Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-07
MURDERED, BODY
THROWN INTO SEA
OCEAN PARK MYSTERY IS
SOLVED
WOMAN SLAIN FOR HER MONEY
Mrs. N. j. Milburn the Victim Of a
Foul Crime-Herald's lnvestiga-
ton Leads to Discovery That
Murder Was Committed

Brutally murdered and her body cast
into the sea for the evident purpose
of covering up the foul crime, which,
according to developments, was COM
mitted for the paltry sum of Few
hundred dollars-such was the fate OF
Mrs. N. j. Miburn, a well known
realty operator of Los Angeles.
These startling facts were brought
out yesterday when the body of the
woman washed ashore week ago last
Sunday at Ocean Park was eXhumed
and relatives of Mrs. Milburn posi-
lively identified the remains.
With the new turn the case has
taken, one of the greatest mysteries
that has ever come to light in Southern
California has been solved. But for
the persistent efforts of The Herald,
however in its endeavor to settle the
identity of the corpse, it is believed
there would yet be the same little
grave in potter's field at Ocean Park,
with the headmark bearing the in
scription Unknown"
Not since the days of the sensational
Mills and Seward murders. which oc-
Cured in Los Angeles a few years ago.
have the local authorities been taxed
with such puzzling case. and 1t Is
now regarded as extremely doubtful II
the identity of the slayer of Mrs. Mil
burn will ever be apprehended. There
is not the slightest clew to the mur-
derer, as all of his tracks appear 20
have been thoroughly covered, and he
has had nearly two weeks in which
to make his escape.
Victim Worth $4,000
While Mrs. Milburn is reputed to
have been worth about $4,000, it is
said most of her money was invested
and her notes and securities kept in
local safe depository. However, she is
known to have drawn between $500 and
500 from her bank shortly before she
went to Ocean Park, Thursday week
ago.
1t was with the intention of investing
in Ocean Park real estate that Mrs
fMilburn went there She had frequent
ly consulted her partner. f. H. Hamil-
concerning the desirability of making
some beach purchases which she
might turn quickly. and it is known
that she left Los Angeles with some
stranger to inspect the property
~ Mrs. Milburn was a widow and had
IirrtI1o oil in nt-tf1 O,1t
house owned by her at 407 South Hope
street. She left the place about 10
O'Clock Thursday, February 23, and
since that time nothing had been seen
or heard of her until her body was
exhumed yesterday. According to Mrs
Barber, who occupies apartments ad-
joining those in which the deceased
lived, Mrs. Milburn appeared to be in
a hurry that morning. She asked her
why she was SO hurried, and Mrs. Mil
burn told her that she was going to
Ocean Park with some man to look at
some property.
Left With Man
No one seems to know who the man
was with whom Mrs. Milburn went to
the beach town. AS far as can be as
certained, she never confided in any
one. She did ask Mr.. Hamilton con-
cerning Beach property, however, and
he advised her to call on Mrs. George
Sibley at Ocean Park before purchas-
ing Mrs. Sibley does not remember
having seen Mrs. Milburn, it is said.
The body of the woman at Ocean
Park was exhumed yesterday at the
request of Mrs. w. OBrien of Watson
willie, who. upon being notified that her
mother had mysteriously disappeared
from Los Angeles, came here to inves-
tigate. Mrs OBrien, accompanied by
her. husband, DR.. and Mrs. G.. A. Cor
don of S15 South Bunker Hill avenue
brother-in-law and sister of Mrs. Mil
burn, and other relatives. recognized
the corpse at once. DIR. Campbell, who
conducted the autopsy, discovered that
the woman's neck had been broken
probably through strangulation.
Identified Through Herald
Mrs. O'Brien and her aunt. Mrs
Gordon, called at Bresee Bros under
taking parlors in Los Angeles Sunday
upon learning that The Herald had Sc
cured permission from the coroner to
take the clothes of the dead woman
there for exhibition, and after inspect
ing them were positive they had found
the right clew to the fate of Mrs
Milburn. They Immediately consulted
with the coroner and district attorney
the latter ordering that the corpse be
exhumed and an autopsy held.
II was convinced the clothes were
those worn by my mother" said Mrs.
o'Brien, las my aunt had visited her
apartments ON South Hope street and
found the blue serge skirt, with black
braid trimmings. missing from her
wardrobe. OF course. 1 tried to fight
against fate until yesterday when |
Jaw the body, and then 1 knew all.
MY poor mother had become the victim
OF foul murder"
IL Was through Mrs Gordon that her