Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-22
Searching Party Uncovered Re-
mains of Murdered Man
Near Town of Melvin
FRED HokuF IN JAIL FOR CRIME
Startling Developments in the sensa.
tienaI Murder Case in Northwest
lowa-Body Of Peter Johnson, Who
Disappeared Over Year Ago, Found
Buried in His Barn.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Melvin. June 22.-Four feet under
ground in the stall of the barn at the
johnson farm, four miles south of here,
a searching party under the direction
OF Sheriff Stevens of osceola county,
yesterday found the body of Peter
johnson, the farmer who disappeared
Q year ago in February.
Fred Hokuf, Johnsons hired man,
who took charge of the place AFTER
johnson disappeared, is in Jail at Sib-
lev. charged with murder on informa-
tion of w. c. Davenport ex-chief Of
police at Sioux City, steadfastly main
tains his innocence. Efforts are being
made today to procure a confession.
The searching PARTY was organized
Monday night by Davenport who was
compelled to return to Sioux City tues
day to attend the wedding of his sister
at Norfolk, Neb. o. b. Harding OF Sioux
City, Sheriff Stevens and couple OIL
men employed for the purpose went TO
the johnson place to search the barn,
cave. shed and we'll. They began first
on the well, and finding nothing there,
went to the barn. In the barn are four
stalls. with an endgate rod the ground
was prodded In the back salll and soft
spot discovered. One of the men bored
down with posthoie augur and when
he drew the instrument from the
ground q piece of denim jacket was
seen attached to it. A fearful odor was
NOTICEABLE.
Body Found.
Immediately the men set to work
with spades and after excavating four
feet. the body of Peter johnson lying
AT full length was discovered. The re-
mains were in decomposed state, but
were removed without difficulty from
the grave and laid on blanket in the
! barn.
"A cursory examination was made.
but it was difficult to determine wheth-
or the man met death as the result OF
a bullet or a blow from blunt in
strument. Cornore Parker was noti-
fed and with County Attorney Brooks
is expected at the Johnson farm this
afternoon.
johnson, an eccentric and wealthy
recluse, disappeared Friday, February
10. 1903. Fred Hokuf, son of a wealthy
Bohemian farmer residing not far from
Johnson's place took possession of the
farm under pretended lease, which
he claimed to have secured from Fl.
n. Hanson. of Chicago, an alleged reia-
tive of Johnson. Hokufs story was
that he took johnson to Hartley. twelve
miles away. the night of February ls,
and from there he went east, eventual
" reaching the old country. At times
Hokuf claimed to have received let
tiers from johnson but his stories
were conflicting and the neighbors
doubted.
About two months ago ex-Chief
Davenport OF Sioux City. at the In
stigation of O. B. Harding. started
working on the case. Two weeks ago
i he signed an information charging Ho-
kuf with murder. The man was locked
up and has since protested his inno-
cence.
During his investigation Davenport
discovered an old sweetheart of John
sons at Gibson City, Ill. The woman
admitted that Johnson was the father
OF her child Alma aged 90 years. She
is heir to the estate. valued at about
I $4,000
Hokuf Nervous.
Yesterday ex-Chief Davenport had
talk with Hokuf. The prisoner be-
tvayed deep agitation when brought be-
fore Davenport He shook so that he
could scarcely stand. His teeth chat
tered and his answers to questions
were delivered in a broken voice. But
he still said he was innocent.
But your stories are all mixed up"
said the ex-chief; you say people saw
you and Johnson in the saloon at
Hartley the night you claim you sent
him away. But the people you name
declare you lied. They hadn't seen you
or Johnson for weeks before you claim
they did. How do you account for
that?"
know how they figure 1t out but TIM
know how they figure it out. but i'm
innocent. I'm innocent, I'm innocent"
Hokuf walled. covering his face with
his hands while big tears rolled down
i his cheeks.
MY theory of the murder is that
Hokuf killed Johnson In the house-in
his bedroom where the blood spots were
found" said Davenport yesterday af-
ternoon. "Hokuf claimed the spots
were made by killing bedbugs. The
bullet hole he insisted was made by the
accidental discharge Of gun. Without
doubt the man shot Johnson and car
ried the body to the barn. dug hole in
the stall. and then kept his horses
stabbed there to trample down evidence
of the crime"
Davenport will go to Sibley tomorrow
TO see Hoisuf and help the officers look
up further evidence
SAVED FROM DROWNING.
Wayne Mcleran, Of Sioux City, Proves