The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-10
Skull is CRUSHED
John Dahlgreen Found Dead In
a Basement.
Had Been Struck Heavy Blow on
the Head.
NOTORIOUSCHARACTER
Victim known to Police as Harm
less 1nebriate.
Several Arrests of Alcohol
s'Fiends" Made by Officers.

John DahIgreen, commonly known as
"Dol3ey." a harmless inebriate who
spent most Of his time in jail. was muir
dered last night by some unknown per
SON
Damgreen's body was found at 6
o'clock this morning in the boiler room
of the office Block building, just east
of the postoffice on Fifth street. The
body was partially covered with news
papers. and was found by Walter Nc
Lain. the negro fireman employed in the
building, who called an undertaken in
stead Of notifying the officers.
The death Of Dahlgreen. who was in
offensive. is a mystery to the police,
and about a dozen members of the
white horse gang, or alcohol drinkers,
have been detained by the police and
sheriff.
Among the suspects held are Charles
Iindenschmidt, an iron worker, ana q
brother of William Underestimate VINO
murdered his wife and committed SUI
eide last winter; Robert Day, Walter
McLain. the negro fireman OF the office
block; Frank SummerlOt, harmless
drunkard who is frequently in JAIL Geo
Barnard. Peter Bagans VIM. GrayDlli
Chas Edwards, George Buckner,
negro: G. 2. Arie a plasterer, and three
%
strongest against Underestimate ana
McLain, the negro fireman
When officers went to the boiler room
to investigate they found the body OF
Iahlgreeu lying face downward, ms
skull crushed by a blow on the front
and side. He had been dead for some
time as the body was stiff. Rats had
eaten the fingers of the dead man, and
his body presented a CHASTITY sight.
Several Of the white horse" drunkards
were seen in the vicinity of the OtIice
block about midnight last night, but
they all deny any knowledge of DAM
green's death.
Dahlgreen, who was about "a years of
age, has spent much of his time IN jan
for drunkenness during the past zen
years. he was never arrested AoF any
crime other than being drunk. During
the past five years he has spent about
10 per cent of his time in jail, and was
always used as a "trusty He was q
good workman years ago, but mas not
been out OF jail long enough to mold
job for a long time.
The basement of the office block was
a rendezvous for the alcohol drunkards,
and NIcLain, the fireman, was member
of the gang. It has been their custom
during the chilly weather to go out and
beg enough money to purchase a supply
of alcohol, and then go 10 TINS base-
ment to drink it.
About a year ago Dahlgreen was ar
rested for drunkenness, and after prov
ing that he was in this basement, was
released on the grounds that he was
not drunk in a public place. the mis-
demeanor as defined in the city Ordi-
uances. since that time all the mem
bers of the fraternity have made it a
practice to get off the street when drunk.
As fast as the suspects were picked up
this morning. they were '-sweated" sep
arately by Sheriff Lucas and the police
detectives. but all of them denied any
part iu the crime. George Buckner, the
negro. was found in the extreme sub
urbs of North Topeka, at work building
a hen house, and it is thought that he
will prove an alibi.
Medical students We're at ConwelFs
undertaking establishment in North To
peka today, attending the autopsy on
Dahlgreen's body. The man was so sat
urated with alcohol that his bones were
made brittle, and the blow which killed
him might not have killed an ordinary
man.