? Article #1

Tribune 15 July 1914

The skeleton of the man found by Wm. Procknow at DeSoto a couple of weeks ago is believed to be that of Lewis Trobridge, who formerly lived at Tabor, Iowa. In answer to a letter written by Stanley Pierce, a gentleman by the name of Chas. Bartlett of Imogene, Iowa, writes that Lewis Trobridge was his chum and that he formerly lived at Tabor, but after his wife died some five years ago he purchased land at Tampico, Mexico, and went down there; and, as an agent for an Omaha real estate firm, was the manager of a ranch for the company, and that he had returned from Mexico and that he had seen him in Kansas City last winter, where he went under the assumed name of Seely, while operating on the board of trade. He also states that he stayed with him for a time at the Troy Hotel, in Kansas City. Mr. Bartlett gave the name of Dr. McKittrich of Tabor, who could probably locate his relatives, and in an answer from the Dr. Wednesday evening Mr. Pierce learned that Trobridge had two brothers, one Shuman Trobridge of Des Moines, who runs a nursery there, and another brother, Harry Trobridge who lives at Denver. Mr. Pierce has written to both brothers. From letters from three or four different parties they all tell about the same story of the man. U. S. Reeves, who lives north of Blair, says he has known Lewis Trobridge since he was ten years old and he used to be a stock raiser back in Illinois and that later he was engaged in the same business near Tabor, but after his wife died he sold out and had been living a life of ease and had made his home in Tampico, Mexico, Kansas City and Omaha. The supposition of the coroner is that he was murdered for his money and placed in a lonely spot to hide the crime, and if found to lead to the suicide theory.

Article #2

Tribune 1 July 1914

The badly decomposed body of a man was found about three o’clock Wednesday afternoon on a high bluff between DeSoto and Ft.. Calhoun by Wm. Procknow, and was brought to Blair by Coroner Pierce, who, from the condition of the remains, believe that the man had been dead fully six months.

The body was clothed in a gray suit, heavy winter underwear, blue calico shirt and dark green hat. There were quite a number of gold crowned teeth and bridge work in his mouth.

A Colt’s revolver, with one empty chamber, was lying beside the remains and one finger was through the trigger guard. A bullet hole in the temple gave further evidence of suicide. The left hand was tied to a tree, probably to prevent the body from rolling down the bluff. In his pockets were found maps and a letterhead of a hotel in Leroy, no state given. On the maps were the names of O. H. Hazel, Leroy; Elmer Meisner, L.L. Anderson, Ed Hearst and Carl Sols or Sots. There was no money. An open-faced watch cartridge belt and holster and a half-bottle of whiskey and minor articles were found.

The body appeared to be that of a man of about 40 years of age.

Article #3

Tribune 8 July 1914

To Hold Remains

Corner Pierce still has the remains of the man found on the bluffs below DeSoto last Thursday and is holding them in the hope of getting some clue as to their identity. The theory that the man had committed suicide has been exploded now that the coroner has had time to examine the body; no holes have been found in the underwear from the neck to the hips; and the report that a bullet hole had been found in the head is erroneous. Coroner Pierce also claims that it would be impossible for a man to tie himself to a tree in the manner the remains were found, and is of the opinion that the remains were placed where found to cover up some crime. Names of several different parties and their addresses were found in the papers on the body and these men have been written to. Two have answered, but nothing definite has been learned.—Dispatch to World-Herald

Article # 4

Tribune 22 July 1914

The coroner’s inquisition held over the remains of the late Lewis Trowbridge was held at the city hall Saturday afternoon. After the examination of witness and an examination of the skull of the dead man the jury brought in a verdict that he came to his death by being struck on the back of the head by some blunt instrument. Upon the examination of the skull it was found that an indention was made in the back of the head at the base of the brain and that the skull was fractured nearly two thirds of the way around. It is the general opinion that the man was murdered for his money and the body tied to the tree as found with the thought of leading to a suicide theory in case the body was found before only the skeleton remained. Shuman Trobridge, a brother from Des Moines was present at the inquest and took the remains back with him to Des Moines for interment. ~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~