The Washington times., 1906-01-13
Mrs. Bessie Hollister
Strangled to Death
With Wire.
CARPENTER C0NFESSES
Body Was Thrown Over
Fence Into Back Yard
of His Shop.

CHICAGO, III. Jan. 1S.-AIrs. Bessie
Hollister, choir singer in the Wesley
Methodist Episcopal Church and pTOmi-
nent in North Side society, who disap-
peared from her home, 49S Fullerton ave
nue., early yesterday, was found dead
early today y-murdered-with a copper
wire wound three times around her neck.
in the rear Of a carpenter shop in Bel
den avenue She had left her home 10
sing at a funeral. and disappeared mys-
teriously. Nothing further was known
OF her till her body was found today.
Found by Carpenter.
The body was discovered bv Richard
Ivens shortly before o'clock He open
ed the doors 20 his little shol anG went
into the small back yard. He saw what
lie thought was a tangled heap Of cloth
ing which had been thrown over the
fence He went forward, and was hOr-
lified to find the woman's corpse.
She had evidently been strangled. The
copper wire had been wound around her
neck again and again till it had killed
her Her body had been thrown over the
fence Il was evident that the crime
had been committed some hours before.
An Alleged Confession.
Assistant Chief of Police schuettler
announced at 1880 o'clock that the mys-
terN surrounding the murder of Mrs
BesNc Ho!lister. the North Side choir
singer of Wesley Methodist Church.
found strangled today with a copper
wire wound around her neck. had been
cleared up by "A confession of Richard
Ivens
The latter was at that moment in
the sweat Dox before SchuettIer, In
spectcr LAWN, and Captain HeaIy, in
North Ealsted Street Station.
Gvens is the twenty-four-y -year-oId son
of Edward Ivens behind whose
carpenter shop. at 35S Belden avenue.
Mrs. HOLSTERS body was found.
There is another son, Harold, a few
years Younger than Richard, who con
ducts a florist business in the family
home on Halsted street.
The preliminary confession made by
Ivens 10 Assistant Chief SchuettIeT, in
the form of Il signed statement, was as
follows,
she came along about o'clock.
Was alone i'm the Darn and feeling pret
~ good. 1 had been drinking. 1 went
out and grabbed her and struggled with
her She screamed three or four times
but ! struck her and forced her into the
barnyard
Il may have put the wire around heT
neck 1 don't know L was under the
weather RICHARD INENS."
Inspector LAWN, on hearing OF the
crime-just a week after the startling
murder OF Mrs, Gentry in the same po-
lice QiStrict-sent half dozen detectives
TO the scene. He promptly commuui-
Gated with chief Collins and Assistant
Chief Schuettler, and preparations were
made 10 put every available plain clothes
man in the city on the case.
Secreted All Day.
The police have evidence that Mrs
HoIlister had been murdered before moor
yesterday, her body secreted all day
and taken in light wagon after darl
last night to the yard where found, and
thrown over the fence.
Robbery the Motive
Mrs. Hollister left her home at 9:5
o clock Friday morning. She had mad,
arrangements 10 attend the funeral o.
Mrs. Saran Semple in the afternoon. Sh.
signihed her intention of doing som,
shopping near her home before the ser
vices. and was well provided witt
money for the purpose.
The last trace of Mrs HolIister wa!
her appearance at a florists, where sh,
ordered flowers sent to the home O.
Mrs. Semple. She expressed an inten
tion of going downtown 20 pay q jewelrS
bill. The theory OF robbery as a mo.
tive for the crime is held both by III,
police and the husband.