The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-19
|STUTSMAN OFFICERS
I SUSPECT FOULPLAY
in MYSTERY DEATH
Find Victim Was Engaged IN
Moonshining; Partner
Held In Custody
HAD FRACTURE OF SKULL
Other Evidence Tends to Prove
Body Was Placed in
Bushes After Death

Jamestown, N. D.. Sept. 19.-(RH
Stutsman county authorities Monday
said they believe Jack Brooks Of near
Darlington was murdered before his
body was placed in clump Of bushes
near the Foster-Stutsman county
line where it was found Friday.
They said disclosure of fractured
skull, badly bruised and swollen arm.
lack Of blood spots where the body
vas found and the fact that the
body was in an unnatural position
when found establishes without .
doubt that he was murdered and the
body placed in the clump Of bushes
near Edmunds.
A poSt-mortem held at Darlington
showed 20 calibre bullet had taken
a straight course with shade to the
upward. The bullet had entered the
head at the left side just above the
ear. Little blood was found on the
ground under the head where the
body was found. There were marks
on the head, and the skull was frac-
tured on the top Of the head to the
left for a distance Of about four
inches.
When found the body was on its
back. Brooks held a gun in his left
hand with the forefinger over the
barrel. His cap was on his chest and
his head was about four inches above
the ground, showing that rigor NOR
tbs had set in before the body had
been placed on the ground.
Distiller Is Held
Leo Schwer, who is said to be the
last man to have seen Brooks alive.
is being held on a charge Of violat-
ing the liquor laws.
r. D. Chase, states attorney.
County Coroner H. A. Bratsrup. and
Sheriff Oscar Nygaard said when
they went to Schwer's home late Fri
day night, they found him destroying
mash. Schwer declared that 1t be-
longed to Brooks, but later, after
questioning, he was said by author
tiles to have admitted he and Brooks
were IN partnership in still which
"oo ORIAdCcu OH GIlC farm.
About 80 gallons of moonshine and
alcohol were found.
When the officers arrived his
house had been cleaned. Schwer. Of
1iclals said, had washed the house
floor and had placed clean covers on
the shelves. Police said he admitted
washing his clothes also. He declar-
ed that q gallon jug Of liquor and a
pint bottle Of alcohol found in his
car had been placed there several
Gays ago, and not on Thursday morn
ing when he last saw Brooks. p.
ADMITTED that it came from the still
ne and Brooks operated.
Schwer was taken to Carrineton
Monday by officers to view Brooks
remains. He will then be taken to
Edmunds where the inquest viii be
continued.
Many Witnesses Called
AT the inquest large number Of
witnesses were examined and more
Will be called Monday afternoon.
Mrs. John Stambaugh, with whose
FAMILY Brooks had lived for about 20
years and whom he had taken to the
nome OF her daughter about two miles
from the farm where Schwer lived.
said that when he left her he told her
ne would return in short time. When
ne did not return she had her daugh-
ter take her home.
correspondence in the house where
Schwer lived showed that Brooks and
Schwer had been trying to rent or
buy land near Steele. Schwer told
police they were going to put In q
large alcohol still.
The farm on which Schwer lived
was owned by Nick Loesch. He was
hired by Mr.. Loesch to take care OF
about IS head Of cattle.
In giving an account Of how he
spent his time from 1890 O'Clock,
when he last saw Brooks, Schwer said
he fixed fence. On investigation Of
the farm Sunday officers found the
fence had been fixed about half q
mile from where the body was found.
Officers said that II Brooks had
been going to get Mrs. Stambaugh he
would have gone In the opposite d.
rection to that where his body was
found.
Schwer. apparently eager to tell his
story. maintained he did not know OF
the shooting until he was told the
body had been found.
He claimed Brooks came to the
farm Thursday and asked for the
small calibre rifle Brooks had loaned
Schwer several weeks ago, and which
later was found beside the body, with
one bullet fired. Schwer said he had
been using the gun for shooting rab-
bits,