The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-02-06
SOLVES THE MYSTERY
Remains of Man Supposed to Have
Been J. A. Funk, Believed to Be
Former Glenwood Man.

Two weeks ago we gave an account
of the strange story involving j. A.
Funk, of Center township, who was sup
posed to have been buried near Skid
more, Mo-, number of years ago. At
that time the body found hanging in
the woods was identified by the father
and other relatives as being those of
Mr.. Funk, but the fact that he is still
alive and recently visited his old home
shows that they were mistaken. A
says the story has cleared up the mys-
zen of that town, and it seems very
probable that the body found was that
of the Glenwood butcher. The dispatch
is as follows;
GLENwOoD, Feb. IA Missouri mur-
der mystery of many years standing.
involving accusations of murder and
trial and an acquittal, and still more
mystery, has just been cleared up by
Glenwood man, r. S. Cheyney.
More than ten years ago skele-
ton was found hanging in a lonely spot
in Atchison county, Mo-, near the town
of Fairfax. 1t was presumed to have
been Jacob A. Funk, who had been
missing for some time, and it was fur
ther presumed that he had been mur-
dered. This theory was based on the
| fact that Funk and partner in the
management of the farm, named Frank
Ridge, had quarrelled and that immedi-
ately thereafter Funk disappeared.
This was early in 1895. Ridge was ar
rested and tried, but acquitted, having
shown an indisputable alibi.
The my stery remained mystery all
these years until a short time ago it
was cleared up in part by the sudden
temperance of Funk in the vicinity of
his old home. That made clear that the
skeleton was not that of Funk, but it
deepened the mystery as to the real
crime, if it was one, and the victim.
| The story of Funk's return was pub
lished, as was also the fact that at the
time of the finding of the skeleton a few
| fragments eff letters were found. One
| of these was postmarked "Glenwood,
Ia, February, 1885," and it began "Dear
Fred" 1t mentioned the fact that $5
were enclosed and it offered the person
addressed his old job at the old wages.
On the back appeared a signature that
seemed to be either -. S. Chesney" or
"Cheney."
The story came to the attention of
r. S. Cheyney, of Glenwood, who i'm
mediately concluded that the letter was
one he had written to q former en-
ploye. He wrote to the Missouri au-
thorities, saying that Fred Eckhardt,
skillfnl butcher and sausage maker, had
been in his employ and went from
there to Maryville, Mo. From there he
wrote Mr.. Cheyney wanting the old job
at the same wages and asking him to
send him money to pay his way back.
Mr.. Cheyney believes that it was in
March or April, 1895, that he wrote him
letter enclosing $5 and telling him he
would pay him the same wages as be-
fore. This letter tallies exactly with
the tattered letter found in the valise,
although the postmark of the letter
seemed to be February. The mistake
in the namo was natural, as r. S. Chey-
ney may bave looked like ]. S. Chesney.
Mr.. Cheyney says that while Eek
hardt was skillful workman, he was
hard drinker at times and given to fits
of despondency. He was about 45 years
old, 5 feet s inches high, had dark hair
and wore 10 or II shoe. He had high
cheek lonesome of the features by
which the elder Funk identified the
body as that of his son. The cheap
black valise was also mentioned by Mr..
Cheyney and his letter throughout
points to Eckhardt as having been the
victim. There is no doubt that it was a
case of suicide, as further information
shows that he was hanging with a
check lire which had been doubled two
or three times, and he must have been
able to touch the ground with his feet.
An overcoat among the effects would
indicate that the deed was done in cold
weather. However, the clothing and
valise and contents were SO rotten that
they fell to pieces when touched.