Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-08-25
DEATH IS A
M YSTERY.
Strange Man Dies at Willmar
Hospital From Unknown
Cause.

the whereabouts of his relatives
that they might be notified. The
remains were taken OF l. C. Olson S
undertaking rooms Monday morn
ing. and an autopsy held, but the
doctors were unable to come to any
conclusion as to the cause of his
death. 1t was rumored about that
he had met with foul play, but
there were no cuts or bruises upon
his body. and no evidence of any
internal injuries.
Phiefer came in on a freight
from the west Thursday evening.
Where he spent the night no one
knows. Friday morning he came
to the Hub hotel and registered.
He told the proprietor that he had
been held up by 1.-TWO men with
lanterns. and badges in their caps,"
that they had forced him to give up
his pocketbook containing $18 in
cash, and that in holding him up
they had cornered him in such a
way that he was badly squeezed. He
complained of a pain in the muscles
of the abdomen, and asked for
towels that he might ease the pain
by cold applications. These were
given him, and it seemed for a
time that he felt better. Later he
went to the Bank of Willmar and
presented a pass book for $l2 on
the N, w, National Bank of Minne=
apolis. and this amount arrived
here Sunday.
Saturday night he was taken
sick. and the mayor and chief of
police. who had been sent for, or
dered him taken to the hospital.
He steadily grew worse, and about
z O'Clock Sunday evening he passed
away. In his last moments he
tried to tell the doctor attending
him where his home was. but all
the doctor could understand was
Rochester" and Harry
On Monday the authorities opened
his grip in the hopes Of finding his
home address, but the only thing
they found were some clothes and a
few toilet articles. Later a diary
was found in the coat which he had
left at the hospital. and it helped
greatly to clear up the mystery.
On the fly leaf he had written his
name and Born Jan. 80, 1887. "
1t also contained the address of
Graham & Sons, l34 w. Madison
street. Chicago, ILL.,, for whom he
had apparently been working as
recently as July 16. He was evi.
IDENTIFY a paper hanger by trade, for
the book contained a number of
records of work done, and also a
paper hangers estimate table.
From two statements in detail it
appears that he had about $40 com.
ing, and this, taken in connection
with the fact that he possessed a
pass book on a Chicago bank, has
led the police to believe that Phie.
fer was not an ordinary tramp but
a man temporarily "hard up and
looking for work. From other pa.
pers found it appears that Phiefel
shipped out of Minneapolis thru
the Adams & Co. s labor agency or
August End, going to Glenwood tc
work for the 500 road. He did not
go to work for them, however, but
started east again. stating to the
people at the hotel that he was go.
ing back to Minneapolis to work ir
a printing Office.
All the information which was
found was forwarded to the police
authorities in Chicago by mai
Monday, and messages were also
sent to the firm for which he had
worked as well as to Rochester, N.
Y, but so far no answers have beer
received. A grip which he hsd
left in storage in Chicago was sent
for and it came last night, but il
contained nothing but clothes anc
a number of personal belongings
The body will be held here for .
few days more, but if the home OF
relatives Of the deceased cannot bt
found, interment will be made here