The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-09-03
DEAL DEATH TO BABY
SHOCKING CRIME COMMITTED;
MYSTERY is UNSOLVED.
Body of Infant Fished From Minnesota
River; Was Encased in Sack
ard Brick Attached to It's Neck;
Might Have Been Month Old When
Cast Into Water; Police at Work
On Case; An Inquest.
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
A shockingly baby murder mystery
came to light this morning in the fish
sack or pillow case found to contain
the body of an infant girl around
whose neck had been fastened brick.
When taken from the river the body
was of the size of the average child
of two years, but because of the pro-
liability that it was bloated after being
in the water several days and the fact
that the head was quite badly decOm-
posed, it was difficult to tell the age
of the child. Coroner Kennedy is of
the opinion that it was about a month
old. 1t is possible that an eXamina-
ton may result in the establishment
of the child's age, the color of the
eyes and other details, but this in
formation could not be procured today.
Was a Fiendish Crime.
Evidences found thus far tend to es-
tablish the belief that the little girl
baby was tied in the sack with one
or more bricks and thrown into the
river to drowned like dog, and the
crime is the most fiendish in the an
nails of the city.
Charles Ludtke, an elderly gentlemen
living ON North Second street was
searching along the river bank yes
terday afternoon for the bodies of the
young men drowned Friday afternoon,
when he saw a peculiar looking bun
IDLE which had been washed up on
pile of rubbish. He thought he could
DISCERN the head of an infant, but
finally made up his mind that it must
be the head of a dog or cat which
had been sewed up in a sack with some
stones and thrown into the stream. He
could not get out to it without consid-
cradle difficulty so he tried to dispel his
suspicious from his mind and left the
place.
His Sleep Was Disturbed.
Mr.. Ludtke's sleep was disturbed
last night, however with thoughts of
the object he mad seen in the river
in the afternoon, and about nine
O'Clock this morning he returned to
the spot determined to open the sack
and allay his supicions. Mr.. Ludtke
met Mr.. James Williams, an old gen
tlemen living on Broad street, on his
way to the place, and telling him the
story induced him to assist in secur-
inn hun ha NV
After a few minutes work they got
the sack upon the bank, and when
Mr.. Ludtke ripped it open We're horri-
fled to find their worst suspicious con-
firmed. They Immediately telephoned
Chief of Police Pond who with Coro-
ner Kennedy FASTENED to the spot Aft
Ell short conference Coroner Kenne-
dy ordered the body taken to Land
kamer Bros. & Davidson's undertaking
rooms. Charles Anderson, who NOV
ed the body. made only a casual ex-
animation and could not say just how
old the child was, or whether there
were any marks of violence upon it.
He believes il was at least two months
old.
The body and limbs are not badly
decomposed, other than having the APP
pearance of being bloated, but the head
has lost regular shape, probably from
resting on blunt objects in the river
which caused number of compress
sions.
The authorities are inclined to believe
that rho hah mt hn
at point within the city limits,
and not at some distant place, because
it is not considered likely that it
would be carried very far with the
brick fastened to it. Mr.. Ludtke said
that the sack was torn in one place and
it is possible that there might have
been other bricks which dropped out
out when he lifted the bundle from
the water.
The police are exerting every effort
to solve the mystery despite the fact
That they have practically no clues to
work on.
Will Hold An Inquest.
After comforting with County Attor-
ney Plymat, Coroner Kennedy this aft
ernoon announced that an inquest
would be held over the body of the
child as soon as details could be ar
ranged. 1t is probable that the jury
will be impaneled early tomorrow
morning and will view the remains
at once, and there is said to be like
lihood of post norton examination
being held tomorrow afternoon, al
though this is not definitely decided
upon.
Death Due to Old Age.
Mrs Harriet Ann Xarwnod annd