Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-05-12
1AtY1E nov sIf.Iae OUT ASHES:
l. is Hoped to Establish the Identity
Of the Woman's Remains Found in
the Burned Buiidings-Oenials OF
Stories Which Have Been Sent Out
-Dr. Myers Report.

LAPORTE. IND, May ll.-Mrs
Belle Guinness farm failed to reveal
new mysteries to-day lut progress was
made towards solving the puzzles al
ready involved in the homestead
which has witnessed the tragic deaths
of at least IA persons. Heavy show
ers today made excayating i.nposSi-
bic but between the downpours.
Sheriff Shutter and Louis Schultz
worked on the apparatus with which
Schultz is to sift the ashes in the
cellar Of the house that burn
ed on April IS. The havi-
est pieces Of debris and the
bricks were cleared from the south
half of the basement and it is thought
that the operations will start in ear
nest tomorrow.
This operation is TO be carried on
to find evidence bearing on the identi-
ty of the woman's body found in the
debris OF the burned house and sup
posed to be that of Mrs. Guinness.
DR.. ]. H. William Meyer sent to the
coroner his findings resulting from the
autopsy on the bodies supposed 70 be
those OF Andrew Helgerin, Of Mans
field, S. D., and Jennie Olsen, the fos-
ter daughter Of MIR. Guinness, who dis
appeared in 1906.
DR.. Meyer reported that mass Of
hair had been found in the cienched
fist of Helgelrin and that the fingers
grasping it had been severed above
the first knuckles. Ralph n Smith.
the prosecuting attorney. today deni,
ed the story credited 10 hin in which
he is credited to have said gold band
ring in the possession of the prescott
ion was found on a finger Of the left
hand OF the charred corpse said to
be that Of Mrs. Guinness.
Miss Carrie Garwood who taught
the school attended by the Guinness
children denied the story that on the
day proceeding the fire at the GUM
ness home the three Guinness chill.
dren had come to school complaining
that their mother had beaten them te-
cause they had started TO enter the
celler Of their home The testimony
was taken to indicate that Mrs. Guih-
ness had placed a cadaver in the cei-
lar. long before the fire started.
Net Unnatural Death.
DR.. Meyers report on the bodies Of
Helgelrin and Miss Olsen. declared
that both had met unnatural deaths.
In the case OF the young woman. the
condition of the corpse precluded any
possibility of determining the manner
in which she was murdered Lime had
largely destroyed the tissue so that
the organs are scarcely susceptible to
chemical analysis and there Is not
enough flesh left TO show evidence
Of wounds. The crnmbling skull re-
vealed none. Helgerlin's body had
been in the ground only few months
at most and it gave evidence Of a
death struggle. The clenched hand
which contained hair. had been mutt
lated and the other hand had been
severed a: the wrist. or this body,
the ohicial report says: Prom the
findings. II Is evident that the man
died an unnatural death. but at whose
hands or how. can not be determined
by the examina;ion 50 FAR. The hair
in the hand is likely from the head
Of his murderer. or the stomach nav
show what poison IL any. killed him. ="
Dr. Meyer. in commenting on this
statement said: 1t would perhaps
have been more accurate IL ! had
said from the person Of his murder
er instead OF from the head. The
hair Is shcrt and OF a reddish brown
tir.ss and was soand matted between
the frs, and second fingers Of the
hand. the bulk OF IL icing IN the up