UNSOLVED ND - Niagara, Six nude bodies buried in crawlspace, c. 1906

[Inthedetails]

OK, think I found a certain rule-out:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH6B-Q94

Nice to know Ethel grew up and got married, lol!

 

[creepedout]

Actually, I think that ironically might not be the same James Yates because Martha was apparently already widowed by 1930 according to that record. But her information alone rules them out.

 

[Inthedetails]

Actually, I think that ironically might not be the same James Yates because Martha was apparently already widowed by 1930 according to that record. But her information alone rules them out.

I don't think James and Martha were married anyway.

James is listed as single in 1900 and Martha is listed as widowed. Martha is also a few years older than James. I'm guessing that James was Martha's deceased husband's brother (though my guessing tonight hasn't been very accurate).

(So glad to find other genealogy fans here!)

 

[creepedout]

OK, so we're back to square one again. Here's my take...

Niagara was such a small town, even at that time, that there shouldn't be that many people to find in its census. Basically, I think anyone who appears in the latest census before the presumed time of the deaths can be considered, and it shouldn't take long to rule most of them out. With so few people to go around, it can't take that long to do, and hopefully it could then be narrowed down to a select few.

If we aren't able to find any possible matches, then we could start using the map, https://goo.gl/maps/eXLPAB85AEL2, and start narrowing down the surrounding towns. Starting with McCanna, Dahlen, and Petersburg perhaps, and see where that leads.

Thoughts on this?

EDIT: Scratch Dahlen off the above list, and any other towns along the same rail line through there. Those towns are too young!

http://www.grandforksherald.com/content/dahlen-nd-marks-100-years

 

[Inthedetails]

If we could find a copy of the Grand Forks Daily Hearld dated closer to the date of discovery of the bodies there might be more accurate info. Every newspaper article shows a little different info. This article dated 28 June 1915 shows, man, woman, and kids. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn89074405/1915-06-28/ed-1/seq-1.pdf a local paper should have more accurate info you would think.

I found a source for the Grand Forks newspapers. I'll let you know if I find anything that looks helpful.

 

[Inthedetails]

From Grand Forks Herald, July 1, 1915
"One of Butler's former housekeepers is said to have noticed a peculiar smell around the place at times. This is supposed to have been caused by the decaying corpses."

IDK about that quote - no name attributed, no date of when the smell was apparent, and no mention of where the smells were strongest. Sort of seems like the reporter is repeating town gossip, but who knows.

 

[Inthedetails]

From Grand Forks Herald, June 30, 1915

"The officials are inclined to believe that the theory which holds that the five skeletons, found in one grave near the south wall of the house, are those of two housekeepers and their children is the correct one.

In regard to the single male skeleton found by itself near the middle of the house the authorities are inclined to believe it is accounted for by the story of a negro laborer once employed by Butler, who is reported to have disappeared suddenly. The solitary skeleton is believed to be his."

Okay, if the group of five were two housekeepers and children, does it make sense that these murders happened in two batches. I'm guessing that a bachelor farmer would require only one housekeeper at a time.

If that is the case, then one housekeeper had one child and the other housekeeper had two children.

?

 

[Inthedetails]

OK, so we're back to square one again. Here's my take...

Niagara was such a small town, even at that time, that there shouldn't be that many people to find in its census. Basically, I think anyone who appears in the latest census before the presumed time of the deaths can be considered, and it shouldn't take long to rule most of them out. With so few people to go around, it can't take that long to do, and hopefully it could then be narrowed down to a select few.

If we aren't able to find any possible matches, then we could start using the map, https://goo.gl/maps/eXLPAB85AEL2, and start narrowing down the surrounding towns. Starting with McCanna, Dahlen, and Petersburg perhaps, and see where that leads.

Thoughts on this?

EDIT: Scratch Dahlen off the above list, and any other towns along the same rail line through there. Those towns are too young!

http://www.grandforksherald.com/content/dahlen-nd-marks-100-years

Right on.

I did go through the 1900 census for Niagara. It's only 8 pages long. I concentrated on male boarders in the Niagara, but now it seems wise to look at females more closely. The tell-tale sign will be the females listed as housekeepers who have child/ren.

 

[Inthedetails]

Interesting details here:

From Grand Forks Daily Herald, June 29, 1915

“Residents of Shawnee and the vicinity state that on two occasions female housekeepers, both of whom had one or more children, were employed by Butler. The latter of the two was employed in 1902.

In both cases Butler is said to have stated to other farmers in the vicinity that he had determined to dismiss the housekeepers because ‘they cost too much.’

The belief now is that instead of dismissing these women, he killed them and their children.

This theory appears to be borne out by a close examination of the five skeletons found together near the south wall of the house foundation.

Two of the skulls appear to be those of women, while one of the remaining three is undoubtedly that of a young child which had not yet cut its second teeth at the time of its death.

The other two skeletons, although badly broken up, are also small, and would seem to be those of children probably between ten and fifteen years of age.

Although the five skeletons were found in a single grave, there is no reason to suppose that they were placed there at the same time. The grave was dug from the outside of the foundation, two of the large boulders, of which that structure was composed having been removed for the purpose.

After the grave had been dug, the bounders were replaced, but were not cemented into place. They could easily have been removed for a second burial. The closeness with with the bodies were packed into the grave lends itself to this theory.

The uppermost skeleton was found about two feet beneath the surface of the ground under the house.

The single skeleton found near the center of the house was apparently that of a large, elderly man. The teeth were badly worn off, giving the presumption of age. What relation, if any, this skeleton bears to the others is not apparent.

The skull of the last named skeleton was uninjured, while all of the others were badly broken over the temple, in a manner indicating a blow from some heavy, blunt instrument.

The house is at present occupied by Leo Verkuehein (Note: or Verkeuheln…unclear) who purchased the farm from Hans Georgeson of Niagara slightly over a year ago. The property came into Mr. Georgeson’s possession two years ago, when the Butler estate was settled up.

Previous to that time the house had been occupied by one Jack Calhoun, since now deceased, and later by Thomas Conway, who is believed to be working as present near Larimore. The supposed murders, however, must have occurred some time before Butler was taken to the insane asylum. ….

…. The place was visited by over 150 people from the surrounding country, many of whom carried off small pieces of the bones as souvenirs.”

 

[52bruno]

Great work Inthedetails. Can you see if you can find a story about him being put in the hospital around the 31 Jan 1904.

 

[Inthedetails]

Great work Inthedetails. Can you see if you can find a story about him being put in the hospital around the 31 Jan 1904.

Yes, I did find one. Hold on a sec and let me find it again....

 

[Inthedetails]

Great work Inthedetails. Can you see if you can find a story about him being put in the hospital around the 31 Jan 1904.

Here you go...

From the Grand Forks Daily Herald Jan 31, 1904

"From brooding over the hallucination that all the widows and old maids in the country wanted to marry him, Farmer Eugene Butler became insane and was committed to the insane hospital at Jamestown.

Butler is about 40 years of age and has lived by himself for a number of years on a valuable farm located at Shawnee, in the western part of the county. He is probably the wealthiest man who has ever been committed to an asylum from this county, his property being valued at from $40,000 to $50,000.

He was brought to the city yesterday morning by Chief of Police Patterson, Larimore, and in two well-worn pocketbooks cash and negotiable papers to the value of nearly $3,000 was found - $550 being in greenbacks.

In addition to the hallucination that all women of marriageable age have designs on him – owing probably to its being leap year – Butler claims that men are in the habit of coming to his home during the night, forcing him to get up and dress and take long walks and horseback rides. The insanity board expressed the opinion that Butler will improve rapidly under treatment at the hospital and it is likely that he will not remain more than six or eight months in confinement.

Judge of Probate Hassell appointed William McLaren as Butler’s guardian.”

 

[Inthedetails]

I don't think any of the widows listed on the 1900 census for Niagara are victims. There are not many, and I think we've accounted for all of them.

I'm going to branch out a bit from the area and see if anything pops up on the census.

 

[52bruno]

Thanks Inthedetails, I thought I had read a small thread about him being committed in 1904, and a lot of the on line info showed 1906. So assuming he was committed in 1904 and the census in 1900 doesn't show any missing women, then in that 4 year period I would say he committed the murders. I believe the 1900 census which shows Augusta Hanke as the house keeper is valid, and we no her and the kids were still alive at a later date. There was a heck of a lot of immigrants in North Dakota during this time frame so chances are it is 2 immigrant women and kids from a neighboring county.

 

[LotsaLatte]

I think he was older than 40 in 1904. It seems news articles and stories tend to lack solid facts back then lol. Lots of speculation, rumors, gossip, etc.
I know that people absolutely wandered looking for work and that included young men. I have seen 11 year olds that were "hired" farm labor, etc. It may be really hard to track down who these victims were I am really hoping for some of the bones, teeth, etc. to show up for DNA/Forensic testing.

 

[Inthedetails]

Thanks Inthedetails, I thought I had read a small thread about him being committed in 1904, and a lot of the on line info showed 1906. So assuming he was committed in 1904 and the census in 1900 doesn't show any missing women, then in that 4 year period I would say he committed the murders. I believe the 1900 census which shows Augusta Hanke as the house keeper is valid, and we no her and the kids were still alive at a later date. There was a heck of a lot of immigrants in North Dakota during this time frame so chances are it is 2 immigrant women and kids from a neighboring county.

I'm also thinking it could be someone who arrived after 1900 so didn't show up on the census. Also, a newcomer who went missing might not be noticed by the locals - and a newcomer might also be more "suspicious" to a paranoid person who thinks women want to marry him.

And, actually, I can easily imagine a widow with children would indeed like to marry a rich bachelor farmer. That's not a crime...but to a paranoid person, it could certainly feel threatening.

It's a needle in a haystack for sure.

 

[52bruno]

LotsaLatte, you are right I was reading that there was over 30,000 German immigrants alone who went to North Dakota during this time. Unless some bones are turned in for DNA testing, and someone doing a family history finds out that they had family members last seen in North Dakota, I don't see much chance of solving this. There is just not enough accurate records available.

 

[Inthedetails]

Thanks Inthedetails, I thought I had read a small thread about him being committed in 1904, and a lot of the on line info showed 1906. So assuming he was committed in 1904 and the census in 1900 doesn't show any missing women, then in that 4 year period I would say he committed the murders. I believe the 1900 census which shows Augusta Hanke as the house keeper is valid, and we no her and the kids were still alive at a later date. There was a heck of a lot of immigrants in North Dakota during this time frame so chances are it is 2 immigrant women and kids from a neighboring county.

Now that you mention Hanke, I wonder if she was ever interviewed. Newspaper articles mention that authorities were looking for former employees.

 

[Inthedetails]

LotsaLatte, you are right I was reading that there was over 30,000 German immigrants alone who went to North Dakota during this time. Unless some bones are turned in for DNA testing, and someone doing a family history finds out that they had family members last seen in North Dakota, I don't see much chance of solving this. There is just not enough accurate records available.

There were indeed thousands of immigrants, but not necessarily that many who went through Niagara. Seems like it's always been a small town. But, yes, many, many people did pass through, I'm sure.

 

[52bruno]

Inthedetails, Augusta Hanke was a widowed German immigrant who obviously moved from New York to somewhere in North Dakota prior to working at the Butler farm, unless she saw a ad in a newspaper. I would also say if it is 2 women and kids murdered, were also widows or single mothers, and would most likely only go to the Butler farm because of a ad. I can't see them coming from long distances away. And if they were married I'm sure their husbands would have come looking for them.