The Jenson cold case: Were they his remains?

In addition to writing these stories each month, as a volunteer at the Museum of North Idaho, I am called upon to help groups and individuals find information about people, events and other topics. I usually find the information they need, but sometimes I don’t. I’m sharing such a story today.

A homeowner contacted me who is doing research about Casco Bay’s history, the area where the man now resides. He had come across a mystery that he needed help with, and I agreed to look into the situation and try to find some answers.

In 1886 or 1887, two gentlemen, Mr. Jenson and Mr. McCabe, established a successful jewelry and stationery business in Coeur d’Alene. The story goes that they sold their products from a small building on the east side of Second Street between Lakeside and Coeur d’Alene Avenues downtown.

The first mystery to solve was the men’s first names. Since they arrived in town before city directories, phone books or the Coeur d’Alene Press, the chance of finding such information was nearly impossible.

The second mystery dealt with the disappearance of Mr. Jenson. According to the account given by Mr. McCabe to authorities, Jenson had vanished off the face of the Earth one starlit night in 1887.

McCabe recounted how two men, seemingly familiar with Jenson, called him out of the store. The trio then strolled to the “lake beach,” climbed into a rowboat and rowed away, looking very much like they were on a pleasure trip.

The calm weather on the night of the disappearance ruled out accidental drowning due to extreme water conditions. Despite a thorough search of the lake and the surrounding area, no trace of the men or the rowboat was found.

The logical conclusion was that Jenson was lured onto the lake by supposed friends, who robbed him of his money and valuables. He was then thrown in the lake and floated downriver.

McCabe’s sudden disappearance, especially when questions arose about his part in the Jenson disappearance, added further suspicion that foul play had occurred. However, the memory of the Jenson case would still fade from the community’s memory over time.

Questions about the Jenson case would be revived in 1894 when a skeleton was found on John’s ranch about a mile and a half west of town. The ranch was on the west shore of the lake opposite the Ft. Sherman Garrison. It was near what is now known as Donavons Point, a small projection of land between Cougar Bay and Casco Bay. McCabe had said the rowboat had been traveling west when it disappeared.

According to two reports in the Coeur d’Alene Press, the discovery of the remains came Sunday morning, May 6, 1894. A dog had unearthed a large bone while digging in his owner’s yard. The dog’s grizzly discovery immediately attracted the rancher’s attention.

Unearthed further remains of a deceased white man, thought to be buried a foot or two below the surface, after removing more earth from the spot where the dog had been digging. A skull and most of the bones were found in good condition.

Then, they transported the remains across the lake and presented them to Coeur d’Alene authorities. A search ensued to find other buried bodies on the property, but that appears to be the end of the story.

Further research on my part gave up no further information about the bones, their disposition or what might have become of Mr. Jenson. We are left with a very cold case. Modern forensics might have given investigators answers, but we are left with no resolution as to what happened.

Perhaps someone out there has answers they can share? Contact me at [email protected] if you have credible information relevant to the story.