HEADLESS BODY OF PATRICK NEVINS IS FOUND IN RUINS

NEVINS, KALLENBERGER, HINTERMEISTER

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2010 at 16:18:26

Source: LCHS scrapbook

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY OCCURS IN VICINITY OF GRANDVIEW

BODY WAS FOUND IN CELLAR

Son Say House Caught Fire by Old Man Lighting His Pipe - Old Man Not Able to Get Out of the House. Son Sounds Alarm.

What may prove to be one of the most horrible crimes in the history of this vicinity or a most lamentable accident according to what the facts in the case develop occurred yesterday morning shortly after 3 o'clock at the home of Patrick Nevins, near Grandview, in Louisa county, resulting in the death of Mr. Nevins and the burning of the house which contained his dead body. The house was entirely consumed by the flames and when the body was found it was lying in the cellar on the ground, only the trunk being left. The head, arms and limbs were all missing, having evidently burned off. No one knows what caused the fire or whether or not the man was burned to death or was dead before the fire started.

Son Only Other Occupant

The only other occupant of the house was Tom Nevins, a son of the dead man, who first reported the fire to the neighbors. The son was placed under surveillance immediately and was practically in custody until released by the coroner's jury. He seems utterly unable to tell the same story twice and apparently was not in a condition to know anything definite about any of the occurrences among other things that the house was set on fire by a match which his father used to light his pipe and afterward threw on the floor, setting fire to the mattress of the bed and then the building. He states that he also was nearly consumed by the flames and that he made every effort to save his father, but was forced to abandon him on account or the flames.

Tells Variety of Stories

Fred Hintermeister, of Nebraska street, in South Muscatine, visited the place yesterday and the son stated to him that he was asleep in the house when he was awakened by the smoke and fumes of the fire. He hastened to investigate, he claimed and tried to carry out his father, but was forced to leave him at the bottom of the stairs and hasten out to get some fresh air. When he attempted to return he was cut off by the flames and could not reach his father to bear him to safety. In another story he states that his father was dead and he tried to carry out his dead body. In both cases he claimed that the fire was started by a match. which his father had used and thrown away after lighting his pipe.

Notified a Neighbor

The first that was known of the fire was when the son notified J.B. Longstreth, a neighbor living within less than a mile of the house. Mr. Longstreth hastened to dress and accompany the son to the house, but when they arrived on the scene, the house was already burned to the ground and there was no possibility of doing anything to either save the house or the man who lay dead within. As soon as possible search for the remains of the old man was instituted and he was found in the cellar burned to a crisp and the head, arms, and limbs missing. The coroner and other officials were notified and the body was taken charge of by Charles Wagner, coroner of Louisa county, at whose home an inquest was held this morning at 9 o'clock. The constable at Wapello and also the county attorney were notified and the former kept the son under surveilance while the latter went up to Grandview this morning to investigate the case.

John Dickerson Drove Past

At three o'clock in the morning John Dickerson, one of the neighbors, drove past the house and he noticed nothing at that time. It was not much more than an hour later when the son notified J.B. Longstreth of the fire and the house had been almost entirely burned at that time.

The fact that no trace of the man's head was found was peculiar as physician's hold that some of the bones of the head would withstand fire longer than the trunk and that some trace of the head should have been found as long as there was anything left of the body. It was thought this morning that perhaps in raking the ashes the man's head might be found in some other part of the house, which would indicate that his head was severed before the fire had consumed the house. Investigations were pursued in the ashes along this line for some time today in the hope of throwing further light on the case.

No Ashes Under Body

Another detail of peculiar significance, as told by a party who assisted in caring for the body yesterday is the fact that there were no ashes under the man's body on the ground. The statement was made by this party that the ground underneath the man's body was clean and free from ashes, although there was a great deal of debris and ashes all around the man on the floor of the cellar. The bed in which Nevins was said by the son to have been lying was on the second floor and to have fallen through two floors to the cellar would have taken some time and would not have occurred until the fire had progrssed to a considerable extent. And before the man's body would have reached the floor of the cellar it is certain that considerable ashes and bits of burning wood would have preceded the body to the floor, which condition was not found to be the case. Statements are freely made by many in the vicinity that the body must have been placed there before the fire.

Ordered a Coffin Previously

The story was given out this morning at a local undertaking establishement to the effect that some time ago the son Tom came to Muscatine and ordered a hearse and coffin to the Nevins home, stating that his father was dead and that he wished them to take charge of the remains and bury them. When the party arrived in the vicinity of the home with the hearse an old man was met on the road, of whom the driver inquired where Patrick Nevins lived. The old man inquired why they desired the information and was given the reply that they wanted to get his body for burial. The old man replied, "Alright, here I am. My name is Patrick Nevins." The coffin and the hearse were brought back to the city.

Had Been in Town Last Week

Both men had been in Muscatine during the greater part of last week and both had been on a protracted spree and were seen by a large number of people in an intoxicated condition. They were evidently not in much better condition Sunday morning when the tragedy occurred.

Was Robbed Recently

A short time ago the man was robbed in his own house according to reports from the vicinity. He had arrived at home and just as he stepped through the door a blanket was thrown over his head and all the money in his possession was taken from him.

Patrick Nevins is well known in this part of the country, having lived in this vicinity for a number of years. His many friends were grieved to hear of his unfortunate death. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Christ Kallenberger, of Louisa; Mrs. John Hintermeister, of this city and Miss Maggie, of Mount Pleasant, and two sons, Tom and Sam.