Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-08-02
Merchant Lured to His Death by Fegnng
Farmer With big Clock to Repair"
Story Of Desperate Battle for Life Told
by Path Through Underbrush

ity. The body was lying face down
about six feet from the road fence,
and between it and the road were
some low hazel bushes, cutting ca the
view from the road.
Two Motives Advanced.
Two motives are advanced by the
authorities for the murder. One of
these is that the pretended farmer
who induced Bardenheier to come out
to his farm and repair a clock belong
ed to a gang of robbers; that after
Turing the jeweler to the woods ana
killing him, it was intended to strike
down or gag Mrs. Bardenheier and
rob the store, and that either the
nerve of the robbers failed or else
their chances were not good. When
the fellow returned to the store at
noon on the day of the disappea 'ance,
he asked Mrs. Bardenheier If she was
not afraid to stay there alone. She
replied with an air of bravery that
she was not scared.
The second theory is that Barden.
heier was a victim of "black hand"
organization or that he was murdered
out of revenge. 1t is said that while
residing in Chicago two men were con,
victed Of an offense upon the testi-
mony of Bardenheier and that they
received sentences to the state prison
at Joliet. The theory is that these
men have been liberated from prison
and that they are responsible for the
murder.
Mrs. Bardenheier adheres to the
first theory. For four days she was
emphatic in her belief that she never
again would see her husband alive.
Not Overcome by Heat.
After the disappearance of
Bardenheier one of the theories ad-
yanced was that he might have been
overcome by the heat or died of
apopleXy. Owing to the fact that
the day was comparatively cool it Is
not likely that either of these was
the cause of death
A Mysterious Stranger.
Rev. A. c. Starck, former pastor
of the German Presbyterian church,
said that while he was viewing the
body at Gill's morgue a stranger
came in. He had his hat pulled
down over his eyes and made the re
mark that he knew Bardenheier in
Chicago. A moment later the stranger
disappeared. The description of the
fellow tailed with that given of a
man who visited the Bardenheier
store the week before the disap-
pearance and who represented him
self as a travelling salesman.
Case in Hands of Sheriff.
Owing to the fact that the body
was found outside the city limits
the case is now in the hands of
Sheriff Halbach and District ACtor-
ney Gilbert. Every effort will be
made to capture tie guilty parties.
Wife Frustrated.
Mrs. Bardenheier was Frustrated
when informed Of the finding of her
husbands body. Neighbors re.
NAMED with her during the afternoon
and evening and all possible means
We're employed 10 console her Be
sides his wife Bardenheier leaves a
daughter, Clara, aged 16 years. The
family will probably continue to live
in Madison. The funeral will ne
held this afternoon. Bardenheier
carried no life insurance.
Police Department BafHed.
Not for many years has the police
department been perplexed with such
a mysterious case. Bardenheier dis
appeared a week ago yesterday and
the matter was not reported to the
police until Wednesday Mrs. Bar
denheier did not wish to notify the
authorities, fearing that the publicity
Of the disappearance Of her husband
would injure The business, and so
she did not notify the police, hoping
he would return. The police heard
Of the disappearance from a business
man.
About two weeks before the dis
appearance a man came 10 the store
saying that he was a farmer. He
was about 2G years old Of medium
height, had dark hair and a sandy
moustache. He visited the store
frequently after that and each time
talked about his family clock which
he said needed repairing. Two
weeks ago tomorrow he agreed 10
deliver to Mrs. Bardlnheier on the
following Saturday a half-busheI Of
potatoes. Instead OF half a bushel
he brought a peck, declaring that
he would bring The rest some other
time. During the same VISIT be
asked Bardenheier to come 10 his