Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1906-10-04
ol.CoWlES MEM
FocAsLLe>:sH

Rochelle has developed another claim
TOR distinction other than being the
setting for George M. Cohan's Forty
hve Minutes From Broadway" in that
1t contains weird and curious collec-
ton entitled by its owner THE Mu-
scum OF Death" In one of the most
palat1al Of the old colonial mansions
OF the town is housed this strange as
sortmen: OF curios, all of which in
some manner, directly or indirectly.
have caused the death of human be-
Ing They represent the life work of
j. Edward Cowles, retired and
wealthy man, and form what is per
haps the most grewsome hobby that
any man ever allowed his fancy to
indulge in.
But apart from the history attached
to them il the tragedies where they
have played a deadly part they stand
as rebuhe to the superstttious, which
WAS really the prime object of Col.
Cowles' hobby and it's inception.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of
weapons, each of which has found its
way into the vitals of a human being
IN some corner of the world and there
are other articles in the collection
which of themselves are harmless
enough, but which have been used to
facilitate the murderer to accomplish
his purpose.
The collection Is In a little attic
room at the top of Col Cowles' home
In Trinity avenue, adjoining the resi-
dence of Frederic Remington, the
artist, Col. Cowles' hobby covers 25
years Of search and study, and the re-
suits number about 10000 different ar
,icles, but beyond the cost of travelling
the collection represents the outlay OF
very little money.
There is hardly a curio in the whole
collection which could not form good
plot to either romance, tragedy Or
true tale of human affairs. In fact
there is wamon's finger, gold mount
ed and as perfect as it was In life, in
connection with which is one of the
strangest mysteries that can possibly
be imagined. The finger Is thing Of
horror to Col. Cowles' friends and Is
as uncanny an article as any in the
collection Although 1t has never
been emba1med or treated with any
preservative it has never shown the
slightest hint of decomposition, and,
strangest of all, it always contains a
certain ifelike feeling that sends a
shudder through anybody touching it.
Starts With Woman's Finger.
In leading up to the time when Col.
Cowlss first conceived tie idea of col
Letting mementos If murders all over
the world it may be mentioned that
superstition Is Unknown in the col
.ector's household. Col. Cowles has a
young and pretty wife and little girl
who is only two years old. With the
exception of the servants who keep
away from the museum as far as pos
sible, Col. Cowles and his family are
not haunted by the fear that any OF
the grewsome articles may bring them
III fortune. In fact, Col. Cow1es is one
Of the happiest men on earth, and his
troubles have never risen above the
ordinary.
Col. Cowle1was travelling in India
when he secured the article with
which the collection was started. It
was the woman's finger, and the man
ner n which he became possessed of
It came about very strangely.
He was greatly Interested in occult
lore, and studied enough of it to gain
himself the title of ehelah, OF disciple.
He learned the Hindustani, or native
tongue, and became very friendly with
some of the yogi fakirs. During his
stay il India ne saw wonderful things
Yhich he could not account for and OF
rEich he very seldom speaks
Of the finger, however, he sae@'q
fraeIy. He was walking along
rad near a little town a few
eranY Calcutta, and in the heat
i fraraoon SAT down under tree h
sss,ass.a. He mad been sitting tl.eI
few moments only when h
snn:lns coming from the dlreetS5I
sns..A bush q few feet AVA.
f.f,7stes is certain that there WAS
a.,e.v there when he nrst sat q
but when he approached the So