DMN 1933-09-11 Section 1 page 1

COOPER FARMER'S BODY FOUND IN BURNED BARN

Charred Ropes and Hay Soaked With Kerosene Lead to Murder Theory

COOPER, Texas, Sept. 10 (AP).--The charred body of Walter B. Anderson, 51, prosperous farmer, was found in the debris of a burned hay barn on his farm four miles south of Cooper early Sunday.  Charred ropes aabout his neck and arms, attached to a post of the barn, and kerosene-soaked hay underneath the body, led authorities to believe he had been murdered.
The body was brought to an undertaker's here and Justice of the Peace Tynes conducted an inquest but withheld a Coroner's verdict.  Anderson's wife died last Christmas and their only son, Elbert, recently obtain a judgement in court for division of the estate.  In the trial Anderson testified recently that he drew $2,400 from the Paris postoffice and indicated he had considerable more money secreted about his place.
Neighbors saw the barn burning about 2 a.m. Sunday but as it contained thirty tons of hay, they could do nothing to extinguish the blaze.  After a time they began looking for Anderson, who lived alone in a house fifty yards from the barn.
His effects were undisturbed in the house and a loaded shotgun was on the floor by a bed that had been occupied by him.
Delta County officers and the Cooper fire department were called and the fire had been extinguished, the body was found.  It was covered by hay which had fallen on it.  A slight fracture on the forehead led officers to believe Anderson had been injured by persons seeking to force him to divulge the whereabouts of his money.  Only 50 cents was found in his pocket.