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Special Correspondence to The Press. LA PORTE, Ind., May 18.—Thor oughly disgusted with the actions of the officials here, and charging that they are playing politics in stead of making a thorough investi gation of the Gunness murder mys tery, A. K. Helgelein has left for his home in Aberdeen, S. C. The political side of the affair has been glaringly evident for near ly a week.. The Laporte police have lent no assistance to the county authorities. The explanation of fered is that the crimes were com mitted outside their jurisdiction. Mayor Darrow is a law partner of H. W. Worden, attorney for Ray Lamphere. Worden contends stout ly that Mrs. Gunness is still at large and that the body found in the ruins was a substitute. He will base his defense of Lamphere on this claim. The police accord with Worden's view. Prof. Atty Ralph, Smith is of an opposing faction. He charges the mayor withheld the police to assist Worden in his contention. Smith maintains the body found is that of Mrs. Gunness, for whose murder he will prosecute Lamphere. Sheriff Smutzer, while he mini mizes the political aspects of the case, admits the police have not arrested him, and says that had they done so the employment of outside detectives would not have been necessary. The attitude of the coroner alone seems to escape criticism. At the Coroner's physician, who declares there is no doubt the body found in the ruins of the Gunness home is that of the multi-murderess, outset the coroner was of the opin ion that the woman had substituted a body. Now J. H. W. Meyer, coro ner’s physician, holds the body to be that of Mrs. Gunness, her rings having been found on a hand recov ered from the ashes of the ruins. Helgelein, whose detective in stinct led to the discoveries of the bodies of the victims, declares the political feud of the Laporte author ities shall not be permitted to stop the investigation. He declares he will spend every cent of his fortune of $50,000, if necessary, to establish whether Mrs. Gunness is still alive. “My duty,” he says, “is to see both Lamphere and Mrs. Gunness hanged. I will spend my last cent to see this accomplished. The ac tions of the authorities were dis graceful. Not only have they shirked the investigation, but they neglected the bodies. They were allowed to lie out in the rain, then locked up in an old shed and the rats allowed to eat them.” Helgelein believes further that there are others in the case. Be fore leaving he said the letters of Mrs. Gunness to his brother, 82 in all, showed the woman to have had a young woman accomplice in Chi cago. One of the letters, now held by Prosecutor Smith, said: “A nice young woman will meet you in Chicago and entertain you until I arrive.’ The Chicago po lice have been asked to look for “The young woman.” Helgelein has cabled his brother in Norway to have the police there look for Mrs. Gunness. DR. J. H. WM. MEYER,
Newspaper Details
Spokane Press
Spokane, Washington, US
Mon, May 18, 1908
Page 4
Full Page
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USA 06 Jul 2026
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