The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-12
Where Did Holland Get Three
Hundred $50 BilIs9
Sent to Jail When He Refuses
to Tell.
DID REICH GET IT?
Attorney Being Sent on New
Disappearance Theory.
Sensational Developments EX-
pected in Ford Probate Court.

Dodge City, May Fin d nope Oh
getting evidence which may lead 10 d
cleaning up of the mystery OF "naC Oo-
came of Otto Reich, a bachelor IdI IlIoI
who mysteriously disappeared Ger ld II
questions were put to five wei 10 az
German farmers of Ford county III pio-
bate court yesterday afternoon
The farmers, Chris Holland, FREQ
Holland, John Holland. Jos. Juttner' ST.
and Jos. Juttner, jr., all refused 10 tes-
tify, by advice of their attorney
All five were promptly arrested Ior
contempt of court, in refusing 10 an
swer the questions. They are all OUT
on bond. pending a hearing in haoeas
corpus proceedings set for next Iues-
day
Otto Reich owned a farm in Ford
county. near Offerle. He had sold ms
farm to Chris Holland. had bought lana
in Gray county, and had contemplated
moving to the latter county
On the night of December ~ laSt
Reich mysteriously disappeared. NO
reason could be found for his leaving
There was every ground for Suspicion
that he had been murdered. But SO
far absolutely no trace has peen Iounu
of what became of his body.
Hundreds of farmers and searchers
have secured every field, every ravtne.
every stream md every possible hlulnS
place of a body. In searching tne
house, where Reich lived alone some IN
dications were found on the tloor that
there might have been blood spilled
and secured and scraped OIL out even
this was very uncertain.
That Reich had certainly not dellb-
erately left was plain by his leaving his
stock fastened up. He had sold noth-
ing, and had evidently made no prepar-
atoms for going away. When, several
days later, neighbors went to the farm
av~INr 70 ICF lEar
for lack of food and water and some OIL
them died from the neglect
Chris Holland asserted that he had
bought the Reich farm for $500 and
had paid him $4,000 of the amount in $40
bills, the balance being covered by 81
900 which Reich owed Holland and $500
in a stock trade.
1t was this assertion of Holland that
he had paid the money to Reich in $50
bills that led those investigating the
mystery to suspect that Holland might
know more about the disappearance Of
the bachelor.
1t was with the hope of bringing out
further evidence that might bear on
the suspected murder mystery that At
tory Smith demanded in the probate
court hearing yesterday noon that
Holland show where he had procured
300 500 bills to make the payment of
Sc. 900.
On dQNlCe OF COunSel he refused 10
answer. His brothers likewise refused
to answer similar questions and the
five men who were believed to be able
TO throw some light on the case are
now under bond, not for any connec-
ton with the disappearance of Reich,
but for contempt in the civil proceed
ing.
What might otherwise be dry and
formal probate court settlement of an
estate, is rapidly developing sensa-
tional features.
The Hollands and Juttners are all
wealthy German farmers and have al
ways had good regulations
Senator Smith, who is directing the
investigation, on behalf of the relatives
of Reich, brought proceedings to at
tach Chris Holland for the sums of
money alleged to be due the Reich
estate for the farm on the theory that
Holland had not paid the $4,000 to
Reich.