Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-23
JAMES ANDERSON MURDERED
Custodian Of Masonic Temple Found Dead
On Stair Landing.
NO CLUE TO THE PERPETRATOR OF CRIME
Only Wound On the Body was Cut
on Neck Apparently Made by a
sharp Knife-NO signs
of Struggle.

James Anderson, custodian of the Masonic
temple, was found dead at II O'Clock last
night on the landing at the head of the
stairs. All the circumstances surrounding
the AFFAIR point to murder, but the police
have been unable to obtain any clue to the
perpetratOr. IL is certain the crime was
committed not to exceed half an hour be-
fore the body was found. Chambers dan
cling class uses the large room on the upper
floor and this was not dismissed until
1O:3O and the body could not have been
where 1t was found at that time, as all
who came from the hall were compelled to
pass directly over where It lay.
The last seen of Anderson alive, so far
as can be ascertained, was about 10 o'clock.
At that hour he parted from Eywind Lang
a travelling man from Chicago, a friend Of
the deceased, with whom he had been
spending some time during the evening
Anderson had been telling his friend Of his
plans for visiting his former home in the
old country during the coming summer
An examination Of Anderson's bed in a
room In the temple building showed he had
gone to the room and laid down, as the
imprint of his body was distinctly visible
on the bed. The only plausible theory the
officers can advance is that Anderson heard
| someone in the building, started out to
! investigate and met his death
| The body was found by young man be
! longing to the dancing class, who came to
the building as ascertain IL it had been dis
missed, and stumbled over the PROSTATE
form. Anderson was lying on his back,
! his feet toward his room and his head
toward the stairs. Blood was oozng from
his ears and mouth and there was a cut
under his right jaw. evidently inflicted
with a sharp knife. There were a few spots
Of blood near where the body lay, but no
| signs Of a struggle were observed.
No Clue 10 Perpetrator.
! So far as the police have been able to
I discover no one was seen about the build
| ing or coming from it between the time the
pupils Of the dancing class left until the
| body was found, and the officers are COM
pletel yin the dark so far as any clue to
| the perpetrator of the crime is concerned
Anderson was single, So years OF age and
the only relative in this country, so far as
known, is a brother in Salt Lake City, who
formerly resided in this city. He was
| prominent in Masonic circles, being tyler
of the Masonic lodge and in addition tc
being custodian of the Temple building hat
the care of the paraphernalia of all the
Masonic bodies which met in the temple
He was a Knight Templar and a member
| of the Shrine.
Coroner Treynor was notified and ordered
the body taken TO the Cutler undertaking.
rooms, where an autopsy and inquest will
be held today.
The murder, occurring as 1t did in tn
heart of the city and in the manner II
which it did, caused great excitement. TIL
members Of the Masonic fraternity an
nounce that no effort will be spared to ru
down and punish the murderer. and thougl
there is at present no tangible clue Of
which to work. IT is hoped that investiga
ton will uncover some fact which will lea
to the identification and arrest of the per
petratcr.