C. H. F. “Frederick” Spetman (1823-1885)
Source: Joyce (Hansen) George
WHO WAS HE?
A Mysterious Boatman Seems to be Connected With Mr. Spetman's Disappearance and Death
There are still many surmises concerning the mysterious death of Mr. Frederick Spetman, of Mills county, and little real information to be gained. The investigation has so far revealed the fact that he left his home with the intention of going across the river on some business, and that he took with him $50 out of $75 which had been paid on some account of the Council Bluffs hunting club, the other $25 being intended for some other party. He has been traced to the river, where he evidently reached a point nearly opposite the island, which is opposite Bellevue, Neb., which seems to be a spot not having any too good a reputation, it being said that horse thieves and other hard citizens frequent that locality, it being rather secluded, and being neither within the limits of Nebraska and Iowa, and the jurisdiction of the law being therefore full of loop holes. It is said that a man with a boat crossed to the Iowa side just before Mr. Spetman reached that spot, and that this man visited one of the farm houses near there. It is surmised that Mr. Spetman, wanting to cross the river, fell in with this man, and that he had something to do with the mysterious death, or at least is able to throw some lght upon the circumstances. Tracks are found resembling Mr. Spetman's footsteps, but no appearance of a struggle was discovered. It is possible that he was (inv??gled) into going onto the island, and that there was foul play there, but wherever the scene of the tragedy might have been it seems that there must have been foul play, for although there were no very strange marks on the body, yet the absence of the money indicates robbery. The body was badly bloated, but there were no special bruises or cuts, the only ones being some slight cuts on one of his legs, which might possibly have been made by contact with something after he got into the river. In his pockets the only thing found was his pocket knife. The man who came to this side with a boat has not been found, but as a description has been obtained of him from some of those living in that neighborhood, it is quite probable that he will be found, and brought to the front, and if he is an innocent party he will doubtless soon appear of his own accord, and voluntarily offer such information so he may possess. The funeral was held yesterday morning at the family residence.
The body was first discovered in the river by a boy names W. Vaughn, who called to his aid B. O. Griffin, and the two recovering it, to them was given the $50 reward offered by the family of the unfortunate man.
FOUND, BUT DEAD.
The Body of Frederick Spetman Recovered from the River.
For several days the many friends of Frederick Spetman, a well-to-do farmer of Mills county, have been in anxious suspense over his sudden and mysterious disappearance. His description had been scattered over the country, and a reward offered for the recovery of the body, it being supposed that he had either fallen into the river by accident, or else foully murdered. Yesterday morning F. W. Spetman & Bro., of this city, received a telegram from Claude Watson, coroner of Otoe county, Neb., and dated at Nebraska City, September 21, saying: “Man found in river here to-night, answering description of Frederick Spetman. Come or telegraph at once.” On receipt of this Mr. Holst, of Holst & Spetman, and Mr. F. W. Spetman, at once started for Nebraska City, accompanied by Mr. Charles Keith, the general agent of the “Q.” Later in the day other telegrams were received stating that the body was surely that of Mr. Spetman, and that arrangements had been made for bringing him home on the evening train, the train to be stopped between Hinton and Island Park, at a spot about forty rods from the home of the unfortunate man, whence he could easily be taken. The telegrams received during the day were chiefly about the arrangements in regard to getting the body home, and contained no information as to the details of his death.
The coroner's inquest threw no light upon the mystery of the death. There were no marks of violence on the body, but the absence of the money which the deceased had when he left home, arouses suspicion of foul play.