Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-09-21
BODY IS THROWN
IN THE RIVER
George R. GrisWoId the Vic
i'm of Dastardly
Murderers.
RUFFlANS OyERPOWER HIM
Motive Was Robbery. as Pockets We're
Rfled-He Had Shown Big lnsur-
ance Draft-Was Last Seen Early
Wednesday Morning September l3


Des Moines, Sept. 17.-With no
other clue than yard of water
soaked rope taken from the wrists
of George r. Griswold, whose dead
body was taken from the Des Moines
river at o'clock yesterday morning,
the police are faced with one Of the
greatest murder mysteries which has
happened in Des Moines in years.
With his hands TIED together behind
his back, his clothing rified, pockets
turned inside out, watch pocket
slashed open with knife, and sew
eral articles of value and large sum
of money missing, the body of George
Griswold Of 3407 Ingersoll avenue,
manager of the State Mutual Insur-
ance company of Worcester, Mass,
was found caught on trot line, near
the east bank of the Des Moines
river, below it's junction with the
Raccoon.
Since o'clock Wednesday morn
ing. when Griswold left Munger's
lloISi Ol run III SLlCSI III VIC NUN
Island depot, with the intention Of
catching the 1855 o'clock train for
Omaha, his whereabouts have been
unknown, and even before the finding
of the body his friends had become
worried at his disappearance and in
stituted a quiet search.
No clue as to where he went from
Munger's hotel or what terrible ex-
perience fell to his lot in the hour
that he had before train time has
been found, and only the discovery of
his travelling bag. which he had with
him when he started for the depot,
a small red pocketbcok presented to
him by friend or gold watch
which he bad with him. may lead to
even the faintest surmise as to what
were the details of his fate or when
his death was accomplished.
The grewsome find which first an
nounced his fate was made by Gar
field Gray, fisherman living at 461
South East First street, who, on eX-
aiming his lines shortly after day.
light yesterday morning, found them
broken and discerned the outlines of
the body floating near the surface
about 200 yards below the place
where the line had been set. Gray
hurried to the place with a boat,
towed the body to the shore, and left
it there until detectives and the cor
oner could be summoned.
Just where the current from the
Raccoon first swirls across the Des
Moines and cuts into the east bank
of the river the lines belonging to
Gray were set, and the body catch
ing on one of the hooks broke this
opposite the end Of East Allen street,
where it was caught and held about
twenty-five yards from the bank.
Gray visited his lines for the last
time last Friday night, and found
them at that time IN good condition.
| On his visit at o'clock yesterday
morning, he at once found that some
thing was wrong. and it was matter
Of but few minutes until the body
| was hauled to the shore.
| The motive that might lead to such
a revolving crime is thought to have
been the desire of his assailants to
secure possession of a draft from
| S25, 200, which he was known to have
had in his possession some days pre-
viously.
| The fact that Mr.. Griswold had
| this draft was no secret, as he had
! shown it several times on the
streets, and it had been mentioned
several times in the city papers. The
draft was for the payment of the life
insurance of B. F. Ebert, and was
| received by Mr.. Griswold Monday
morning. He had shown it to several
of his friends, and had been warned
| by some of his acquaintances that he
| should be careful about carrying the
draft on his person, but answered
| that it was payable only to the Ell
bert estate, and consequently would
| do no one else any good
The money was paid over Tuesday
morning, but the fact that he had
| carried such a draft with him, with
out a more definite knowledge of its
actual value, may have been respon-
| sible for a carefully planned holdup.
He was also known to carry large
sums with him at times, and there is
| little doubt that the crime was COM
mitted by some one who had made
close study of his habits, and not
| by highwayman bent on holding
up the first passerby who CHANGED
his way.