It is alarming how many reports were made of skeletons being found in the wild, under brush, and under homes. If people believe that people in the past were safe from common murder, they are sadly misled. Most of the skeletons found in the past were never identified and in most cases no one was brought to justice.
Skeleton of Unknown Man Found at Haupt
A skeleton with the head completely severed from the body as if hacked off with an axe, found under a brush pile in the woods near Haupt last Wednesday, is expected to reveal one of the most atrocious murders ever committed in this part of the state.
Found by Lumberjack
The skeleton was found partially covered with brush near the headquarters of the Backus & Brooks lumber camp by a lumberjack who was tracking a wounded wolf. The lumberjack was skiing and one of the skis became entangled with the bones of the skeleton and brush covering the skeleton.
The skeleton was dug up and it was found that the head was detached from the rest of the bones. Bones gave appearance of being hacked with an axe. A .22 calibre rifle fully loaded was found lying near the skeleton.
Wolves Eat Flesh
No clothes, papers or letters were found to identify the remains. According to reports, the flesh may’ve been torn from the bones by wolves. Many wolves have been seen in the vicinity during the past few months.
Lumbermen and homesteaders believe that the skeleton is that of a man who was formerly connected with the camp. It is believed that he was killed in an attempted robbery.
Not a Suicide
It is not believed that the skeleton is that of a suicide as the bones were completely covered by brush, the head was severed from the rest of the body and the gun found nearby was loaded to its fullest capacity.
Source: The Bemidji daily pioneer. (Bemidji, Minn.), 01 April 1916.
