Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1908-09-24
CHASTITY, MYSTERIOUS MURDERl
Henry Rankin, Young Man of FL Years,
Found Dead Sunday Evening
Near City Limits.
Brains Blown Out by Shotgun. mo Clue

i biO"h NfdA W |hOh6 wv
It was barely O'Clock Sunday after
noon last as Orville, young son o
James Anderson, was vending his way
through what is known as the Ben HUI
mining land, adjoining the citys south
eastern limits, he noticed man lying
on an open space of ground near d
clump of bushes. The lad thinking il
was an intoxicated party hurried on
to the home of his uncle, Carl Healy,
not far distant. and there informed a
cousin of what he had discovered. To
gether the boys went to the scene. 1t
did not take them long to ascertain that
the man was dead, whereupon they
FASTENED to inform Mr.. Healy. who in
vestigated and at once notified Mayor
Brown and others.
The shocking news spread throughout
the community with rapidity as only
such news can, and at once parties were
gathering at the scene of murder from
all directions.
The body was readily recognized as
that of Henry Rankin, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. VIM. Rankin of this city. Deputy
Sheriff Terrill being on hand took charge
of the body while awaiting the coming
of DR.. Ludden who had been summoned.
Examination revealed that the young
man had been shot There was a
CHASTITY wound extending from the right
ear to the center of the back of the
head, the scalp, skull and brain being
torn away
1t is regarded, and without known
dissenting opinion, to be the result of a
gun shot and at close range, as gun
shell. No. II was found close by, the
remgont of gun wad in the wound
and powder marks on an arm of the
victim. The body was in sickening,
decomposed condition, and the doctor S
opinion was that fully twenty-four hours
had interviewed since the shooting oc-
Cured.
The remains were conveyed to a room
in the city hall, jury impanelled and
inquest held, Justice of the Peace Han
kins presiding. After the jury con-
sisting of C. P. Healy, H. Thompson,
F. Golliner, j. Gorgen Jr., l.. McDer-
mott and Mr.. Greenwood, had heard
the testimony of five or six witnesses
and viewed the ground and surround
ings where the body was found, its
verdict was to this effect: We find
that Henry Rankin came to his death
by gunshot wound inflicted by some
person or persons unknown to the jury.
The unfortunate young man was q
years ard 3 months of age. He was
born and reared in this city. His dis
position was regarded as pleasant and
habits such as averaged we'll He slept
at home Friday night and left there
about $3.50 Saturday morning; was seen
by two or three parties in the vicinity
of the depot between z and 8 O'Clock
thct morning but he carried no gun and
no person who saw him after that time
can be found.
The place where the body was dis
covered is not great distance from
the depot, just over the brow Of the
hil to the southeast.
What Henry Rankin was doing there
or what took him there is problem.
Were this known the mystery enshroud-
ing the shocking murder might easily
be unraveled.
1t is an awful crime; young life
cut down in its bloom. Neither the
community, the county, or the state
should rest on the ores Of vigilance un-
til the guilty party or parties are known
and proper justice meted out.