Mystery Tour In A Buick 8

When last heard of, he wore a business suit and cap, dark flannel shirt, collar fastened with pearl buttons, and a dark tie. He was chief clerk in the passenger depot of the Northwestern Railroad at Sioux City. Roy and Glen Armour of Sioux City, Iowa arrived here today in search of trace of their brother, Clyde d Armour, who started for Fresno, California, from Denver, Colorado, October twenty second, in an automobile with a traveling companion name unknown, who responded

to an advertisement in a Denver paper. The car was an eight cylinder oldsmobile. Armor was heard of at Trinidad the same evening and next day at Wagonmound, New Mexico, where he was reported to be with the unknown man. On the night of October twenty third, a young man answering the description of Armour's traveling companion, arrived in Santa Fe, registered at a local hotel as Clyde d. Armour, wired Armour's relatives and succeeded in getting them to send them

five hundred dollars. He was about twenty five years old, five feet nine inches, light hair, and well groomed. Armour's brothers say the hand rise of the telegrams copies of which they saw here is not that of their brother.

They are confident the mysterious stranger murdered their brother. They learned today that the impostor was last seen in Albuquerque on October thirtieth or thirty first, when he sold the Oldsmobile to Harry Hammond and Odie Dyer of that city and boarded a train for California.

missing brother. I'm true crime historian Richard O. Jones, and for your horror and indignation, I give you mystery Tour in a Buick eight. The Vanishing of Clyde Armor. September twenty ninth, nineteen sixteen, Clyde E Arthur, aged thirty two, leaves Siue City, Iowa, his home with his mother and sister for Fresno, California, traveling in a new eight cylinder fourteen hundred dollars Odesmobilectober seventh, Miss Agnes Armour, his sister, is taken ill at Clark, Nebraska, where she goes to

a hospital for a week. Accompanied by her mother, Clyde e Armour proceeds to Denver by motor. October nineteenth. Clyde e Armour appeals to YMCA and Denver for aid to find a suitable traveling companion to motor with them to Fresno, California. No one is available.

same night in Trinidad, Colorado. October twenty third, noon, Armor and companion arrive in Wagonmound, New Mexico, where they are seen by several people. Armour also mails a postcard showing a picture of himself beside a motor to a brother in Dakota City, Nebraska. The card is postmarked San Jose,

New Mexico, a short distance from Las Vegas. October twenty third, Monday night, a young man representing himself as ce Armour arrives in Santa Fe alone in an oldsmobile registered at the Montezuma Hotel, takes room twenty five and sends a telegram which he has charged October twenty fourth to twenty seventh, a man representing himself to be ce Armour plays high jinks in Santa Fe, later taking several people out odoring to Albuquerque. In return. While here he spends large sums

of money on drink et cetera. October twenty seventh. Ce Armor wires Myron L. Sawyer, brother in law, in Fresno, California, for money for repairs on motor car. October twenty eighth, a young man representing himself to be CE Armor cuts a wide swath in Albuquerque, spending large sums of money in saloons and hotels. October twenty ninth, same young man sells Oldsmobile car almost new for five hundred dollars to

two Albuquerque men. October thirtieth, same young man leaves at night on Pullman for Los Angeles, taking no baggage with him, but saying he has told hotel clerk to send it after him. October thirty first, a man who signs himself CE Armor wires Missus Mary E. Armor of Fresno, California, quote,

have sold car coming on train unquote. November thirteenth, Missus Armor worried at son's delay starts investigation her son in law, Myron L. Sawyer of Fresno, a Santa Fe Railway official, visiting Needles and Albuquerque to get information on ce Armour. Never suspecting foul play and imposition, he makes a four page written report to C. E. Armour's brother, but finds no trace of Clyde E. Armor. November seventeenth or thereabouts, Myron L. Sawyer visits Los Angeles and San Diego in

search of his brother in law, but without success. December fourteenth, Glen Armor of Dakota City, Nebraska and Roy Armor of Hubbard, Nebraska arrive in Santa Fe and consult with attorney Melvin T. Dunlovy about the fate of their brother, declaring that signatures on the Montezuma Hotel register of October twenty third is a forgery. They say their brother was undoubtedly murdered and an impostor has been at work, getting at least four hundred dollars in money from their mother and selling a

car for five hundred dollars, which some he pocketed. December fifteenth, police and detectives in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Iowa are put to work on the strange disappearance of Clyde E. Armor, and a reward is offered for any

information leading to the recovery of his body. The identity of the alleged murderer of Clyde E. Armoor Railway chief clerk at Sioux City, Iowa, is believed to have been ascertained this afternoon, when an inspection of the register of the Troy Hotel in Las Vegas revealed that E. W. Blansett registered with Clyde E. Armour on the night of

October twenty second. This is the first information obtained concerning the identity of the Denver man who replied to the advertisement placed in the Denver post by Clyde Armour seeking a traveling motor companion to Fresno, California. Both young men

registered Fresno, California after their names. While the name E. W. Blansett may be fictitious, still it is a striking coincidence that when the postor representing himself as Armor arrived at the Montezuma Hotel the night of October twenty third and was handed a pen by the clerk of the hotel, he wrote E as the initial of his first name. Then hurriedly changed it to a C. The curious double letter may be seen at the hotel register, now kept in a vault by the management of the Montezuma Hotel.

The discovery that Clyde Armour and his alleged murderer were in Las Vegas the night of October twenty second is a confirmation of the theory of Attorney Melvin Dunlevy and the brothers of Clyde Armor that the missing man got past Las Vegas on his way to Santa Fe. It seems certain now that Clyde Armour reached San Jose this side of Las Vegas, where he mailed a postcard to

his sister. The discovery that Clyde Armour passed through Las Vegas will materially reduce the miles of country which will have to be gone over in order to find the body of the young man supposed to have been dead over six weeks. Mister Dunlevy and his party, consisting of the Armor brothers and an interpreter, which left this morning by motor to scour the woods from here to San Jose, are expected to return to the city late tonight up

to four o'clock. This afternoon. No word had been heard from them by wire or phone, but no message was expected as to their success or failure until their return here. A long distance phone call from Las Vegas to the Santa Fe, New Mexican this afternoon stated that the people in Las Vegas are much interested in the murder, and several of them recall the arrival in that city of Armour and Blancet. Every effort will be made to find any trace of the missing man or around Las Vegas.

Was Clyde E Armour, aged thirty two, single railway chief clerk of Sioux City, Iowa, carefully brought up by his mother and reared under the influence of the YMCA, murdered in cold blood as he was motoring with the strange companion from Wagonmound to Santa Fe on the afternoon of October twenty third, and was the young man, also in the early thirties, about the height or perhaps two inches taller of Clyde E Armour, who registered at the Montezuma

Hotel in the night of October twenty third as armor and was assigned Room twenty five. The murderer, who impersonated the sious city man for the purpose of robbing his relatives of some four hundred dollars and then selling his

car for five hundred dollars. Or was Clyde e Armour, hard working railway clerk of Sioux's City, carefully brought up by his mother an influence for good by the YMCA, a victim of what psychologists call an hysterical explosion resulting in mental confusion, even to the extent of donning a double personality, as described by the author of Doctor Jekyll

and Mister Hyde. Did this mental confusion suddenly transfer this amiable, moral, temperate, honest young man into a dissolute, thieving fellow who took midnight joy rides with questionable company, who drank so much that when he sought a shave at a local barbershop he had to be propped up three times during the operation, who spent money like a young Pittsburgh millionaire, and who finally departed just eight days after he landed in New Mexico with a ticket for Los Angeles in one hand

and no baggage in the other. These are the questions that are puzzling Santa Feans and others who read yesterday in the New Mexican of the strange case of Clyde E. Armour, perhaps the strangest case that has come to the attention of the people of the Capitol in many decades. No, my brother was not the dissolute, the intemperate man who

flew around Santa Fe. Toward the end of October, declared Glen Armour, an older brother of Dakota City, Nebraska, as he sat in the office of State Senator Melvin T. Dunlevy in the Laughlin Building and unfolded a startling tale of alleged murder, robbery, intemperance, and deception. Quote. Clyde was

always a temperate, careful good boy. But the queer actions of the young man who came to Santa Fe and registered in Clyde's name, who forged Clyde's name to the hotel registers and telegrams, had even some of my relatives fooled. They almost believed that poor Clyde had gone dippy and become drink crazed and fast. That's why this shocking murder has not been discovered, and that is why the murderer

is today roaming around god knows where without handcuffs. Mister Armour said that he recognized the possibility of any young man, especially one who has worked for months in an office, of getting a little boisterous went out on a trip. But my brother has traveled so much using railroad passes, that he was thoroughly familiar with the West. He had been away from Sioux City again and again. He never

behaved in an improper manner. And only when I received a report of the curious conduct of the young man who visited Santa Fe and Albuquerque, painting both cities read that I declared, as did my brother, Roy Armor of Hubbard, Nebraska, that these actions were not those of Clyde Armor, but an impostor. Mister Armor admitted that he has greatly puzzled that at least five prominent men in Albuquerque declared to

be his brother in law. Mister Sawyer of Fresno, California, that the description of Clyde Armor fitted that of the young man who was buying wine and whiskey for scores of people in saloons and hotels in Albuquerque, and who was taking his newly made friends out joy riding. It's a case of mistaken identity, said mister Armour. The young men were nearly the same age, nearly the same height, both blondes, and no doubt my poor brother was murdered by this impostor. He was robbed by some of his

clothes and his cap to facilitate the deception. Mister Armer said he is convinced that his brother's body is now lying under the pinion trees somewhere near the road from San Jose to Santa Fe, and that it has been lying there since the afternoon of October twenty third quote.

Here's my theory. My brother arrived in Denver with the Oldsmobile carr He went to the YMCA asking whether the officials there knew of any young man who would like to accompany him to Fresno, California, paying his own expenses, just for the pleasure of the trip. We have letters from Clyde telling us much no young man was recommended.

Then Clyde had the misfortune to advertise for a companion, and a strange young man about whom he knew absolutely nothing, showed up and said he would like to make the trip on the way from Denver to Wagonmound. This stranger, this impostor, this murderer, talked to my brother and found that he had a number of papers with him showing the place of residence of his mother in California. He also found out where he had purchased the Oldsmobile car

from mister Schoburg of Sioux City. I believe that this impostor lured my brother away from the car after they had passed San Jose, telling him he had seen some game. There were two guns and a revolver in the car for Clyde Love to hunt from the road. This impostor took a shot of my brother, in my opinion, and killed him in cold blood, leaving the body in a canyon, probably stripped off the coat and cap, and proceeded on

his way here to Santa Fe. Arriving in Santa Fe, as far as I've been able to ascertain, the impostor put up the Oldsmobile car he had stolen at a garage on Don Gasper Avenue. There he met a man e. A. Leavenworth, representing the Northwestern Life Insurance Company, who had seen them in Wagonmound. The impostor was asked where his companion was, and he replied, I left that son of a gun and Wagonmound. We didn't get on that well. Then it was the impostor began to carry out the deception concerning

his identity. He walked to the Montezuma and took a room. When he registered, he began to write the letter E, but, remembering that would not do, changed to E into a C, which is the way Clyde registered, simply C E E armor, he added Sioux City, Iowa. Arriving in Santa Fe, the impostor found himself short of money. The Montezuma Hotel register shows that ten dollars was advanced CE armor, and knowing our mother's address, this murderer wired her in Fresno for

one hundred and fifty dollars. This telegram was not delivered, however, until October thirtieth, as mother was out at the ranch some miles from Fresno. The impostor waited three days, and then, growing desperate for money, probably having spent all he found on my brother's body, wired on October twenty seventh to

my brother in law, mister Sawyer. This wire was sent from Albuquerque and stated that one hundred and fifty dollars was needed immediately to pay for repairs of the car, and he added that the money should be sent to Magdalena, New Mexico. Mister Sawyer wired one hundred and fifty dollars, but that sum was not delivered for reasons that were later apparent. After flying around Albuquerque, this impostor spent so much money that he decided it was necessary to sell

the car. He disposed of the Oldsmobile for five hundred dollars to Odi Dyer, desk clerk at the Combs Hotel, Albuquerque, and to Hanlan. I understand these men later sold it to an Elpaso man for seven hundred dollars. They undoubtedly bought it in good faith, for it appears that they or someone wired to the Oldsmobile dealer mister Schoburg and Sioux City, Iowa, asking whether a car, if such make and number, had been sold originally to C. E. Armor.

A telegram came back and replied that C. E. Armor was the rightful possessor of the car. Then this impostor decided to beat it to Los Angeles and bought a ticket to that city. We know that there was only one ticket sold in Albuquerque the night of October twenty third, farther west than flag Staff, and the records show it was to Los ane Angelis. Moreover, there were two men, a mister Hall and a mister Rich, who saw the impostor board the pullman in Albuquerque for the Pacific Coast

arrived at Needles. The impostor had the nerve to wire my mother have sold car coming on train, no doubt, to quiet her fears as to her son's whereabouts, so as to give him more time to get away. Mister Armer explained that the plan of the impostor was carried out successfully. Missus Armor did not notify the police and put no detectives on the trail of the man who had been wiring to her for money in her son's name.

She waited patiently for the young man who had left her at Clark's, Nebraska, and had written interesting letters from Denver and had sent her postcards from Trinidad, Colorado, Wagon Mound, and San Jose, New Mexico. He had not asked for

any financial aid until he reached Santa Fe. The telegrams from Santa Fe said indicated that the trip from Colorado had been so severe that extensive repairs to the automobile were necessary, and several weeks delay here were anticipated by mister C. E. Armor Finally, after awaiting two weeks, Missus Armor became so alarmed about the actions of the man she believed to be her son, she communicated with mister Sawyer,

her son in law, and he started an investigation. Mister Sawyer took the first train to Needles, where he looked at the telegram sent from that place telling of the sale of the automobile. He could not identify the handwriting, for Clyde wrote a clear clerical hand, whereas the writing of the message was rather rough. But supposing that the young man perhaps had been under the weather, mister Sawyer

proceeded to Albuquerque. It was after he inquired around that city as to the conduct of ce Armor that mister Sawyer became more or less disgusted. He decided to keep the matter as quiet as possible, for he did not wish to hurt the feelings of Clyde's mother by telling her that the young man had been spending money like water and indulging in drinks much stronger. So mister Sawyer gathered all the information he could, talked with various people

who described his brother in law to a tea. Then he sat down and wrote a four page letter to

Glen Armour, Clyde's brother. After Roy Armour read the letter, he rushed over to see his brother Glenn and Hubbard, Nebraska, and they read and re read the letter, finally exclaiming, our brother has been murdered and this man is an impostor, and now the search has begun for the body of Clyde E Armour, who is believed by his family to have been cut down in the prime of young manhood to satisfy the money craving instincts of a fast, unscrupulous

young man, now a fugitive from justice whom the police are seeking all over the Southwest on the charge of murder in the first degree. Attorney Melvin T. Dunlevy, accompanied by Roy Armour and Glen Armour and James Chavez of this city as an interpreter, started out by motor at sunrise to search for the body of Clyde E. Armor, which they firmly believe will be found in the brush

not far from the Santa Fe Las Vegas Highway. They think that the body is now in some arroyo between this city and the village of San Jose, San Miguel County. As a basis for this assumption. They assumed that the postcard mailed from San Jose October twenty third and signed Clyde was really written by Clyde e Armor. Mister Dunlevy receiving a telegram late last night from mister Sawyer, Fresno, California, declaring that the writing on the postcard could not have

been anyone's but Clyde Armours. It is well known, however, that motorists write cards in one town and then mail them in the next, or have someone made them, and it seems just possible that Clyde Armer wrote such a card in Las Vegas and intended to mail it somewhere on the road. Perhaps the impostor mailed at forum to deepen the mystery.

woods and maces between here and Las Vegas. In the search conducted under the direction of Clyde Armour's brothers, Glenn and Roy Armour, who offered one thousand dollar reward for the body. Photos of Albert W. Blansett are positively identified here as those of the man claiming to be Armour. The same people declare that they have never seen the man shown in the photos of Armor. On the arrival of Blancet here in his positive identification. If he is guilt,

a confession is expected. Albert W. Blansett is the son of Missus Charles Baker, and he returned to Friday Harbor, Washington, November fourth, presumably from San Francisco, after an absence of six months. He was arrested by Sheriff George Meade of San Juan County, Washington State, on a fugitive charge on information that he was wanted in New Mexico on the charge of murder. Blansett took his arrest calmly and was silent, except to say that he was not guilty of any crime.

At the time of his arrest, Blancett was getting on the steamer Rosa Lee to go to richardson Low Pez Island to spend New Year's Day with his mother and relatives, who operate a logging camp in that vicinity. After his arrest, he asked permission to have a talk with his mother. The sheriff granted the request and took him over Sunday to see his mother. Blancet carried a box of candy and a few other gifts for the family. On arriving at the camp, Blancet asked to unpack the things he

had brought and stepped into one of the vacant tenthouses nearby. Suddenly, a gunshot was heard by the sheriff, who was taken by surprise as he had been cautious to see that Blanct had no weapons on him. The sheriff rushed into the vacant tent to find Blancet lying on his back in a pool of blood and a shotgun on the floor. Blancet entering the tenthouse, apparently discovered the shotgun and instantly placed the end of the barrel to his throat and

pulled the trigger. The entire charge of shot entered at the base of the neck and passed out at the back, inflicting an ugly wound about an inch in width, but the charge of the shot struck no vital part. When the sheriff leaned over the body of the young man, the victim was still conscious. The sheriff asked Blancett why he had fired the shot, and Blancet murmured, I could

not tell mother. Doctor Reid was summoned and the physician hurried Blants it to the hospital after expressing the opinion that the wound was a most remarkable one and would not be fatal if no complications ensued. Blancett is but twenty three years of age and had made Friday Harbor his home for the past twelve years. He was graduated from the Friday Harbor High School in nineteen fourteen and was looked upon as a boy of excellent ability, but he early developed the drink habit and a tendency to

follow a wild life. The present culmination of his short career is not regarded as surprising by his acquaintances. Blancett's mother is heartbroken over the tragedy. Following a wire from Marshall Mead and Friday Harbor, a town of four hundred people on San Juan Island, Washington, constituting San Juan County close to the British Columbia line, that Blancet had been arrested, Preparations were made to have the alleged slayer of Clyde Armour of Sioux City, Iowa, brought at once to Santa Fe.

As Blanset asked time until Monday to decide whether he would demand extradition, requisition papers were made out naming Chief of Police J. R. Galusha of Albuquerque as the officer who should bring back the prisoner to face the charge of making away with his motor companion somewhere between Santa Fe and Valley Ranch, impersonating the victim here and at

Albuquerque selling his car and vanishing. Friday Harbor is thirty miles by steamer southeast of Bellingham, Washington, center of a grain, fruit and stock country with a big sam and cannery, lime works, and fisheries. To reach it at this season, it is necessary to travel by sleigh to the island.

Galusha will take with him the register of the Troy Hotel of Las Vegas showing the name of E. W. Blansett written there by Armour's companion on October twenty third, and also local and Albuquerque hotel registers showing the fake

signature of C. D. Armour. The arrest of Blansett in the far northwestern corner of the United States is believed to have been the result of information received from San Juan County, New Mexico, where Blancett was born and raised, and a peculiar coincidence that his present home is in San Juan County, Washington. Sheriff Duffer and others in the New Mexico County aided Attorney Dunlevy of this city, who has had charge of the search for the brothers of

Clyde Armour. Attorney Dunlevy and the brothers believe that they have the strongest kind of a case against Blansett. It is said evidence has been secured showing positively that he left Denver as a hired companion for a motor trip with a man to Fresno, California, and that his record has not been of the best. Attorney Dunlevy has photos of Blanket which he showed local people Sunday and yesterday. They were positively identified as those of the man who

represented himself here to be Armour. The fact that Armour's companion registered in Las Vegas as Blantcet and started to write an e at the Montezuma Hotel here before he wrote the name of C. D. Armour on the register are regarded as valuable evidence. The photos looked nothing like

those of Armor. A new complaint was filed against Blanket when attorney Melvin Dunlevy, representing the Armor Brothers, filed a charge of larceny, charging Blanset was stealing an Oldsmobile eight from Clyde Armour and missus Mary Armour, and that the old bill was valued at twelve hundred dollars and was stolen somewhere near the Arroyo Hondo on October twenty third

of last year. Selso Lopez, the new county sheriff, stated this morning that he would call a public meeting of citizens at the courthouse tonight to arouse sentiment for forming a searching party of one hundred or more people to scour the woods for the body of Clyde Armor. Quote. I think that a systematic search should be made and that no time should be lost. I think that we should hunt for that body from Santa Fe to Gloriata.

And I am confident that the sensational turn in the Armor mystery in the arrest of a man named Blancett, will do much to arouse the people of this county to action. Unquote. Sheriff Lopez said that he regretted that he had not been in office in the time to go after blant It in the state of Washington, but that if Blancid is extradited to New Mexico, the young man will undoubtedly brought to Santa Fe to answer the

charges filed against him. It is believed by many that the arrest of Blansett was due largely to the hint he himself gave to his real identity and former place of residence when he stated to George A Camp of Albuquerque in a local saloon that he was familiar with New Mexico and had lived in Aztec San Juan County.

It appears that Blancett's mother was remarried the same Colossal Nerve displayed by the man impersonating Clyde Armor seems to have again been shown after that man wired from Needles, California, October thirty first to missus Armour in Fresno, California that he had sold his car and was coming home on the train. It is also thought that the man who impersonated Armour dropped the impersonation after leaving Needles and resumed

his real name. At all events, E. W. Blansett began to write releivtlatives that he had come across from Colorado with a motorist and had quit the motorist and was on his way home. The police and detectives, it has said, trace blants it to Friday Harbor and then wired to Albuquerque and Santa Fe authorities for a detailed description of

the man wanted on the charge of murder. Late Saturday afternoon, the Marshall and Friday Harbor appeared satisfied that the Blancet there was the man wanted in New Mexico, and the arrest followed promptly. Great interest was manifested here Sunday and yesterday at the news of the arrest of Blancet, But greater still was the interest shown in his photo, which came into the possession of several Santa Feans and two

or three people in Albuquerque. This photo is that of a young man with waving hair, a plump face, and a boyish appearance. It is a striking contrast to the picture of Clyde Armour, the man of thirty two, of a serious, strong, rather thin face. January fifteenth, nineteen seventeen. The Clyde D. Armor murder mystery is solved. Missing since the afternoon of October twenty third, when he was seen

motoring from Las Vegas towards Santa Fe. Clyde Armor is now known to have been killed by a heavy charge of shot fired into the back of his neck, severing the arteries and causing him to bleed to death. Six shot were taken from Armour's skull late last night by county physician E. L. Ward, who made an examination of

the bones. Now the undertaking establishment of c a rising on Upper Palace Avenue, the skull, vertebrae and other bones of the murdered man found Sunday will be held here as evident against Albert W. Blansett of Friday Harbor, Washington, now being hurried to Santa Fe to answer the charge of murdering armor and stealing his automobile. He is expected

to arrive tomorrow. The discovery of part of the skeleton of what was once the powerful athletic chief Clerk of the Northwestern Railway at Sioux City, Iowa, came as the dramatic closed yesterday to a long search for the missing man begun when the Santa Fe New Mexican first announced that a cold blooded murder had doubtless been perpetrated in

Santa Fe County. The first news of the discovery of the remains of armor came shortly after noon, when a long distance message from Carlos Creamer at Peko's stated that Antonio Sandoval Egregio, a native living two and three quarters miles above Glorieta, A, discovered a human skull and vertebrae in the hills three hundred yards to the left of the Las Vegas Santa Fe Road and about two and

a half miles above the station. A gloriata marvelous indeed was the manner in which Antonio Sandoval came into possession of a clue which not only clears up the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Clyde Armor, but furnishes evidence on which the state may work in prosecuting for the murder. Incidentally, it also brings to Sandoval the handsome sum of a

thousand dollar reward offered by the Armor family. Quote. I was sitting in my house with my family when I saw a little black dog running around with something in its mouth. This was about eight o'clock Sunday morning. I did not pay much attention to the dog until I suddenly noticed he had a human shin bone with a black shoe on it. I took my dog out on the road, and he kept looking up into my face and then running along, as though to lead me somewhere.

The little dog took me down the road and across the hills. And after I had climbed about three hundred yards over the hills, which were covered with a light fall of snow, I found in an arroyo the skeleton of a man. Perhaps twenty feet away. At the entrance to the arroyo, I saw a shotgun and near it some clothes badly torn. As soon as Sandoval's discovery had been phoned to Santa Fe, the authorities lost no time

in going to the scene of the murder. Attorney Melvin T. Dunlevy, representing the Armor family, asked Undertaker Rising to go with him. Accompanying mister Dunlevy and mister Rising was doctor Harrison. Other cars quickly followed. Arriving at Sandoval's home above Glorieta, the party was met by Carlos Kreamer and several people from glory. Sandoval stated that he had the foot of the murdered man in his house, but that he was instructed to

hold it for the authorities. He took it with him as he led the way to the scene of the murder. Arrived at the arroyo three hundred yards from the road. The party of Santa fe and stood aghast at the gruesome discovery. Lying on the snow covered earth was the dismembered skeleton of a man of rather large physique. His arms had been torn off by wild animals and his legs severed at the knees. There was one means of identification not destroyed by the elements or by the animals.

It was armours, set of fine teeth with a gold crown in the lower jawl at the left and two at the right. Mister Davies asked Pedro c Ruiz, Justice of the Peace of Gloriata, who accompanied the party, to hold an inquest. The coroner's jury was made up of spectators and worn in. The jury viewed the skeleton before it was removed from the arroyo, and brought in a verdict that Armor had come to his death by some

means not known to the jury. It was decided that further investigation would be necessary before determining just what had killed Armor. Coming out of the arroyo, the party then viewed the shotgun, which lay on the ground where Armour's body probably fell when a load full of shot severed the arteries of the neck. This shotgun was of Hopkins and Alan make, with a single barrel and taking a size twelve shell. An empty shell was still in the gun.

All suggestion of a suicide theory vanished when an examination of Armour's tattered clothes was made, revealing shotholes through the back of the brown flannel shirt and a streak of blood down his vest and coat. An examination of the vest of arms Armour disclosed an ingersoll watch which had stopped at twenty five minutes past three. The crystal of the watch was broken, and the piece of glass stopped

the hands. No doubt, it is thought that when Armour's heavy body fell to the ground, the watch crystal was broken, and the record thus left of the hour the very minute of the commission of the awful crime. The identification of the skeleton is that of Clyde d. Armour, was made complete by the marks in the clothes and a paper found in the watch pocket of the outing shirt.

The tailor's marks in the gray coat and vests, which were of a gray check, showed that the clothes had been made by the Royal Tailors of Chicago for C. D. Armor on January twelfth, nineteen fifteen. A receipt for work done on the oldsmobile found in the shirt pocket was regarded even as a better mark of identification. It was from Fred Grocock Automobile repairing gasolene in tires at Clark's, Nebraska. It was dated September twenty fifth, nineteen sixteen, and was

made out in his name. These expenses were evidently incurred by Armour on his way through Nebraska, while his mother and sister were motoring with him. It is said that at Clark's Armour's sister became ill and went to a hospital, whereupon Armor decided to continue on to Denver alone, leaving his relatives to take the train to California. On his trip from Denver, Clyde Armor wore a cap, as shown by snapshot pictures taken of him, one of which was

mailed to his parents from San Jose, New Mexico. A cap was found in the bundle of clothes which had been torn from Armour's body by coyotes and buzzards. This was soaked in blood, which evidently gushed from the neck wound as his body fell to the ground. One of the most interesting discoveries was a pair of eyeglass without rims and a gold nosepiece fastened to Armour's vest by a silk cord. It appears that Armour wore these glasses while hunting or doing any work that required accurate vision,

that his own relatives mis mentioning. This fact is now regarded as extraordinary, for it would have further distinguished Armour from the man who came to Santa Fe and posed as the Sioux City Railway clerk. These glasses were not injured in a pocket of the vest. A leather spectacle case was found. It was marked in gold letters Sioux

City Optical Company, Sioux City, Iowa. The authorities may get information from this company as to the strength of the lenses furnished and to whom, thus forging another link in the chain of evidence. In the coat pocket of the murdered man, a clean silk handkerchief was found. It bore a large a in one corner. The letter was probably made by machine and looked like initials on cheap silk

handkerchiefs sold in stores. A box of pistol cartridges was also found in the coat pocket and a pistol cleaner, but no pistol was discovered underwear. Some silk garters and pieces of a violet silk tie, as well as a gold tie clasp were also found. Armour's signet ring, regarded as one of the best means of identifying a body, is still missing. It was carried off with his arms by wild animals, no doubt. An examination of the one shoe found showed that was size seven of black kid leather,

somewhat scuffed by climbing over rocks and through brush. All of the bones and the clothes and other articles were brought to the city last night, but undertaker rising and are held subject to the orders of the sheriff and District attorney. County physician. Ward took back with him some of the earth which appeared bloodstain, and which he believed was the spot on which Armour's head rested as he

bled to death. Nearly everyone who viewed the skeleton, the clothes, and the gun as they lay on the ground where Armour died marveled that any human being could have had such song freud as to kill a man within three hundred yards of the much traveled Las Vegas Santa Fe road, and then leave the body with so many identification marks, unburied and uncovered, in fact, unshielded even by a pinion tree.

And many also marveled that forest rangers and others who had passed so often near the spot where the body lay had not found it. The head, perfectly mummified, was partly chewed, and one eye socket was empty, probably picked out by a buzzard. The ribs were all eaten except short sections adhering to the spine. The pelvis was found complete. The top of the shoe, from which a section of bone protruded would eaten off for an inch or two.

All the bones were picked almost clean, said Attorney Dunlovey. Quote. While of course it is a shock to know positively that Armor was murdered, it is merely a confirmation of the theory the Armor brothers and I, as well as others, have held ever since the brothers came to Santa Fe and told me their extraordinary story. The Nebraskans Roy and Glen Armour advanced a suggestion long ago that Clyde Armour was lured from his automobile by a companion under pretense

of going hunting. This appears to have been the correct theory. Armor and his companion passed through San Jose before reaching Gloriota. The car stopped in the road and the two alighted to hunt a rabbit. Armor was evidently taken by surprise, a shotgun having been leveled at the back of his neck and the trigger pulled before he could turn around. It was a cold blooded crime, but no one could

realize just how cold blooded until today. Unquote. Mister Dunlevy said that Jack Stewart's story that he saw two men in a car bearing an isolewa tag passed the gate to Hannah's ranch and go as far as the Sandy Arroyo, within seven miles of Santa Fe, may still be true, he said. Quote Armour's companion could easily have picked up somebody on the road, as he was accustomed to do.

I am now convinced that the old native who told us long ago that on October twenty third he had seen a man speeding past Canyon Sido as though crazy, was correct. That man, in my opinion, was a man who had shot Armor to death in the woods near Gloriata,

and the car he was running was Armour's oldsmobile. If Armor was murdered at three twenty five, nearly three miles above Gloriata and his car was in Santa Fe by four thirty or four forty five pm the same day, it is evident that there was little time for a careful sir of Armour's pockets to remove damaging identification marks. Everything Armour had, except perhaps a gun and some shells,

were in a car. His valises containing letters and papers which led to information concerning his family and business affairs, were in the car with about two hundred dollars worth of camping equipment. The fact that Blancett was able to wire Armour's parents in Fresno at four point fifty three PM indicates that he had some information beforehand or was very rapid in going through Armour's correspondence. Albert W. Blansett, charged with the murder of Clyde D. Armour, is expected

to arrive here in a day or two. It is believed he is traveling with Chief of Police J. R. Galusha of Albuquerque and a trained nurse who accompanied him when he was moved from the hospital in Friday. Harbor blance it is suffering from the effects of a self inflicted gunshot wound in the throat, an alleged attempt at suicide when informed that he was charged with Armour's murder. It is a strange coincidence that Clyde Armour died from

a gunshot wound in the neck. Now that the eyes of the people of New Mexico were turned on this extraordinary young man, something of his history and his people will be of special interest. First of all, Blants, it is no blood relation of the blankets of San Juan County. According to no less authority than R. W. Heflin, Deputy State Treasurer and formerly County treasurer of San Juan County for five years. Quote. It seems but fair to the

Blankets of San Juan County to state who blants. It is some fifty years ago Mona Blantset, now ninety years of age and residing in Aztec, San Juan County, was living in Nebraska. It was just half a century ago when she adopted a little baby six weeks old. This boy's last name was Reordon. I believe or Reardon who his father was, and under what circumstances he came to be adopted. I do not know, but the fact has

been established that Mona Blancet adopted the infant. It was but natural that the baby took the glance at name. This baby grew to manhood and married a girl from San Juan County, where Mona Blantzet moved some years ago. Rearden, or Blanted as he was called, had two children, a boy and a girl. The boy is called Albert W. Blansett. The girl is living with her mother and Friday Harbor.

The mother is now missus Charles Baker. Reardon, I have been informed, was shot and killed in a tragedy some years ago, and it is said that he had a stormy career, and that if Albert W. Blantset is guilty of the crime with which he is charged, the son may have inherited this tendency to figure in tragedies. Mister Hefflin said that he knew Albert Blansett quite well in San Juan County. He said that Blansett was of a

boastful nature. Quote. Sheriff Duffer of San Juan County knows a great deal about Albert Blansett, and I feel sure that he will be of use to the state if an effort is made to get Blancet to tell of his career in New Mexico. Enjoy ad free listening at this safehouse. Dubbadubadubba dot Patreon dot com, slash true crime

historian April twenty first, nineteen seventeen. Albert W. Blansett the only I witness of the death of Clyde d Armour in the Gloriada Woods on the afternoon of October twenty third, nineteen sixteen, the day Colonel Roosevelt spoke in Albuquerque and in Las Vegas today told under oath what he declared are the details of the tragedy. It was an accident due to his tripping, causing him to pull the trigger.

He said, then, as he saw Armor apparently dead, he decided to go for a doctor or for help, but feared that he would be accused of murder stole over him, and he changed his plans. Blanset admitted impersonating Armour in Santa Fe and in Albuquerque from October twenty third to October thirtieth, nineteen sixteen. Admitted cashing Armour's travelers checks, receiving money from the Sioux City Gas and Electric Company, and of trying to get money from Missus Mary E. Armour,

mother of the dead man. He admitted drinking, gambling, joy riding in a fast life. He said, in extenuation of his conduct that he had sought to forget the terrible tragedy in the Gloriada Woods, of which he felt innocent and yet feared a rest and danger because of the peculiar circumstances surrounding it. Blancet admitted more. He admitted an attempt to suicide on December thirty first, nineteen sixteen, because he said he feared to confront his mother while under

a charge of murder. Considering the severe trials she had endured last summer when her son in law was killed and her daughter seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Detroit. There was one point of the prosecution that Blancett did not clean up, and that was the authorship of the mysterious letter addressed to the Governor of New Mexico and postmark Seattle, eleven thirty p m. January thirteenth, nineteen six seventeen.

This letter warned the governor that Blancett was innocent and laid the charge of murder and everything else on the signer of the letter, W. E. Edelman. Blancett said he was under the influence of morphine a good deal of the time after his self inflicted wound, and could not remember writing this letter, but admitted that the handwriting was similar to his own. He said the signature was not in his writing, however, and he had never heard of Edelman.

Asked to how far Blancet was away from Armour when he fired the fatal shot. Later in his testimony, he said it might have been ten, twenty or thirty feet or more. He did not remember. Blancet said after leaving Roe he was not real drunk on the afternoon of October twenty third, nineteen sixteen. But he was feeling his drinks. He said, Armor and he were friendly to the last moment. Arriving at a spot this side of some ruins, he

could not remember just where. He and Armor drove the cart in to thirty feet off the road and prepared to hunt quote. I carried the shotgun and he the twenty two rifle, and we went to the right of the road, probably through some sage brush. We tramped around perhaps half an hour or an hour. I was carrying the shotgun. It was a hammer gun, and I had not been used to using a hammer shotgun. I was

carrying it cocked across my left arm. My left hand was kind of back toward the stock, and the finger of my right hand was on the trigger and my thumb on the hammer. We were walking around, and I tripped or stumbled some way, and catching myself, I pulled the trigger and then Armor fell and I ran across to him. He was lying on the ground, face down and bleeding. I turned him over and shouted Armor, Armor,

but he did not answer me. I was excited and nervous, and I decided to go for a doctor or someone to give help. I dropped the shotgun when I went to him, and when I got ready to go, I did not notice which gun I got. And when I went away, I found I had picked up the rifle. Asked where as cap was? He said he did not remember. Question. And when you reached the car, what did you do? Answer? I had a bottle of whiskey there, and I took a big drink of it and jumped into the car.

I backed it out and put it on the main road. I knew there was a town near, and I started as fast as I could go. I was excited and nervous. Question where was the spade or shovel? Answer? It was

in the car. I did not take it out. The witness said he did not know the name of the next town, where he had hoped to find a doctor or someone to oup quote, no, sir, because when I was driven a little ways, I got to thinking about what had happened, and I was nervous and excited, and I thought if I noticed anyone mister armor being shot in back of the head, they would blame blame on me and charge me with murder. I was not acquainted in that part of the country. And I had never

been there before. I was thinking, as I said that I was in a strange country all alone, and if I reported that case, no one would believe me and they'd put me up for murder. So I decided to say nothing. I came on to Santa Fe and decided to get out of the country. I did not get out right away, however, one thing, I did not have money to do it with, and anotherwise, I started drinking

when I got to town. Unquote, The witness said Armor had told him about the Sioux City Gas and Electric Company note, but had not stated how much it was. Blancet said he decided to get some money by wiring this company. To a question, he replied that he arrived here about four pm. The first thing he did was put the car in a garage. Then he went to the Montezuma Hotel and took two grips up to his room, one of his own and one a black one belonging

to Armor. Arrived in his room, the defendant said, he took a couple of drinks out of a bottle, washed himself, changed his collar and tie, and then looked through Armour's traveling bag. In this bag he found a bunch of letters in a check book or a book of travelers money orders. He also found, he said, as Sioux City Gas an electric company note for three hundred and fifty dollars.

He then went downtown and visited a saloon near the hotel he was stopping at, and then proceeding to the telegraph office, sending the message to the gas company at four point fifty three pm. He was here shown the telegram and identified it as in his handwriting. He went to the bank saloon, he said, and then to a barbershop where he saw some bird dogs. He thought. It was about five PM when he got shaved. Question how

did you occupy yourself that evening and night? Answer? I was drinking and I went out to the sporting district. Some fellow accompanied me. I did all this because I was trying to forget what had happened. Question did you get any money in response to your telegram? Answer? Yes? The next day with the money, I tried to have a good time. The witness said that the next day he visited saloons, talked to Santa Fean's, whose names he could not recall, and proceeded to have a good time.

On October twenty fifth, He said he took a trip to Albuquerque and went joy riding. He said again he tried to forget the tragedy of the Gloriada Woods. To pay incident expenses, he cashed one of the ten dollars travelers checks belonging to Armor. Question, you knew all this time that Armour's body was lying out there in the woods on top of the ground, and yet you remained around Santa Fe for two or three days? Did you why? Answer?

Because I was trying to have a good time, to forget what had happened, and to get enough money to get out of this country. The witness admitted he had gone to the Comb's Hotel in Albuquerque and had met a couple of traveling salesmen from Denver. He said he kept motoring around and talking to new people in an effort to forget about the accident. The witness admitted he had sold the camping outfit out of garage in Santa

Fe and had used the money on his gasoline bill. Question, did it ever occur to you that in distributing the personal effects of Armor and using his name, you might lead people to trace you out and accuse you of murder. Answer. I was crazy and excited about what had happened. I did not think anything about it. In Albuquerque, he said he was drinking constantly and was at no time perfectly sober.

He said that he can carry some liquor, but eventually it goes to his head, making him forget everything except the present. Question how about its effects on your legs? Answer? It never affects my legs. Blancet said that the last day he was in Albuquerque, he sold the Oldsmobile eight for at five hundred dollars, and that he had not told the truth when a Santa Fean saw him at

the train. He said he had stated that he had but forty dollars and his ticket on leaving Albuquerque for San Francisco, but in reality he had one hundred and fifty or two hundred dollars. Asked about a due bill for three hundred dollars he was alleged to have signed and given to Edward Rich for a gambling debt, he said he might have signed such a bill. Quote, I remember someone stopping me as I was getting on the

train for San Francisco unquote. Glancet said that the man who had pushed the due bill before him had already gotten two hundred dollars of his cash, and he did not see why he should get any more. The defendant remarked that from the time he had shot Armor, he took a number of false steps. First, he said, was failing to notify the authorities, The second was using Armour's name, the third was wiring to the gas company and missus Armor for money, and the fourth was gambling it away,

and the fifth was selling Armour's oldsmobile. Blancet said he could not remember the names of Santa Fean's whom he met here. After leaving Albuquerque, he said he went direct to San Francisco, spent a night there, and then went to Seattle. The witness described as rest on board the Little Steamer Rosalie December thirtieth, nineteen sixteen, and his attempted

suicide on December thirty. First. Why he committed suicide he explained as an impulse, saying, when I was in the tent, I happened to glance up and I saw a shotgun. I did not stop to think what I was doing. I grabbed the gun and shot myself. I did not want to tell mother I was arrested and charged with murder. During his subsequent treatment in the hospital and Friday Harbor until January thirteenth, the witness said he had received two

shots of morphine a day. He said he could not remember writing a letter from Seattle, and that while in Seattle he was desperately ill, so ill he could not be propped up in bed because of the pain his wound caused him cross examination by District Attorney Christ. Question, how extensive was your drunkenness? Denver? Answer? Quite often, I was drinking all the time. Mister Christ asked him if he was indulging in many such escapades as just mentioned,

and he said not. Mister Christ questioned him about the statements made last night that Armor was to pay him four dollars a day in expenses for driving Armor to California. He asked Glancet if Armor permitted him to drive the car when Armor had seen him take on so much whiskey in Trinidad Pueblo in Las Vegas. The witness replied Armor had not said anything to him. Question who drove the car after you left Las Vegas? Answer? I think

I did. Mister Christ asked him if he was drunk at the wheel, and the witness answered that he had been drinking. He did not admit he was quite drunk when he left Las Vegas. Mister Christ had a large stack of papers before him and question blants It on innumerable details. One of these was about the different ways

Blansett signed his own name. Mister Chris pointing out that checks, payrolls and other papers signed by Blanchet showed the following signature Albert W. Blansett, Albert Blansett and E. W. Blantsett.

The witness admitted he had two ways of writing the letter E. There is one outstanding feature of Blancett's trial which seems to have impressed every one of the hundreds and hundreds of people who have crowded into the district courtroom for the past ten days, and that is the marvelous cool nerve displayed by the man just past twenty two years of age, who is under the cloud of a first degree murder charge. He seems to be the least concerned man at this trial. Is a remark heard

again and again. It was particularly evident on the witness stand undergoing a grilling cross examination by District Attorney J. H. Christ, that Blanchet appeared most cool and collected. Blanchet seemed ready to admit almost anything and everything, except the point the district attorney tried most industriously to bring out that Blancet

committed murder. When the defendant might well have seemed flustered at the avalanche of testimony thrown against him by the state, he explained calmly that he had taken a false step, and one false step led to another, or he announced calmly, he could not remember, with a frankness that was almost bewildering.

He practically admitted the truth of the maxim the way of the transgressor as hard and said that even when he reached his home in Friday Harbor, realizing that he was innocent and yet might be forced to face a murder charge, he had an alibi under consideration. July ninth, nineteen twenty, the deputy sheriffs who went to the prison for the prisoner found him ready. He had been reading since midnight before, he had been writing since his mother's

farewell visit late in the afternoon. Are you ready, he asked, as the guard began unlocking his cell door.

His arm has been practically useless since he attempted to kill himself following his arrest more than than three years ago, by firing a shotgun charge into his neck. At the jail, he passed through the nerve racking ordeal of the reading of the death warrant, unshaken. As Sheriff Armijo, standing on his crutches, read the warrant, the prisoner stood at attention, shoulders thrown back and head held erect, and when he raised his hands a few seconds later for the deputies

to strap them at his sides, they were ready. The priest, who had accompanied him from his cell, stood at his side during the reading, and once he leaned over and whispered and the prisoner took off his hat, the priest made a gesture once or twice with one hand behind a youth's back, as if to support him, but dropped his hand each time. Glancet did not need any support. From the time he stepped from his cell at the prison until he plunged to death, he gave not the

faintest indication of weakening. His demeanor was that of a man doing something commonplace. His face was free from any trace of the haggard expression that often marks men condemned to death. His face didn't pale for a fleeting second, and when he spoke there was not a quavering in

his voice. At times he appeared smile. Although the prisoner did not sleep last night, having spent the four part of the night writing letters and the later part reading in his cell, he ate heartily at supper, and the night before he slept soundly. The death watch reported that he went to his cot early and fell into a deep sleep almost at once. He didn't move from where he lay until the bell clanged in the cell house

the next morning. Warden fidel Or Teese and Deputy Warden Duke And went to his cell last night shortly after midnight and found him reading. He needed no bracing up the prisoner gave no indication of losing his nerve, and in fact questioned the deputy as to the length of the drop that the hangman was going to give him. He died as a Catholic who was baptized two years ago following his imprisonment, and yesterday morning he made his

last confession and received communion. The books he was reading as he waited for the deputy sheriffs were prayer books. Another book also was taken from his cell, a story by Zane Gray. Nearly one hundred men, women and boys stood in the street in front of the jail when the automobile carrying the prisoner, his guards and priests arrived from the prison. They had been gathering since as early

as four thirty o'clock. They surged forward and stared at the condemned man, but he looked straight ahead and marched to the jail door. And the crowd was one party, evidently made up of tourists, which included two or three women. The crowd stayed, although only the twenty legal witnesses were allowed to pass through the gates, until the word was passed outside that Blancet was dead, and not until then

did they begin breaking up. His trial began in the district court on April thirteenth, nineteen seventeen, and on April twenty fourth, the jury found glance At guilty of murder in the first degree. That was only the beginning of the long legal battle, during which the case was carried first to the Supreme Court of the state and then to the Supreme Court of the United States, and which ended only two months ago when the Federal Supreme Court

denied Blancet's appeal. Before the trial, he gave no explanation of the death of Armour, maintaining absolute silence until he went to the stand in the legal fight for his life. At one time before the trial, Roy Armour brought of Clyde saw him in the prison hospital. He was still suffering from the self inflicted wound. Leaning over the cot, Roy said, I'm Clyde Armer's brother. Blancet is reported to have answered, I do not know you, and I never

saw Clyde armor. The trial was unquestionably the most sensational ever held in Santa Fe. There was standing room only in the courtroom. In little of that women brought their sewing and remained from morning until night. Some spectators brought their lunch and stayed in the courtroom during the recess so that they would be sure to have seats at the following session. Albert W. Blancett answered the state's demand of a life for a life in the yard behind

the jail. This morning, at five twenty two o'clock. He went to his death as a man would go to breakfast. He gave no sign of mental stress, and ascended the steps to the scaffold unaided except that Father Henry le Guillion, the prison chaplain, and his confessor, who walked beside him, laid his hand lightly on his arm on the scaffold. They knelt in prayer, the priest and the prisoner. They remained kneeling a few minutes, and the priest then embraced

the prisoner. As blance hat arose, Sheriff George w. Armijo asked him if he had any statement to make. He stood with his shoulders thrown back and faced squarely the witnesses gathered below. He spoke slowly and clearly. I have nothing to say, he said, enunciating each word distinctly, and turned toward the deputy sheriffs, as if to say he was ready. When they were Deputy Warden P. Dugan of the penitentiary, sprang up the steps and grasped his hand.

He spoke a few low words and descended. The canvas. Curtain then dropped, and the scaffold was hidden from the witnesses. The trap was sprung at five twenty two o'clock, shortly after sunrise, and ten minutes later doctor E. W. Fisk, prison physician, and doctor David Knapp, County physician, pronounced him dead. The drop apparently failed to break his neck, although no examination was made, but the prisoner was unconscious and death

was painless. The snapping of the heavy knot of the noose against his head behind the ear produced unconsciousness at the instant of the drop, and he knew nothing after that. That was mystery tour in a Buick eight, The Vanishing of Clyde Armour, called from the historic pages of the Santa Fe New Mexican and other newspapers of the era. True Crime Historian is a creation of popular media and

Himalaya Studios. Opening theme by Nico Vitessi, incidental music by Dave Sam's, Closing theme by Dave Sam's and Rachel Shott, Engineered by David Hish, Third Street Music, media management and original graphics for each show created by Sean R. Miller Jones. And as for me, while the truth is out there, he admitted drinking, gambling, joy riding in a fast life. I'm true crime historian Richard O. Jones signing off for now, All Dy