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theory of the defense that Mrs. Gun ness killed her children, placed the body of a large woman near them, set fire to the house to cover up her crime, and then fled. If it is discov ered that any of the graves in a Pine Lake cemetery have been disturbed recently Mayor Derrow thinks that this theory will be more or less sub stantiated. Box May Hold Victim. Casual questioning among the vis itors to the farm during the after noon revealed at least three persons who were able to give some assist ance to the men investigating the widow's history. The “tip” regarded as of the most importance was given by Frank Lap ham, a young man whose home until a few years ago was upon one of the farms adjoining that of Mrs. Gun ness. He declared that a wooden boy, from which passersby had noticed foul odors floating, had been dumped from the latter place into the shallow waters of Fishtrap lake about two years ago. He thought that it still was in the same place, and a deputy sheriff will be sent with him to in quire into its contents, if it can be found. His sister, Miss Frances Lapham, told the detectives that only two days before the fire in the Gunness home she and several companions, in cluding Miss Emma Saas, had re quested permission of the widow to cross her farm in order to reach a ball ground which adjoins it. The widow directed them to pass through by a round about way, avoid ing the barnward, and as she was walking beside them said that she expected Jennie Olson, her faster daughter, to return in a short time to prepare for her marriage to a man who, she said, was the “son of a mi nster.” This method of covering her trail also was mentioned by the wife of a LaPorte business man whose name was withheld by the detectives. This woman told Deputy Sheriff Anstiss that shortly before Jennie Olsen's dis appearance Mrs. Gunness asked her to visit the girl and urge her to agree to the plans for sending her to Fer gus Falls, Minn., to school. The ac quaintance did this, and the next time she met Mrs. Gunness was told that the girl had “taken her advice.” Detective Has Theory. Dr. J. Smith, the representative of the Chicago office of the Pinkerton National Detective agency, who has been employed by the county, now is regarded as the highest authority upon the solution to the great mys tery. He has been upon the scene for three days, and, while his actions have been kept secret so far as po sible, it has been learned that his conversations with witnesses have indicated beyond a doubt the conclu sion he already has reached. Briefly his opinion is that Mrs. Gunness lost her life in the fire and that the house was fired by an incendiary. Woman Buys Candy. It was learned today that the day before the fire Mrs. Gunness purchas ed toys, candies and cakes from a n eat store, buying them from Marie Farnheim, a clerk. “EL am going to give the children at home a little treat,” said Mrs. Gun ness. “Is it a birthday party?” asked the clerk. “No, I am just going to give them a little surprise,” she replied. On the next morning the children were charred corpses.
Newspaper Details
La Porte Weekly Herald
La Porte, Indiana, US
Thu, May 14, 1908
Page 15
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 06 Jul 2026
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