Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-12-27
STRANGE CASE OF DEATH.
Man Was Shot, But None Could Tell
for Years Whence Came
the Bullet.


heard of Zangwills book, The Big
| Bow Mystery" remarked the man who,
according to the New Orleans Times.
Democrat, had listened with an air of in
terest to the talk of strange cases that
| nonplused the detectives. But happen
| to know Of a case, not fiction, either.
that was even more mysterious than the
| one related in that story. The man met
his death, not by his. own hand, before
the doors were opened next day, in
room that no one could possibly have
entered-doors locked on the inside,
| windows closed and shutters down.
Il knew the victim WELL" he con-
tinued, for the mysterious death oc-
Cured in the little town where l was
born and reared. He had a number Of
enemies, some desperate characters,
who had threatened to kill him, and so
when the news spread one morning that
| Henry Killiam had been found dead in
his armchair, with Winchester bullet
in his heart, it was Immediately in
ferred some one had shot him through
a window or door.
servants all left at night, and nothing
could have been easier 1t was winter
night, and the victim, being subject to
rheumatism, had closed every opening
| except the chimney. No bullet hole was
found Clearly he was not aSsaSSinated.
Suicide next suggested itself. But it was
| known he never kept a pistol in his room
WI 10 OF
trate, summoned by the frightened
house help, broke the door in next morn
ing. Still something had to be done, and
the sheriff, for want of better idea, ar
| rested two or three who had recently
made threats against the dead man and
who were seen in the neighborhoOd that
| night. Certain circumstances did cast
slight suspicion on them, but the
physical facts, of course, acquitted them
at the trial
1T looked as if the mystery would
never be solved. When the man was
removed from the room it was at once
| locked up, the colored caretakers re-
fusing to touch an article in what was
known as the haunted chamber
Years passed. At last the heirs de-
| cided to sell the property. l weLt with
the intending purchasers, friends OF
mine, to inspect the building, which was
thrown open to us, completely. My
| curiosity at the unsOlved mystery OF
| killiam's death revived as we eptered
| the chamber where it occurred. 1t was
| as he had left it. The ashes were in
| the CRATE and thick dust, that rose in
slight clouds almost at touch, was on
| all the furniture. The air was damp and
musty.
1t was here in front of the fire Mr..
| Killiam was found dead, was it not?' l
| inquired Of the cOiored man, who had
mustered courage to enter with us.
| Vas, sah' he replied, turning almost
| pale at the thought. Scarcely had he
| spoken when | heard something roll
| from the crate and drop on the hearth.
| picked 1t up by a sudden impulse 1t
| was a Winchester cartridge shell, black
ened with heat. To my mind it told the
story plainly.
1T had evidently got mixed with the
| coal thrown on the fire by the servant
| and had lodged in some creylce betW cen
| the bricks that held it firm and fast. Mr..
| Killiam came in On that fatal night, lit
| the fire already laid for him by the SER
| wants, closed every Granny to keep out
possible drafts and sat down to rest and
| comfort before the blaze. The heat
| quickly caused the cartridge to explode,
and, by one of those curious but not
| infrequent condolences, the bullet found
| its way straight to the heart 1t must
| have been an accident; l am sure none
| of his enemies would ever have thought
| of this plan of murder with it's freedom
| from suspicion, and even if it had oc-
| Cured to them they would naturally
| have believed it was million to one the
| scheme would miscarry."