Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1858 — MYSTERY – PROBABLE MURDER. [ARTICLE]

MYSTERY - PROBABLE MURDER.

We received tHe following letter from Dr. Salter too late lbr publication last Wednesday:' “Fhancisville; May 5, 1858. “Mr. D. F. Davies: “Dear Sir —The body of an unknown female was found; yesterday, about one mile from this town, near what is called the ‘Hickory Grove;’ oh the east side of the Monon creek, and, from ihe decomposed condition of the body, must have been dead for several months. It is supposed to been that of a woman from thirty-five to forty years of age, of medium size, and of rather delicate „make. There were some .goldplated artificial teeth found loose in the mouth.

“What makes this case mysterious is, that no such person has ever been missed from this section of country. The verdict of ihe Coroner’s Jury was that she came to her death from some) cause unknown. “Respectfully, W. H. Salter.”

We have conversed with several gentlemen-, from Fraricisville and vicinity, and learned from them that the universal impression there that the woman was murdered*, and had lain in a slough under the ice for* several months. She had the appearance of having.received a wound in the left breast, which was slightly bruised and stained with blood, but the body was too far gjone into a decomposed state to ascertain whether it was a wound or not. We received the following froim F. T. Drake,Esq., acting Coroner:

CORONER’? INQUEST. FOUND, on the] fourth day of May, 1858, in Pulaski county, Indiana, the body of a woman supposed to lies;about the middle age, about live feet high, complexion unknown; had marks or scars, but could not determine that they had been inflicted by violent hands; had on no clothes save an old velvet vraist, with satin gleeVes, a white undershirt, blue stockings, old shoes, and light-colored cotton gloves, a set of artificial teeth, seven in number, and earrings in her ears; no other property about the body. The name of the rers-on and cause of death unknown. Supposed to have been dead about three months. Verdict of the Jury in accordance witli the above. F. T„.DRAKE, Esq., Coroner for the time bping. Papers please cbpy for the interest of the friends. It would appear, from the earrings, artificial teeth, remnants of dress, &c., that she was a woman in easy circumstances.