The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-05-18
Noted Grid
Idol Held in
Mount Case
Chuck Palmer of Northwest
ern Arrested OH Testimony
of Former Sweetheart That
He Holds Key to Mystery.
Say Youth Buried Alive
BY [ ni.ersaI Service.

Chicago, May 17.-Charles CHUCK.
Palmer. gridiron idol Of Northwest
ern university. was arrested today up
on the testimony of his former sweet.
heart that he holds the key to the sou-
ton of Leighton Mounts disappear
ance.
Mrs. Violet Lawson Bachman. be-
fore her marriage. was Palmers
sweetheart during the months follow
ing the 1921 class rush. in which
Mount disappeared. Palmer's infatu-
alton led him 20 confide in her short
IS after the rush. that Mount had
been buried beneath The breakHater.
where a fortnight ago a bleaehed
skeleton Of youth Vas discovered.
Mrs Bachman is said to have admit
ted 10 states attorneys.
Youth Buried Under Pier.
Palmer. captain Of the varsity
eleven. star athlete and campus idol.
was taken into custody at the Sigma
Nu fraternity house. He was held
incommunnicado until late today until
confronted with Mrs. Bachman.
AT first denying his acquaintance
With the girl the authorities said.
Palmer finally admitted that he had
eourted her before her marriage. Other
admissions. the attorneys said. were
obtained from him.
Leighton Mount IS dead and buried
Under that pier" Palmer remarked
a month or So after the class rush.
according To Mrs Bachman.
While strolling the campus two
days after Mount disappeared. Ar<-
Baehman. then Violet Lawson, me-
toned the freshman's name 10 Pc
mer. she recalled today.
oh. he's all right. he's sffa
enough and We know where he
Palmer 5 said 70 have replied.
For the first time the skeleton f-as
found. the authorities declare. they
have a definite clue ON which u
work.
Death Due TO Hazing.
Mounts death. as the case WAS re-
constructed BY detectives tonight, VAS
due TO a hazing prank. Early on the
evening Of the class rush Arthur Per
singer. a member Of the Sigma Nj
fraternity. 10 which Palmer belongs.
was iashed 10 the pier by the fresh
men. He narrowly escaped drown
ing.
Word Of his hazing spread rapidly
and III retaliation Mount WAS Kid
naped After the usual ducking in
/ the lake. he was taken TO box-like
pier. a plank removed. and he was
imprisoned. bound tight with the rope.
{ the frayed bits OF which were tied
about the bones when the skeleton
was found.
The excitement which his disap-
s pearanee caused The next day amused
his caprors Fer two days they left
him IN the bfeakwater tomb. When
his ahductors came 10 release him.
they found that he had died. Terri
red. they again nailed down the
heavy planks Of the pier walk and
pledged each other 10 everlasting -
lenee.
Wall Of Silence.
The authorities had never been able
10 break through the wall Of siienes
which the students threw about the
ease. Scores Of members of the Two
classes enga ged III the rush have been
questioned. John and Fred Scott.
son and nephew. respectively. q
President Matter Dill Scott. Of The
university. admitted thai they felt
that their fraternity oaths were 'ab-
solately binding when they we're
questioned IN regard 70 the Mount
disappearance.
Mrs. Bachman's revelations came
on the heels q President SCOTS of-
fer of a Slo.n0A reward II anyone
solving the Mount case. Robert {.
Raehman, husband Of the giri. II he
came known today. offered his wife
evidence 10 the Evanston authorities.
They told ne i was lust another
cine ard not worth following un.'
Bachman said. lie then save his in
formation 10 the states Investigators.
whe questioned his wife and arrested
Palmer.