The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-13
Little More in the Way of Evil
dence to Be Found
In the Vicinity of the Guinness
Murder Farm.
SLUICING OF DEBRIS
Is All That Remains in the Way
Of Investigation.
Efforts Directed Toward Identi-
flying the Various Victims.

Laporte. Ind, May 13.-Unless the
sluicing Of the powdered debris taken
from the cellar of the ruined Guinness
farm house results in startling dis
coveries today, the production of
further tangible evidence in the big
tragedy is not likely. Yesterdays de-
velopments exhausted most of the
sources from which have sprung the
sensations of the case and the
authorities are now confronted with
the task of endeavoring to find the
corroborative details of the main
points already deduced and of forg-
ing the missing links in the chain of
testimony with which they are bind
ing the more or less scattered parts
of the battling cases into coherent
whole.
Just how successful they will be in
this work is not likely to be revealed
until Ray Lamphere is brought to
trial. Prosecutor r. N. Smith has
evidently modified his previous deter
mination to rush the case into court,
finding that the states side may be
strengthened in many particulars. He
insists that the evidence already avail
able is sufficient to prove the states
contentious, but the recent activity or
the defense and the Strengthening of
its forces show that desperate tight
is to be made on behalf of Lamphere.
With both sides of the Lamphere case
working behind the scenes and with
Sheriff Shutter occupied with the
slow going sluicing operations on the
farm there is little in sight to satisfy
the public curiosity in the affair.
Coroner Mack has received and
made public the results of his in
vestigations on all the known bodies
except that supposed to have been
Ole Budsberg of lola, Wis. The four
burned bodies found in the ruins Of
l<I.
further investigation by the coroner
is concerned.
Identification Difficult.
None of the other bodies has been
identified to any degree and 1t IS
scarcely likely that they will be. The
decomposed fragmentary masses OF
flesh and bone are almost precluded
( from Identification.
What developments do come prob
ably will be in the direction of estab-
fishing the identity of more of the
mysterious men who were seen to en-
ter the farm house but never to
| leave 1t.
Yesterday three such persons were
connected up with the Guinness wo-
man, the evidence regarding John
1 Moe of Albow Lake, Mimi, and Henry
Gerholt of Scandinavia, Wis, being al
most conclusive. The fate OF George
| Brady Of Tuscola, Ill, is less certain.
Moe was traced to the farm by
means of the banking actions which
preceded his visit. The facts shown
to light in the cases of Ole Budsburg
and Andrew Helgelein. Each of the
men cashed a check draft or note for
a considerable amount at one of the
local banks and at the desks OF the
| cashiers all the trails ended.
| 1t is considered probable that an in
| snection of the books of the banks
would reveal further evidence of
| similar nature and perhaps determine
| the fate of several individuals whose
relatives have lost track of them. The
officials of the Laporte financial insti-
tutions, however. seem loath to I'M
part such information, If they nave II,
although willing enough to reveal IuIl
details when once the identity OF a
particular transaction is known. Be
l cause of this. the authorities are in
vestigating every clew regarding miss
ing strangers which reaches them.
provided that the information is sum-
ciently definite to give them basis OF
action. Scores of letters asking about
supposed visitors to the Guinness farm
have been received but the vast ma
| ioritv of these epistles are either
vague. illegible or ANONYMOUS.
| Budsberg and Moe were found
through inquiries emanating from the
| Farmers State bank of lola, Wis, the
letters being complete in detail and
definite as to dates and places such
letters are sure to receive consldera-
ton by the local authorities
Lamphere Denies Confession.
Laporte, Ind, May 13.-Mrs Gun
| ness hired man, Ray Lamphere, Wig
orously denied today that he had made
| any confession or promised any TO tns
Rev. E. A. Schell or to any other
Iamphere is under arrest here charg
ed with completely in the wholesale
murders at the Guinness farm.
Oficials of the three Laporte banks
held q conference today to determine
the most effective method of aidint
4 the authorities in untangling the mur
der mysteries. It was decided that tn
FIRST National bank OF Laporte, th'
Citizens Savings bank and the Stals
Rank of Indiana, should furnish lis
If ALI transactions in which Mrs. Gun
ness Maid out deposited or received
money. With a complete list or thu
kind Prosecutor Smith expects ne VII
- ohIe TO secure valuable 1nforma
ton. ,ooo
Usage City, Kan. May 1S-Emi
r.i1 who the Laporte, Ind. dispatches
IN n5icate left here for the Gunnes:
home recently, has not been In TINS CIT!
| .;nce 1900. SO far as known. Mr. Eel
had No relatives here and about al
4bat can be recalled of him Is that III
.'n.s single man and had plenty O
nonev There were no pecul1arftie.
| hout him that would identif-- him II
| case of this kind.
STORY OF PETER GUINNESS.