The San Francisco call., 1908-05-11
MRS. GUNNESSPAID
PENALTY OF DEATH
Gold Band Ring Found on Finger
OF Corpse Proves Identity
of Murderess
SPECIAL pIspATcH mo- THE cALL


LA PORTE, Ind, May 10.-Mrs. Belle
GUINNESS paid the penalty of her 10 or
more fiendish murders in the fire that
destroyed her charnel house on the
morning OF April 2S. The woman's 8
body, burned almost beyond recogni-
tion, that was dug from the ruins with
those of her three children, has been
identified so positively as to leave no
doubt in the mind of any one who
knows the evidence which the authori-
ties of La Porte county have been con-
cealing from the public.
It was learned today direct from Dis
trict Attorney Ralph n. Smith that a
gold band ring found on the finger OF
the charred corpse has been identified
positively as that worn by Mrs. Gun
ness. The woman's keys also were
found in the ruins near the body and
were identified by the one which un-
locked her safe deposit box in the local
bank, in which she placed 500 on the
Saturday before she was killed.
District Attorney Smiths reason for
guarding this information so closely
was that the circumstantial evidence
pointed so clearly TO Ray Lamphere,
the former man of all work at the muir
der farm, that ii was considered OF vital
Importance that the states case against
him should not be disclosed
CROWDS VISIT FARM
All roads in La Porte county led to
the Guinness farm today, more than
1,50o sight seers visiting the place of
death before the sun set. Practically
every able bodied resident of this city
made the trip and the railroads and
trolley lines brought about 1000 more
TO the city.
Mayor Darrow found 1t necessary
TO issue orders that the Sunday closing
laws should be strictly enforced, and
the hotels and restaurants were over
run with patrons. Practically every
conveyance in the town was pressed
into service in an attempt to provide
transp for the crowds.
The constant stream of carriages.
cabs, omnibuses, automobiles, motor
cycles, bicycles, farm wagons and car
ryalls points unmistakable directions
places in the conveyances and were
compelled to walk.
PICNICS HELD ON LAWN
At the farm only the speakers stand
with his customary pitcher of icewater
was necessary TO complete the impress
sion that a big political rally had
, drawn the inhabitants of the country
side to the spot There was nothing
in the attitude of the crowd to indi-
cate that they were visiting place
where the most grewsome tragedies OF
a decade had taken place. Joke and
laughing comment on the antecedents
Of the farm were heard on every side
and exclamations of joy from success
ful relic hunters were numerous
Family picnic parties grouped them
selves on the sloping lawn under the
fine pines and cedars which dot the
dooryard or found resting places be-
meath the Towering apple and plum
trees of the orchard. Children were
numerous. and many Of these groups
had a baby cab as a nucleus.
Along the roadside in front of the
farm were lemonade stands and lunch
wagons. At the gates were vendors
of souvenir postal cards, those bear
ing a group picture of Mrs. Guinness
and the three little ones who met
deaths with her finding the readiest
sale.
A baseball park in the vicinity was
represented by strong voiced barkers,
who indicated TO the jaded sight seers
the place for fresh entertainment.