The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-12-27
THE ROSAL|E MYSTERY
DISAPPEARANCE OF LITTLE GIRL
BATTLES OFFICERS.
BEEN GONE NEARLY TWO WEEKS


Sheriff Bauman Has Faith in the Sim
certify of the Parents-Not a Clue
to Whereabouts of Child Who So
Suddenly Dropped From Sight.
Fremont, Neb., Dec. 2O.-No more
battling case has ever confronted po-
lice authorities of Nebraska than the
one of the little Olson girl, who disap-
peared from her home at Rosalle a
week ago Sunday. 1t is mystery
dark, deep and impenetrable, which
has confused detectives at every turn
and grown more complicated with the
passing of the days. This is the opin-
ion of Sheriff Bauman of Fremont, one
of the shrewdest officers of the state,
who has just returned from a two
days investigation of various phases
of it.
Though the parents of the missing
tot are not wealthy or prominent, there
are pathetic features connected with
the mystery which promise to make
it famous over the country. Newspa-
per men with pen and camera are
arriving on the scene, and the coming
Sundays edition of some of the big
dailies will feature the story in a way
that make the interest, now at high
pitch in Nebraska and Iowa, wide
spread.
Sheriff Bauman put in his time at
Resale and Bancroft in a vigorous
inquiry into the mystery, and in going
over the ground. He believes he has
made most thorough and minute ex-
animation into every phase that has
presented itself, accommodating enough
evidence in each to shatter it and
leave every seeming solution an i'm
probability. He satisfied himself of
the sincerity and honesty of the pa
rents in all they have told about the
case. He satisfied himself of the sin
cerity of the neighbors, and the ear
nestness of their search. He made
inquiries from some seventy different
persons who know more or less about
the case. He reached no conclusion.
Tired out with his labors, he has come
back to Fremont with a headful and
notebookful of information, from which
he will try to draw some deductions.
The only thing actually new which
the Fremont officer learned came to
him by telephone after he reached
home from a confederate who worked
with him. This man telephoned that
Mr.. Couple, relative of the Copple
couple who were murdered near Rosa
| lie a few months ago, had furnished
him the information that he had passed
the Olson home the evening of the
girls strange disappearance and had
seen two strange men walking along
the road. This was at o'clock, or
about an hour after the girl was
missed.
Whether this incident has any bear,
ing remains to be seen. 1t is likely
looking for results as anything that
has come to light.
The Olsons live a mile and a half
from Rosalie in a small house on rent
ed land and have a family of seven
children, besides two children of OIL
sons brother, whose wife died two
years ago and who left the country
about that time, and has never been
heard from. The point at which the
child left her companions to return
home alone is a further distance from
the house than reports have indicated
1t is perhaps quarter of mile, ant
the house is not visible from it. HaC
the child wandered away, however, i
. seems some trace of her movement!
would have been left. The grounC
, was muddy, and she wore light slip
pers which would probably have come
off. At any rate she would not have
gone far. The search for her com
menced within an hour after she dis
) appeared. The father at o'clock tele
l phoned to Resale for help and part.
= was organized
> Olson threw his house and premises
5 open to Sheriff Bauman for eXamina
2 ton, to dispel disquieting rumor
concerning possible criminal develop
:, ments, and the place was thorough,
[ ransacked, even to the search of hay
> stacks, cellars and lofts. This brough
: no clue. A preponderance of the test
{ mony of his neighbors was that Olsol
. is a quiet, law-abiding, hard-workini
l farmer. So far as could be learne,
9 he had no quarrel with anybody ha
, never been arrested or involved in an
D court or jury proceedings which nigh
make him enemies. The hog theor
is secuted. The hogs were all in thei
pens, and there was nothing in any O
: the pens to indicate the animals Nigh
have eaten the child.
Shnriff Ranman will snand q day q