Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-21
MURDEROFCHILD
MAY Be WORK OF
YEGGMEN GANG
DYNAMITE FOUND NEAR SCENE
OF SHOCKING CRIME
DEED THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN
COMMITTED IN HOUSE
Deputies and Detectives In Search for
Perpetrator of Most GhastIy
Outrage in Local Grim
inal Annals
NHAr Annie Poltera, the 9-year-old

IH HAL annie POlterd, Ine J-year-OlQ
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John
- Poltera, whose body was found
yesterday morning in a clump of
bushes near the entrance to Griffith
park was brutally murdered and mis-
treated by one of a gang of yeggmen,
is the opinion held by the police who
have investigated the case.
The discovery of camp which evil
IDENTIFY had been recently occupied and
which is located within 100 yards of
the place where the body was found,
strengthens the deductions of the po-
lice.
Annie Poltera left her home Monday
morning to attend her school at Los
Feliz, East Hollywood and nothing
was learned of her whereabouts until
her body was found yesterdty morn
ing. That the child had been brutally
mistreated previous to her death was
evident from the report of Coroner
Hartwell.
The case has many suspicious fea-
lures and the fact that her father had
not reported her disappearance to the
police left the impression that he
might have been cognizant of the
childs whereabouts.
Make Grewsome Find
OiOSe lINeSIlBdIlOn by the QeIeCIlVeSI
who were set to work on the case soon
dispelled this theory. Poltera came
from Switzerland q few years ago to
seek his fortune in California. He was
driving along the highway yesterday
when informed that the body of a child
had been found. Attracted by a group
of men he inquired if they had seen
anything of his daughter. He was told
to return to his home, as 1t was feared
that the sudden discovery might re-
suit fatally to the old man.
Later he was informed that the body
was that of his daughter for whom
he had been searching for three days.
The child's mother collapsed and still
Is in a critical condition.
In the investigation of the detectives
It was learned that Annie had on several
occasions remained overnight at the
home of Mrs. Willard, with whose
children she had attended school.
The distance from the child's home
to the schoolhouse was three miles,
and on rainy days and occasions which
did not necessitate her coming home,
she had remained with the Willard
children.
When she did not return Monday
night no alarm was felt as it was
supposed the child had stayed at the
Willard home. Tuesday the father in
vestigated and learned that she had
not attended school l.
Fearing to arouse his wife's mis-
trust he did not state to her his sus-
picions or the fact that Annie had not
attended school on Tuesday.
Notifies Sheriff
Yesterday morning Poltera decided
that something was wrong and sent
word to Sheriff HamneIs office. Be-
fore the report of the missing girl was
received came the information that
To- o. Il
street, a laborer, had stumbled upon
the body of young girl.
Deputies from the sheriffs office
hurried to the spot and were met by
the distracted father, who still was
searching for the girl Attracted by
the crowd Poltera stopped his team
and asked what was going on. He
said he was looking for his little
daughter. The deputies soon realized
that their discovery would solve the
old mans query.
1.-THE case is the worst 1 have ever
had" stated Coroner Hartwell. Dur
ing my thirty-five years of experience
I have never seen anything like it.
The circumstances We're revolving and
it is probable that all happened before
death. The throat was cut with pen
knife evidently, the point of the knife
being pierced through the neck"
Tul OCLCCbNCS OU Vase
AS soon as word of the discovery
was received at central police sta
tion Chief of Police Dishman ordered
all his detectives to work on the case.
Several clews developed soon after the
detectives began work on the case. The
theory that the crime was committed
by two negroes who lived nearby the
scene of the crime soon was aban-
doned.
The fact that no blood was found
where the body was discovered led to
the belief that the school girl was
induced to enter some house, the crime
committed and the body was later re-
moved to the clump of bushes where
1t was found.
Shelter, who discovered the body, is
employed at the Crystal Springs water
tunnel and that he knew nothing of
the crime was evident from his talk.
He had left his work for few mo-
ments and pushing aside the tall mus
tard grass which grew beside an un-
occupied brick cottage he found the
body.
Conceal Body in Grass
1t was lying face downward and
every endeavor apparently had been
made to conceal the body. The girls
throat had been cut on each side, and
the fact that blood was not in evidence
led to the belief tnaL Sne nau Deen muir
dered elsewhere and carried to the spot
where found.
The. body was in a place where it
might have remained for months, but
for the accidental discovery of Shelf
fer The place was about forty feet
back from the road which leads
through Griffith park. and the tall mus
tard weed concealed the body.
Detective Tom Rico, who is working
on the case, believes that the girl was
enticed into some house, where the
crime was committed. In speaking of
the case he said: I'VE found an empty
camp about 100 yards from where the
body was found. 1t evidently was the
rendezvous of yeggmen, but the fact
that but one cup was in the place leads
to the theory that but one man was
there. Twelve sticks of dynamite,
used in blowing safes, and a skillet and
one pillow were found in the camp. We
did not learn of anyone seeing the in
habitant of the camp. The fact that the
murder was committed several days
(Contlnued on Page Three)