Gilpin observer., 1913-09-25

not been delivered through abortion
as the bones were too well develop
ed. He gave as his belief that death
resulted through strangulation He said
the cloth about the necks of two
would indicate this. AS further evd-
dence that death had come through
unnatural causes and that the per-
petrators of the act had sought to
cover their guilt was apparent in
the bunglesome method adopted in
placing the infants in quilts and put
ting them in a garret.
DIR. Guy Ashbaugh testified that he
had examined the bodies and had
come to the conclusion that they
were fully matured or nearly so,and
that the rags around their necks
would indicate that strangulation was
the cause of death. In his opinion,
the bodies had been lifeless several
years. One looked as though it had
been in state of decomposition for
a number of years, while the others
appeared to have been placed in the
garret at later dates.
James Winship said he had hv-
ed near tine house occupied by the
Williams family four years. He only
saw the first body removed from the
garret. Mr.. Williams lived in the
house when he moved into the neigh
borhood, but it had been idle for
some time prior to the tenancy of
Mr.. Walters.
Dan Williams, who with his family
occupied the house with the mys-
terious garret at the time the bod
les were supposed to have been Sc
he came to the county in 1881 and
had lived in Black Hawk for thirty
years. He first lived in, house in
Chase gulch, owned by Phil Rohling,
right after marrying his first wife in
1881. His wife died in this house
and ne then lived with VIM. Wayne
in Chase gulch two or three years,
until he was again married. He tes-
titled that he had lived in the house
in which the bodies were found 16
or II years and had moved out of
the place year ago last March. His
family at the time of moving into
the house consisted of three daugh-
ters and one son. His second wife
died Is years ago. After the death
of his second wife, his oldest daugh-
ter kept house for him. This daugh.
ter was 16 years of age when her
step-mother died. For the last ten
years, he with his daughters, Rosella
and Kate, and son, Daniel, occupi'
ed the house, the other girl working
out During most of the time that
he lived up Clear Creek, Williams
said he worked at the Hidden Treas
ure mill. He said that he knew alb
solutely nothing about the bodies. The
first he knew of the discovery of the
bodies was last evening at o'clock
when the sheriff subpoenaed him as
witness at the inquest. Witness
testified that the house had been re
shingled eight years ago and that II
the bodies had been there then Il
seems that they would have beer
discovered. Asked by the prosecut
ing attorney II he had any theory as
to how the bodies got into the gar
ret, he replied that he had none. II
there was any light he could throw
upon the mystery, he would wilhngl,
do so. He said that his daughters
had never been sick during the years
that he had occupied the house; tha'
the bodies must have been placet
in the garret by parties outside q
the family. Asked why he should ad
vance such a theory he said ne coult
not explain. II the bodies had beeI
placed in the garret by outsiders
witness said It would have been nee
essary for them to have gone througl
the house and up the stairs.
Miss Rosella Williams, daughter o
Dan Williams, was called. She testi
fled that she had lived in Gilpil
county since birth, 81 years ago. A
present she Is living in Central, worl
ing as n domestic. She had live'
in the house near the roundhous'
Of the tram 13 years with her faith
er, sisters and brother. Had KEEP
house for the family since her ster
mother died. Was away from th
house sometimes during the day. bu
not for any long period. No person
outside OF the family had ever Ii,
ed in the house while the William
family occupied it. She said tina
the garret had been used for storag
purposes and she had been up ther