Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-12
FINGER PRINTS AND BUTTON
These Form Clues with Which Detec-
tives Are Hunting Murderer.
REVENGE, NOT ROBBERY, MOTIVE
Suspicion I'm bernhard Farm Case
Rests First ON Any One of six
Men Employed ON Place
I'm KanaaR


KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Dec n.-Revenge
and not robbery is now believed to have
been the motive of the murder of four
persons on the Bernhard farm in Kansas,
south of here.
The bodies which were discovered were
examined closely teday and it was found
that Mrs Emeiine BeRAhard. and her son.
George had been terribly beaten about
the head, while Tom Moi gan and the
hired man believed TO be named Worth
had evidently been killed by one or two
blows.
Edward p. Doyle. head of the Kansas
City detective bureau was sent TO the
scene OF the crime by Chief of Police
Griffin today He assumed charge of the
hunt for the man or men, who committed
the crime and its expected that an arrest
will be made here within few days
During the inspection Of the premises to-
day, Inspector Boyle found the body i'm
prints OF four fingers and a thumb Of
mans left hand upon the whitewashed
wall OF the closet in which It is believed
Mrs bernhard was murdered. This Sec
tion of the wall was sut cut and brought
to Kansas City.
Inspector Boyle also found the handle Of
la pickax, hidden under the manger, in
which the three men were found. This
was covered with blood and hair and evil
IDENTIFY was used by the murderers. The
clock weight, which was found in the
house also covered with blood, is thought
to have been used only to slay Mrs. Bern
hard as the hair which is stuck to It,
is gray.
Large White Hutton.
A large white button, of the kind us
ually worn on blue shirts was found be-
side the manger In which the bodies were
hidden.
AS no buttons were missing from the
clothing Of the murdered men, this is being
saved by the police, who believe II is off
the shirt of the slayer. Inspector Boyle
said tonight he would assign four detec-
tives and use the entire police force IN the
hunt for the slayer
The first step will be to locate six men,
all of whom found the imprints of their
left hand will be taken and compared
with the bloody finger-prints found on the
white wall Of the closet
Another search was made OF the house
today and a strong box in which valuable
papers and some money had been placed,
was found. In this box deed convey
/ ing all Of Mrs. Bernhards property to her
son, George. was found From this the
officers believe she intended TO leave all
of her property 70 him and cut off her
other children. The deed was drawn
November 3. 1909, but never had been filed
| A bank book found shows that Mrs
Bernhard opened an account with a bank
about year ago and had more than 5000
on deposit.
The identity Of the hired man slain has
not been definitely established 1t was
at first believed his name was Worth. but
papers found in his pocket bear the name
Glenn Cotner OF Green Valley, Mo. In
vestigatlon has failed to prove the latter
name TO be correct
The coroner's jury will be impanelled to-
morrow and the inquest held at Olatbe
Kan. Tuesday The funeral of the -four
persons will be held Wednesday at the
farm and burial will be made in Fores
Hin cemetery here.