The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-08
MURDER MYSTERY
PUZZLES POLICE
DECoMPosED BODY FOUND IN
LONG MEADOW MARSHES.
Gunshot Wounds In Chest and Jaw In
dictate Dark Crime Body Had Been
There for Several Months, Appar-
ently-Identifcation May Result
from Examination Of Mans Pockets.

BY murder or accidental shooting, a
man as yet unknown, lost his life last
summer far out in the midst Of the
Long Meadow marshes at point about
four miles below Fort Smelling. The
body was found yesterday afternoon
by party Of young sportsmen, one Of
whom was George Power, a son of g. q.
Power, president Of the Second National
bank of St. Paul; his. cousin Fred
walking thru the marsh along the
shores Of Long Meadow lake, opposite
the Long Meadow Gun club 8 clubhouse.
when they were startled by coming sud
denly on the body of man.
1t was a chastity sight. The body had
been exposed so long that the flesh had
been eaten away, leaving the skull bare.
The flesh was also gone from the legs,
as far as the trousers had been rolled
up. The dead man wore the garments
Of workingman and an A. 0. y. w.
pin, and there was no weapon OF any
kind anywhere near the spot.
The jaw had been shot away, and
there were numerous bullet holes in the
clothing covering the chest.
The man was killed by charge from
a shotgun fred some distance away.
Had there been an accident, the one
responsible would probably have in
formed the authorities. That the man
could not possibly have fred the gun
himself was evident from the manner
in which the shot holes were scattered
over his chest. ,The absence Of q
weapon is also an indication that it
was not case of suicide.
The young men were averse to exam
ing the pockets of the dead man Tor pa
pers which would serve to identify him.
r~l,o o%1 ,Sr1 ~ IN tn
the hideous face that the letters on the
society pin could be read.
| In Midst of Wet Marsh.
It would be possible for the body to
lie where it was found for months with
out being discovered. 1t is in the midst
of wet marsh, where hunters scarcely
even venture on foot. The clothing
was in a fair state of preservation
In their opinion the body had beer
lying there a month or more.
B Theshunters Hurried to- Fort Smelling
from whence George Power telephonee
to the coroner Of Hennepin county ane
Chief Of Police Doyle. This was about
O'Clock for the purpose of plotting thu
home in disgust. In the meantime Cor
oner Kistler had ordered the morrgu'
wagon to Fort Smelling and had driver
out himself. He inquired for the com
mandant, who knew nothing Of Georg'
Power or the finding Of the body, ant
could give no information.
DR.. Kistler drove out along the Lon|
Meadow and made as careful searcl
as he could with the meager informa
ton which he had. He could hav
searched a week without finding tn
body unless he knew where to go. TO
ward dusk he gave up the hunt for tn
time being, and will 60 out again thi
morning. He hopes to have Mr.: Powe
or some member of his party with hin
as guide.
A Mystery to Police.
The case is likely to prove a mys
terry to the police Of the twin cities
Presumably the body will be identifie
as soon as the contents of the pocket
are examined. If the man went gu
fact might be known and give clue t
the mystery. If, however, the ma
went alone the police will be take
to their utmost to determine how an
by whom he was shot. i:4sF -asa&->
What was the man doing out on Lon
Meadow without gun9 ,,n 3 sz.,.-.E
It is almost folly to think that an
man would wander about the we
marshes far out in wilderness Q
grass and reeds where.;wate stands a.
I the year around unless he was hunting
+ If he was hunting, what became ofsth
guns
Or was there only one gun for tw
menu In that event the other man eithe
by accident or by generalization fred
load full at his companion and then "a
away, taking the weapon with him.
It is inconceivable that the man coul
have been accidentally shot by hunter
who were unaware of his presence an
mistook him for some kind of gam
This explanation would serve in tn
northern woods in the deer season, br
; hardly on the Minnesota bottoms, whel
the game is aquatic fowl. Still an a.
cident would not be wholly impossib
under certain conditions. ...z
AT any rate The whole matter is
blind mystery at present, and may r
main so,g for whoever fred the fat;
shot whether it was accidental or il
tended, has had ample time to r g.
away and cover his tracks. "