Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-15
The La Porte, Ind,
Murder Mystery.

La Porte, Ind, May 14.-Portions of
human jaw bones and a piece of skin
on which traces of hair are apparent
ard which may prove to be part OF
a human scalp, were found late to-
day in the cellar Of the Guinness farm
house With one accord the prosec;it-
ing officers of the county declared to-
day that these relics are the most VAL
liable to their case that have yet been
discovered.
The bones were found by the men
who have been sitting the ashes in the
cellar of the house, under the direction
of Sheriff Shutter. This process was
begun today as preliminary to the
mining work by Louis c. Schultz, the
object being the removal of the coars-
er debris before the stuff was put into
the sluice box. Shortly after it was
begun several large pieces of metal
ana a watch came rafting down the
screen. The sheriff at once ordered
one of the men to sort over the large
pieces and late in the day two pieces
of human jaw bones We're found. The
pieces of skin was also found by this
method the late discoveries being made
after the men had begun work on the
portion of the cellar where the bodies
mad been found.
There was hurried call for the ply
sicians who have been assisting the
coroner when the specimens were
brought to town.
1.-THE pieces of bone are from the up
per jaw of a human being" said Dr.
J. L. Williams Meyers. 1t is impossi-
bic to determine the nature of the skin
or hair, 1t may have come from some
animal or it may have been portion
of the scalp of some person.
The days findings also included
several cbarred vertebrae. The value
of these exhibits is doubtful, however
because CT the fact that the ruins of
the house have been handled and
pushed aside several times in the
search for bodies or evidence, and it
was not possible to determine whether
these vertebrae had fallen into the
cellar from the dining room or some
other room.
DR.. c. S. Mack, the coroner, in dis
cussing the bones. said
Il don't know whether the jaw bones
are human or animal relics"
A formal report on the bones is to
be made to the coroner by the physi-
clans as some examinations have been
made. If the doctor finds conclusively
that the jaw to which the fragments
belong are human the contention of
the defence that is doubt as to the
identity of the adult body found after
the fire will be dealt 4 hard blow 1t
will tend to show that the fire destroy
ed the head of Mrs. Guinness, thus &C
counting for the disappearance of the
head.
The Bertillon measurements of An
drew Helgelien, forwarded by the
Minnesota penitentiary, were compar-
ed with the corpse unearthed on the
Guinness farm. Experts did not report
to Coroner Mack, but it is asserted
that they found that the two sets of
figures conform closely.
Sheriff Shutter said that digging
would be renewed on the Guinness
place within few days. He is wait
ing to complete the sitting of the ashes
before returning to his former methods,
of discovering evidence but he has
! picked out several spots for explora-
ton.
Christiania, May 14.-Mrs. Belle
| Guinness, the central figure in the La
Porte. Ind, murder mystery, details of
| which have been received here, is re-
membered in Christiania as girl, as
sisting her father, Peters Paulsen, a
| travelling conjurer and magician, who
| gave performances at all the fairs in
Norway. She performed as rope
| dancer and often was seen in short
skirts and deShingS half freezing he
| fore the tent, extending an invitation
| to the public to step inside. Her three
| sisters and brother also took part in
| the show. The father made enough
| money eventually to retire to a small
| property near Trondjhem. Mrs. Gun
| ness has many relatives in Norway.