Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-01
WOMAN IS BOUND ON
STOVE; IS SLOWLY
TORTURED To DEATH
Mrs. Van Zandt's Clothing Is
Also Saturated With Oil, Po-
lice Say--Seek Girl AS I'M
portant Witness
WOMAN'S HUSBAND IS
PLACED UNDER ARREST
fsneciaI nIsratch 10 No Journal.l

Special Dispatch to The Journal)y
CINCINNATI. Jan. 29.-Detectives
Hueftlein and Plug are searching for
sirI. said to live in COvington. KY. and
who Is wanted by the police as a witness
to tell what she knows about the muir
der OF Mrs. Alice Van Zandt aged 81. at
her home. No. 81 Richmond street
The girl is said to be one known to the
family and knows much about the family
life Of the Van Zandts.
The victim had been bound and placed
on top OF the stove TO be slowly tortured
to death by the tiny flame of a gas stove
Two small bottles Of oil were found in the
Kitchen and the police say the clothing
/. had been saturated in oil.
About her ankles was wrapped several
thicknssses Of heavy lace. and there was
a heavy piece of cloth tied about her
throat. Her body was burned to crisp
One arm was completely burned off.
There was a tourniquet about the wom-
ans throat II had been crudely made
OF a piece OF lace and a stick. II was
frightened about the throat
Deputy Coroner Bange began an in
curry into the death OF Mrs. Van Zand-
at the mOrgue at 2:9e. He declared short
been made that the woman had been
choked by a tourniquet- A handkerchief.
il was declared. was used to rstrangle the
woman.
Mrs. Anna Garner. who lives at So
Richmond street. next door to the muir
dered woman's house. heard a scream IN
Z the Van Zandt home about IL o'clock Sat
urday. She rushed in. but was driven out
OF the place by the thick smoke and the
oTor 81 burning flesh
HUSBAND Is ARRESTED.
Jesse A Van Zandt. husband of the
woman and depot agent of the United
States Express company was taken to the
central police station shortly after the
wonan's body was found, and is now be-
ing questioned
George Van Zandt, a son Of the murder
ed woman. told the police shortly after
the body was found that his mother and
father had been quarreling.
About % minutes before death, Mrs
Van Zandt was talking to Agnes Fox
aged Is. a girl living in the neighborhood
She said she was going in to prepare
dinner.
Shortly after that Mrs. Garner saw
smoke issuing from the kitchen, but
+ when she tried to enter the kitchen she
found all of the doors locked. She
screamed for help and ran to the streets.
There she met Fred Rice. a mail carrier.
= Mrs Van Zandt is burned to DEATH
shouted Mrs. Garner.
Rice rushed into the Van Zandt home.
The heavy smoke rolled through the
door and. drove him back Crawling
along on mis- stomach below the pail of
smoke, Rice managed to get to the kitch-
en-. He saw the body of Mrs. Van Zandt
lying across the gas stove.
The woman's two children. Anna May
and George. were taken to the children's
home Saturday Afternoon.
Mrs Van Zandt- was the mother of
three children.
Van Zandt left home at 10 o'clock
Saturday according TO a statement Of
George Van Zandt. the young son.
Van Zandt was at the depot when he
received the news that his home was on
FIRE, and he arrived home at II o'clock.
He Walled into the kitchen and asked
IL his wife was dead. He refused to
make any kind OF statement to the po-
lice. and was Immediately taken to CEN
trail police station where he was ques-
tioned before Chief MiIlikin.
CONSCIOUS ON STOVE.
SIrs- Van Zandt was fully conscious
when she was placed on the stove. after
being bound and gagged and her clothing
saturated with oil. declared Coroner COe
at the conclusion OF his pOst-mortem eX-
animation Of the woman's body.
- Is the most atrocious murder ever
committed in this part OF the country"
The post-mOrten developed nothing TO
show that the woman had been choked or
wounded before she was burned There
vas congestion Of the lungs. but that
was due. the coroner thinks to the fire
and smoker and not 20 choking
Tie police found an oval scarf pin In
which an Indian head had been cut in
cameo They are trying to ascertain its
ownership.
q family named Johnson on the thru
floor sid another by the name Of Rick
hoff on the second floor. said that they
had heard nothing OF any quarrel be
tween the couple. although at various
times they Ind had little tiffs
Agnes Fox. who is IL years OF age. and
who lives at g. Richmond street. said:
Il saw Mrs. Wan Zandt about % min
utes before the alarm I had the baby
In the alley and took IL I'm my arms Mrs
Van ZaEdt then said don't do that and
put the baby down. Mrs. Van Zandt
seemed 10 DC very down hearted"
G. a Titus. agent for the United States
Express company. where Jesse A Van
Zandt was employed. said that Van Zandt
has been engaged as a handler OF express
matter at the Union Central depot for
some time and was always regarded as
an industrious man.
Were his habits goOd?''
SO far as I know"
When did he last report for work.
He has not been at his job since last
Tuesday OF WednesdayasI think il was
Tuesday. He left word that he was not
feeling well and that he would not be
around for few days. No. he was not
discharged"