in saloon conducted lat |
Nathan Menuminee county, Charles Erickson |
brother In law: and business partner of the dead
man, will be tried atsthe coming term OF the
circuit court Erickson. was arrested only re-.
Gently, and is out on bail in the sum of $4,000
furnished by the two Menominee brewing COM
panies. 80 =. =. 49, |
The evidence against, Erickson is purely circum-
stantial and those who have faith in his inno- |
cence are predicting his speedy acquittal" Since
the commission Of the crime detectives. have
been at work almost necessarily in an endeayor !
to solve the mystery of the tragedy as also
has Sheriff John St1e,: who, thru the discovery
Of alleged clue in the shape of a. bloody
thumb mark, has been heralded as t. veritable
On the morning of Oct. 4, 1908, Adams was
found dead in the saloon with three bulletholes
in his body. The crime, evidently, was com
mitted for the purpose of robbery, $3.50 which
he is known to have carried when last seen alive
was missing. The movements of Adams on the
fatal dBy were traced to within a few minutes
Of the time the shots We're fred! .T<rtGcaf &rs 1
There Is evidence that just as he entered the
room, Adams struck "a tremendous blow
over the head with "a whisky bottle w, wnich
sailant, evidently discovering that he was not
unconscious, then drew revolver and fred three
shots, any one Of which would have proved fatal:
The assassin had been hiding in the bedroom Tor
hours, it is believed. The coroners jury returned
verdict that death had been caused by some
man unknown and rewards were offered for the
arrest Of the murderer. =:
| Several weeks after the officers found a note
book which had been the property Of the muir
dered man. Some of the leaves had been torn
| out, erasures had been made, and there writ.
| ing in the book evidently not that Of the owner.
1t was this notebook that the bloody thumb
mark was found. Them as the authorities probed
deeper into the affair.", what Is considered sig
Effcant point developed, ., w.. a,
| Adams dog spent the entire evening until the
crime was con1nrttedStfn the barroom, and ,eyi-
This led to the inference that one who had
Epetpetratef the murder: Tongnes began: wag
and in the eyes Of the townspeople more than
one under suspic1on,. among Others Erickson.
In the latter part of January Erickson COM
menced an action for alleged SANDER against Mrs.
Adams father, J. Hammerburg. It was asserted
that the latter had at various times and III
divers places made statements to the effect that
Erickson knew something about the death of his
partner. la1ge amount was claimed for dam
turned verdict of not guilty. No light was
shed on tho murder mystery. Other SANDER suits
were threatened but never materialized.
With :le disposition of the SANDER proceed
ings brought by Erickson, the Adams case
seemed to lapse into mystery more profound
than ever. and to the general public the an
nouncement CT the arrest of Erickson came unex
pectedly. Nothing Of great moment bearing or
: the murder was developed in the testimony q
J the prelimi NV hearing of the accused man and
indeed, the use Of the prosecution was constl
cred weak. Whether there Is evidence not .d1
vulged on that occasion remains to be determine
. CALUMET, M1cHLA Tamarack miner. allege
that fellow miner placed, large rat in hi
dinner pail. which be took *, home with /, him II,
q morning the rat jumped out and caused her grea
e fright, resulting in sickness. The prosecuting
! attorney Is considering a case for damages.
q
BEssEMER, MICH.-Thomas Whitburn wa
! terribly scalded from the bursting Of the blow
t His recovery is doubtful-James Hanson, a
e old bachelor. found hanging from a tire
r back of barn. He had been Respondent. .,3,. :,
$ Always avoid harsh, purgative pills
n They first make you sick, and then leav
Il you constipated. Carter $ Little Live
: Pills regulate the bowels and make yo