Payette County ID Archives History .....Payette County Sheriff's Investigation--Unidentified Bodies Found 1940 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Patty Theurer seymour784@yahoo.com February 22, 2006, 2:38 am Book Title: REPORT ON BODIES FOUND IN LANGLEY GULTCH, AT NEW PLYMOUTH Friday October 11, 1940, time 1 P. M. Mr. Vernon construction foreman on Black Canyon, notified Sheriff’s Office that a body had been uncovered by Carry-All which was digging a waist ditch in Langly Gulch, Payette County Corner Edith Landon, County Dr. C. C. Paxton, Sheriff Harry H. Muir, Deputy Sheriff Harold Perry and State Police Nichols From Emmett arrived at seen about 2 P. M. and found bodies partly uncovered, the balance was dug out piece by piece and all available evedence including pieces of clothing one celoid comb in lether case and a quanity of auburn brown hair with a strong redish cast. Body was buried about 1 ½ ft. below surface in dry creek bottom on hard pan, the sand on top being very course and sandy. Skull showed very plain to have been crushed by some heavy blow that crushed the skull which indicated murder had been commited before burial. Body appeared to be wraped in a home made piece quilt which was tied with yellow yard, there also was a piece of nit material which looked like a red wosterd sweater, the teeth were very good no dental work, wisdom teeth not yet formed. Remains were brought to Sheriff’s Office for further study to determan and investigation. (Written in the margin is ‘woman 5 ft. 3’) Friday 11, 1940, time 11 P. M. night crew working on same carry-all on covered another body about 70 Ft. North of first one, Reclimation inspector Emanul called Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Muir, Mrs. Landon Corner, and deputy Perry arrived at seen about 12 P. M. and found conditions similar to first case except this one was burred about 20 feet from dry creek bed in 2 ft. of dry sand and had been wraped in mattress quilt and blanket and was in a less stage of decay. It also appeared to had on a coat as the cloth appeared to be all around the arms. The hair found with this body was a Med. Brown rather course and strait. The teeth appeared very good with no dential work and the wisdom teeth were well formed. After gathering all available evidence the remains was brought to the sheriff office for further investigation. (The words ‘rather course and strait’ are crossed out. In the margin is written-‘sandy brown indicating blue eyes, lite complex-big man 5 ft. 11’) OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF CRIMINAL COURTS BUILDING DALLAS, TEXAS October the 14, 1940 Mr. Harry M. Muir Sheriff, Payette, Idaho Re: RICHARDSON, Ardelle Missing Person. Description: Age 34; weight 105; heighth 5’ 3”; brown eyes; light complexion; henna red hair. 1 badly crowded tooth on right side near eye tooth. Small mole on cheek. Dear Sheriff: This woman has been a missing person for the past twelve months. Her mother read the article in the paper of an unidentified woman found in your county, and, over this period of time, she has no idea how her daughter might be dressed, and has no further description that might assist you in identifying this girl. She was suppose to have left Dallas with a man by the name of James Carter alias Slim. Would you be kind enough to compare what meager description I have given you, and if by any chance it fits with the woman found there, kindly advise this department. JED:T Very truly yours, R. A. SCHMID, SHERIFF BY J. E. Decker J. E. Decker, Chief Deputy October 15, 1940 Bureau of Investigation U. S. Dept. of Justice Washington D. C. Dear Sirs; We have two bodys or skeletons recently dug up by a crew digging a drain ditch, which we would like some information as to the proper way to transmit to the F. B. I. laboratory for investigation. The bones and clothing on one is dry enough to handle, but the other is rather green and the blankets parts of clothing ect. are more of a problem. We also wondered if the whole thing should all be snet or just part like the skull. From the chart in bulletin Vol. 8 No. 8 Aug. 1, 1939 we think the one is a woman 5’ 3” in height, and the other a man 5’ 11” and they also show evidence of being murdered. Inclosed is the report from our first findings. Apprecative of any assistance you may be able to give us. Yours truly, Harry H. Muir, Sheriff October 16, 1940 Mr. R. M. Shaw Salem, Oregon Dear Mrs Shaw; Am glad to inform you that the bodys we found would have been impossible to be your daughter, as they have been buried for at least one year and maby five, We are keeping a discription of your daughter, and will keep it in mind in the future. Yours truly, Harry H. Muir, Sheriff October 17, 1940 Mr. R. A. Schmid, Sheriff Dallas County Dallas, Texas Re; Ardella Richardson Missing Person Dear Sheriff; Will give you what information we have at the present, the womans body or skeleton was taken from a dry creek bed and was covered with 1 ½ Ft. of sand, it appeared to be wrapped in a home made piece quilt of which there was only a few pieces left, the rest deteriorating with the body. The hair is auburn with a redish cast, with a natural curl and rather short. The teeth are well formed and even, the upper jaw is short one tooth in front, which may have been pulled in youth, to keep the rest from crowding, this leaves 13 teeth in the uppers, the wisdom teeth either pulled or not yet formed. The lower jaw has a full set of 14 in number with a slight crowding of the right eye tooth. We have determined the height to be 5’ 3”, weight unknown, intend to take picture of the jaws and teeth, and will be glad to send one if you think necessary, It is our opinion that it has been buried two years or more which would tend to eliminate Miss Richardson. We also have a man found the same day buried seventy feet from the woman, which we think was buried at the same time, also wraped in a blanket, quilt and light mattress, this man was 5’ 11” with dark brown hair, and a set of teeth with no dential work, with the wisdom teeth just starting to come through one having a bad cavity but no filling. Intent to have both checked by the F. B. I. which will give us more information, in the mean time will be glad to give any information we can. Yours truly, Harry H. Muir, Sheriff Salt Lake County OFFICE OF SHERIFF Salt Lake City, Utah STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL E. RAYMOND CATO, CHIEF SACRAMENTO November 4, 1940 Mr. Harry H. Muir, Sheriff Payette County, Payette, Idaho Attn: Harold Perry, Deputy Dear Sheriff: With reference to your communication of October 28th regarding two bodies found near New Plymouth, Idaho. A preliminary search of our files fails to locate either of these parties as missing from this State, however we would appreciate receiving further information in order that we may more thoroughly check our records. Can you furnish us with the approximate age and weight of the woman, a description of her wearing apparel and any jewelery she may have been wearing. With reference to the man we would appreciate information regarding his approximate age and weight, description of other clothing or jewelery, make and size of leather coat and size and make of shoes, and any other information you may have regarding this case. Yours very truly, E. RAYMOND CATO, CHIEF CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL By Fred. J. Bly Fred J. Bly, Supervising Inspector Bureau of Auto Theft & Investigations STATE OF OREGON Department of State Police HEADQUARTERS SALEM November 8, 1940 Mr. Harry H. Muir, Sheriff Payette County Payette, Idaho Dear Sirs: The information contained in your recent bulletin relative discovery of two bodies near New Plymouth, Idaho, was given to all members of the department. A search of our records and inquiry of other agencies has failed to disclose information that would assist in identifying these cadavers. Should any information be received later we will advise. Yours very truly, CHARLES P. PRAY, Superintendent By Deputy Superintendent LMB:JS November 9, 1940 E. Raymond Cato, Chief California Highway Patrol Sacramento, Calif. Att: Fred J. Bly, Supervising Inspector Bureau of Auto Theft & Investigation Dear Mr. Cato; With reference to you letter, inquiring for additional information on the bodies which were found near New Plymouth, Idaho, the condition of the bodies and clothing makes it impossible for us to give you an accurate reply. It is our intention to send them to the labrotary at Washington where we believe this information can be determined and we will be glad to pass this report on to you when received. However will give you our opinion on the questions as far as possible. We think the woman was about 25 years of age, around 115 to 125 Lbs. And the only parts of clothing seemed to be part of a red wostred sweeter, her hair may have been henna dyed as the long ends were more red than next to the head, as to jewelery were unable to find any, the only thing buried with her was a mans pocket comb in a leather case. The mans weight may be been around 200 lbs. as every thing indicated he was a large man, with alarge foot as the shoes were size 11 with fairly broad toe of the round type, will inclose a piece of the pant cloth for you to examine, the only jewelry was a cigarette lighter of the flat type, with the picture of a cowboy mounted leading a pack horse, believe his age to be around 30 years, make of shoes not known. Thanking you kindly for helping to solve this case. Yours truly, Harry H. Muir, Sheriff By, Harold Perry, Deputy November 12, 1940 Federal Bureau of Invg. Washington, D. C. Dear Sirs; We are mailing you under separate cover, the clothing and articles found buried near the bodies we uncovered near New Plymouth Idaho on October 11, 1940, will send you the skeletons in a few days, as we have not found any evidence of who they might be. We are sending two packages all taken from the same hole except the envelope, containing the under shirt and shorts which was taken from the grave with the skeleton of the man. Thanking you for any information you can give us. Yours truly, Harry H. Muir, Sheriff By, ________________ r to our letter Oct, 20 For reference, refe r November 15th, 1940 Re:-Unidentified Bodies Henry Muir Sheriff, Payette, Idaho. Dear Sheriff:- The Salt Lake Police Department called me today and told me of the two bodies that you have uncovered in your county. I am making every possible check that I can on my records of Missing Persons. Sheriff is there no way that you could determine the ages of these bodies? If you have any pictures of the bodies, I would appreciate that you would furnish me with them. We will do everything that we can to aid you in establishing the identity of these bodies. Trusting that the above will meet with your approval, I remain, Yours truly, R. C. Jackson R. C. Jackson, Deputy Sheriff, Criminal Dept., Officer in Charge of Missing Persons Bureau. PAYETTE COUNTY, IDAHO OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF PAYETTE, IDAHO Harry H. Muir-Sheriff Clay Killebrew-Deputy DESK REPORT Reported by-Harry H. Muir Subject: Burial of Bodies Date: January 7, 1940 (s/b 1941) Details: The two bodies found in Langly Gulch near New Plymouth Idaho Were turned over the Mr. Brooks, Sexton of River Side Cemetery, For burial, The Lady was marked on the box as Lady X, and The Man Mr. A. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/payette/history/other/payettec20gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/idfiles/ File size: 12.1 Kb