The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-04-15
FRIENDS MAY
DEMAND Inquest
PROBABLE THAT FINDING or
sTEARN's BODY WILL RESULT
IN MOST THoRoUeH PROBE
FRIENDS TELL STORY or DIS
APPEARANCE.

AS far as is known now the friends
Of the late I'D stearns of Cleveland. N.
D.. whose body was found by Sheriff
Whaley OF Clay county and Toby Ed
wards in the Red river yesterday
morning. will request that an inquest
touching the death of the unfortunate
man be held in Moorhead by Coroner
Vincent
s. A. Stearns OF Cleveland, brother of
the dead man, w. A. Blake of James
town. humane officer for the state of
Dakota and John Flaherty arrived last
night. The two latter men, friends Of
the dead man who have been so per-
sistent in pushing the search of the
river principally on the strength Of
valuable information given them by
Officer Hirsch Of the Moorhead police
force, proceeded at once to Moorhead
to confer with Sheriff whaley and other
authorities as to, what steps should be
taken further in the effort to determine
the cause of the death Of Ed Stearns.
The brother and Messrs. Blake and
F'laherty say they feel positive that Ed
Stearns was murdered and the body
thrown in the river at point near
the south bridge in close proximity to
the Fargo side of the stream. Deceased
was SO years of age, has daughter
years of age and has been separated
from his wife for some time. Mrs.
Stearns is thought to be living in Aber-
deem, S. d.
Railroad Ticket Found.
The railroad ticket which the dead
T7N~F@ Co.
Minneapolis. was found among other
papers and effects taken yesterday
from his clothes. The friends Of
Stearns believe that he entered the
waters Of the river Feb. 8.
Today Mr.. Blake reiterated the
facts previously given about the mon
ey the dead man had on his person
when he left home. Mr.. Blake says:
"On Feb. Ed Stearns received
from the Citizens bank at jamestown
the sum of $3.50. Afterwards he
visited the Herman Nurnberg cloth
ing store at jamestown where he
bought an overcoat and in payment
he gave a check which was honored
in due course of business. Deceased
was seen by Will Higgins, then of
the Hub clothing hou in Moorhead,
on the night of Feb. 8, between the
Exchange hotel and the Columbia ho-
tel, about 10:30 O'Clock. Stearns had
a dog with him. Two or three weeks
ago the information reached us that
Con Keefe of the Fargo police depart
ment had alleged that he could pro-
duce the dog which was supposed to
have been with Stearns. John Flaher-
ty hunted up Keefe and offered him
$40 to produce the dog. but it was
never produced.
The Watch Story.
Statements have been made in con-
nection with the mysterious ending
of Ed Stearns that he had valuable
gold watch and chain, the timepiece
bearing his initials. On the person
Of the dead man yesterday, was found
his gold chain to which was attached
an Ingersol dollar watch. The brother
says it cannot be determined at pres
emit whether deceased left home with
his gold watch or not. 1t was highly
priced by deceased and he may have
left it at home.
Numerous conferences were held be-
tween the friends OF the deceased and
Clay county authorities, this morning.
and they may result in some legal ac-
ton being taken.
story was afloat in one OF the
business houses in Moorhead this
to the effect that a baby
eighteen months old disappeared from
a house down on the river bank at !
Fargo a short distance away from the |
south bridge about the date Ed |
Stearns is alleged to have been pushed |