Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-05-13

legged victims of Mrs. Bella Guinness,
who, to all indications, was one OF
the most fendish murderesses of the
country and was recently killed with
her three children through the burn
ing of her country home one mile
northeast of Laporte.
OF the bodies so far unearthed. two
have been identified as those of An
drew Helgelein, wealthy bachelor
. of Mansfield, S. D., and Miss Jennie
Olson, the 11-year-old stepdaughter Of
Mrs. Guinness. The other three bod
les We're SO badly decomposed as to
make identification impossible.
The discovery of the bodies was
brought about by the appearance of
A. X. Helgelein OF Mansfield, s. D.,
a brother of Andrew Helgelein, in
Laporte in search of the missing
man. With the information that his
brother, Andrew, had come to Laporte
to wed Mrs. Guinness and that he had
turned over his property to her, he
became convinced that he had been
made the victim of foul play.
Mysterious Graves Dug.
While questioning Joseph Maxon, a
hired hand on the Guinness farm, he
learned of the mysterious digging Of
holes by him, all of them being filled
at later date by Mrs. Guinness. The
hired man led Helgelein and officers
10 the spot where the hol~s had been
dug about $50 feet from the house,
and there after digging was uncoy-
cred the body of Helgelein. The re
mains were only four feet under the
ground and we're nclosed in a gun
nysack. The legs and arms had
been dismembered, but were with the
trunk.
Thirty-fve feet farther on the re-
mains of three other persons were
found Lying on top of a mattress
We're the skeletons of two men and
a woman. Underneath the mattress
was the body of an 11-year-old girl
said to be Jennie Olson. All of the
bodies were taken in charge oy the
coroner.
Bodies of Children Found.
The bodies found in the yard beside
those of Helgelein and Jennie Olson
are those OF a man and two children
apparently y years OF age. So
many bones were missing in the lat
ter two that it is not known whether
they are male or female.
The discovery Of the bodies led an
expressman to tell of the delivery OF
five trunks to the Guinness farm dur
ing the last six months and this facf
has caused the authorities to work
on the theory that the place was a
clearing house for murderers. They
suspect that Wealthy persons, after
being lured to Chicago and killed,
were packed in these trunks and sent
to Laporte and disposed of
ID Two Husbands Murdered.
Developments yesterday also caused
the authorities to recall tn t two hus-
bands of Mrs. Guinness died under
suspicious circumstances, both meet
ing violent deaths. First, Edward
u Sorenson, who was insured for S.
500, and second, Guinness. for $4,000.
This insurance was paid over to Mrs.
. Guinness by the companies
Hired Man Knew Secret.
Ray Lamphere, a former hired man
of Mrs Guinness, who was arrested
after the woman's house had been de
stroyed by fire and the bodies o.
Mrs Guinness and her three children
found in the ruins, was charged with
numbering the family. He now will
be accused or being an accomplice of
Mrs Guinness in numbering the al
legged victims of the Laporte woman.
It is believed that Lamphere, angered
because Mrs. Guinness refused to keep
him supplied with money. killed her
4 and her children Ont Of revenge ana
then fred the house to cover the
crime.
Wore Victims Coat.
1t developed last night that Lam
phere had been seen wearing a fur
overcoat answering the description of
one belonging to Andrew Helgeleil
several times during February. Mrs.
Guinness also wore the coat on sew
eral occasions and when asked con-
corning it stated that II had been
given her by an admirer.
Lamphere is also said to have en-
tered a barber shop in Laporte during
the South Dakota mans visit, with a
revolver with which he said he could
not part as "he might have use for
it before long" The revolver, it is
declared. was afterward identified as
belonging to Helgelein.
Would not Peach.
That Lamphere knew Helgelein had
been slain is now believed to be :.
Certainty During the time he WIS
prosecuted by her for trespass n
told the police he knew something
Mrs. Gunnoss wanted him 70 forget
He wouldn't divulge however, what
be knew. stating that ius &C would
4 be done at last
Sealed Girls Lips BY Death.
The theory regarding the murder