Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-10-14

flirting. although nothing IN itself
more serious had been unearthed. IL
was not difficult 20 imagine. however.
the lengths TO which such woman
might go 90 free herself from The
thraildom of marriage 10 a jealous hus-
band for whom I was convinced. she
bore no real affection. Her husbands
possession OF several thousand dollars
i'm cash. coupled w.,a her .nordinate
love OF feminine hnery. rendered
stronger any other motive she might
have had for wishing her husband out
OF the way
The withdrawal OF his funds from
the bank and his sudden disappearance
from De Smct presented themselves 90
me as additional grounds for harbor-
ing the theory that had been forcing
itself on me-that shannon bailey had
been murdered boy his wife.
From tire depths of his infatuation
for his maynard wife I found IL dim-
cult 10 believe that he would volun-
tarily absent himself from her for two
months. While she claimed 20 have
been in communication with him /
could find no trace OF any exchange Of
letters between them. a fact that still
further strengthened my belief that II
the facts could be obtained they would
tell story of a peculiarly deliberate
and atrocious crime.
AT this juncture a bit Of informa-
tion-startling 10 me in view OF the
theory I held-was introduced into the
investigation by Mr.. Ruth A few days
before my arrival ia De Smet II seems
there had been found In an unfre-
ouented place on the prairie, 31s miles
from De Smet. the bones Of a man.
All the parts had been heaped together
without even pretense at burial. The
skeleton had been dlsmembered and
the flesh scraped from the bones. But
there was nothing in the heap of bones
which might establish the identity OF
the victim. BY measurement it was
found that they had been the bones
Of man about the height Of shannon
Bailey. There all clews were lost.
1t seemed to me that the most prom
Using channel for Investigation from
this point was a search of the premises
formerly occupied by the Baileys.
Ruth accompanied me In this search
and, that no unjust suspicious should
be given circulation concerning the
former mistress OF the house. we went
about the task quietly The house had.
Of course, been dismantied of the fur
nishings used by the lawyer and his
wife. On the first and second floors
nothing whatever was found that
might by any stretch OF imagination.
lend color to my suspicious.
Armed with spades we then descend
ed to the cellar. Carefully testing the
condition OF the dirt floor. we again
met with failure. But one spot re-
NAMED unexplored, the small area un-
der the wooden stairway that formed
the cellar entrance. AS a last resort
4 thrust spade into the floor under
the stairs. Il sank deep into loose
oirI quickly we removed TIE top soil.
ana as we did SO the awful. sickening
door OF decomposed flesh became al
most overpowering.
AT a depth of a little more than
two feet the spade struck a mass ~
nesh- Although almost overcome Wa
completed the excavation. 10 6nd q
mass OF hesh buried in qufcklime
Not a bone was there to be found
Ia this sorry grave. There was NOT
the slightest doubt OF the flesh being
that OF human being. and the ouan.
uty indicated clearly that II had been
stripped from the bones of f,l,-
grown man. The action OF the lime
and decomposition had done their VOC.
wen enough TO obiiterate opportunity
for Identification.