The Minneapolis journal., 1906-07-27
DEATH OF INFANT
POINTS TO MURDER
BABE, FOUND IN LAKE, PROB
ABLY STARVED.
Officers Believed Parents Feared to
Ask for Physicians Certificate and
Threw Body in Lake to Conceal
Crime-Minneapons Papers Found
with the Corpse.

Worthington, Mimi, July PA murder mys-
terry has developed in the finding of the body
of child, boy from to months old, with
light hair and blue eyes, in the water near
the south edge Of Lake Okabena at Worthing-
ton, on July 90 Lying near, with some gar.
ments. were found several Minneapolis and Chi
cago papers, and as the papers Of the former
city predominated in number, the theory of the
authorities investigating the case Is that the
person who threw the child's body into the
water had gone to the lake from Minneapolis
and probably lived in that city. r. 2 lsiEa
Starvation appears to have been the cause of
the infants death. An autopsy, made under
the direction of Coroner Manson, revealed no
mark of violence. All the internal organs were
found in a normal condition. The lungs were
entirely free from water. The stomach and
bowels however, gave clue as to the cause
Of death. No evidence of food or nourishment
were present Death evidently had been due to
inanition. -.'-- .7 = .'-
Death by Starvation. -.
Neglected, possibly by design, its cries for
nourishment unheeded, the baby had succumbed
its father, guilty conscience stricken, and
fearing to call doctor in an effort to get a
certificate of burial, took the murderers course
and cast the body into the lake where the
branches Of an elm and the surrounding bushes
would hide the crime at least until there might
be small chance Of detecting the perpetrator
Such Is theory evolved from the circumstances
that have developed in the Investigation of the
case.
The letters IN. b. worked in red thread
on the corner of a flannel tucking blanket may
play an important part in the attempt to un-
raVel the mystery. ,...~ : - ....
A drab-colored paper telescope grip, covered
with canvas, twenty-one and one-half inches
long, eleven inches wide and seven inches deep,
also may prove clue The bottom and top
were found lying close together. The corners
Of the top and the handle were Of yellow leath-
er. On one end Of the top were the figures
''22 in chalk about one inch high. There
was small break In the top of the grip, but
the piece held in place by the end not
detached. In the bottom Of the grip was a
lole nearly square, about two and one-half to
| three inches each way. The piece appears to
| have been cut out with a knife or sharp instru-
| ment, and part Of 1t had not been detached.
There were found straps or anything with
which the two parts Of the grip could have
| been tied together. .....~-
Body Recently Abandoned.
The childs body, when discovered, lay in
about six inches of water and was six feet
| from the shore of the lake. It evidently had
been In the water not more than twenty -four
| hours, as there was but slight discoloration OF
| the skin and no evidence Of decomposition. The
| tiny corpse, which weighed about seven pounds
was clothed In a pinntng blanket tucking
| blanket. white dress, two diapers, a woole1
| Reuben waist, a woolen jacket and a white
hood, but 1t had on neither shoes nor stockings
| Lying near the body and partly in the water
was a chfld's small quilt, white, and tied with
yellow yarn. Several other diapers were found
and with them were copies Of Minneapolis
papers dated July 8, IL, 13, IA, and Chicago
paper dated July 8.
| The body of the child was buried by Worth
ington undertnkers.
Sheriff Fauskee Of Worthington is workins
on the case.