The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-04-23
ANGRY STOCKHOLDER
IS OFFICIAL THEORY
FOR DOUBLE MURDER
Now Thought Killing Of Menzie
Followed Quarrel About
Unpaid Claims.

Geddes, 8. D., April 21.-Ons OF the
strongest theories held By local Of
ficiais, and by detectives, in connection
with the murder OF w. III. McnEie, late
manager for the Farmers Co-Opera-
tive company, and the firm's bookkeep-
or. Miss Blanche Signal, is that the
crime was committed by an irate
stakeholder. Many OF the stock
holders were in town the night of the
murder, preliminary to a general meet
Ing assigned for the next day.
in bad shape financially for various
reasons. and payments had been de-
layed for grain and stock marketed
through the concern. 1t IL held as q
strong possibility that one Of these
men, having money due him, visited
the office and got into an alteration
with Menzie; that the stockholder
might have menaced MenEie, who was
q large man. with the hammer. and
that MenEie might have taken his re-
volver from the office desk as n pro-
tective measure. The theory is that
the stockholder then struck Menzie on
the back Of the head with the hammer.
stunned him. secured the revolver and
shot Menzie through the head.
To Cover Up Crime.
Following the outburst OF frenzy on
the part OF the stockholder, II is as
suned that he killed the girl. who
would be a witness of his first muir
der, In order to protect himself. The
local officials think that they have
reasonable theory outlined in these as
sumptions and feel confident that
further Investigation will lead to the
guilty individual, although there is no
present suspicion OF his identity.
A barn on the Dave Stafford farm,
10 miles south or here. was burned
Friday morning. about three hours at
ter h lumber yard office, resulting in
h cremation of 10 head OF horses. The
present theories include the belief that
the murderer rode TO this barn,
changed his mount for one of Stafford's
horses, and set fire to the barn to dis
8 OF that part Of the evidence.
Doors Locked From Inside.
Searchers in the ruins yesterday
found q large bunch of keys, which had
been carried by Mr.. MenZie. This over
comes q previous theory that the muir
derer locked the door from the outside
and took the keys with him. Both tho
Yale lock and the mortice lock on the
ONCE door are shown to have been
locked. For some time past 1t had been
the practice to use only the Yale lock.
Pieces OF plaster were found which
seemed to have blood spots on them,
and which indicate a struggle in the
office.
One OF the detectives from the Sioux
City department 10 supposed to be on
the ground here. but he has kept his
identity covered even from local au-
thoTities. Application also has been
made for an operative from the Burns
detective agency. %a>
Directors in Charge.
Directors Of the cooperative COM
pany have taken charge OF the COM
pany's affairs and have put Frank
Humphrey in charge OF the elevator,
which did not burn. The company will
continue in the grain business, but will
not resume the lumber branch Of the
business.
Funeral service was held for Mr..
Menzie yesterday forenoon from the
Methodist church. The building was
not large enough to hold the immense
crowd which gathered for the service.
Service for Miss Signal was held
Saturday from the Catholic church,
and also was largely attended, in
Guiding practically all of the company
stockholders, who were In the city for
a special meeting. ST..