The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-06-11
CHARGE DAVIS WITH
1ST DEGREE MURDER
Camden Man Rearrested Up
on the Unearthing of Body
of B. F. Bourne in Garden
Patch on Farm.
Continued from Page Onel

ness. Some one in the party suggested
that a few shovelfuls be turned up to
determine whether or not the soil had
been mixed The searchers were soon
satisfied that it had been, and the spot
given further notice.
Prod Into The Grave.
A sharp iron rod held by Prosecutor
Gilmore was easily sunk into the
ground, and when pulled up the point
bore an unusual odor. A shovel was
brought into use, and in few mo-
ments' time the searchers were horrl-
fed at the sight of the head OF a man.
A few more shovelfuls of dirt removed
and the searchers were convinced that
the body was that of Bourne.
Was Badly Decomposed.
The body was badly decomposed and
it was with difficulty that the search
ers were able to raise it from the
grave. The flesh was discolored and
parts of it had fallen off the bones, but
the mans features were plain. With
the exception of his shoes, Bourne's
body was fully clothed.
Skull Fractured.
Coroner II. z. Silver, of Eaton, was
notified and went to Camden to exam
inc the body, and it was found that the
skull of the dead man had been badly
fractured in the back, apparently in
flicted by a blow from some blunt in
strument. All other parts of the body
were so discolored that it could not be
dot cd Ixrh of ar
any other marks of violence. The body
was brought to Eaton by Undertaken
Harry d. Silver and after a post-mor-
tenn examination will be placed in the
Mound Hill cemetery vault until view
ed by John E. Bourne, of Middletown,
a cousin of the dead man.
Buried Many Months.
While it is impossible to determine
just how long Bourne's body had been
buried, officials hold evidence which
tends to show that it has been about
fourteen months since the man. death.
One proof is furnished by records the
man kept of his expenditures and cred
it's, which showed that his last expense
entry had been made April II, 1912.
Another is furnished by the fact that
corn stalks were growing over the
grave. Figuring that this was planted
in May, 1912, the time comedies with
that shown by the records held by
Prosecuting Attorney Gilmore.
Held First Theories.
Notwithstanding that Davis was dis
missed last week because of a lack OF
evidence, the officials continued to
hold a few theories caught up follow
ing his arrest and their efforts in
working them out resulted in finding
the body Officials declare now that
they can see no escape for the accused
man.
First Arrest.
Davis arrest about ten days ago was
caused by John E. Bourne, of Middle
town, a cousin of the dead man, fol-
lowing his receipt of an unsigned let
ter which stated that Bourne had been
killed in Mississippi by Italians, who
had returned to their native land. Da-
Wis received a letter about the same
time from Hamilton, Ohio. 1t also was
of the same tenor as the one the Mid
dletown man had received. Later in
vestigation developed the fact that Da-
Wis had been in Hamilton the very day
both letters were mailed. Following
his arrest Prosecutor Gilmore secured
a sample of his writing, and it is said
to be SO near like that in the two let
ters that it is hard to tell any differ
ence.
Want Dead Mans Money.
Bourne was a prosperous farmer
and was known to always carry con-
siderable money, and it is believed
that his alleged murder was commit
ted in order to secure his cash and
gain possession of his personal pro-
perty. Davis had been employed as
farmland by Bourne, and he doubtless
knew that the wallet carried was al
ways large-sized. He could not have