Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-09

Argus representative who investigated
the case for publication gained the i'm
preston that the wound on the young
mans head did not have the appear
ance of having been made by horses
hoof, but rather of the mark of a blunt
instrument AS a bait. The Ar
gus, in mentioning this fact, in
|cidentally said that it was known that
the gate was never closed. but was
open.
The next day Henry Bastian,
Kuschmann's employer, called at The
Argus Office and made vigorous pro-
| test and claimed that the gate had
been closed. His attempts to explain
| this detail led to the suspicion that
he was guilty of Kuschmann's muir
der, and The Argus suggested that if
the young mans cap could be found
| it would show more the character of
the wound Within a few days
a cap was found in Mill creek,
lit was not Kuschmann's cap.
THE cap was cut with knife to imi-
tate cut made by the calk of
horses shoe. 1t was taken by an Ar
gus representative to Bastian, and he
declared it TO be Kuschmanns cap, and
suspician against him became stronger.
In the meantime stories of other
lemployes having mysteriously disap-
Ipeared from the Bastian farm were
trunk of one man was found at the
Milan depot where it had been left
six years before. The man never call
ed for his property, and his disap-
lpearance never was accounted for.
| Innicts Death Penalty.
Finally, within two weeks, Bastian,
fearing exposure, ended his life by
hanging in a shed on his farm. Carrie
Bastian, Henry's sister, was brought
here from Geneseo by Deputy Coroner
l.. V. Eckhart, but amy information
of value could not be obtained from
her, The coroner's inquest in a
measure repudiated the idea of crime,
and the presence of The Argus repre-.
lsentatives was proba--y the only thing
! that prevented the jury from condemn.
I ing the paper for its activity in the
disclosures which, on further investiga
ton. led to the papers complete vim
dication.
In the meantime spots that proved
I TO be made by human blood were
found in the shed, and The Argus de
handed an investigation of the
grounds. Finally Deputy Sheriffs E
E. Reynolds and S. S. Hull were sent
out, and the first day of their investi
Z CATION resulted in the finding of &
body. The remains Of two men, sup
Z posed to be John Lauderbach ant
! Fred Kreinsen, who were at one time
employed by Bastian, were unearthed
Five other hired men who disappeared
lmysteriously were believed to have
y been murdered
ri Bastian had had good reputation
: in the community, and was locke,
: upon as model citizen. He wal
, actively interested in church and Sun
day school work in Milan At frs
its position, but later the paper an,
3 its employees were highly commende,
by these same citizens.
z Sentiment Changes.
Later the jury in the Kuschmanl
( lease met again, and changed the vel
g dict from one of accident to murder
< Mrs. Bastian went into court an,
Q illegally changed the names of her chi
4 dren to her maiden name of Johnston
z and one of the most highly respecte
4 names in the county. The sympathy G
the entire community went out to he
8 there never being any belief that sh
Z had had part or had even known c
s her husbands acts.