Omaha daily bee., 1920-08-12
Frieda BosteImann's Death
Due to Poisonous Drugs, Or.
Arthur Bowles Says at Re-
sumption Of Inquest.
YOUNGER SISTER SAYS
SHE'S AFRAID OF FATHER
Parent Accused Of Killing His
!, Own Daughter Threatened
All Members of His Family,
Daughter Tells Jury.

Hebron, Neb.. Aug. l1.-(Special
Telcgram.)-Frieda Bostelmann. 49,
'ycar-old Chester girl, who died the
day before her scehuled marriage,
was poisoned, in the expert opin-
i'm Of Dr.. Arthur Bowles, who tes-
titled at the inquest today. The
girls condition after death, he said,
indicated that strychnine poison had
been used to bring about her DEATH
The inquest was resumed this
morning after postponement Of six
weeks, during which time county
officials gathered additional evil
dcnce which is expected to show
that Fred Bostelmann, father of the
girl, to prevent her marriage to
Prof. w. ]. Butske, young school
teacher of Hebron, gave her poison
Gus drugs while buggy riding on the
evening Of June 7.
Marie Bostelmann, younger sister
OF the dead girl, gave testimony Of
ficials described as damaging to her
father. She said that her father told
all members of their family that he
would give them all poison if they
did not do what he wanted them
to do"
Afraid of Father.
When asked by County Attorney
Harvey Hess if she was afraid OF
her father the girl answered: mo:
not now; he is in jain"
Would you be afraid of him if
he were not in jail?" the prosecutor
questioned.
"Yes." was the girls instant re-
ply.
On the witness stand Marie
smiled continuously and showed lit
tie concern over the violent death
OF her sister or the fate Of her
father.
Mrs. Bostelmann, mother of the
girl: testified that she thought her
husband insane the day OF Frieda's
death. Court attaches described her
attitude on the stand as trying to
shield her husband. Her answers to
qgestions were slow And carefully
jvofdod.
Mrs. Bankenbring. a neighbor of
the Bostelmanns, described the head
Of the family as abusive and over
bearing"
Girl Chunf Tells Story.
Bessie Kutcher, chum of Marie
Bostelmann, was at the BosteimanE
home on the evening Frieda died
She said that she accompanied
Marie to field to drive cattle to the
barn. 1t Vas apparent from Marie's
conversation that she feared some
thing awful" was going to happen.
she said. She appeared nervous and
uneasy. Miss Kutcher said. Shortly
alter they had returned from the
field Frieda died.
The report from the chemical
laboratory in Omaha where the
stomach was examined for possible
traces of poison was not read to tn.
jury today. The first report made by
the doctors indicated that no trace
Of ), poisoning was found. 1t was
generally understood here, however,
that second examination revealed
virulent poison.
Bostelmann Worries.
The court room was crowded to-
day. Every available seat was taken
and many men, women and children
\stood in the aislcs and corridors.
While there was no apparent senti-
ment of violence, officials took every
precaution 10 protect the life of their
prisoner. who was not taken to the
court room. Mr.. Bostelmann was
described by officials to be greatly
worried. He is very nervous and
is aging rapidly, they said. He has
been held in Jail without bail SINCE
the death OF his daughter
County Attorney Hess said to-
night; that the inquest probably
would be concluded at noon Thurs
day.