The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-05-17
Laporte County Commission
ers Think $4,000 a Large
Enough Sum to Carry on the
Guinness Mystery.
DEFENSE OF LAMPHERE
USES MUCH STRATEGY.
Sheriff Smutzer Finds That
Man Whom He Trusted as
Chicago Detective, Is Spy
For the Defense.

La Porte, Ind. May 16.-The board
of county commissioners, after a bit
ter debate here today, in which the
conviction was expressed by it's mem
bers that Mrs. Belle Guinness is still
alive, appropriated $4,000 to be spent
clearing up the mystery of the House
Of Death" When an attempt was
made in the city council to obtain an
appropriation of $4,000 to pay detec-
tves, coroners, special assistants and
provide for the expenses of the trial
of Ray Lamphere, unexpected Opposi-
tion was developed. John G. Mat
thews, one Of the most potential mem
believe Mrs. Guinness was dead and in
sisted that all of his neighbOrs and
friends were of the same opinion. Mr..
Matthews has wide acquaintance
and his statement indicates very near
ly the trend of public opinion on the
Guinness case in Laporte county.
Thinks She Lives.
Matthews argued it was ridiculous
to suppose Mrs. Gunness's head could
have been burned off her body, while
the heads of her children were scarcely
more than scorched.
What sense is there in appropriate
ing money to pay detectives who insist
ht the start that Mrs. Guinness is
dead" remarked member of the
council
This attitude of Matthews started a
hot discussion that lasted all day. The
Guinness case in all the phases of the
mystery were discussed. In its final
action the council agreed upon a COM
promise resolution appropriating So
C1@, passed to stand reading which
practically amounts to its final adop-
ton, OF $4,000, 5000 was appropri-
Hted for the county commissioners.
who are to use it as they desire in un-
raveling the mystery. but it is tacit-
ly understood most of the 5000 is to
be offered for the apprehension of Mrs.
Guinness.
Must Show Proof.
these terms, it will be necessary for
the detectives to prove Mrs. Guinness
Is alive and return her into court. 1t
IS admitted by the attorneys for the
prosecution and defense that the trial
of Lamphere may last for weeks. so
many elements of uncertainty have
arisen. Proof throughout must be cir
cumstantial. The defense believes 1t
will be able to shut off the so-called
confession made to the Rev Mr..
schell.
Sheriff Smutzer is in receipt of a
letter from l. n. Youster of Carper,
Nyo., who tells his interesting expert
enCe on the Guinness farm. He says
he once visited Mrs. Gunnesss home
with 500 in currency and $500 in
drafts in his pocket He was a ped
dler, Mrs. Gunness's children were
nice to him and Mrs. Guinness told
them to go away and not pay any at
tention to the old man. The writer
Bays he is convinced he would have
been murdered for his money. but for
the fact that his shabby clothes CON
cealed his prosperity.
Sheriff Shutter was amazed today
to discover that the supposed Chicago
city detective, in whom he had trusted
Is really in the employe of the defense.
Shutter and his deputies had given
the man all the information regarding
the case against Lamphere in the pos
session of the sheriff's office. Coun-
ty Prosecutor looks upon this piece of
strategy on the part of the attorneys
for Lamphere as both a calamity anu
and an outrage