Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1908 — Marder Mystery About Cleared. [ARTICLE]

Marder Mystery About Cleared.

The Gunness murders at LaPorte, the mysterious circumstances, the fiendish manner in which they were dispatched by the arch-murderess, all of which made world-wide notoriety, have practically been cleared up in the past few days. Some of the remains of people found on the farm will never be known but the fact that Mrs. Bella Gunness poisoned herself and two children has been settled by Dr. Walter H. Haines, of Rush Medclal College, Chicago, who analyzed the contents of the three stomachs, those of Mrs. Gunness and her two children, and states that each contained sufficient quantities to produce death and that is sufficient. There is no room for doubt as to what caused the death of all three and it is impossible to conclude that anyone other than the woman administered the fatal potions. Besides this the other circumstances, conditions of the bodies, etc., form conclusive evidence that the adult body found in the ruins of the house was that of Mrs. Gunness and not a cadaver placed there by her to deceive the officials. The idea of Mrs. Gunness having placed the body of another in her house for the purpose stated originated in the fertile brain I of a newspaper correspondent and published broadcast for the purpose of keeping alive interest in the cele- j brated case. It was adopted by the : attorneys for Lamphere as a basis of j defense, for the reason that it was better to create the sentiment that she was still alive and !#it he had not murdered her than to admit that she was dead and thus strengthen the vague possibility of his haviDg killed her by burning the house. But the | finding of the poison in the stomachs is bringing everyone to the unanlmouse conclusion that Mrs. Gunness poisoned herself and children and that Ray Lamphere, who was charged with the murder because of a jealous infatuation for the widow, is merely the unfortunate victim of circumstances that surround a chain of unparalleled tragedies. Lamphere will probably be set free while the remains of the murderess, which are buried in the Chicago cemetery, will not be disturbed for further evi- j dence in the case.