Unknown, but Not Forgotten

Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post

Hindsights Michael Barr

The headstone of a murder victim in a 1927 case which has never been solved. — Mike Barr photo

The Amber Alert on my phone can sometimes trigger thoughts of the unknown girl whose grave I first saw years ago at the old city cemetery in Fredericksburg. As I found out more about her, I learned that her powerful spirit captured the hearts of the people of Gillespie County, not one of whom had ever met her or even knew her name.

We can only wonder about the details of her short and tragic life. What is so amazing and unexplainable is the impact she had after she died.

On Sept. 20, 1927, Chester Schuch, the 16-year-old son of Albert Schuch, discovered her shallow grave about 15 yards from the Mason highway. Chester had been herding goats near Cherry Mountain, 10 miles west of Fredericksburg. The Schuch family notified Sheriff Alfred Klaerner.

The news of the discovery horrified the people of Gillespie County. Rev. F.W. Radetzky of the Methodist Episcopal Church South spoke for most county residents when he called it “a tragedy of immense magnitude and of the most appalling nature.”

Some details about the girl came to light, but the little information people knew about her only made them want to know more. She was between 12 and 14 years of age and about 4 feet, 5 inches tall. She had red hair and blue eyes. She wore a 10-karat gold ring with a red ruby inset on the little finger of her right hand.

She died from a blow to the head. Near the body, investigators found a soldier’s marksmanship book belonging to a sergeant at Ft. Sam Houston. They found a deposit slip from a Houston bank, a lady’s handkerchief and several other items. None of the evidence turned out to be conclusive.

The case soon attracted interest beyond the Hill Country. Texas Gov. Dan Moody authorized the state to offer a $500 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the murderer. The Texas Rangers sent Capt. Frank Hamer to assist local officials. Renowned for his toughness and skill as an investigator, Hamer later became a legend for bringing Bonnie and Clyde to justice.

The case of the unknown girl made Fredericksburg the center of attention across the country. Reporters working for big city newspapers filed stories every few days that followed the false leads, the ups and downs of the investigation and the dashed hopes for a breakthrough in the case.

Meanwhile, the Boy Scouts of Fredericksburg went door to door asking for donations to pay for the burial. Enough money came in for a casket and a plot at Der Stadt Friedhof.

About 400 citizens attended the service on September 30, 1927. The Boy Scouts acted as pallbearers. A band played “In the Garden.” Several local ministers spoke at the service.

Even after the burial, county officials hoped to identify the girl. Miss Mary Hank of Houston visited Fredericksburg in October 1927, thinking that the unknown girl might be her sister, Maggie, missing since August. The girl, however, wasn’t Maggie.

At one point, authorities identified the girl as Billie Owens, missing from Crane, Texas, only to find that Billie Owens turned up a day or so later in Wichita Falls, very much alive.

The burial helped calm the anguish the people felt but did little to comfort the sadness in their hearts. An uneasy feeling remained. It seemed the girl’s spirit could not rest until her grave had a marker.

So, the Boy Scouts stepped up again, spearheading a drive to raise money for a monument to mark the girl’s grave. Nagel Brothers donated the slab of gray granite.

The inscription on the marker reads, “Here lies the murdered body of a young girl found near Fredericksburg on Sept. 20, 1927, laid to rest with Christian ceremonies Sept. 30, 1927. Erected by the Boy Scouts of America.”

The story of Fredericksburg’s unknown girl, an unsolved mystery for almost a century, still lives and continues to fascinate listeners. Bill Smart, the Cowboy poet from Seagraves, Texas, wrote a poem about her called “Unknown Mary.” A movie director made a short film about her in 2017.

Barr is a retired teacher and principal living in Fredericksburg, where he spends his time writing books, columns and magazine articles. michaelbarr222@yahoo.com