Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-31
Associated Pressl


LOUISVILLE, May 30.-That Alma
Kellner, the S-year-old daughter of
Fred L. Kellner of this city, was MUIR
| dered and not kidnapped was proved
today when her mutilated and dis
membered body was found in the cellar
of St Johns Catholic school, five
blocks from her home. The girl disap-
! peared December last.
About 10 o'clock this morning a
plumber searching for a leak in the
| basement of the school discovered the
body
Detectives are OBTAINING a woman
who has confessed that she had
washed the clothes of a child without
knowing who the child was several
months ago. The police are hunting
for Joseph Vending, the janitor of St.
Johns school, who disappeared jan
uary u last. The woman is the jani-
tors wife.
The detectives believe the girl was
murdered in the vicinity of the school,
and that after several attempts had
been made to burn the body it was
finally partly burned in the subcellar
and quicklime used to disintegrate the
flesh Every bone was broken and the
skull was crushed and charred, indi-
eating that the attempt to burn the
| body, if such was made, was inter
rupted, or the perpetrator of the crime
changed his mind regarding its dis
position.
From the day Alma Kellner left her
home December 8 to attend a service
at St Johns church no trace had been
found of her before today
One hundred children convened in
several rooms on the first and second
floors were hurriedly dismissed from
their classes and sent home when the
find was reported to those in charge
of the school.
BLOOD ON WEDDINGS SUIT
In a sworn statement made before
Captain Carney, chief of detectives,
this afternoon, Mrs. Vending admit
band shortly after the disappearance
of the Kellner girl The detectives ex-
amined these clothes-trousers, shirt
and hat-and declare there are still
blood stains on them.
A little more than a year ago, accord
ing to police records, vending was ar
rested and fined because of improper
conduct with young girl, whom he
accosted on the street.
Neither parent of Alma has yet seen
the childs body. Both are Frustrated.
Mr. Fehr, the uncle, is positive of the
Identification through the comparison
of a shoe found on the body with one
worn by Alma before her disappear
ance other means of Identification at
this time seem impossible because of
the lack OF clothing found with the
body and it's horrible mutilation and de-
composition.
The discovery Of the body was by a
mere accident. Saturday the janitor at
st. Johns church told Father Schulz
man that water was collecting under
one of the parish buildings Plumbers
began to pump out the water. Their
work was resumed this mornig. After
pumping only q short time the water
began to smell badly, and a few min
utes later a slime-covered object was
discovered. A child's foot, with shoe
and stocking on, appeared. The police
and coroner were notified Immediately
by Father Schuhman.
MAN STRANGELY DISAPPEARS
After working five hours over the
fragments of the body, Coroner Duncan
said the top and left side of the skull
and part of the right leg and foot are
missing. All the ribs on the left side
were broken.
Father Schuhman said he could re-
member nothing suspicious in Wend-
lings actions after the disappearance
of Alma Kellner.
"Wendling left the church without
saying he was going to quit, and he
said nothing to his wife. l thought at
the time that possibly the fact that his
wife was much older than he caused
him to leave. He often talked of re-
turning to his old home in France, but
his wife wrote his parents, and they
have heard nothing of him"
Vending is described by the detect-
ives as being p years old, about feet
10 inches in height. weight about 16C
pounds, has a small black mustache
and dark hair and eyes.
Mrs vending is AZ. Weddings pa
rents live at Genlis, Cote dor France.
According to his wife, vending was
a deserter from the French army.