Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-06
LugubriOus HOWIs of Dog,
Keeping Vigil Over Corpse,
Cause Gruesome Find.
ROBBERY AS A MOTIVE
Large Sum of Money Missing
from CIothing-Case Battles
the Police.

The wierd and dismal bowls Of a
dog, emanating from a lonely corn
field on the old Coyne farm, near
Rock Island, at the head Of the
Elm street road, yesterday noon
attracted the attention Of Axil Lebens
OF this city. Upon making an ipvesti-
cation he came upon a human body,
lying face downward on the ground,
the back of the head blown In from
Il shotgun wound. The body, which
was IN an advanced stage OF decom-
position, was that Of Basil Martens, a
bachelor, who operates a dairy farm
at that point. A double barreled shot
gun, both shells of which had been ex-
ploded, was found lying TO the right
and about four feet back OF the body
The mans hands were stretched in
front Of him, and from appearance
he had been shot from behind and
had pitched forward head first. His
hat lay about three feet in front of
him. Every circumstance pointed 10
an atrociOus murder of the most re-
voting kind. Lebens Immediately
rushed TO the farm of William Cline
bell, nearby, and telephoned to the
authorities. The coroner ordered the
body removed TO the Knox undertake
ing parlors an inquest will be held
Friday afternoon at o'clock. The
police Immediately started an investi-
cation, and although no arrests have
been made. acquaintances of the slain
man were this morning given the third
degree by Chief Brinn and Assistant
States Attorney Edwards II is be-
lieved that the murderer is known,
and that the police will land their
man in a short time, although the case
presents a mystery which will tax
every effort of the authorities Rob
berry is believed TO be the motive.
LIVED ny HIMSELF.
Martens was a bachelor and lived
by himself in the lonely little
shack. The dairy farm was run on a
partnership basis. by Martens and his
brother-in-law, Lebens. Every Sunday
it had been the custom of Mr.. and
Mrs. Lebens, the latter a sister of the
deceased, to visit the farm. Mrs.
Lebens would do some baking and in
addition clean up the house. Yester-
day morning the relatives drove up to
the house and found il deserted. There
was an ominous silence about the
premises, and Lebens Immediately in
stituted a search for his brother.in-
law. He discovered that the COWS had
not been MIXED forBeveral days and
ascertained that the stock had not
been fed for that length OF time.
Martens was known 10 go on occa-
sional sprees for days at a time,
and the brotherin-law at first sus.
pected that there had been a recur-
renee Of the old failing.
A LONELY VIGIL.
AS he continued the search, his at.
tention was suddenly attracted 70 a
low and mccarthy howl from a corn
field. The uncanny sounds seemed 10
emanate from a spot about 400 yards
from the bachelors hut Upon rush.
ing onward. he suddenly came to a
dog which was standing guard over
the corpse. The animal was a strange
one and the superstition is that It
followed the murderer. and after the
killing remained on watch beside the
dead body After learning what had
occurred, neighbors recalled that in
passing by the place the last two days
they had heard the same hovls. The
shotgun belonged 10 Lebens and had
been borrowed from him by Martens
month ago as protection against
chicken thieves.
IN CITY TUESDAY.
Martens was last seen alive on
Tuesday. according to statements Civ
en- the police. On the morning Of the
day in question. Martens sold some
hogs in Milan and is said 20 have re-
coived $50 for them. He then came
10 Rock Island. visited the Lebens
and subsequently repaired 10 the
Boekhart saloon, on Seventeenth
street, between Third and Fourth ave
nEes. Boekhart told the police that
Martens left the bar room about
O'Clock Tuesday afternoon. and claims
that is the last time he saw him alive.
y search OF the dead mans clothing
disclosed the fact that the $50 was
missing. Boekhart claims 70 have Wis
tied the Coyne farm Thursday 20 Sc
cure some produce. but departed upon
finding the place deserted.
WHERE SLAINF
The question now arises as TO wheth-
er or not Martens was slain on the
farm or was murdered in Rock Island
and the body smuggled TO the corn
field by circuitous route. Thursday
morning, the police found a trail of
blood leading from the rear OF the
Boekhart saloon to the river bank Res
idents in the vicinity OF the saloon also
report having heard a shot fired late
NJ night az the saloon.
Boekhart was arrested and told the
police he had shot dog because it
bad bitten him. He said be dragged