The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-05-13
WERE DIRKS USED
IN KILLING VICTIMS?
Evidence Points to Use of
Narrow Blade in Dispatch
ing the Murdered Men and
Misunderstanding At
torney Announces Ready
for Trial.
By Associated Preaa.

the ruins Of the Guinness home. Louis
Schultz, who was employed by the
sheriff to siuice the ashes in the Gel
lar. completed the apparatus early.
and began the tests 10 determine
whether his arrangements We're of
the character demanded by the work
at hand.
Schultz yesterday constructed a
sluicing box nine feet long and a
foot square and connected it with the
tank of windmill near the house by
means of lines of heavy hose. An at
tachment from street sprinkler is
used to distribute the water through
the box.
WERE DIRkS USED?
In the absence of evidence to the
contrary. it is believed that three
dirks found in the cellar may have
been the weapons employed in the
series OF murders which have brought
notOriety to the farm. An expert hand
could easily have slipped the snake
like weapons between the ribs of the
victims and penetrated the hearts.
The fact that there was no mark
of penetra Ting wounds on - AndreT
Helgelein's body is a possible TefuCa-
ton of this theory. But il is pointed
out that Helgelein. according 10 the
findings OF DR.. J. II. W. Meyer. as
made public yesterday. succumbed
only after fierce struggle, in which
he tore Il handful Of hair from the
person Of his murderer. ChlOrOfOrni
or some other deadening drug is
thought to have been used TO subdue
the death-strugsle Of the South Dat
kOta farmer. after which some dead-i
" poison was used 10 encompass his
death.
In all the other bodies found on
the farm there is no negative eyi-
dence TO disprove the dirk theory.
although the condition Of the cada-
vers precIudes definite information on
this point. The knives are thought tot
have been used in dismembering the
bodies. Each corpse was mutllated
in practically the same manner, the
bodies of the latest victims showing
particularly expert anatomical work
INTERESTING SIOELIGHT.
An interesting sidelight on the
character of Mrs. Guinness has been
furnished by Mrs. G. o. Lapham OF
I.aporte, who for six years was 4 |
neighbOr OF the woman. MIS- Lap !
ham says that on the only occasion |
on which she called upon her neigh !
Dor her hostess sat near an open win |
dow a strong breeze through this |
opening blew aside the folds of a |
loose house gown, which Mrs GUM /!
ness was wearing. and revealed about |
her body Il wide belt containing !
pouches of various sizes and sheaths |
which seemed - have been construct
ed for knives.
As a sequel to this experience. Mrs.
Lapham's daughter is said 10 have re-
lated an experience at the house when /
she had accepted an invitation to sup
per there, Miss Lapham. il is report
ed said she engaged the Guinness
children in conversation regarding
tther home bur that in the midst OF
their talk Mrs. Guinness admOnished |
the children and that they thereupOn
became strangely silent and disquiet-
ed. This happened some TWO weeks
before Jennie Olsen disappeared. the
latter having been more or less Of
an intimate friend of IS LaPham.
The legal forces OF the defense
were strengthened yesterday by the
addition Of Ellsworth z Weir. an at
-Orney of some place not in this sec
ton. The retention Of Nj. Weir fol
lowed closely on the arrival of VII
lam Lamphere. father Of the prison
pr. There is a bare possibility that
the grand jury Viii n convened yes
erdav Will begin consideration OF the
charges aga INST Ray LampheTe today
4 few days ago this investigation was
DOstpCneed until MAY IS. but yeSteT-i
fav Prosecutor Smith again declared /:
himself ready 10 proceed. and last
night he prepared the dispositions
which the sheriff and his deputies
will swear 10 for grand jury purposes
Most Of the criminal cases in this
state are presented TO the court on
affidavits Of belief fled by the states
attorney.