Omaha daily bee., 1920-08-13
Fred BosteImann, Stoddard
Farmer, Gave Poison to
Daughter to Prevent Her
Marriage, Verdict.
PUNCTURE OVER EYE
REVEALS new THEORY
Deadly Drug Administered by
Hypodermic Needle, Under
taker Says-TWo Sons Say
Parent Is Insane.

Hebron, Neb., Aug. l2-(Special.) J
The cororner's jury at the re-
sumed session of the inquest over
the death of Frieda Bostelman, 10
year old Stoddard girl. returned the
following verdict at $3.50 p. m. today:
That Frieda Bostelman came to
her death at her home near Stod-
dard, Neb., on June !. A. D., 1920
by strychnine poisoning. the said
strychnine being feloniously admin,
istered by her father, Fred Bostel-
mann." a...
The Bostelmann girl died the day
before her scheduled wedding to w.
f. Butzke, professor of the Lutheran
seminary at Chester. Her father
was known to have opposed the pro-
posed marriage.
The jury retired at | p m. and re-
turned their verdict at $3.50.
Bostelmann was returned to Jail
mere to be held without bond for
trial in the district court
The crowd which thronged the
courtroom made no demonstration,
being apparently satisfied with the
verdict.
There was stir in the court room
this morning when Charles Geisler
Of Deshler. an undertaken, testified
that he exhumed the body three
weeks after burial and found dis
colored welt over the left eye. in
the center of which a punctnre,- evil
IDENTIFY made by sharp instrument
such as a hypodermic needle, was
plainly visible.
The puncture extended through
the flesh and along the surface OF
the bone. he said.
County Authorities Puzzled.
Following the girls death, an
examination of the kidneys and
other organs was made and the re-
port was that Miss Bostelnann died
from poison. I
County authorities were puzzled
BY failure to find any trace OF poison
in the stomach, although there were
positive evidences in the kidneys.
County Attorney Harvey Hess
now believes the presence of poison
in the girls system, while none, was
found in her stomach. is explained
by the puncture over her eye.
Insanity Theory Offered.
Five witnesses were placed on the
stand today. Mrs. Bostelmann tes-
tilted she believed her husband had
been insane for several months. She
said she did not believe he was re-
sponsible for his acts at the time oi
Frieda's death.
Two sons, Henry and Elmer, aisn
testified they believed their father
insane.
Fred Bostelmann was brought
into court by two deputy sheriffs
The attitude OF the spectators was
evidently hostile, but there was nc
demonstration.
Bostelmann walked with cane
and continually muttered to himself
He looked many years older than
when on the stand at the beginning
of the inquest six weeks ago.
His replies to questions were in
whispers and apparently his mind
was oil something else. He seemed
dazed.
Once he exclaimed dramatically
II hope to die where | am sitting
if | gave her poison"
Girl Feared Father.
County Attorney Hess said he mad
secured possession of three letters
written by the dead girl to her III,
tended husband, under dates of May
s, May Is and June 4, i'll which she
expressed fear of her father.
She died on June J OF convulsions
which doctors have testified were
caused by strychnine poisoning.
She had quarreled with her father
over the man she was to have mar
ried and they had started for Ches
ter in buggy. When they reached
t.ome the girl was in convulsion:
and died few minutes later.
Father Bought Medicine"
Testimony previously offeret
showed Bostelrlann had opposed Iii!
daughters marriage to w. ]. Butzke
/. teacher in the Lutheran college a
Chester. and they had quarreled owe
the matter on several occasions.
The county attorney also said to
day he had positive evidence Bostel
mann purchased medicine" for hi
daughter a, Oxford, Neb., when th'
same drug could have been pur'
chased in any OF several town:
nearer home He refused to divuig:
the nature of the medicine"