The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-07-20
BRUTAL MURDER
John Strom Murdered and
Robbed-Svspicion Points
to Charles e. Bloom.
MURDERER STILL AT LARGE


tory occurred on Tuesday night July |
18th, when John Strom, well known |
mine and prospector was killed and |
robbed at bis camp on ls-mile, above
Junction. His body was seen lying |
In bis blankets near the wagon on
Wednesday by Charlie Johnson and
companion as they passed along the
road, but they supposed the man was
sleeping and passed on without max
Ing any investigation. Thursday
morning they CHANGED to pass the
camp again and seeing the man lying
In the same position and everything
apparently In exactly the same condi- |
ton as on the previous day. decided
to investigate and on going to the
bed and turning down the bed clothes
were hoIrified to lind the man lying
dead with his head beaten to Jelly
and his body from the waist up COW
cred with bruises The camp showed
signs OF desperate struggle aud in
the sage brush near by johnson
picked up an envelope containing
1910, In currency A messenger was
at once despatched to Lemhi Agency,
the nearest telephone station, and
Or. Kenney, county coroner notified.
He received the message at II O'Clock
Friday and started at once for the
scene OF the tragedy, which Is 90
miles from here. At midnight on
Friday Sheriff Stewart was notified
by phone that a foul murder had
been committed and Deputy Sheriff
Waters left at once. He is still alb
sent.
DIR. Kenney held an inquest over the
remains of the murdered man and
the verdict OF the coroner's jury was
to the eject that the dead man had
been brutally murdered and that
Charles Il. Bloom was In their opin-
ion, the guilty party
AS near as we can learn, the facts
as known are as follows: John
Strom left here on Saturday, y uly Sth,
on the stage for Blooms ranch, the
old 17-Mile House, where he had a
team and wagon. He had been In
town for about week, drinking more
or less, and had exhibited consider
able money In two or three saloons
here. He was known to have had
about s700. and II Is thought he had
from 81. 200 to 81 500, altogether. lie
stopped at Blooms ranch. They had
been friends for years and came from
the same section Of country either
Denmark or Sweden. On Monday
Strom started up the valley his destl-
nation being the old Nlcholia dis
trlct. He was seen by many driving
along the road with his team, and
but a short distance behind him was
Bloom on foot. He said he was on
his way to Gilmore to work In the
mines. They both stald ut Junction
all night occupying the same bed,
and 1t Is reported that Strom handed
a party there the identical envelope
found on the ground where he was
murdered, remarking that he was
going to sleep with Bloom and might
not have the money In the morning
" he kept II on his person.
Bloom left Junction ahead OF his
victim, which appeared strange, as
their road was the same for several
miles, and that was the last seen of
Strom alive. Bloom however, vas
seen by nmber OF persons, who COM
mented on his strange actions. He
skirted the valley, travelling close to
the foothills to the east, and making
Il detour OF several miles. He was
watched by parties with glass, and
they say he would walk and then run
for u distance, and gaining an emf.
nence would stop and look In the d..
rection taken by his victim, and he
did not take the Gilmore road, but
apparently followed Strom. He was
afterward seen at distance In Sheep
creek basin making his way east.
A warrant has been issued for his
arrest and reward OF 800 has been
offered by Sheriff Stewart for his ap.
prehension. Deputy Waters Is still
on his trail and 1t is thought his
capture will he effected soon. Sher-
Id Stewart has telearaphed to all the
cities and towns of Montana aud
Idaho description OF the supposed
murderer, who Is one OF the finest
specimens OF manhood ever seen In
4 this country. He Is over six feet
tall, and model OF strength lie
has very fair complexion, light hair,
weighs about 200 pounds aud Is about
Is years OF age, Bloom has lived
here for the past five or six years
and has always borne the best repu.
tation, and his connection with this
cowardly deed has been a great sur
prise to his friends, IL he Is cap
tured II Is to be hoped lie may be
able TO clear himself from the suspl.
cion or II found guilty punished rs
he deserves.
John Strom was about IS years OF
age, and was large and powerful
man. He was a quiet, industrious
man, and well respected in this
county where he has lived for eight
| m nine vearS Nnithar he ar Rlnnn,