Evening star., 1926-12-03
FATHER DREAMED
OF GRAVE OF GIRL
Lost Daughters Body Found
Just as He Described Il.
Suitor Still Sought.
By the Associated Press.

1nAIFa1E DU CHEN, WIS.,, Do-
cember 3-The sinister dream of
Christ Olson that his daughter Clara
was dead has become reality.
I've seen Clara" the tobacco
planter had declared long before the
body of the pretty 22-year.old girl
was found in a shallow grave on Bat
tie Ridge near Rising Sun, a quarter
of mile from the home of Erdman
Olson. who has been charged with
the Staying
I've seen her in a dream" he
told neighbors. II know she is dead,
l saw her buried on her face on a
hill near. Rising Sum-"
That dream of tragedy and death
which came true to the letter. forth
flying his suspicion of his daughters
fate, led Christ Olson to swear out
murder warrant for young Olson
upon information and belief" sew
eral days ago, although there was
then no direct evidence that the girl
was dead.
Shallow Grave Found.
That evidence was supplied yes
terday when a searching party.
combing the picturesque Kickapoo
Valley, stumbled upon a barely filled
grave in which the missing girl was
lying-face downward. The search
ers gathered at the spot and in awed
whispers told one another that Christ
Olson's dream had come true.
Today the body lay in a morgue
in plain wooden coffin awaiting an
autopsy by G. H. Bunting of Madison,
State pathologist, and a coroner's in
quest, to determine how death came
fn hn rrfvzl xxyI0 fn mt
mother. A superficial examination
revealed no bullet wounds or bruise
from a blow, with officials discussing
poison theory as a possibility.
Meanwhile search was pushed for
the girls 1S-year-old sweetheart,
Erdman, Gale College student, who
disappeared September 27, II days
after Clara left her home in the eve
ming "to get a breath of fresh air" :"
and never returned. Sheriff Sherwood
Of Crawford County planned to go to
Dwight. ILL.,, today to interview a
youth held there answering the de-
scription of Erdman. The suspect
gave his name as Walter M. Christen-
son, %, and his home as Porter,
Mimi, and maintained that he knew
nothing of the case
Claras body was identified by the
father, who tainted after he had
pointed through the cracked clay to
the black silk dress which Clara. had
bought just before she went away
and which she had said was to have
been her bridal garment for her mar
riage with Erdman.
Youth Left College.
Erdman is a son of Albert Olson,
unrelated to Christ. He left college a
n ict ~ cit to1
demanded the return of his daughter.
A letter the youth wrote to his
parents at the time of his disappear
ance was made public last night. In
the missive he told of the visit of
Christ Olson and said: II am leaving
for some place where no one knows.
You will never see me again
unless it is in a coffin These
people (Christ Olson cannot prove
anything definite"
81 have failed as son." he wrote
in closing. "but no one will ever
know me by that name (Olson)
again"
Rewards of $500 have been posted
for word of the youths whereabouts
and his description has been broad
cast to police Chicago police were
searching for the youth spurred by a
report he had been seen in a res
taurant.
Violence or Poison Suspected.
Discounting the possibility that
death was due to natural causes. au-
thorities held the opinion that violence
or poison would be found as the cause
of the girls death.
A small roadster in which Olson and
the girl went to many dances during
their years acquaintance was held
here by the sheriff, whose attention
was attracted to a dark brown spot
which he may have analyzed. Capt.
John Sullivan, private detective of
Milwaukee, employed by the girls
worthwhile clue will be disclosed by
analysis of the spot, which some
thought might be deadly poisonous
plant spray or other substance.
1t was learned today that young
Erdman was eXonerated several years
ago of the death of a young boy with
whom he was playing wild West"
He shot the boy accidentally with a
revolver.
Prairie du Chen has become the
center of the investigation. 1t is the
largest town in Crawford County,
with $500 population. To the north
east Ill tIlc NdlICH VI lAlC 4AAChaPoo
River, which parallels the Mississippi
on the West. lie the communities of
Seneca and Rising Sun.
Clara, one of a family of eight
children, lived on the farm home of
her parents near Seneca. Thirteen
miles north at Rising Sun, the high
est point in this region, lived Albert
Olson with his wife and two sons,
Erdman and Orvid.