The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-30
BODY FOUND AT
FOOT OF CLIFFS
Oscar Carlson Believed to
Have Been Murdered Sat- {.
urday Night. a
NVESTIGATIoN BEGUN
News of Find Spreads Rapidly.
Excitement Reaches High 4
Pitch. '

Far below rugged cliffs on the side
Of Waldens ridge. the body Of Oscar
Carlson was found Wednesday morn
ing. His skull was crushed on the
right side and decomposition was
we'll under way.
From indications IL appeared
that Mr. Carlson had been murdered
Mt his home. the body carried to tho
cliffs and pitched over TO hurtlc
downward for many feet before il
finally found lodgmcnt on the rocky
mountanside.
News Of the grucsome find spread
with remarkable rapidity consider
ing the fact that the homes in that
section are. in number Of instances,
some distances apart. Tho excite,
ment soon reached high pitch, and
n number OF people viewed tho still,
form before it Was finally dentinDd.i
Coroner Busy.
The local detective department. was
called, and as the crime oecrrres out
side the city limits the sheriff's Or. re
was next notified. w. 6. Smith, chief
deputy to Sheriff Il. r. Bass. accom-
panied by other officers. hurried 70
the scene and at once started a
thorough investigation. Coroner Jack
O'Donohue also set to work on the
case, and developments of startling
nature are expected before many
more hours.
The body OF the dead man was
brought TO O'Donohue's undertaking
establishment, where 1t will he held
pending an inquest. The coroner will
leave no stone unturned IN his ef-
forts to unravcl the mystery. It is
thought that Mr.. Carlson was killed
Saturday night Decomposition
Indicated that he had neen cend some
time 9m ~ r9 &
Thf aGad man, q nntive Of sweslsns
eanc to Chattanooga many years ago,
shd for forty years rad resided On
Waldtn's ridge. He was known
throuelltpt this section. especially
among the summer residents cf The
ridge. He was highly esteemed by
those who knew him. He was an in
tcrnstlng ara delightful aharncter dnd
lived all alone. Ha Gwnrd fine
place and look pride in his homs sur
rollndlngs. On his Eronnus were many
fine fruit trees.
While his ability as a gardener
was reCognlZc1, hc WIS il cJntrIctJr
and buildsr b. trade. Most If tic
homes at "s'ummertOwn" and in that
ncighborhoo1 were erected Nv him.
Skilled Builder.
His ideas regardig architecture were
manlfested in the substantial and beau
tifuf buildings which came into being
under his skilled hands. u put the
very best that was in him into his work
and this fact long since became recog-
nzed.
When Mr.. Carlson passed through the
neighborhood he had friendly wave OF
the hand or cheerful word of greeting
for friends. The world. seemed to be
brighter and n better place in which to
live because of his presence.
He frequently talked to friends about
his early life, the home of his birth
and his people. He had a sister in
sweden, but as he had not heard from
her IN three OF. four years he did not
hilpN NhtNHaI Hiit WAS HllNe OF 0ea0.
Residents Of Walden's ridge are great
ly aroused over the terrible crime and
will lend every assistance to the
authorities IN solving the mystery and
furnishing the guilty.
1t is understood that AIR. Carlson had
money deposited In local banks, but
whether robbery was the motive for
the killing h a. not yet been determined
The appoatraire OF tho Carlson home
Indicated thtt thre had been a strug-
gle. There has bE1pd on the bed and it
was evident THAT tht victim was beaten
over the heCN, His ford automobile is
fror the garqEe.
The body kas founl about a mile
north OF N, w. Btr'sl viii take
Following ne return OF the officers
% me city Wednesday aftrnoqn thew
heid conferebce with Sheriff Bass
and Coroner ODonohue,
AT press time the confer eace in the
sherin's office was still 10 profgess. IL
vas stated that important evids nee is in
me hands OF he authorities anu arrests,
IF the day ,