Illinois, D-F, 1880-1995, Undated

2 Killers Executed In Illinois

AP 22 Mar 95 3:12 EST V0551 |
Copyright 1995 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

The information contained in this news report may not be published,
broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written
authority of the Associatéd Press,

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) -- Two convicted killers who spent nearly 17
years on Death Row were executed by injection early Wednesday in
Illinois’ first double execution in more than than 42 years.

James Free, 41, convicted of murdering an office worker, was
executed first and pronounced dead around 12:40 a.m. He gave a
rambling final statement, much of it inaudible, in which he
apologized for his crimés and criticized the death penalty.

Hernando Williams was executed about an hour later. Williams, 40
pleaded guilty to abducting, raping and shooting to death a
childbirth instructor he had held prisoner in the trunk of his car
for 36 hours. ‘ :

Both killings were in 1978. The dual. execution was a matter of
coincidence; the state Supreme Court set the execution dates.

Free was the third person executed since Illinois reinstated the
death penalty in 1977; Williams was the fourth. The state’s last
double execution was Oct. 17, 1952. - :

Only Texas and Arkansas have executed more than one person on a
single day since the Supreme Court allowed capital punishment to
resume in 1976. Texas put two men to death Jan. 31. Arkansas executed
two on May 11 and three on Aug. 3.

Free lost what might have been his last appeal late Tuesday when
the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a bid to delay his execution.

Meanwhile, a federal appeals court rebuffed Williams’ request for
a stay. Attorneys had héld out the possibility that Free might file a
new petition if Williams was granted a stay. |

Williams, who is black, contended that blacks were systematically
excluded from the jury that decided he was eligible for the death
penalty. Both men also argued that the jury instructions were too
vague. | Pens : !

In Nebraska, Robert Williams, 58, had faced execution after }
midnight Wendesday for shooting two womén to death in 1977, but won a
temporary reprieve from the electric chair by asking the three-member
state pardons board to give him a clemency hearing.

The board, which includes Gov. Beh Nelson, will meet at 9 a.m.
Wednesday to consider that request but there is no guarantee Williams
will win a hearing. If he doesn’t, he still could be executed by
11:59 p.m. Wednesday. = 5 >

Williams said he Had gone to see one of the women, a friend,
looking for sympathy over his divorce, Instead, she criticized him,
so Williams shot her; the other woman, a neighbor, was shat when. she
heard the noise and came over, ee .

Nebraska had not had an execution for 35 years before Harold Otey

/

died in the electric chair Sept..2.

Pe
Tae


Two Killers Await Execution
AP 21 Mar 95 17:46 EST V0245
Copyright 1995 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

The information contained in this news report may not be published,
broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written
authority of the Associated Pregs.

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) -- Two killers awaited lethal injection early
Wednesday in Illinois’ first double execution in more than 42 years.

James Free and Hernando Williams were to die an hour apart at |
Stateville Correctional Center. Free was to go first, shortly after
midnight. | | |

Free, 41, was convicted of murdering an office worker. Williams,
40, pleaded guilty to abducting, raping and shooting to death a
childbirth instructor he had held prisoner in the trunk of his car
for 36 hours. oy 3

Both killings were in 1978. The dual execution was a matter of
coincidence; the state Supreme Court set the execution dates.

The executions were to be the third and fourth since Illinois
reinstated the death penalty in 1977. Illinois’ last double execution
was Oct. 17, 1952, : . |

Only Texas and Arkansas have executed more than one person on a
single day since the Supreme Court. allowed capital punishment to
resume in 1976. Texas put two men to death Jan. 31. Arkansas executed
two on May 11 and three on Aug. 3, |

On Tuesday, a federal appeals rejected Free’s bid for a Stay of
execution, and his lawyers looked to the U.S. Supreme Court. The high
court turned Williams down on Friday.

Williams, who is black, contended that blacks. were systematically
excluded from the jury that decided he was eligible for the death
penalty. Both men alsa argued that the jury instructions wete too
vague. ;

ane Nebraska, double murderer Robert Williams, 58, also faced
execution after midnight Wednesday. The U.S. Supreme Court denied 4
stay on Tuesday. He was to go to the electric chair for shooting two
women to death in 1977; :

Williams said he had gone to see one of the women, a’ friend, |
looking for sympathy over his divorce. Instead, she criticized him,
sO Williams shot her; the other woman, a neighbor, was shot when she
heard the noise and came over.  —-«’j | ae we |

Nebraska had not had an execution for 35 years before’ Harold Otey
died in the electric chair Sept. 2, ;


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Chicago Tribune, Tuesday, March 14, 1995

Section 2 5

|

Clemency is sought for 2 : ~
facing March 22 execution

By Suzy Frisch

TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

_ SPRINGFIELD—Attorneys for

two convicted murderers sched-
uled to die in a double execution
next week sought clemency on
Monday, telling the state’s Prison-
er Review Board that the men
were denied fair hearings by the
juries that sentenced them.

James Free, 41, and Hernando
Williams, 40, are scheduled to be
executed by lethal injections in
the early morning hours of March
22 at Stateville Correctional Cen-
ter. They would be the third and
fourth men put to death and the
first double execution in M[linois
since capital punishment was re-
instated here in 1977.

But family members of the
victims in the unrelated murders
asked the Prisoner Review Board
to recommend to Gov. Jim Edgar
that the sentences be carried out
unimpeded. The board will issue a

| _ private recommendation to Edgar

based on Monday’s hearing, which
is not binding.

Lawyers for Free contended the
jury at his trial received improper
and confusing instructions and
heard from a psychologist
testifying for the prosecution who
was not an expert witness.

In a tape-recorded plea, Free
told the board: “I feel that I need
to be punished for what I did. But
the pain and suffering I feel each

| day is enough.”

|

Free was convicted of the 1979

murder of Bonnie Serpico, a
worker in a Glen Ellyn office
building who was shot in the back
by Free. Another woman was
wounded as she attempted to flee
from what authorities said was‘a
plot by Free to sexually assault
women working the night shift in
the building.

His family contended that Free’s
behavior was uncharacteristic of
his personality and the defendant
said he committed the crime while
under the influence of alcohol and
PCP.

But Serpico’s sister, Dorothy
Frazier, called Free’s taped apolo-
gy “completely phony.”

“It’s been 17 years and this is
the first time he’s tried to apolo-
gize to [Serpico’s husband, An-
drew], to me, to my nieces and
nephews. Now at the last minute
he feels he should apologize for
what he did,” Frazier said.

Prosecutors agreed.

“He’s a predator, not a man of
impulse but a man of great
thought, out to destroy those
lives,” said Thomas Epach, an as-
sistant DuPage County state’s at-
torney.

Williams, who could become the
first African-American to be exe-
cuted in Illinois since capital
punishment was reinstated,
pleaded guilty to the 1978 slaying
of Linda Goldstone, a natural-
childbirth instructor at North-
western Memorial Hospital in Chi-
cago.


eR Oy Og a EN

Chicago Tribune

hicagoland

DuPage

By Susan Kuczka
and Gary Marx

TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS

To an audience of three of his
victims’ relatives watching on
closed-circuit TV, convicted Du-
Page County rapist and murder-
er James Free was executed
early Wednesday, and the state
prepared to execute a second
condemned inmate.

It was the first scheduled
double execution outside of the
South since the U.S. Supreme
Court reinstated the death pen-
alty in 1976 and the first in Ili-
nois in nearly 43 years.

Free, 41, convicted of the 1978
rape and murder of Bonnie Ser-
pico in a Glen Ellyn office, was
pronounced dead at 12:42 a.m. at
Stateville Correctional Center
near Joliet, state prison officials
said.

The execution began shortly
after midnight. Prison officials
said three of Serpico’s relatives,
who were not immediately iden-
tified, watched on closed-circuit
TV from elsewhere on the pris-
on grounds. Serpico left a hus-
band and two daughters.

After Free’s death, prison offi-
cials readied the Stateville death
chamber for Hernando Williams,

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1995

killer executed

40, a Chicago convicted murder-
er. His lethal injection was to be
administered an hour after Free
was pronounced dead.

Williams was convicted of the
rape and murder of Linda Gold-
stone in 1978 after abducting her
from the parking lot of North-
western Memorial Hospital,
where she taught weekly
Lamaze classes.

Before he died, Free gave a
three-minute speech in which he
denounced capital punishment
and the news media, according
to prison officials and other wit-
nesses to the execution.

“T ask for God’s forgiveness

for the people who put me here,
you are all very vindictive,” wit-
nesses quoted Free as saying.

Free also blamed the news
media for sensationalizing the
case. .

The Illinois Supreme Court
and the federal appeals court in
Chicago refused Tuesday to
grant a delay in the executions.
And by Tuesday night, the US.
Supreme Court also had rejected
last-minute appeals.

Before Free and Williams, Ili-
nois had executed two inmates
since the state’s new capital-
punishment law took effect in

SEE EXECUTE, PAGE 6


Oo,

John Nungessor, left, eloped with the pretty milk-
maid. A short time later his bullet-riddled body
was found in the roadside, at the spot marked X.
Jesse R. Brown, circle, former state’s attorney of
Madison county, won a verdict which sent a
scheming criminal to the gallows.

But John Nungessor had been drawn to the hungry heart of
the strong young woman and had taken her away. ‘

New happiness had dawned for Minnie Nungessor then.
She had a small farm home of her own. Her husband was a
kindly man and she delighted to toil for him as she had done
for the dairy baron.

Face Murder Mystery

N OT quite two years had gone by and now tragedy had
struck again at the woman’s heart. Neighbors shook
their heads mournfully before her grief. But it was that
silent grief which the stolid must endure.

There was no doubt about the agency of death in the Nun-
gessor case. Murder was written clearly upon the corpse
in the twelve bullet wounds it bore. There could be no easy
verdict here of suicide.

Sheriff Deimling bent to his work at once for the country-
side was aroused. The killing was one of the most brutal
in the history of the county. Fiendish slayers had done their
work with all the bloody thoroughness of the gangsters that
had not long since terrorized nearby St. Louis.

Greed, jealousy, revenge! These were the motives that
stood out in the mind of the sheriff as he sought some clue to
the identity of the killers.

But there was little here for greed to fasten itself upon.

Nungessor had been comfortably well-off but no one stood to
profit by his death. Jealousy might be discounted, it seemed,
for his wife was hardly the type to inspire the amorous ad-
vances of the few men she knew. Revenge must be the
motive. And. yet the hunt for an enemy of John Nungessor
was as fruitless as it had been in the case of Bob Kehrli.
‘ Questioned on these points, the members of Nungessor’s
family racked their brains for some possible hint, of a murder
cause. The only thing they were able to put ‘forth was a
difficulty Minnie Nungessor had had with Emil Fricker over
the payment for her long service in his employ.

The dairy baron owed her $1,500, she had claimed. It
seemed an astonishing sum but the matter had gone into court

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2ed with the pretty milk-
r his bullet-riddled body
le, at the spot marked X.
ormer state’s attorney of
1 verdict which sent’ a
i to the gallows.

awn to the hungry heart of
1 taken her away.

x Minnie Nungessor then.
rown. Her husband was a
coil for him as she had done

Mystery

ie by and how tragedy had
’s heart. Neighbors shook
ler grief. But it was that
endure.

gency of death in the Nun-
en clearly upon the corpse
re. There could be no easy

ork at once for the country-
was one of the most brutal
ndish slayers had done their
chness of the gangsters that
arby St. Louis.

hese were the motives that
iff as he sought some clue to

greed to fasten itself upon.
well-off but no one stood to
ht be discounted, it seemed,
: to inspire the amorous ad-
ew. Revenge must be the
1 enemy of John Nungessor
the case of Bob Kehrli.
1e members of Nungessor's
ne possible hint of a murder
~~ -%le to put forth was a
with Emil Fricker over
nis employ.
1,9UU, she had claimed. It
e matter had gone into court

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and the dairy maid had won. Fricker had arranged to pay the
money but had declined to turn it over ina lump sum. He would
pay a small amount monthly, he said, if the woman would come
to him for it. The first payment had been made, the family as-
serted, but when Minnie went the second time she had not
returned and her young husband and his sister had found her
apparently held against her will in the Fricker home.

There had been trouble about that, but the claim had since
been settled in full, the sheriff was told.

The trail ended there. Nothing could be found that would
lead, by any stretch of the imagination, to a murderous con-
clusion.

The dead man’s mother did insist, however, that her son
believed his life threatened. That. she said, was the reason
he planned to move to another farm.

Questioned, she said she knew little, but she mentioned an
oceasion when John had refused to help dynamite fish in a pond
ona neighboring farm. He seemed to be afraid something would
happen she said.

Deimling followed her lead. It was all he had. The
men who had approached Nungessor on this errand
were Jake Landert and Eldo Wernle, he found.

Landert was a hired man on the Fricker farm.
Wernle was Fricker’s son-in-law and worked as a
shoe repairer in Highland.

The sheriff questioned other members of the family
about the relations of these men with John Nungessor.
A brother of the dead man gave him the only further
information he could find at the time.

He was working on the road, he said, shortly before
the murder. Eldo Wernle had driven by in a Ford
coupe. John Nungessor had followed later in his
wagon—going to his death.

Follows Slim Lead

I? WAS a frail thread on which to hang an investi-

gation, but the sheriff followed it. Inquiry near the
farm where Nungessor had been working revealed
another young man, a farm hand, who had seen the
man in the Ford coupe. The car had driven past the
place just before Nungessor started home, he said.
He did not know who drove the car. :

There seemed to be little more to learn. Few of the
neighbors were inclined to talk. There was a whisper
that the killing was the climax of an old grudge but
nobody would say what it might be.

An undercurrent of anger in the community
grew. Deimling knew that as sheriff he must
do something. He could think of nothing but
to question Landert and Wernle. ‘But if they

DETECTIVE

In the comfortable home
at the left. surrounded
by his fertile fields and
blue-blood cattle lived
the love baron, like a
feudal lord of old. The
man with the amused
smile shown below is
Emil Fricker, whose
neighbor was the victim
of a mysterious death.


country road as four heavy, pow-

erful farm horses, their glistening

flanks flecked with foam, their dilated

‘nostrils snorting with fear, galloped

madly away from a bloody horror
sprawled: beside the highway.

For nearly a mile they dragged the
clattering farm wagon blindly along the
road that wound through the dairy sec-
tion of southwestern Illinois—one team
hitched to the vehicle, the other straining

De. swirled from the narrow

at halter ropes behind. Just outside the
small town of Highland the runaway

horses came to a halt. They were rear- .

ing and kicking to free themselves of the
tangle of broken harness when a farmer,
coming upon them, recognized the teams
and led the four winded animals into
town. ; :

They were John\Nungessor’s horses,
he told officials there, and they set about
at once to notify the owner.

But the owner had already been found.
Two other farmers had come upon his
body lying in the road. Bloody and bat-
tered, it appeared that the well-to-do
young farmer had been thrown from the
wagon when his teams ran away and
had died of a broken neck. :

Deputy Coroner Everett Tibbetts of
Madison county, summoned by phone
from Highland, hurried to the scene.
He bent over the still form as nearby
farmers looked on. Then he straightened
grimly:

“This is murder,” he said, quickly.
“There are twelve bullet wounds. Nun-
gessor has been killed.” :

Tony Winters, Highland chief of po-
lice, had to be called then. He was a
deputy sheriff as well and brought with
him Sheriff Edward R. Deimling of
Madison county and Chief Deputy
Thomas Dooner.

It was some miles to the. Nungessor
home. The young farmer had been work-
ing a new place to which he planned to

10

move soon a
hard day’s \
of bullets h:
wagon sendi
ing from the
Kindly ne
Minnie Nur
She took
stolidly she ;
husband’s si
new to her.
Those whc


move soon and was driving home aftera on that sorrowful Monday night of It was April 13 that year when the
hard day’s work when the sudden hail September 15, 1924, suddenly remem-. proud young farm hand stood before the
of bullets had knocked him out of the bered that her first husband also had Holy Book and pledged a lifetime: of
wagon sending the frightened team rac- died a violent death. But that had been _ devotion to this strong young dairy maid

‘ing from the scene. suicide as they recalled. : whose eyes fell before his own.
Kindly neighbors bore the news to She had: been Minnie Kehrli then, The girl had apparently had few ad-
Minnie Nungessor, the young widow. married to young Bob Kehrli for less -mirers. Love had come, it seemed, to

She took the word calmly. Almost than a month in 1920. lift her out of the drab routine of farm

stolidly she prepared to go to her dead Both worked for Emil Fricker, | work which she had known all her life.
husband’s side. Tragedy was nothing wealthy Clinton county farmer and milk Beauty in the artistic sense was not
new to her. shipper, a powerful man who rated asa ___ hers, perhaps, and yet there was beauty

Those who stood pityingly before her _ feudal lord in the Illinois dairy country. _in the sturdy body and in the proud set

of her head upon the white column of
her neck as she lifted her eyes at last
and turned to go home with her husband.

Bob and Minnie Kehrli were to go on
at the Fricker home. They were to con-
tinue their tasks in the household of the
dairy country baron. And there were
those who envied the evident happiness
of the pair.

But Minnie Kehrli’s dream lasted only
27 days. On May 10, the body of Bob
Kehrli was found in a wooded section
of the Fricker farm. He had died of a
bullet wound. A revolver lay beside the
corpse.

There were those who suspected mur-
der even in his death. It had come in
the final days of their honeymoon month
when the happiness of the two had
seemed supreme. Not one in all the
countryside could give a single reason
why Bob Kehrli should. have taken his
own life. But. if murder had been done,
it was surely the perfect crime, for hunt
as they might the authorities could find
no slightest evidence to establish a theory
of murder. The youth had not an enemy
in all the land so far as could be learned.
The coroner’s jury pronounced his death
suicide. :

_ Tt was two years later that the sad-
dened young widow married John Nun-
gessor. She had gone on with her work
at the Fricker home. Fate, it seemed,
shad bound her to the milk pails and the
cream separator of the great dairy farm.

11

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St 2

ES

TOM CRUZE/SUN-TIM

Ald.:Shirley Coleman (right) holds her daughter Shirlynda. Coleman’s ex-husband and Williams’ father is on Illinois’ Death
Row: Hernando Williams, a convicted murderer, is scheduled to be executed next week.

4

MICHAEL

Condemned Killer Is Alderman’s Ex

Sneed has learned that 16th began her studies in hopes of saving after 36 hours. She went to a nearby

Ward Ald. Shirley Coleman was her father! house for help.

once married to convicted murderer Williams, hovering nearby, saw
Hernando Williams, who is sched- The Case... that and went after her again. He
uled to be executed next Wednes- A nightmare: Williams was con- threw her back in the car, drove to
day for killing Lamaze instructor victed and sent to the Pontiac state an empty garage and shot her to
Linda Goldstone in 1978. prison for not only shooting Gold- death.

And they have a daughter, Shir- stone, 29, the wife of a doctor, but Even sadder: She left behind a

lynda Williams, 19, who visits her first raping her and locking her in young child. Andrew, who was 3,
S father frequently. She wants to be a__ the trunk of his car. has grown up with the nightmare of
NEED criminal defense lawyer and,-in fact, ‘The horror: Williams let-her go. -‘Turn- to Page 4:---}
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Hriehti Sun -TiIMGéS  3-/7-AT


Execute

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
criminal justice experts.

“The floodgates have been about
to open for more than a decade in
this country,” said Franklin Zim-
ring, a professor of law at the Uni-
versity of California at Berkeley,
and a leading authority on the
death penalty. “What is as-
tonishing, if not incomprehensible,
is the enormous restraint in the
number of executions, given the
huge backup on Death Row.”

Nearly 3,000 inmates are on
Death Row nationwide. Since 1976,
266 prisoners have been executed.

Accompanying the backlog is a
public and political sentiment that
clearly favors the death sentence.
This month, New York became the
38th state to pass a death penalty
law. Politicians and candidates for
office who dare admit their opposi-
tion to the death penalty risk their
careers in public office.

Dawn Clark Netsch learned that
the hard way last fall when she
lost in a landslide to Gov. Jim
Edgar. The Democrat’s opposition
to capital punishment left her wide
open for a barrage of negative TV
commercials by Edgar that indeli-
bly branded her as soft on crime.

Indeed, pre-election Tribune
polls showed that 64 percent of
voters said Edgar’s support for the
death penalty and Netsch’s opposi-
‘tion to it made them more inclined
to vote for Edgar.

Despite all of the public and po-
litical support for the death penal-
ty nationwide, the rate of execu-
tions is relatively slow, experts
note.

“We have a Supreme Court that
seems hellbent on disengaging

itself from regulating the execution °

process,” Zimring said, “and states
that are, in all obvious ways, en-
thusiastic about pursuing execu-
tions. Yet, outside of the cotton
South, the odds that [a Death Row
inmate] will be executed is 1 in a
100.”

Illinois, which ranks fifth among
states in the number of inmates on
Death Row, is poised to become

one of the leading execution states |

in the industrial North.

Free, 41, was convicted in 1979 of
murdering Bonnie Serpico, a
mother of two small children, after
attempting to rape her. The attack
took place in 1978 during a rob-
bery attempt at the Glen Ellyn of-
fice where she worked.

Williams, 39, was convicted-of-+

the 1978 kidnapping and slaying of
Linda Goldstone, a natural child-
birth instructor at Northwestern
Memorial Hospital.

Last week, Edgar denied re-
quests by Free and Williams to
spare their lives.

But their attorneys’ “said Free
and Williams will file last-minute

appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Illinois Atty. Gen. Jim Ryan has
appointed a special team of
lawyers to fight those appeals.

Next in line to be executed is
Girvies Davis, who was convicted
of murdering 89-year-old Charles
Biebel and 83-year-old Esther Sep-
meyer during robberies of their
homes near East St. Louis in 1979.
Davis is scheduled to be executed
in May.

And before the year is over,
Ryan’s office plans to ask the MDli-
nois Supreme Court to set an exe-
cution date for Charles Albanese, a
convicted murderer from Chicago’s
suburbs who has been on Death
Row since 1982.

“We're getting to the point where
more and more people are at the
end of the line; they’ve exhausted
their state and federal remedies,”
said Kathleen Banar, a lawyer at
The McArthur Justice Center, a
group opposed to the death penal-
ty. “I think this is going to be a
very active year for the Depart-
ment of Corrections.”

Last May, serial killer John
Wayne Gacy became Illinois’ first
inmate to be executed involuntari-
ly under the 1977 death penalty
law. His execution came 14 years
after he was sentenced to death.

Convicted double murderer
Charles Walker had been put to
death four years earlier. But Walk-
er wanted to die, and he rejected
offers of assistance in appealing
his sentence.

Illinois’ planned double execu-
tion Wednesday would mark the
first time since 1952 that two exe-
cutions have been carried out on
the same day.

Texas, which has executed 92

Williams

Free

people since 1976, and Arkansas
have conducted multiple execu-
tions on the same day. Arkansas
executed three prisoners on the
same day last year.

Opponents of the death penalty
argue that the faster states start
executing, the more likely innocent
people will die.

But proponents say that the sys-
tem contains enough safeguards
and that the process is too slow.

Lawyer Bill Kunkle, who prose-
cuted Gacy, said Free and Wil-
liams are clear cases for the death |
penalty.

“There’s no doubt whatsoever
that these men are guilty,” he said.
“These are two appropriate execu-
tions. The system is giving these
cases as much time as they de-
serve, or more. No laws have

But Congress is considering leg-
islation that would shorten the
now lengthy appeals process af-
forded Death Row inmates.

“That would be extremely de-
trimental to the defendants,” ‘said
Banar of the McArthur center.
“There are a number of examples
of people who have been wrongful-
ly convicted, and information has
come out late in the game.”

_ 14 Section 1

Chicago Tribune, Sunday, March 19, 1995

“ From Page 1


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y
> 4 -

4% . CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1995

Sneed —

Continued from Page |
his mother’s murder. -

The Ex-Wife’s Story ...

Quoth Coleman, “I married him when we were
young. We were separated before the murder oc-
curred, but I remember trying to raise money for a
divorce afterward. It wasn’t easy.

“There was no way hiding from Shirlynda what
had happened. But I didn’t permit. her to visit her .
father in prison until she was 13 years old. I was
trying to protect her until she came of age. Her
grandfather [Hernando’s father] is a minister and
has been a great inspiration to my daughter.”

@ Further quoth Coleman: “I made a mistake when I

was young, and I’ve had a hard time dealing with
_ this. But my daughter visits him quite frequently. |

have been able to go on with my life and rise above

what happened to him. He is an attentive father and

writes to his daughter, and she has been praying for
him.” -_.

Coleman has since remarried and divorced. Cole-
man is her name by her second marriage.

@ How often -has she seen him?.
“Once.” It was a year ago. ;

How did she feel? “He was my
first love. There: are just some
things you don’t forget. It was

7 hard, very hard. And he had
changed so much. He told me he
: was at peace with himself. He
had become a role model with
young men by teaching. a Bible
class. He asked for my forgive-
ness. And thanked me for doing

such a great job of raising our Hernando
daughter and to continue to do Williams
so 99.-

Shirlynda was sent to private high school in the

South. She now studies criminal law in college and.
- dreamed of one day being able to free her father,
who maintains his innocence.

@ Shirlynda says: “I look at him and I often wonder
. if there was something I could do to save him. But he
told me the greatest gift I could give him was my
love. My goal in life is to be a criminal defense
attorney—and to go on and believe in God and
believe that God knows what’s best. ... My father
has made a lot of mistakes in his life—and he is an
example so I wouldn’t make the same mistakes.

m@ “Over the years, he has given me jewelry and
money and drawn poster-size pictures of me and
made me teddy bears. He also crochets and has made
me a whole family of bunny rabbits for Easter.”

@ Sneedless to say, life is full of shocks. Ald. Cole-

man’s response to Sneed was gracious, calm, and

resigned. My prayers go with her, her daughter and

the family of Linda Goldstone. And two young

children who suffered the loss of their parents—one

who died long ago and one who is soon to die..
ee @

S~-—- Havd
- avi aon


3-29- 95 Chicege 7 9 bt wee

Tribune photo by Karen Engstrom

A woman and her child were among about 200 death-penalty opponents at a vigil outside Stateville
Correctional Center in Joliet late Tuesday just before Wednesday’s execution of two convicted killers.

' Dual execution goes ‘smoothly’

By Susan Kuczka

TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Illinois carried out its first
double execution in more than
four decades early Wednesday, as
convicted murderers James Free
and Hernando Williams were put
to death by lethal injection at
Stateville Correctional Center
near Joliet.

“If there was one word to de-
scribe the operations, it was
smooth,” said Nic Howell, spokes-
man for the state Department of
Corrections and one of 25 wit-
nesses to the only double execu-
tion outside the South since the
U.S. Supreme Court reinstated
the death penalty in 1976.

Outside Stateville, about 200
death-penalty opponents held a
protest vigil while a handful of

pro-execution demonstrators con-
ducted a countdown to the execu-
tions.

Borrowing a technique used in
Texas, Dlinois employed an exe-
cutioner to manually administer
a toxic mix of chemicals into
Free and Williams, who were ex-
ecuted an hour apart.

In so doing, the Department of
Corrections scrapped its $24,900
lethal-injection machine. Last
May, an intravenous tube leading
from the machine to convicted
serial killer John Wayne Gacy
became clogged, delaying Gacy’s
death by about 10 minutes.

Free, 41, had been on Death
Row for the April 1978 killing of
Bonnie Serpico during an at-
tempted rape in a Glen Ellyn of-
fice building.

Williams, 40, had been convict-

ed of the March 1978 murder of
natural childbirth instructor
Linda Goldstone of Chicago, who
was killed after being abducted
and raped.

For the first time, prison offi-
cials also set up a special
viewing room for victims’ rela-
tives, who were allowed to watch
the procedure on closed-circuit
TV from an administration build-
ing near Stateville’s “X House,”
where the executions took place.

Last May, relatives of many of
Gacy’s 33 victims complained
that they were not allowed to
view his execution.

Prison officials said they would
review the manual injection
method and the use of the closed-
circuit TV system for relatives
before deciding whether to use
them again.

, ne


i)

Minnie Didn't
Bargain for Murder &

Those who loved Minnie Nun-
gessor were driven off at. gun-
point by a man. who felt she
was his exclusive possession, as
shown here in this posed picture

By Carl Hartley

Who Made a Special Investigation of This Case

HERIFF EDWARD R. DEIMLING was angry.
He strode up and down the morgue room in
short, quick strides. His thick neck was red, his
small eyes glared furiously.
“Twelve bullets in the body!” he roared. “Twelve
bullets! And they thought his neck was broken!”
Deputy Sheriff Tony Winters remonstrated.
“They didn’t know,” he said. “They thought he
fell out of the wagon. After all, they—”
“How can you tell they didn’t know?” snapped
Sheriff Deimling. “It looks mighty like collusion to
me. Obstructing justice, that’s what it is.”

“Maybe it was an accident,” said Chief Deputy
Thomas Dooner. “Maybe the guns went off in the
back of the wagon. Here, have a cigar.”

“TI don’t smoke,” said Sheriff Deimling. “And you
tell me how it could be an accident when twelve
bullets went into his body. Twelve of them—from
three different guns.”

Sheriff Deimling stepped rapidly over to the table
beside the sheet-covered figure of the murder vic-
tim. He picked up the flattened pieces of lethal
hc that had been removed from the dead man’s
body.

What Strange Motives Lay
Behind the Murder of

the Men Who Dared to
Marry This Innocent

Highland, Illinois, Girl?

“A thirty-two, a thirty-eight and a forty-fo
Accident!” He turned and glared first at Wintc
then at Dooner.

1t1T’S MURDER, that’s what it is. And we’ve

to do double the work now. We've pot to le:
where this body was found and how it was fot
before we can even start on the case.”

“Well,” said Winters, “it was on the old dirt rv
that leads to Saint Rose. You know the one. Ab:
five miles from Highland.”

“Five miles!” said Sheriff Deimling. “Maybe

4


satistic® the | bank of her iden-
tity.

All that o ‘rail of the $300. It
meant nothing, except that Mary Mc-
Coy had been in Corvallis, Oregon, and
probably in Pocatello, Idaho, before
she was slain. Gradually she had been
drawing closer to the redwood crypt.
Sheriff Runner wired authorities in
Pocatello and Corvallis and asked
them to find what traces Mary McCoy
had left in passing.

Corvallis and Portland, Oregon; Po-
catello, Idaho; Springfield and St.
Joseph, Missouri; Phoenix, Arizona;
Eureka, California—where next? What
other town would be drawn into this
strange case?

But it was no town new to the in-
vestigation that wired Sheriff Runner
and aroused him the next day. It was
Springfield, Missouri, back again, and
with important news.

The bank in Springfield had received
a note ordering it to convert Mary Mc-
Coy’s securities into cash. The cash
was to be sent to Mary McCoy at a
post-office box in Portland, Oregon.
The order was signed with Mary Mc-
Coy’s name. But the bank believed
the signature was a forgery.

A forgery! Sheriff Runner smiled.
Here was someone trying to claim
Mary McCoy’s money—someone who,
as the Sheriff knew, kad no right to
that money—someone who. knew that
Mary McCoy could not rise from the
dead to protest. The killer?

Captain Thatcher would find out.
Captain Thatcher in Portland would
watch the post-office box like a hawk,
watch for someone claiming mail ad-
dressed to dead Mary McCoy, watch

Minnie

said Dooner. “This is about the kid
who got shot last night.

“You mean the Nungessor kid?”
asked Tom.

“That’s right,” said Dooner. ‘You
know him?”

“T know who he is. that’s all.” said
Tom.

“Okay. Now give this to me straight,
Tom. He in business with you? Or
agin you?”

The swarthy man smiled then. sud-
denly and jovially.

“You’re barkin’ up the wror:z tree,
Dooner.” he said. “That kid --asn’t
mixed up in the business at all.”

“You sure?” asked Dooner. eying
him narrowly.

proper burial, even though in life she
had denied him the decencies of a
proper marriage.

Phoenix said, too, that the cattle-
baron had been found, that the cattle-
baron was sorry Mary Me¢Coy was
murdered but he could prove that he
hadn’t done it. And he had proved it,
too, to the satisfaction of the Phoenix
detectives.

5 beg gambler, though, still was un-
discovered. There was some rumor
that the gambler was an ex-convict,
that he had known Mary McCoy bet-
ter, perhaps, than the banker or the
cattle-rancher. But his identity was
oe his whereabouts still a mys-
ry. ‘

Clarence McCoy was not in Phoenix.
Eagerly Sheriff Runner telegraphed
right back to Phoenix. “Wire descrip-
tion,” he asked. And he sent the same
message to Captain Thatcher in Port-
land. “Wire description.”

Phoenix, Arizona, was too far from
Portland, Oregon, for a man to travel
in two days driving his own car. But
it was not too far for a man to travel

in two days flying in a commercial air-"

liner. Two days—a man could go from
Phoenix to San Francisco to Portland,
then back to San Francisco and still
have time enough to drive up to Eu-
reka. It was possible.

“Wire description.” Sheriff Runner
anxiously awaited descriptions. Why,
he wondered, should any man be in a
hurry to get his dead wife’s money,
when by waiting he could get it
through proper channels?

“Wire description.” Would it never
come?

,

EX-CONVICT. REFUSES TO TALK.

Clarence King, ex-convict — not
Clarence McCoy, barber. Now it was
up to Sheriff Runner to connect Clar-
ence King with Mary McCoy, with
the tourist-camp in Crescent City and
the crime near Eureka. The tourist-
camp man could identify him, possi-
bly. Somewhere Clarence King had
hidden a gun—if Clarence King was
the murderer. Perhaps that could be
found. And somewhere Clarence King
had left an automobile that might bear
telltale bloodstains. That, too, might
be found.

Sheriff Runner checked first with
the penitentiary where King had
served his sentence. He discovered that
King’s home address was at a ranch
near Corvallis, Oregon. And Mary Mc-
Coy had been in Corvallis.

So Sheriff Runner let Clarence King
strictly alone in the jail in Portland.
The Sheriff went first to Corvallis and
to the ranch that Clarence King once
had called his home.

A wide-eyed, attractive girl an-
swered the door at the King ranch
when Sheriff Runner rang the bell.
She blanched when the Sheriff told
her who he was.

“Where’s Clarence?” she asked.

“Clarence is in a jam,” said the
Sheriff. “I’ve come for his gun.”

The girl left the room, returned in a
moment with a revolver, a revolver
that had one empty chamber.

“Tell me,” the girl said, “what’s
happened? Where’s Clarence?”

“T’m afraid,” said the Sheriff, “that
you’d better not think about Clarence
much more. Now let me see his car.”

estion you?” asked the Sheriff.

t for?”

> don’t need to question you,”
paisu Coroner Swanson, who was sit-
ting there chewing on the end of an
unlighted cigar.

Clarence King stared from one to
the other of the officials, puzzled.

“What do you mean?” he asked
hoarsely.

“You thought she was dead when
you left her,” said Coroner Swanson.
“But she wasn’t—not quite. She could
still move her left hand. She could
write a message for us in the dirt with
that left hand.”

Clarence King’s mouth fell open. His
face paled. He stared straight ahead,
his fists clenched. Then he lowered his
head.

“It was an accident,” he said. “An
accident. We were in the front seat
of the car, and—”

RYT the accident theory could not be

substantiated. It was too convenient.
The crime, as reconstructed by the au-
thorities, had occurred in the Crescent
City tourist cabin. The motive had
been to obtain Mickie’s money. A

jury found Clarence King guilty of

murder in the first degree.

Clarence McCoy and Mrs. Mary
Horn, husband and mother of the dead
woman, saw to it that she was given
decent burial, near the giant redwoods
that had done their best to keep her
secret.

And Clarence King was hanged by
the neck until he was dead, hanged
from a wooden gallows that once had
been part of the quiet, mysterious
forest.

Didn’t Bargain for Murder (Continued from Page 21)

~That’s the Gospel truth,” said Tom.

“It better be,” said Dooner. He
started to go, then turned back.

Bs not a drinkin’ man, Tom,” he
sa:a.

“Yes?”

tt" HEM are mighty fine see-gars you
got in your vest pocket there,
oon,” Deener-seet .. .

i Nungessor clutched ner-
ly at her handkerchief. Her face
pale and red but her wild tears
sobs were gone. She spoke in a
hc llow, low voice, toneless.

“It’s like I said, Mr. Sheriff,” she
declared. “I was out of my head last

night. That’s all. I didn’t mean noth-
ing by all them things I said.”

Sheriff Deimling was exasperated.

“Come now, Minnie,” he said. “We
can’t catch the persons who killed your
husband unless you help us. Now who
is it you’re so afraid of? Who was go-
ing to kill John?”

Minnie Nungessor shook her head
hopelessly.

“Tt wasn’t nobody, Mr. Sheriff,” she
said. “I was just plumb beside myself
with grief, I was, rantin’ and ravin’.
We just better forget all them things.”

Sheriff Deimling rose and reached
for his hat.

“Minnie Nungessor!” he said sharply.
“J think you don’t want us to find those

murderers. You don’t care whether
we ever get them!”

Minnie looked up at him, open-
mouthed. Then, her handkerchief to
her nose, she burst into sobs.

“Oh, Mr. Sheriff,” she said. “I do.

twTHEN why don’t you tell us what
you meant last night?”

“T can’t, Mr. Sheriff,” said Minnie,
her voice barely above a whisper.

“Why can’t you?”

She stopped sobbing and blew her
nose. When she finished she had re-
gained control of herself. She spoke
slowly.

“It’s like I told you, Mr. Sheriff,”

December INTIMATE DETECTIVE STORIES Goes on Sale Friday, November 1

40

Ipe

—— good.”
“How do you mean?” ask in-
= puzzled. _a

“Suppose,” said Deimling, “some-
body was in love with her. Suppose
that Person wouldn’t marry her, or
couldn’ t. Or maybe Minnie wouldn’t
marry him. At any rate, when she got
married the first time he up and killed
the first husband and made it look like
suicide. And then she married Nun-
gessor and he killed Nungessor, too.”

a shook his head. ‘ :

“I remember that suicide busi 7
he said. “Fellow’s name Was. ek
Kehrii. And it was suicide, too. Pretty
payne if ; eee right. He was
a moody and introspective fell
ba in the war.” sg see

“Well,” said the Sheriff, “it’ -
sible.” ip Bese:
= “Then look at Minnie,” said Winters.

T mean, she’s not bad-looking, but
she’s not the kind of a girl anybody’d
go nuts over, nuts enough to kill two
people.”

“It’s possible,” the Sheriff insisted
stubbornly.

“How about the three guns then
Sheriff?” asked Winters. “Why would
a man use three guns to kill an enemy?
That doesn’t look right.”

“Okay, okay,” said the Sheriff.

Have it your own, way. I’m crazy.
But I’m going to look into it. I’m go-
ing to get all the dope on the Emil
Fricker suit, too.”

RUD in the files of neighboring
Clinton County, Sheriff Deimling
found the records of the suicide of
Robert Kehrli. Kehrli had been a
farmhand on the large Emil Fricker
dairy farm in Clinton County, between
Highland and Saint Rose. He married
Minnie, an orphan girl who was em-
ployed on the same farm. A month
later he was discovered in a patch of
woods he supposedly had been clear-
ing out, a bullet through his head, a
gun near his outstretched hand. A
jug of whisky also was near by.

Kehrli’s finger-prints were on the
gun. At the inquest Emil Fricker and
Jacob Landert, another farmhand on
the Fricker farm, testified that Kehrli
was moody and introspective, that he
often talked of suicide. Testimony also
was introduced to show that he had
suffered from shell-shock while serv-
ing with the oversea forces during the
Vorld War.

And that was the sum total of facts
in the suicide of Bob Kehrili, first hus-
band of Minnie Nungessor to meet a
violent death.

The records in Minnie Nungessor’s
suit against Emil Fricker showed little
more. Minnie testified that Fricker
had promised to pay her five dollars a
week when she first went to work for

Tp

pretty
“Maybe
“Now

Sheriff in
Sheriff
stared at
slowly fi
his neck.
“Tony,
meant th
He gra
“Come
talk to FE
Emil F
a typical
comforta!
With prac
was one
southern
head of a
local pol
held offic:
most of
County, j
line, but
iff Deim)
deputies.
He gre
plunged
of the sh
“Terril
knew Nu
was. An
like my
worked }

said the
opinion, ~
“Sixtee
money,
*Murders

- less than

Emil F
stared at
“What
“You k
ling. “Sv
were wh
Fricke:
the Sher!

doesn’t r

tf

vas in Clinton County, for all we know. Maybe we
iaven’t even got jurisdiction.”

The Sheriff walked across the room again, then
sack. He sank onto the bench beside Winters.
“Okay,” he said. “Tell me. What I want to know
varticularly is why the body was moved.”

Patiently Tony Winters went over the case
gain, from the time that John Nungessor’s team
nis found until his body had wound up in the
vorgue in Edwardsville, Illinois, the seat of Madi-
on County.

Early that evening a farmer had come into High-
ind, THlinois, with the story that John Nungessor’s

cam oof horses was standing outside of town,
vinded, apparently runaways. Residents of the
mall town drove towards Nungessor’s farm to
olify him. But halfway there they found the body

f Nungessor by the side of the road, unconscious,
ving ina pool of blood,

The men supposed at first that Nungessor had
roken his neck in a fall from his wagon when the
orses shied. So they picked him up carefully and
rove back to Highland as fast as they could. In
lighland they saw that Nungessor was dead. The
ody was taken on, then, to ‘the county seat.

And it was in Edwardsville that Deputy Coroner
‘verett Tibbetts uncovered the first evidence of
\urder. He looked first for a broken neck; instead
e found a bullet-hole in the throat. Then he found
nother, in the head. Then another. All told, twelve
ullets had been pumped into Nungessor’s body.
“So you see,” said Winters, “there wasn’t any
ollusion. They just figured he broke his neck.”
Sheriff Deimling snorted.

! A ND not one of ’em,” he said, “noticed the bul-
let-holes? Not one of ’em found the shells

v heard the guns being fired?”

“Guess not,” said Winters.

The Sheriff rose to his feet again.

“Well,” he said, “that takes the prize for a stupid
‘ick. We’d better get out there and look at the
dot before somebody builds a barn over it.”

It was well after dark that September night when
ve three officers, Sheriff Deimling, Winters and
Jooner, set out through the southern Illinois farm-
inds for the place where John Nungessor’s body
ad been found. Ahead of them was a murder. in-
estigation, a baffling, puzzling murder investiga-
on that already, at the start, had been bungled.
/ho had killed John Nungessor? Why?

One word formed in Sheriff Deimling’s mind as
e jounced over the gravel roads. Madison County
. just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis.
.t that time prohibition was in force. Was this
illing an outgrowth of St. Louis gang wars?
Sheriff Deimling voiced this one word.
“Bootleggers?” he asked.

“Sure,” said Deputy Dooner. “Must be.”

“How about it, Tony?” asked Deimling. “You
now these people.”

3esides being a deputy sheriff, Winters was chief
{ police of Highland. He was well acquainted with
ohn Nungessor.

But Winters was long in answering. Finally he
aid:

“T don’t know. Never heard of John Nungessor
eing mixed up in any-
iing like that. But I

an’t figure who else
‘ould want to kill him.”

“Well,” said Deimling, Mrs. Minnie Nunges-
three guns were used. sor, shown here with
hat means three killers her baby: "They'll
robably took part. come and get me
Vhere else you going to ... Ain't nobody go-
nd three murderers in ing to stop them"
lis county?”

Winters shrugged his
aoulders.

“John Nungessor was

pretty upstanding fellow,” Winters said. “Just got
varried a while back, bought a new farm and has a
id. He didn’t have a lot of dough, either, except
‘hat you could see he worked for.”

“Something wrong there,” said the Sheriff. His
nger was soothed somewhat now that he was
lunging into the investigation. “Sure you knew
im well?”

“Like my own brother,” said Tony Winters. “I’m
‘illing to bet John Nungessor was no bootlegger.
‘ut Tecan’t figure out who’d kill him.”

The officers drove along in silence then until
heriff Deimling pulled off the concrete pavement
1 Highland and on an unpaved side road.

“Right along here,” said Winters. He leaned out
f the window. “Better turn your spot on. Here
is.”

“HE officers climbed out of the car. On both sides
‘of the road, they noted, were high bushes,
ushes that afforded excellent ambush for the kill-
rs. The road itself was narrow, unfinished and
eeply rutted.

Winters directed the beam of his flashlight to a
lace on the side of the road. Dark blots of stain
howed up in the white gleam of the light.

“He was right here,” said Winters. “Far as I
ould tell from the men who found him. Lying on

0

his back with his head and shoulders in the ditch.
Like this.”

Sheriff Deimling watched closely. He peered at
the ground, got down on his hands and knees and
examined it. Then he rose again and brushed off
his trousers.

“Can’t tell a thing,” he said. He turned on his
heel and walked down the road several steps. Then
he wheeled and walked past the deputies in the
opposite direction.

“Here!” he called. “See?”

He pointed to tire-tracks leading into the brush
at the side of the road.

“Somebody parked here in the bushes,” he said.
“Then they drove out of here in one Hell of a
hurry.”

Deputy Dooner dropped down in the road beside
the tracks.

“It’s a small car,” he said. “But you can’t tell
when these tracks were made.” He looked up at
the sky. “Hain’t been any rain around here for
two weeks now.”

The three men walked back then to their car.

“Here’s where the team broke and ran,” said
Dooner. “Must’a got scared when they heard the
shots.”

He lit a match with a sudden movement of his
thumbnail and the flare of light reflected on his

tan, weather-beaten face as he cupped his hands
around the end of a cigar.
“Light?” he asked the Sheriff, holding out the

. spluttering match.

“Don’t smoke,” said the Sheriff. He was looking
intently at the road. But his keen eyes failed to
find any other clew in the hard-packed surface.

“Eldo Wernle told me he drove by here just be-
fore the shooting,” said Winters. “Says he didn’t
see nobody, though.”

“Who’s he?” asked the Sheriff.

GROEN ALES in Highland,” said Winters. “You
know him. He married Emil Fricker’s daugh-
ter about a month ago. He and John Nungessor
were great friends.”

The Sheriff glanced again around the spot where
the body had lain.

“Well,” he said finally, “nothing else we can do
here. We better go see the widow now.”

“She’s probably up at Nungessor’s ma’s place,”
said Winters. “Poor kid, she doesn’t have any folks
of her own.”

The old Nungessor farm was on the other side
of Highland. It was lighted when the officers drove
up and Sheriff Deimling noted the well-painted
farm buildings, the general neatness of the farm-
yard and the garden. °


4

John Nungessor: His wife disregarded threats
that he would be slain if he married her

“John learned how to farm from his pa,” said
Winters. “Good, hard-working people.”

An elderly woman, white-haired, her face gray
with suppressed emotion, answered the door. Peer-
ing fearfully over her shoulder was a much younger
woman with a face red from weeping. The younger

+ woman hada baby in her arms.

“It’s me, Mrs. Nungessor,” said Tony Winters.
“We'd like to talk to you and Minnie if we could.”

The young woman stepped in front then.

“Oh, Mr. Winters!” she said. “Mr. Winters! You
won’t let them get me, will you, Mr. Winters?”

She burst-into tears and clung to her mother-in-
law’s arm. :

“Minnie’s near out of her mind,” said the elder
woman. “She’s that scared and beside herself. This
is mighty hard on all of us.”

“Now don’t you worry, Minnie,” said Deputy
Winters. “Nobody’s going to hurt you. Just tell us
all about it.”

Minnie burst into fresh paroxyms of weeping.

“You’d best come in and set a spell,” said the
other woman.

In the parlor of the old but neat farmhouse Min-
nie Nungessor controlled herself somewhat. Her
fingers pulling on a handkerchief, she ‘stared
straight ahead and talked in a low, hollow voice.

't/T’S terrible, Mr. Winters,” she said. “I knowed
they’d get John. I told him they would, like they
got Bob. But he just laughed. Oh, it’s all my fault,
Mr. Winters.” é
She blew her nose violently then and continued.
“It’s awful kind of you to come and see me, Mr.
Winters,” she said. “It’s awful nice of you. But

you’d best go on and forget about me. You’ll never ,

put them in jail. Not them. They’ll come and get
me again, they will. Ain’t nobody going to stop
them.”

She shuddered and her voice broke. Then she
clutched at her mother-in-law and looked wildly to-
wards the door.

“Who’s that?” she asked.

“There, there, Minnie,” said the mother-in-law.
“Just you take it easy, now. It wasn’t nobody.”

But Minnie stared, round-eyed, at the door. Then
she burst into a fresh fit of weeping.

“You’d best come back some other time if you
want to talk to her,” said Mrs. Nungessor. “She’s
in no fitten condition now.”

The truth of her statement was obvious. The
officers rose to leave.

“Can you help us any, Mrs. Nungessor?” the
Sheriff asked of the elder woman.

“Help you?” she said. She shook her head. “All
I know is that my boy was killed.”

“Was he mixed up in anything he shouldn’t have
been, Mrs. Nungessor?” asked Winters. ‘Like boot-
legging? Was. he running liquor into St. Louis: or
operating a still?”

Mrs. Nungessor shook her head.

“Tell Me How It Could Be a Acide
When Twelve Bullets Went Into His Bod
Twelve of Them— From Three Differe

Guns... It’s Murder, That’s What It Is

Jacob Landert: "You thought it was
me and Minnie. That's @ good one"

Eldo Wernle: "I just wasn't in a
hurry, I guess. So I went the long way™

“Are you sure?” the Sheriff asked. “He couldn’t
be doing that without you knowing it, could he?”

“Not my boy, Sheriff,” said Mrs. Nungessor. “He
never set his hand to any wrongdoing in his life.”

Outside, away from the tragedy-ridden Nunges-
sor home, the oflicers puzzled over the peculiar
statements Minnie Nungessor had made.

“Only one answer the way I see it,” said Sheriff
Deimling. “And that’s bootlegging, in spite of what
his mother says.”

“Looks like it,” said Winters. “Who else would
she be scared of?” .

“Skittery woman,” said Dooner. “Anybody want
a see-gar?”

NCTILL,” said Winters, “I can’t picture -John
Nungessor as a bootlegger or mixed up in any
gang.”

“If he was,” said the Sheriff, “we’ll be able to
find out quick enough. Somebody’ll know.”

It was well past midnight then. Early the next
morning the three men went over the farm John
Nungessor had lived on. Nungessor, Winters knew,
was in the. process of moving from his Clinton
County farm to another on the other side of High-
land, near his. mother’s place. The officers searched

both places. They found no still, no evidence
moonshining or rum-running.

Neighbors who had known John Nungessor we
positive that he had not been involved in any su
business. So were John Nungessor’s married broth
and sister.

“Look,” said Deputy Dooner. “We’re asking t)
wrong guys. If this guy was in the whisky bus
ness, why, the other people in the whisky businc
are the ones who’d know about it.”

“That’s right,” said Sheriff Deimling.
“Well,” said Dooner, “I’ll find out.”

[)OOnER drove up that afternoon to a ramshack

former farmhouse on the outskirts of Highlan
He knocked on the door. There was a sudden scu:
rying of feet in the building, a tinkle that mig)
have been glass breaking, and a short, swarthy mz
stepped out on the porch.

“Now don’t go gettin’ upset, Tom,” said Doone
“T ain’t got any evidence on you this time. This
jest a little social visit.”

The swarthy man didn’t reply.

“T ain’t expectin’ you to squeal on your friend
either,” said Dooner.

Still the man didn’t speak.

“Now look here, Tom,” (Continued on Page 4(

~?


(Chicago listing carries as Durage,)
DURAZZIO, Raffaelo, white, hanged Chicago, Illinois, January 2, 1920.

"Chicago, Illinois, January 3, 1920, - (Leased Wire.) = The hanging of Rafael Durrizo
in the Cook County Jail before scores of his fellow prisoners has proved an excel-
lent lesson for those criminally inclined, according to jail officials today, 'The
lesson,' they said had had the salukary effect planned,s Some of the older and more
hardened criminals are not affected, according to Deputy Sheriff Lawnbenheimer, but
among the 'first offenders! and younger prisoners, the spectacle has had the result of
making them think of ways of reform," STAR, Meridian, MS, 1-3-1920 (2/2.)

"Chicago, Illinois, January 2, (Leased Wire) = Raffaleo Durrizo, a convicted murderer,
was hanged in the Cook County jail today while scores of prisoners looked on as invol-
untary and unwilling spectators, Prison authorities had arranged that the execution of
Durrizowould bg witnessed by the jail prisoners for the 'moral effect' it would have on
their criminal tendencies, Deputy Sheriff Laubenheimer planned to have 200 prisoners
placed in cells in front of the scaffold, ‘I know from experience,’ he said, ‘that
any one who witnesses a hanging never will intentionally kill, It is the greatest
lesson you can give a criminal,.' Chicago club society women, headed by Miss Mary
McDowell of the Chicago University settlement, HAXHRAXAXaKHK raised a storm of protest
against Laubenheimer's unique XE 'lesson,' They characterized it as 'immorral, 'Xdz#&%
'disgraceful,' and wholly unnecessary.' They carried their appeal to Governor Frank

O. Lowden who late last night communicated with the jail authorities to prevent the
prisoners being forced to witness the spectacle, The jail authorities promised to
remove as many prisoners as possible from cells fronting the scaffold. When the trap
was sprung shortly after 8 o'clock this morning, however, there were many prisoners

in the cells overlooking the scaffold, Some cells were crowded with 2 or 3 prisoners
each, Officials said the cells held some of the ‘hardest guys' in the jail. There
was only one sound from the cells filled with prisoners, As the body swung to and fro
after the fall, one prisoner started to whistle 'Nearer My God to Thee,' but broke off
and turned awaye There was none of the growling and banging of tin pans on steel bars
by the prisoners which usually accompanies a ‘hanging party.’ Silence MAXX RAK ARK
reigned over the tier of cells, Durrizo went to his death stoically, He declined

to answer the jailer's last question as to whether he Z had anything to say. When he
refused to answer this question guards quickly placed on the cap and robe and sprung
the trap. He seemed to evince little interest in the proceedings," STAR, Meridian,

MXXEEXNR Misse, Jane 2, 1920 (1s1.)


ey * oe ae ee AY fd “ oY \ rtfal -
be er, thet they wilt idee & ‘single

sésieg member.”

Commenting for the firat time on
the revelations of the slush fund tn-
vestigation, Benator Fletcher eald it

was very deubtful whether the |

chamber would set the Republican |
nominees in Pennsylvania and Iili-
sols, Vare and Smith, reepedctively,

im the event they are elected. He |

believes that the large expenditures

(Centtneed on Page 14, Coltame 4)
pe

MURDER SEEN IN
FINDING OF BODY

Mystery of Informer's Disap-
pearance Is Solved.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Oct, 28. H—-The
body of Joe Hays of Memphis,
ja sald to have supplied federal |
agents with information in ¢ennec-
tion with prohibition law violations,
was found today on President's teland
in the Mississippi river near here.
The body was wrapped with) |darbea
wire,

He has been missing severa! days.
Identification of the body, found half

buried in the sand by sheriff depa- |
ties, was made by a tattoo mark on |

his arm and an empty 38) scab-
board,

WIFE SHOOTS *E SHOOTS OOUNT
15-Year-Old "(Countess Says Has-

band Deserted H
- CATANIA, Silelly, Oct peo soe
he: Vecchio, 16, shot her h
wnt Cirtno Veeehio, 22, while "
was attending a musical
the township of Leptint. j
The count is dying. pr youthful
wife was arrested. Bhet police
that ashe fired the ne ye
had been deserted.

ARM¥ BOARD REJECTS
| PLAN FOR WATERWAY

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28.—The board
ef army engineers of the war depart~-
ment has disapproved, the proposal
for the so-called All-~ h water-
ways which provided for ection
with the proposed Great Lakes
waterways system by utilising the!
barge canal across New York atate.,

—- i The unfavorable report of the board
of engineers will go before the rivers

and harbors board, which will con- |

sider the matter further, and final
action to the chief of engineers, who
in turn will advise congress as to the

project.
TOR te Sey SEA Sm

SPECTATORS AT TRIAL

SEARCHED FOR WEAPONS | settie ner dead husband's extat

AIKEN, 8. C., Oct. 28.
feeling at the trial of

Carroll of Jackson on slands poset so. th gatipeume trey:

:
=

Oregon Paper ner Called Recipient political conferences:

of $35,000 In Election. feadors:

PORTLAND. Ott, \Oet. 38. }—-diee- et 908 of EE
sip overheard in the smoking ¢om- wan weed to defray the
| partmest of a Pullman car was the! of Indtawa kien officials tie
(foundation of charges, that $36,000) jcton last December to discuss
wae pelé to The Portland Morning)

Oregonian for opposing the candidacy lappointment of Charles Orbison
ef Senator Robert N. Stanfield of COTPOTation counsel of Indianapo!
Oregon, it was developed today by HAT William F. Zumbruan is
Senator Charies L. MeNary of Oregon legisiattwe agent of the ho

as he closed his investigation here order at Washington, looking &

into senatoria ampaign expenditures gsnach matters as tmmigration rest

in this state tion legislation and the seating
The information regarding the | gehatora:

smoking room gossip came in a tele-| That Senator Watsan in 1624

|gram from Walter Hayes of Wash- | vied m card of memberehip in

cael ington, D. C.. former secretary to! | Imperial Klgn, the national
| President Reosevelt,

tion with headquarters at A
George Putnam, petiner ef The and that his card directed all

| Balen Capital-Journal, who brought)... tresiy admit to thelr secret

about the Oregon inquiry, testified Inge persons to whom they W

yeaterday that he had learned of the sued. Previous testimony befor
alleged $354,000 traneaction in a con-~ committee that Senator Watson
versation with Hayes when the latter! @ conference of kisah of
vietted The Capital-Journal offices “" bington last January at

mee line resignation of Walter F. 2
EXECUTION TOI DAY " rand dragon was demanded
TION TO 4 o> ved wes denied y both Bo
and George W. Meyers of Ma
i, a former kia natopo. ie.
Killing « Br cay t assorted that. there
SPRINGFIELD, In, Oct. 26. Be Se sagen when Dr. Evans
Richard B. Evana, 26, Chicago, sen. | Bim if he was ready to resign
tenced to hahg tomorrow for killing Lee Smith, who succeeded Bosse
a Chicago policeman, wae refised a grand dtagon, «nd Joseph Hut

stay of execution by the filinols ton of Indianapolis, & great

: were in “Washington at the
Supreme court today. ;
' : eels Bera cots. Bossert said, but he insisted

Vigorous questioning by Se
Reed, that neither of them was

have been hanged last Friday but
was granted a stay by, Judge Miller
of Chicago to enadie him to perfect St at bis meeting: with Drilve

. eee VER Bet) Testimony regarding the Minn
KILLING pi] ES SOIT EP and Iowa senatorial contests
given by Milton Elrod of Indiana
formeriy editor of The Fiery Crap
Kinnie Wagner qual Saye: He Shot kian publication, Hired said chill
Deputy In Self- Defense. vans bad sent him to Minneso
BAO whether there whe srogna
Eggs contd mies, Ont 8 Ke | contest in the jelection of Be
agner, alles ler of five f oe :
men, admitted fm Cireulg court here | Sohal 6¥s8 braun de nee, te
today that he shot Murdock Moln- etal dt a
tosh, a deputy aheriff, for whose id (TSON CAL

murder he is on trial. “ghot him}!
with both barrels of a shotgun after ‘STORY Re dis
| NDIANAPOUIS, Ind, Oct. (26.

he had firet fired at me,"'he teBtified.

COT
| MRS. VA NDERBILT | ASKS |S A statement by Willtam R. Reo

Indianapolis kiansman, before
) GUARDIANS DISCHARGE | Wainnsre campaign funda com
| NEW YORK, Oct. 28—Gloria ‘Mor- in St. Louls today, to the effect
gan Vanderbilt, youthful widow of Senator James BE. Wateon of In
| the Jate Reggie Vanderbilt, has asked carried a Ku Klux Klan mambe
| the Surrogate court here to senwieas' gard in 1934, was branded ag
| George W. Wickers! from famows le" by Wateoh today,
duties as her guardian. MW: wana wi Notified at the hospital to wh
pilt, who recently notion to bas confined for eéversl 4
; ries received in an an

Ja tte. Magee Senator Watany
ok, “dine ppointed


|

i

Die ONE NSE GAS eR eS OR
The ORE TOR ES ar AR Lor a i EeL < minty Poca Ai peede 7)
: Pies Week ons “4 PR PIER AUS AST Bec en tee eae ae ge
Ree eae Sree ree pia ks, Raokg a ea tee eee Fe

Pa

t
phe oi

te.
ery

Pee ee: DAES eae, oe aes ene i Rca Pak es
et ins oie See hes Papeete 2h Rea ah is Pape =

The Fall on the Scaffold Fails to Break
His Neck,

Cuicaco, May 15.- Alfred C. Fields
and Joseph Windrath were scheduled to
be hanged at the county jail at noon to
day. Nic Marzed was sentenced to suf,
fer death as the same time, but Goy.
Altge!d yesterday granted him a respite
until Jon. 29, 1897. The governor refused
to interfere in the ather cases.

The scaffold was constructed last
night. Eaé¢h of the timbers was thor-
oughly tested and found to be sound.
The ropes were subjected to strain sev-
eral times.

Fields was to beexecuted for the murder
of Ellen Randolph, and Windrath for
killing Carey B. Birch. Marzen is under
sentence for the murder of Fritz Holz-
hueter. Just before the time for the
double hanging to take place Judge
Baker, of the criminal court, granted
a. stay of three weeks in the
case of Windrath. Field was hanged at
12:30. He smiled on the scatfold and
said “good bye old sport,” to an acquaint-
ance present. He was then strangled to

SUSTAINS THE LAW.

THE LOWER CoOuRT iS REVERSED.

4 ee
*

Indiana Supreme Body Rendersa Decision
on the Legislative Apportionment Act
Holding Good That of 1 885—Dissent-
ing Opinion by Judge Monks,

s

“INDIANAPOLIS, May 15.—The Indiana
Supreme court reversed the decision of |
the lower court on the legislative appor- |
tionment to-day. Justice McCabe in ¢con-| =

cluding his ruling says:
“Our conclusion is that as the act of

1885 is the only law that has not been |:

repealed or adjudged unconstitutional |
under which the election of members to}

the legislature can be held in 1896 and
that he appellee has no right to invoke
the powers of the courts to declare it
unconstitutional. And that, therefore,
as the complaint did not state the facts
sufticient to constitute a cause of action
and that the superior court errored in

of

We have th
Bend, at price

overruling the demurrer thereto, judg-
Winnett ¢ ¢ See eee 2 eee ‘ 2 ‘

oO ow,


Her parents waited for her in their
home at No. 114 East Superior Street
on Chicago’s near North Side. At first
her parents thought her simply late.
They spoke of disciplining her.

But as hours passed they became
afraid and, by dark, they knew that
this was no mere family problem but
was something outside their experi-
ence, some terrible thing with which
they could not cope. They needed
help.

They had a friend, Detective Quinn,
at the Chicago Avenue District Station.
They went to him, fearful, almost
panic-stricken. Trying to keep calm,
they told him their story.

That morning Jeanette, with two
other neighborhood children, had gone
to the new Lakeview Playground at
Chicago Avenue and the Lake.

Her two playmates had come home
safely. But Jeanette had not.

Her father said, ‘Nobody in the
neighborhood’s seen her since noon.
I’ve talked to a lot of people.”

Mr. and Mrs. John S. , Wilkinson
operated a delicatessen at No. 503
Rush Street. Jeanette usually stopped
there before going home. This day she
had not appeared.

And she was not at her home when
her parents got there for dinner at
six o’clock in the evening.

Quinn and his partner, Thomas
Baines, went into action and, watch-
ing their efficient work, the Wilkin-
sons felt comforted.

First Quinn checked all hospitals.
He got no results.

Then he queried all district police
stations. To each he sent the child’s

The Chicago Police Had to
; ~ Man-Child
Was Capable of Doing What
Was Suspected of Him. But
If They Failed, Then They—

Prove That This

Thomas R. Fitzgerald: “I like candy. But that’s just partly it.

1 guess It’s mostly because | like kids.

description—three feet nine inches tall,
42 pounds, blond hair combed in a
straight bob, deep blue eyes, wearing
a blue sailor frock, black oxfords and
no stockings.

But the district stations all reported
they had no lost child answering that
description.

Quinn said thoughtfully, “She. isn’t
injured and she didn’t get lost.” He
swung to face Wilkinson. “Let’s take
your wife home, then try to back-
track Jeanette.”

They went outside and, as they
moved through the dark streets, they
noticed little knots of idle men stand-
ing on curbstones, hands in pockets,
faces sullen.

That jolted Quinn a bit. This was
the time of the great street-car strike
which paralyzed Chicago. Thousands
of men were idle. Thousands of men,

1 give ’em candy”

normally workers, now found time
heavy on their hands ...

Quinn brushed the thought aside.
Probably Jeanette would turn up at
a friend’s house.

He got a list of her playmates from
Wilkinson and started a canvass.

First he went to the homes of Mar-
jorie Burke and Florence Clark, the
two children with whom Jeanette Wil-
kinson had gone to the playground
that morning.

They said they had played with her
all morning, then, just before noon,
Marjorie and Jeanette had started
home. They had separated a block
from Jeanette’s home and she had.said
she was going straight home.

That seemed to be the jumping-off
place for the investigation. But, to
double-rivet the story up to that point,
Quinn checked further.

Mrs. Muriel Fitzgerald: “It’s just
about ... my marriage... we
weren’t compatible . . . | guess

that’s what you would call it...”

He went to the playground and
hunted up the matron. She corrobo-
rated the children’s stories.

The matron said, “Here’s another
item that might help in your descrip-
tion of the child. The playground is
restricted; to enter it a child must be
registered and must have a little metal
tag bearing a number. Usually this
tag is hung around the neck on a
chain. Jeanette didn’t have a chain, so
the tag was pinned to her dress.”

Quinn asked for Jeanette’s number,
jotted it down. Another bit of infor-
mation was added to the sum of known
facts about missing Jeanette Wilkin-
son.

Quinn and Baines began a building-
to-building canvass a block from
Jeanette’s home, where her playmate
left her.

But nobody had seen the child walk
that block.

ID this mean she had been ab-
ducted almost immediately after
she separated from Marjorie?

Quinn called his station to report.
Lieutenant Grody told him, “I’ve been
going through the records. There’s
been a lot of attacks on children in
the district lately. Nothing serious.
Indecent exposure, making improper
advances, giving kids candy and
bothering them. That kind of stuff—
you know.”

Quinn knew and his teeth clamped
together. For there was no criminal
whom he despised and hated so much
as the one who preys on children.
Was one such loose now in his district?
Had he piled petty crime on petty

25


FITZGERALD, Thomas Richard, white, hanged Chicago, IL, on October 17, 1919

by

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pent Nalhewern PG WK Strangle

SYNOPSIS

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Kalpiug With ; totale at Corsi Ark’ + Lagacrity the Lo
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Cried Muna, he lad token fer urte apt | gevew casi ths Lod pote

Coecpssed tre Yo? Merck tffsisaa le baby dubied fur Cat pls iu Fearne?

he doelt tu dru + barricd herce. ins uly in Lathrods Ap ters - Ge

Allo fpinawes bed alhirsd Yrtociud toft facet LM Where they Lurrge

TRIAL

APPEALS

LAST WORDS

EXECUTION


Six-year-old Jeanette Wil-
kinson: She died a horrible
death at the hands of a
a boy

man who was still

Detectives shoveled tons of coal in the hotel basement
in a futile search for the body of the little girl

By John Martin

Special Investigator for
ACTUAL DETECTIVE STORIES

pled through the mob like the
rustle of wind in a cornfield.

Around the Chicago Police Station
the ring of taut human bodies was
solid. It blocked the street in a semi-
circle in front of the station, continued
around the shadowed sides, around its
back.

Facing the circle of hate were the
policemen. Backs to the station wall,
they stood shoulder to shoulder, grim-
faced, silent, guns drawn, a bulwark
of law and order thrown up against
the fury of the mob.

The quiet was oppressive. In the
sky the clouds rolled and billowed
across the darkened face of the moon.
A thunder-storm was brewing. The
atmosphere was charged with menace.

Earlier the mob had shouted and
screamed, had brandished ropes and
Clubs, had cried, ‘Let him out or we'll
come and get him!”

Hastily Lieutenant James Grody had
thrown all his men around the Chicago
Avenue Station, had called for help
from Detective Chief James Mooney,
who sent additional reserves.

The cordon of police bristling with
guns silenced the mob but did not dis-
perse it. Now it only stood, muttering

hittual

I | pie hate for a murderer, rip-

Mtry- (9 4L)

a little, waiting like a wolf-pack in the
northland sitting tirelessly at the edge
of the circle of light thrown by. a
campfire, waiting for a wounded man
to die. Inside the station the heat was

stifling. This was July and ordinarily’

the windows and doors would have
been open. But not this night: The
danger outside was too great.

The besieged police sweated and
paced nervously to and fro. They
halted abruptly when Lieutenant
Grody, haggard and drawn, emerged
from his office and locked the door and
faced his waiting men.

He shook his head. “That man’s
innocent. I’m convinced.”

The officers’ shoulders slumped.
Thomas Fitzgerald was innocent. He
had maintained his innocence for
hours, for days. He admitted having
known little six-year-old Jeanette
Wilkinson, but he denied having any-
thing to do with her disappearance.

Her disappearance—that’s all it
amounted to so far, for no evidence
that she had been ravished or mur-
dered had been found.

But how could you convince the mob
of that? The mob believed the child
was dead.

Thomas Fitzgerald was innocent.

TWealiv

But how could you convince the mob
of that? The mob believed Fitzgerald
had murdered her.

Helplessly Detective John Quinn
said, “But what’re we going to do?
You can’t release him, Lieutenant.
That mob would tear him to pieces.”

The Lieutenant’s jaw squared. “I
know it. We’ll have to keep him till
we can prove he’s innocent. And it’s
up to you to do that.”

Quinn’s eyebrows lifted. Here was
a strange assignment. He had worked
day and night to find the man respon-
sible for little Jeanette’s disappearance
—to find her murderer, Quinn had
thought, unconsciously.

And now that he had come up with
a prime suspect he was told to prove
the man innocent.

It was the only way out. Before
the police could go forward with their
investigation they first must rid them-
selves of Thomas Fitzgerald.

Quinn said, “All right. I'l go back
to the hotel and start all over again.”

E AND his partner, Thomas Baines,

strode to the door. A guard sta-
tioned there looked toward the Lieu-
tenant, who nodded. The guard slipped
back a heavy iron bolt. Quinn and
Baines stepped swiftly out into the
night. As the door slammed again and
the bolt shot home, the tense officers
inside the station could hear the mut-
ter of the mob swell to angry clamor.

It all began the evening of July 22,
1919, when tow-headed little Jeanette
a inson failed to return home from
play.


crime until now he had plunged into
murder?

“Easy,” he told himself. “Take it
easy. There’s no evidence yet of any
crime at all.”

He gave the Lieutenant Jeanette’s
tag number, suggested the quick ab-
duction theory, asked for and received
additional men to canvass the entire
neighborhood.

Then he rang off and went to the
Wilkinson home.

The Wilkinsons lived in a three-
story brick building, which contained
six apartments. The Wilkinsons oc-
cupied the second floor flat in the west
half of the building. The only front
entrance was on Superior Street in the
middle of the building.

UINN and Baines knocked on the
Wilkinsons’ door and the father
opened it immediately.

Seeing the look of hope on Wil-
kinson’s face, Quinn hated his job.

. But he tried to be cheerful. “Not
yet. But we’ll find her. We traced her
to within a block of her home.”

Wilkinson’s wife put her hand to her
mouth and fled to her bedroom. Quinn,
knowing that activity is the best medi-
cine for sorrow, told the father, “We
want to make sure she didn’t come
home. You know how her playthings
are kept. Have any of them been
used this afternoon?”

Wilkinson joined the investigation
eagerly. But it led nowhere. Jeanette
had been trained in orderliness. Her
playthings were kept in one cupboard.
They had not been disturbed since
morning.

Wilkinson said hopelessly, “It isn't
possible that she could have been here
for any length of time without getting
her playthings out. She was an active
child.”

Quinn said, “We’ll talk to all the
other people who live in the building.
Maybe she visited one of them.”

The people downstairs hadn’t seen
her.

“She was a friendly little kid,” they
told Quinn. “She stopped in our flat

26

Mr. and Mrs. John
8. Wilkinson, with
daughter, Jean, mourn
for their missing sis-
ter and daughter,
six-year-old Jeanette

Jeanette’s playmates
peer Into the hotel
basement window
trying to learn if po-
lice had found her

almost every day. We didn’t see her
today, though.”

Neither had the second family Quinn
interviewed. But the man of the house
said suddenly, “Why don’t you go talk
to Fitzgerald?” ;

“Fitzgerald? Who's he?”

“He lives on the top floor on the
east side of the building.”

Irritably, Quinn demanded, “What
of it?”

The man’s eyes squinted the least
bit. Hoarsely he said, “Fitzgerald
keeps a box of candy for little girls.
I’ve seen him give them candy and
take them into his room.”

Quinn started. Was this a hot tip?
Or was it only vicious gossip moti-
vated by a grudge?

“Did you see him with Jeanette
today?”

“No,” said the man, then added

hastily, “I didn’t see Jeanette at all.”

Quinn surveyed him thoughtfully
for a moment. Then he said briefly,
“Much obliged,” and turned on his
heel and went upstairs with Detec-
tives Baines following close behind.

They banged on Fitzgerald’s door
but no one answered.

Quinn muttered, “Let’s see if we
can get a line on him from the neigh-
bors.”

y formate! completed their canvass of the
six-flat building. Nobody had seen
little Jeanette. No other neighbor
knew of Fitzgerald’s alleged habit of
giving candy to children. He was sup-
posed to work as a night elevator
operator in the Virginia Hotel at Rush
and Ohio Streets, only a few blocks
away. ‘One other scrap of information
the officers picked up: It was rumored
that Fitzgerald’s wife had left him that
evening and gone to Michigan.

None of this added up to anything.
Puzzled, Quinn called Lieutenant
Grody at the station and reported.

Grody said, “You better go talk to
Fitzgerald just in case.”

Quinn said he would. “Anything
new at your end?”

“No. The girl’s vanished. And I
think enough time has passed now so
that we can assume something pretty
bad happened to her. She didn’t get
lost or hurt. She isn’t with friends or
relatives. Six-year-old girls just don’t
disappear like that. A twelve-year-old

might run away. But not a kid six.
We're going to give the case the
works,”

So it became official—the thing
which every parent dreads more than
anything in the world: The death-
laden disappearance of a child. :

Word of the mystery swept like a
prairie fire through the near North
Side.. Groups of citizens gathered to
talk about it. Knots of the curious
watched while the police worked.

The cops started dragging sewers.
They launched a systematic campaign
to lift every manhole cover on the
near North Side. Whitewings helped
them. So did volunteers recruited
from the citizenry.

Captain John O. Anderson led his
Coast Guard crew out to drag the lake
from Chicago Avenue to Oak Street.

Scores of reserve police and hun-

dreds of volunteers searched the
neighborhood. Lieutenant Grody got
out a map of the district and blocked
the area off in small squares. He as-
signed police and volunteers to each
section.

They looked in every vacant build-
ing, in every lot and darkened area-
way. They knocked at every door,
questioned bellhops and doormen of
every hotel and apartment-house.

The famed near North Side of the
great city was aroused. No longer was
Jeanette Wilkinson’s disappearance a
private affair. It had become public
property. And with each minute, each
empty hour that passed, the parents
and the police became more and more
certain that the child was dead. Their
certainty seemed to filter down into
the ranks of aroused citizens. The
citizens pressed their search harder.
And, as they worked, the police knew
that once they did nab a suspect their
job would only begin. For then they
would have a mob to contend with—
a mob which, augmented by the ranks
of strike-idle workers, might well be
as great and terrible as any in Chi-
cago’s strife-torn history.

Quinn and Baines hurried to the
Virginia Hotel and went straight to
the elevator. Nobody in the lobby,
they thought, had noted their entrance.

“You Thomas Fitzgerald?” Quinn
demanded of the operator.

He looked little and frightened.
“Yes,” he said. “Why?”

Quinn flashed his badge. ‘Where
can we talk?”

“But”

Urgently Quinn said, “Don’t waste
time. Take us some place we can talk
where nobody can see us. It’s for your
own good.”

Fitzgerald took them down into the
basement. Quickly Quinn whipped
through the routine, then asked,
“When did you come to work today?”

“At seven o’clock tonight. I work
all night till seven in the morning.”

OMETHING of the officer’s urgency

had caught him and he answered
rapidly.

“What did you do all day?”

“Slept.”

“Do you have a box of candy in
your room?”

“Yes,”


“Why?”

“Because I like candy, I guess. But
that’s just partly it. I guess it’s mostly
because I like kids. I give ’em candy.”

“You married?”

“Yes.”

“No children?”

“No.”

“Where’s your wife?”

Fitzgerald looked at the floor. He
was silent for a moment. Then he said
slowly, “I guess she’s in Michigan by
now. She left me Saturday.”

“Why?”

“We—well, we just couldn’t get
along any more. So we decided to
separate.”

“Permanently?”

“I—I don’t know. For a while, any-
way.”

FITZGERALD was still looking at the

floor. Quinn shifted the line of ques-
tioning swiftly. “Do you know Jean-
ette Wilkinson?”

Fitzgerald looked up. “Sure. She
lives in my building.”

“Did you see her today?”

Fitzgerald thought a moment, then
outs “No. But I’ve been asleep all
ay.”

“You didn’t invite her into your
room to eat some candy this after-
noon?”

Fitzgerald said, “No,” then seemed to
catch the veiled menace in Quinn’s
eager, harsh glance. “Say, what’s this
all about?” Fitzgerald asked.

“Never mind. Give me the key to
your apartment.”

Fitzgerald hesitated a moment, then
handed over the key. Quinn took it,
drew Baines aside and told him, “You
stay here with Fitzgerald while I
search his flat. He’s answered up
pretty good, but I want to make sure.”

He left. In Fitzgerald’s apartment
he found a box of candy, about half
empty, on the bed. Carefully Quinn
wrapped the box in a towel to pre-
serve any possible finger-prints.

But, as he was about to turn and
search the rest of the flat, something
on the bedspread caught his eye.

It was a small, round, brown spot
about the size of a dime.

And it was the color of dried blood.

Hard-eyed, Quinn began a thorough
search of the apartment. And he
opened every door with a terrible fear
of what he might find. He searched
every room, every closet.

But he found nothing.

Baffled, uncertain, he called the
Lieutenant and explained.

“When I found the bloodspot I
thought I’d find the body. But I didn’t.
We'll have to keep on looking.”

Grody said, “I’ll have the stain
analyzed to see if it’s blood. And we'll
see if Jeanette’s finger-prints are on
the candy box. Ought to be easy to
get her prints off her playthings.”

“Sure. I'll go crack Fitzgerald.”

“Be careful,” the Lieutenant warned.

(Continued on Page 40)

Michael Kezik, the engineer, standing in front of
his furnace: “He told me... that he'd tend the fire”

Thomas Fitzgerald: His wife left him at one
of the most vital moments in his life

Detective John A. Quinn, now a lieutenant of
police: “When I found the bloodspot | thought
I'd find the body ... we'll have to keep on”

27


He never asked me to marry him.
He admitted he’d been thinking about
it. “I thought I was broad-minded
enough not to care about your past—
my own’s nothing to brag about—but I
don’t know. fi:

I could understand how he felt. The
things I had told him about myself
had become offenses to his love. They
were obstacles to marriage. I had no
need to ask what was going on in his
mind.

He began to drink heavily. When
he was drunk he said terrible things
to me. He dragged out my past. He
aired my faults. He invented excuses
for quarreling with me, goading me
into retorting to his accusations. I
could sense that he was hoping that
in some way I would justify myself.
I had been absolutely honest with him
about myself and my past was hurting
him. He couldn’t forgive me.

For six months Bert tortured me
and himself constantly. He seemed to
know everywhere I had been and who
I had been with for months before I
even knew him.

“What in the Hell was you doing
at them queer joints?” he once yelled
at me.

“Oh, I guess I am queer enough to
go there,” I answered.

He walked up to me and struck me
a hard blow on the face. “Don’t give
me any funny answers,” he said.

One day I told him I was going to
get out. “I can’t stand this any longer,
Bert.”

He grabbed my arm. “Don’t go,

.

How Could

“The crowd’s getting dangerous. My
men are reporting all the time that
there’s a lot of public indignation al-
ready and it’s becoming worse. So
don’t make a pinch till you have some-
thing definite to go on.”

At the hotel Quinn went straight to
the basement where Baines was wait-
ing with Fitzgerald.

Quinn thrust the spread at Fitzger-
ald and Fitzgerald said, “Say, what’re
you doing with my good spread?”

Quinn stabbed at the brown spot
with a finger. ‘‘See that?” he demand-
ed harshly. ‘“‘That’s what we’re doing
with your spread. What is that spot?”

Fitzgerald looked up at him calmly
and blinked. ‘Blood,’ he said.

Quinn’s eyes narrowed. Fitzgerald
said mildly, “It’s just a spot of blood.
Why?”

“Where'd it come from?”

“T cut myself. I was paring a corn
sitting on the edge of the bed and the
razor blade slipped and I cut my
finger.”

Quinn said, “Show me.”

Fitzgerald held up the index finger
of his left hand. There was a small
slit in the skin.

Quinn exclaimed, “I’ll be damned!”

The rest of the case against Fitz-
gerald fell apart just as quickly.
Jeanette’s finger-prints weren’t on the
candy box.

So Fitzgerald was not arrested and
the weary officers, haggard without
sleep, went on into the dawn with
their search for some clew to Jean-
ette’s whereabouts, or her body.

They concentrated on dragging the
sewers and the Lake.

But by noon of the second day they
were forced to acknowledge failure.

Nevertheless, the cops pressed their
canvass of the near North Side. They
tried to talk to every man, woman and
child who lived in the district.

Officer Quinn interviewed a woman
who said that her little daughter,
Helen, had passed the big apart-
ment building where Jeanette lived
and had seen a naked man in the
third-floor window. He had attracted
the child’s attention by rapping on
the window and, when she looked up,
he had gestured an invitation to her.

Frightened, the child fled and told
her mother what had happened. The
mother walked past the house on
Superior Street next day with her
daughter.

40

Jean. I don’t care what you have
done, please stay.”

More and more he became obsessed.
More and more he drank the strong
bootleg liquor. I was also drinking
heavily.

He spied on the house when he was
supposed to be elsewhere. One day
after he had left I packed hurriedly
and summoned a cab. When the cab
drove up in front I was waiting on the
porch. Before I could enter the cab,
however, Bert stepped from behind a
near-by automobile. He said, ‘“‘She’s
changed her mind, Buddy. She’s not
going.”

I was afraid to protest and the cab
moved away. “Go inside,” he said. His
voice was quiet, but there was a look
in his eyes that terrified me. I went
inside.

He followed me into the house. He
struck me open-handed in the face.

“Listen, Bert,” I began. I got no
further. His fist crashed into my face.
It was a hard, brutal blow, striking me
directly below my left eye. The next
morning my eye was swollen com-
pletely closed, and the side of my face
was black and blue.

“T hated to have to do it, Jean,” he
said, “but I can’t let you leave me.
Don’t try it again.”

I didn’t. Somehow I knew that his
obsession concerning me amounted to
madness. He’d not let me leave, yet
he’d torture me for the things I had
done before we met.

One night he began abusing me.
My anger mounted. I had never been

so angry but once before—the time
when I beat Howard Thorne with a
rope years before. Again I seemed to
be changed into another personality—
a virtual demon of rage.

There was a bottle of whisky stand-
ing on the dining-table. I poured a
glassful and drank it. Bert was sitting
on the bed. I grasped a chair and
raised it above my head. My attitude
must have been terrible, for Bert

.turned pale and cowered back holding

his hands in front of his face as if to
shut out the sight of me.

“Don’t throw that chair, you little
fool!” he shouted. He half rose to his
feet and I hurled the chair with all
my strength. That is the last I remem-
ber until the next morning. The
frightened neighbors summoned the
police. They took me to the police
station and placed me in a cell. Four
days later Bert died, and I was charged
with murder.

I was surprised and puzzled by some
of the evidence given at my trial. The
neighbors who called the police said
they saw me through the window
beating Bert with the chair. They said
I struck him many blows, the chair
splintering in my hands, and when he
fell from the bed upon the floor I
kicked him in the face and destroyed
one of his eyes.

I do not remember doing these
things. I did not intend to kill him. I
was under the influence of liquor and
for the time being I was completely
transformed, into that other person-
ality.

I realize that intoxication is no ex-
cuse for crime of any sort. I give it
only as cause for mitigation and not
justification for my crime.

It was all my fault that I was sen-
tenced to spend the remainder of my
life behind prison bars. I should have
let liquor alone. The world did not
make me bad, I guess. I chose that
way for myself. I could never hope
to escape punishment.

Since entering prison in 1933 my
prison record has been clear. I have
been teaching in the prison school
since 1937. I play softball for exercise
and recreation. My nerves are steady
and sound, my general health good.

T CHRISTMAS time I received
cards and packages from loved
ones at home.

One Easter I received a large box
of fine chocolates. In it was a card
with the name “Vera,” written on it.
For a moment the name brought no
recognition to my mind. Then I re-
membered —the girl who smiled so
friendly and understandingly when I
met her at the place which people
thought queer.

Within my heart there lingers yet a
spark of hope—that out of disappoint-
ment I may yet realize that I am richer
by having hoped and stronger by hav-
ing aspired.

The names John Roland, Vera and
Howard Thorne are fictitious to protect
innocent parties.

Children Know He Meant Death? (Continued from Page 27)

That time she did not see the man.
But the curtains at the window moved.

“Which apartment was he in?”

“The third floor on the east side of
the building.”

Quinn’s pulse quickened—that was
Fitzgerald’s apartment.

But the Lieutenant paused. Had
ey not already exonerated Fitzger-
ald?

Quinn went over the evidence. It
was true that Fitzgerald had a good
explanation for the blood on his bed-
spread, that Jeanette’s finger-prints
were not on the candy-box.

But that, in itself, was not enough
for complete exoneration.

Still, with the temper of the citi-
zens as angry as it was, Quinn did not
want to go off half-cocked.

He took the little girl to the Virginia
Hotel. Outside he told her, “Now
don’t say anything in the elevator.
But look at the man that’s running it.
Try to tell if it’s the man you saw in
the window. Let me know when we
get outside again.”

He took the child’s hand and led
her across the hotel lobby to the ele-
vator. Fitzgerald looked at him ques-
tioningly, but Quinn only said, “Three,
please.”

They started up. Quinn noticed that
the child moved close against his side.

At THE third floor they got off and
the elevator door slammed.

For a panicky moment Quinn won-
dered if he had made a bad mistake.
Would Fitzgerald skip?

Quinn pushed the button and, in a
moment, the elevator reappeared.

He and Helen got on and rode down.
Quinn took her outside. He stopped
on the sidewalk and said, “Now. Is
that the man you saw in the window?”

She turned her childish face up to
him and said solemnly, “I’m sure it is.”

On the strength of that, Quinn took
Fitzgerald to the station.

Later he was to regret it.

But that afternoon he and Lieuten-
ant Grody hammered away at the
suspect.

He was a stand-up guy. It wasn’t
that he wouldn’t talk. He answered
all their questions. But he denied any
connection with the disappearance of
Jeanette.

The cops held him and talked it
over.

“There’s two possibilities,” Lieuten-

ant Grody said. “His wife, in Michi-
gan. Or the Virginia Hotel here.”

“Want me to go to Michigan?”

“No. I’ll wire up there first. You
go back to the hotel and search it.”

Lieutenant Grody got off a wire to
the police at Bangor, Michigan, asking
if Mrs. Fitzgerald was there and if she
had a little girl with her.

Quinn and Baines went back to the
Virginia Hotel. They questioned the
other employes.

And every one they questioned gave
them new hope that they were on the
right track.

Foster Decorah, the package man,
said that Fitzgerald gave him’a new
revolver the night Jeanette disap-
peared and asked him to keep it for
him,

Quinn flashed this word to Lieuten-
ant Grody and Grody hit Fitzgerald
with it hard, but Fitzgerald calmly
admitted he had the gun. He said.that
he bought it for his own protection
during the street-car strike and that
he never had fired the gun.

But Quinn kept banging away. He
discovered at the hotel that Fitzgerald
was in the habit of spending his spare
time in the basement.

Quinn explored the basement.

He found that it housed a huge fur-
nace which heated the hotel. It was an
enormous furnace. Its gigantic maw
was fully large enough to accommo-
date the body of a child.

Grimly Quinn decided to sift the
ashes. He knew that it is almost im-

~ possible to destroy human bone com-

pletely. Moreover, he knew that Jean-
ette, when she disappeared, had worn
a metal playground tag pinned to her
clothes, which fire would not destroy.

So Quinn talked to the hotel en-
gineer, Michael Kezik.

But Kezik shook his head and said,
“I’m afraid you’re out of luck. We
hauled the ashes away about dark the
night after the little girl disappeared.”

But Quinn wouldn’t give up. ‘““‘Where
do you haul ’em?”

Kezik said the ashes were dumped
beside the Lake near Grant Park.

Quinn called this in and Lieutenant
Grody put a crew of men to work at
the ash dump.

And while they dredged up the Lake
bottom and combed the ashes ashore,
Detective Quinn concentrated once
more on the hotel basement.

The cops were going full-blast now.

No effort or expense was being spared.
All were convinced that Jeanette
must be dead, or she would have
shown up. And all were determined
to get her killer.

The cops knew they had to race with
time. For the temper of the neighbor-
hood was growing more indignant
hourly. Already a handful of venge-
ful men was gathered outside the sta-
tion house. Already the rumor of the
arrest was abroad.

Quinn, hot on the trail at the hotel,
talked to a chambermaid. She claimed
that Fitzgerald had tried to attack her
several times.

The case was building, building,
building. Fitzgerald fit the pattern.

But where was the body?

Quinn found a sewer manhole in the
basement.

He called for a crew of whitewings.
They came and Quinn led them to the
sewer cover. They lifted it back and

started dredging up the mess in the’

black pit beneath.

Quinn stood by, watching. Shovel-
ful after shovelful of waste was thrown
onto the basement floor.

Suddenly he cried aloud, “Stop!”

He picked up a poker and raked the
last mass of waste.

From it he scraped three large
bones.

He laid them carefully on a piece of
newspaper, told the men to keep
working, and raced to a telephone.

He called Lieutenant Grody, then
Detective Chief Mooney. The menace
of the mob held Grody at the Chicago
Avenue Station, but Chief Mooney
himself went to the hotel.

From the mass of refuse he culled
a basketful of bones, black with filth
but white when scraped clean.

He bent over them, scratched ten-
tatively at their pocked surfaces. He
said cryptically, “Quicklime.”

Gathering them up in a bundle, he
told Quinn, “Let’s go,” and together
they went to the station. There they
called in Doctor W. A. Evans and
asked him for an analysis of the part
of a skeleton.

While waiting for the doctor’s re-
port, Grody told them, “Mrs. Muriel
Fitzgerald is at Bangor, all right. But
the police there say that she has no
child with her. Besides that, she got
there the Saturday before Jeanette
disappeared—not the same night. That
backs up Fitzgerald. She’s coming to

aD 1


|
|

Chicago.
guess.”

Doctor Evans reported. Calmly he
said, “Those are not human bones.”

The officers ringing him stared.
Mooney faltered, “Not—not human
bones?”

“No. Not a chance. The rib bones
are too large for a human being—even
for an adult. And there are four
joints which probably came from
chickens. Certainly not from humans.”

Quinn asked, “Can you be sure?”

“Positive,” said Doctor Evans. “I
understand you found them in hotel
waste?”

Dazed, Quinn nodded.

“Then I would say they are from
the garbage. The ribs probably came
from roast beef, the joints from
broiled chicken. But whatever the
origin, it most emphatically is not
human.”

The cops couldn’t believe it. Stub-
bornly they called in another physi-
cian, Doctor Frank W. Baylor. He told
them the same thing.

And from the lake front came the
report that no trace of human bone
could be found.

And thus, for a second time, the
whole case against Thomas Fitzgerald
collapsed completely.

Not a shred of evidence remained to
indicate that he had killed little Jean-
ette.

Quinn said disconsolately, ‘We'll
have to turn him loose.”

To help her husband, I

FOr answer, Lieutenant Grody ges-
tured at the window. Quinn didn’t
understand at first. He had been too
deep in the investigation to gauge
public indignation.

But when he walked to the window,
he understood.

Outside under a street-light stood
a dozen men. Two of them carried
clubs. All were knotted together
tightly, staring with steady, dreadful
purpose at the police station.

Grody said grimly, “That’s only the
beginning. If I’m any judge of hu-
man nature, there’s more to come.
Plenty more. They’re on strike, irri-
table, looking for trouble. If we turn
Thomas Fitzgerald loose now he won’t
live through the night.”

Quinn turned helplessly to his
superior. “Then what are we going
to do?”

“Find the murderer. Or find the
child alive.” He opened a desk drawer,
pulled a dirty envelope out and handed
it to Quinn. The detective studied it.
It was addressed to the Wilkinsons.
He opened it and found an anonymous
letter which said that the author had
seen a little girl taken from an auto
on the far South Side, at Commercial
Avenue and 92nd Street, on the day
after Jeanette’s disappearance.

Quinn’s face lit up. A _ trigger-
minded investigator, he always
snapped alert when a new lead
cropped up. “Want me to go to work
on it?”

The Lieutenant shook his _ head.
“Men already are canvassing the
neighborhood. I’ll put more on the
ey now that we know Fitzgerald’s out
of Tt’

“What shall I do?”

“Look up a man named Dennis
Curtin.”

“Who’s he?”

“T don’t know much about him ex-
cept that he’s an old man. Maybe
seventy.”

“Has he got a record?”

“No. One of the detectives making
the canvass heard about him today,
but we were pretty convinced that
Fitzgerald was guilty, so I didn’t pay
much attention. I understand that
Curtin has a reputation for liking
young girls and that he’s left town all
at once.”

“Where does he live?”

“TI don’t know that either,” Grody
admitted. “But it’s somewhere very
close to Jeanette’s home.”

Eagerly Quinn left the station and
went to work. He took a map and
plotted a course for himself. He would
canvass every dwelling on _ streets
radiating from Jeanette’s home. It
was slow, routine work. And it might

AD

1

lead to nothing. But Quinn was the
kind of a cop who loved a tough job.

In a shabby rooming-house he found
what he was hunting—the home of
Dennis Curtin.

Curtin was gone. The other tenants
in the house spoke freely of him. He
was an old man. He was enfeebled,
listless. But, the neighbors said, when
a little girl came before him he
seemed to become alive. He would
give her candy, take her to his room,
give her pennies. A nice old man, the
neighbors said. A lonely man. Too
bad he had no children of his own.

But Quinn thought grimly, “Yeah.
Nice old man.”

He wanted to know where Curtin
was. Nobody knew. He had left sud-
denly.

“When?” Quinn demanded.

The neighbors compared notes. Cur-
tin had been seen last on the after-
noon on which Jeanette disappeared.

Nobody knew where he had gone.
But he had relatives in the neighbor-
hood whom he visited often.

Quinn got their addresses.

And, when he pressed them, they
told him that Dennis Curtin had gone
to a cabin he owned near Naperville,
a town not far from Chicago, and that
he had warned them not to tell the
police where he had gone.

Quinn grabbed a phone, called his
station, told Lieutenant Grody what
he had learned.

Grody said, “Sounds hot. I’ll pick
you up in five minutes.”

Westward they raced to Naperville.
Were they on the right trail after so
many false starts? Certainly they had
a hot lead. And they knew they would
have to hurry. “The crowd in front
of the station has grown,” Grody said.
“They want Fitzgerald. I’ve got guards
posted. But it’s getting bad.”

There was only one way to fix that:
To find the killer. The cops pressed
for speed.

At Naperville they went straight to
the post office and asked, “You got a
Dennis Curtin listed?”

The postmaster had. He told them
where Curtin’s cabin was.

“Is he there now?”

“I haven’t seen him.”

The cops left and hurried to the
cabin. It was a small place, set in a
grove of trees.

Quinn murmured, “Nice, isolated
spot.”

Grody nodded and strode to. the
door and banged on it.

No answer.

He pounded again, louder, shouting,
“Open up. Police.”

Not a sound came from the cabin.

Together the cops rammed the door.

The lock splintered the casing, the
door flew open, the two cops sprawled
inside.

They were on their feet in an in-
stant, guns drawn.

But the cabin was empty.

They searched _it thoroughly but
they found neither Curtin nor little
Jeanette’s body.

And yet they knew their trip to
Naperville had not been in vain. On
the kitchen table was a plate contain-
ing a half-eaten egg and a cup of cof-
fee only half empty. From a dresser
drawer dangled a sock. A shirt lay
sideways in the drawer. Several docu-
ments were scattered on the floor.

“Thieves?” asked Quinn.

“No,” said the Lieutenant slowly.
“T don’t think so. I’d say, rather, that
it looks like Curtin left in a big
hurry.”

HY? Had he hurried away in
fearful flight?

The cops searched further. In a
closet they found a heap of toys and
dolls and childish picture books.
Pasted on a wall were a couple dozen
pictures of little girls. Some were
actual photographs, others were pic-
tures cut from magazines and news-
papers.

Why? Why this strange fondness for
children? Curtin had no children so
far as the officers knew. Grody said
quietly, “He’s skipped. I guess we
better get out the alarm.”

So across the Mid-West flashed the
alarm: Get and hold Dennis Curtin.

To every police officer went his de-
scription, his known habits, everything
be Chicago cops had learned about

im.

Could they get him?

And, more important, could they
get him in time?

For the mob outside the station
house was clamoring for the blood
of Thomas Fitzgerald.

The Chief threw a cordon of police
around the station, locked Fitzgerald
into the Lieutenant’s office, gave him
a cot to sleep on and double-barred
his window and told him, ‘Whatever
you do, stay away from that window
till we can find a way to release you.”

But that was not enough. As the
endless hours passed, the menace grew.
The group which had begun as a hand-
ful of men and swelled to a crowd
was now a full-fledged mob. It stood
day and night around the station
house, ominously quiet. Men of the
mob would stand there twelve hours
at a stretch, then go home for rest,
only to be relieved by fresh men. This
was no disorderly crowd. This was
a well-organized mob, bent on ven-
geance. And their anger was focused
on Thomas Fitzgerald, the only suspect
in custody.

Grody told Quinn, “It may be weeks
or months before we get the real mur-
derer. There’s only one thing to do
now: Prove to the mob that, beyond
any doubt, Fitzgerald is innocent. Un-
til we do that we can’t let him go.”

So Quinn and Baines went back to
the hotel on their strange mission,
searching for an alibi, for any scrap
of physical evidence which would clear
Fitzgerald completely. It was the cops’
only chance to release an innocent
man.

The management of the hotel con-
firmed the fact that he normally came
to work at 7 p.m. No alibi there.
Unless, of course, he arrived early on
the day Jeanette disappeared.

Quinn hunted up the chef of the
hotel, William Harris, and questioned
him on this point.

Harris said, “Fitzgerald usually gets
here long enough before seven o’clock
to eat his dinner. But a funny thing,”
he added, leaning closer. ‘Usually he
looks clean and fresh—you know: He’s
slept all day, so why shouldn’t he?
But on that day he was plain fagged
out. Why, he almost went to sleep
over his supper.”

UINN frowned. This wasn’t any
alibi. Indeed...

“What time did he arrive?”

“The usual time. Just before seven.”

Quinn left, puzzled. He talked to
Kezik, the engineer, again. He ques-
tioned Kezik closely, trying to make
him recall in great detail everything
that he had seen Fitzgerald do on the
day Jeanette disappeared.

Kezik went at the job painstakingly.
“About six o’clock Fitzgerald came to
the basement.”

“Six?” Quinn was startled.

Kezik nodded. ‘He told me that the
light bulb on the fifth floor didn’t work
and told me to go up and fix it—that
he’d tend the fire while I was gone.”
Slowly surprise spread over Kezik’s
solid features. “That’s funny.”

“Why?”

“Because Fitzgerald knows how to
fix lights that don’t work. I’ve seen
him do it and I’m sure. There wasn’t
anything much wrong with the light
on the fifth floor. He could’ve fixed it
himself. But he got me to go up there
and he told me to take my time.”

Quinn stared at him. What did this
mean? Was it significant?

“How long were you gone?”

“About a half-hour, I guess,” Kezik
said.

“Was Fitzgerald here when you got
back?”

“Yes.”

Quinn looked at Baines. This was
funny. But it didn’t add up to any-
thing.

“Where was he?”

“Over by the furnace. His face and
hands was sort of black and he looked
like he’d been workin’ hard. I guess
he banked the fire.”

But that didn’t mean anything. They

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already had sifted the ashes and found
nothing. They—

Suddenly Quinn snapped, “You get
the idea he’d been shoveling coal?”

Kezik nodded.

“Where's the coal pile?”

Kezik showed them.

Quinn grabbed a shovel and started
throwing the coal aside. He snapped
to Baines, “Give me a hand,” and
Baines seized another shovel and
pitched in.

Suddenly Quinn tossed his shovel
aside and bent to the floor.

From the black grime he plucked a
tiny metal object that glistened in his
hand. He held it out to Baines.

It was a metal tag from the Lake-
view Playground. Its number was that
of little Jeanette Wilkinson.

Feverishly the men _ shoveled the
coal aside. They moved three tons of
it.

But they found nothing. ;

There was not another shred of evi-
dence to indicate that Jeanette ever
had been here in the basement.

Disgusted, baffled, weary, Quinn

dropped his shovel and wiped his,

brow and said, “I never in all my life
saw a man who comes into and out
of an investigation so fast as Thomas
Fitzgerald.”

“What you going to do now?” Baines
asked.

“IT don’t know,” said Quinn help-
lessly. “Call the Lieutenant, I guess.”

He did. He made his report and
Grody listened carefully, then said,
“Drop it for a while and come on in.
There’s something funny here.”

Quinn’s pulse quickened. ‘“‘What?”

“Mrs. Fitzgerald is here from Michi-
gan. But her husband doesn’t want to
see her.”

”

Quinn frowned. “Doesn’t want to
see her? That’s funny.”

“That’s what I think. I’m going to
force him to see her. Come on in and
have a look.”

Quinn and Baines hurried to the
station. Lieutenant Grody took them
to. Mrs. Fitzgerald who, shaken and
wan, said, “Please let me see him. I
know he must be innocent. Why, he
loved children. He...”

Grody said, “We'll arrange it, all
right, Mrs. Fitzgerald. Just wait here.”

He disappeared into the next room,
leaving Quinn alone with the wife.

Curiously, Quinn asked, “What’s the
story?”

HE blushed, fumbled with her hand-

kerchief. “It—it isn’t much of a
story,” she said. “It’s just about—
well, about my marriage.”

Suddenly Quinn thought he got it.
But he only asked, “What about your
marriage?”

“We—well, we weren’t compatible.
Not at all. I guess that’s what you
would call it. You understand, don’t
you?”

She looked at him, hoping he’d un-
derstand. The station house was quiet.
Quinn looked away. He nodded. “I
understand. No children, had you?”

She shook her head.

“You like children?”

She nodded.

“So does your husband?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice almost in-
audible. Then she looked up at Quinn.
“That’s why I know he must be inno-
cent. Tom couldn’t hurt a child.”

Quinn said quietly, “Maybe that’s
exactly the reason why—”

She clutched his arm, began, “But
what—”

The door opened and Lieutenant
Grody thrust Fitzgerald ahead of him
into the room.

He stared at his wife with wild eyes.

She half rose, raised an arm toward
him, said, ‘‘Tom. Tom, you didn’t do
it. Did you, Tom? Tell them you
didn’t do it. I’ve come back to—”

He shrieked and collapsed.

Revived, he confessed — confessed
that he had murdered little Jeanette
for the strangest reason the police ever
had heard. Behind Fitzgerald’s mo-
tive, he said, lay his physical imma-
turity. It had wrecked his marriage.
And it had developed in him, he ad-
mitted, a deep-rooted complex toward
children. He had struggled to hold his
marriage together, but, incompetent,
he could not. His wife left him.

And at that moment his warped
mind conceived a terrible hatred for
children. Somehow they became to
him a symbol of his own inadequacy
and he felt a terrible compulsion to
avenge himself on a child.

So he murdered little Jeanette. He
enticed her to the basement of the
hotel and there, although he did not
criminally assault her, he submitted
her to indignities and beat her. Pan-
icky, he thought her dead, he con-
fessed. He shoveled aside the coal in
the furnace room and _ stuffed the
child’s battered body into a huge pipe
that lay under the coal, according to
his confession.

Quinn remembered having seen the
pipe beneath the coal against the wall.
Quinn and a crew of men hurried back
to the hotel basement, upended the
pipe, probed it. They found the child’s
dead body. An autopsy later showed
coal dust in her lungs, so she still had
been alive when Fitzgerald thrust her

body into the pipe. She had died the
horrible death of suffocation.

The true identity of the murderer
and his strange motivation might never
have come to light had it not been for
the cooperation of Fitzgerald’s broken-
hearted wife. He had been able to
conceal his crime through hours of
questioning. But when he saw his
wife, the enormous tragedy of his
physical inadequacy which wrecked
their marriage suddenly overpowered
him and he broke down and confessed.
His voice, as he told his terrible story,
was the toneless voice of a man utterly
spent.

OURS later, near dawn, a cordon of

more than 50 officers, fully armed,
removed Fitzgerald from the station
through the rear entrance and, by a
devious route, took him to the heavily
guarded County Jail. There he was
held while the grand jury returned
secret indictments. When public anger
had cooled, he was tried and, on
September 23, 1919, he was convicted
of first-degree murder. On October
17, 1919, he was hanged.

Elderly Dennis Curtin, whose strange
actions had led the police to suspect
him for a time, never was found. He
vanished completely from his room-
ing-house in Chicago and from his
cabin near Naperville. The police,
satisfied he had no connection with
little Jeanette’s death, concluded that
his apparent hasty flight was simply a
natural leave-taking, that his fondness
for children was only the eccentricity
of a kindly old man.

_ The name Dennis Curtin is fictitious
in order to protect the identity of an
innocent man.

| Know | Shouldn't Have Killed (Continued from Page 21)

Systematically, Omer and I saved a
portion of our meager weekly earn-
ings for what we expected to be the
down payment on a home after we
were married. We spent many eve-
nings with pencil and paper drawing
fanciful designs for the small bunga-
low we hoped to build. We even went
so far as to pick out the line of furni-
ture that suited us mutually.

We soon learned, by simple mathe-
matics, that it was going to take a
year or two before we could accumu-
late our nest egg. I suggested specu-
latively that we set the date for some-
time in June, 1940. Omer agreed,
admonishing me that in the meantime
I must arrange with Albert for a di-
vorce,

I wrote Albert time after time about
the matter but never received a reply.

Whenever Omer urged that I take
the initiative, I brushed the matter
aside with the bland assurance that,
“Tl get a divorce when the time
comes.”

The subject became the first issue
threatening the tranquil course of our
love. It was the basis for practically
the only quarrels we ever had.

Late in October, 1939, I sensed the
slightest sort of alteration in Omer’s
attitude. I was particularly hurt by his
suggestion that we were seeing too
much of each other and that it might
improve the situation if we were to
have less frequent dates. “I think,”
Omer said, avoiding my gaze, “that I’d
like to have a night out with the boys
once in a while—like I used to. A little
pool, a game of cards or some light
and harmless drinking—they keep a
guy from going stale.”

I hid my injured feelings and an-
swered lightly: “I think so too, Omer.
Try it. See how it works out.”

Omer beamed. “Gee, Zon’,” he said,
using my new and abbreviated pet
name, “you’re an understanding girl.
I thought you’d see things my way.”

Except for the fact that he went out
one or two nights a week with the

boys, Omer and I went along as usual,
collaborating in our hopes. for the
bungalow and working toward the day
when we could be married. Whatever
plans he had for the evening, Omer
never failed to drive me home before-
hand. If he was going out with the
boys, he’d kiss me affectionately at the
front door and remind me, “TI’ll see you
tomorrow evening.”

On the evening of November 19,
Omer failed to call for me at the
boarding-house at the usual time. I
waited around for fifteen or 20 minutes
and then walked the entire ten blocks
home. I fretted and fumed throughout
the evening and finally cried myself
to sleep. I was prepared on the fol-
lowing evening to give Omer a tongue
lashing but Omer never showed up.

Panicky, I took a taxi from the
boarding-house to the place where
Omer lived. The owner told me that
Omer had packed all his belongings
the day before and had moved away
without leaving a forwarding address.

I was panic-stricken by this news.
Why had Omer done such a thing
without advising, if not consulting me?

The next morning I went.to the store
where Omer worked.

Omer’s boss informed me that he
had drawn his partial week’s pay the
day before and had quit his job with-
out explanation.

For weeks I reeled under this mysti-
fying and stunning blow.

For some deep and secret reason,
Omer Franklin had deliberately and
completely dropped out of my life.

Why? Why? Why?

I asked myself that question until
I was sick of trying to learn the an-
swer. In spite of his apparent treachery,
I still loved Omer dearly and would
gladly have thrown myself at his feet
if he only would return and explain.

Figuratively speaking, I did throw
myself at Omer’s feet at the first op-
portunity.

That opportunity didn’t come until
the evening of May 31, 1940.

I was walking home from my place
of employment about  seven-thirty
o’clock when I heard my name called
as I passed Sammy’s Tavern at Fourth
and Avery Streets.

“Hey there, Zon’, come in and have
a beer.”

I spun around, almost unable to be-
lieve my ears.

Omer stood in the tavern doorway,
hatless and grinning, a beer mug raised
in his right hand. There was no doubt
that he was shamefaced as well as
pretty drunk.

My first reaction was one of anger.
Should I pass on, ignoring his invita-
tion, or enter the tavern?

I yielded to the second course, if for
no other reason than to learn why
Omer had vanished so mysteriously in
the preceding November.

Omer and I sat down in a dark
corner and he ordered two beers. I
merely sipped mine as he emptied his
mug in two great gulps.

“Gee, Babe,” he said, “you’re look-
ing grand. You’re sweet, Zon’. Honest.
I don’t know why I ever did you dirt
like I did.”

“Dirt?” I said with effected con-
tempt. “You have a high opinion of
yourself. I don’t consider it dirt be-
cause you decided to stick your feet
under some other table.”

HE reaction I expected from Omer

was exactly the opposite of that he
expressed. He beamed, reached across
the table and squeezed my _ hand.
“Gosh, Zon’,” he said, “I’m glad you
feel that way. Makes me think I’m
less of a heel.”

I couldn’t hold back the tears. “So
you’re tickled?” I sobbed. “After all
those things you told me, you rub them
out like so many empty words. You’re
tickled to death because you think I
can forget them.”

Omer sobered, then he said: “You’ll
have to forget them, Zon’. I’m a mar-
ried man now.”

Hot and cold flashes played over me.

I wanted to beat my fist on the table
and shout, “No! No! You’re lying.
You’re not married! You still belong
to me.”

Instead of doing that, I asked
quietly: “Who is she, Omer? When
did this happen?”

“Well”’—Omer stammered, crimson
behind the ears. In a few words, he
tossed the whole story into my lap.

Months ago, even as we were de-
signing the little bungalow, Omer had
been attracted to a young and pretty
waitress in a mid-town cafeteria. He
had fallen in love with her. She had
fallen in love with him. The two had
eloped to Jeffersonville on the evening
of November 19—the first evening
Omer had failed to call for me at the
boarding-house—and married at the
home of a justice of the peace.

To sidestep any possible clash with
me, Omer had quit his job and aban-
doned his lodging place. He had found
a new job and moved with his new
bride into an apartment on the op-
posite side of town.

There was the cold, naked truth.

I managed to stand the initial im-
pact fairly well. I heard myself say
calmly to Omer: “Congratulations, my
Dear; I hope that you will be happy.”

Maybe my sarcasm was too thin.
Omer looked distraught and ill at ease.
He took hold of my hands again.

“Zon’,” he whispered, “I used to be
nuts about you. I still am. I can’t get
you out of my mind. I’ve wanted to
see you for months but never had the
courage to stop you until this after-
noon. Could I drive you home just
once more before we call it quits?”

“Of course not,” I protested weakly.
“It wouldn’t be right, Omer. Your wife
loves you; you love her.”

“But, Zon’.’”” Omer’s voice was plead-
ing. “It wouldn’t hurt. She wouldn’t
know. I want to kiss you just once
again.”

I looked at Omer stonily for fully
two minutes. Back of my pain-clouded
eyes my mind was a churning whirl-

June Issue of ACTUAL DETECTIVE STORIES Goes on Sale Wednesday, May 13

42


Ine OTTAWA.

Pal

5. nte and
PEt Upon Charities of a -
<'* "geld World, He Leads a

“yo &—pevious and Chea-

ured Life.

_—_——

"CAUGHT IN THE TOLLS OF THE LAW.

”

. ‘helante of a Crime of Which He Protests

Stands Un-

ADY FOR THE LEAP

Ford's Autoblography—

Correction.
ted at the corner 0

This Building was situa-
{ Thirteenth street
and Sixth avenue. ‘They Wok me in-
aide but would not recelve me until
they had gut certain papers from the

court house, which they  soon_dld. |
rt

then to Chicago In 1887; stayed there,
working for the Silver Creek “Coal Co.
ttl] May, 1 ‘then came to Ottawa
and worked for Vernon Harris: for 3
couple of weeks; then quit and worked
with Butch Beck gan |

day,

Thus Teft In this Institution, Jo this
loomy looking bullding, I began to
ook around me and found thyself look-
ing Into the gloomiest building I
had ever seen. 1 stayed there two
months, then. left and went to One
Hundred and Seventy-sixth street
to tne juvenile asylum, where
leagn how to make shoes. They gave
you schooling In the house of correc:
tion, and learned one a-trade in the
juvenile asylum. They then. sent you

I was to

on private business; then got sick and
went back to Chicago. Stayed there
awhile and then went to Lansing,
Mich.. and from there to Port Huron,
then to Detroit, then back to’Chicago
this, was In Janu ry, "1890. Stayed
two weeks, then wat to Meadville,
Pa., and worked for Alyx. Stecle, pro-
prietor of ‘the Gable House. . Then
came back to Ottawa,-this: was March
17th, 1890. .Went.so work In the Plo-
neer Works the same day, boarding at

‘ aN Hie Innocence—He
ae daunted on the Verge of the out west to be bound out with some Pair. Cummings’, Here I first. met Kate
a Eternal World. ‘| farmer, So we started one day, i ut} Ford, 2 ho_was_working—for}tak
—- “oe {28 of us, boys-and girls. The tirst| Mrs. Cummings. I was there about a
-] N.¥ place we reached was Rockford, where week when_Kate asked. me to go to
1 was born.in Brooklyn, N. Y-: 00} the most of them were bound out: but|church with her, but. being a stranger

‘\__uigabeth St.i lived there,until at th

~ York,

e of seven, then moved over to Jer- port, where I was bound ¢ :
sey Cit Heh ved anes unui aL era WHT
o one stayed with for about two years and

1880; then m
ing, movin
where my grandmother

keeping house.

——~acquain

been arranging 3
ing. 7
keep! eth

week, Well,
mother that

- oo poor to keep me

t leavi
~—gbout leavin
; dl and herself, for
was then too young a
a living for her. ell,

come back and get

But 1% was pot

" Rinally pe came

$$

eS

ne

——-—--—ineum bre

came to an understanding,
wo this effect: he would vet ma
An _ — - -
me, take me home
‘with -thepr_and “give.-me schooling.
to ce-so,
did oct return for eight months after.
one Sunday evening

fadmether's store. and came

> to my grat ould pt until-he—had—gone—away, then camer
fi ere* ° rf ,
) et ageeeiiiaprorert are SR ee euia| out and told my friend that I was go-

we

ndmother had sent me to

time my gra
A irty-fifth street school,

school {n the Th

at I was an outcast and an

eli,— - had - finally
made up my mind to run away, when
my father and grandmother went with
me to the New York Central depon en
Forty-second street and Fourth ave-
nue, and we all went aboard the train
which was soon whirling us out io the
We were soon at our desti-

up to me

—— coun
———- ation, where Wy grandmother, father

__.ef to go UD

at ete

and ] then got ‘off at some smal) sta~|
na tion of wh do not remember the,

they were in.

her -

Tmt ae Fs te ov.

Ca cette D, eM
quest of, came out and
walked four or five blocks ty a certain
and ring the. bell and when
the lady came to the door she told her
that | was to *tay-there as that was to
be my future home, and_furtber that
usband had told my father to
‘bring me there as he- wanted asmall
boy to bring up and learn a trade.

My father’s firat idea was to put me
Into some institution, but he happen-

y father Droke up
gx back to New
was
Ie left me there for

things to go Ww house-
gob

“another lady
‘whom he was going to marry the pext
he then told my grand-
he would like to get rid
of me as 1 only was_an_incumbrance
) y er a up
me with her, as she was

nd smal! to for-l lever vu run away, come to my house

they had a few
en.they
which was

rried
d_after the ceremony.

for-my-father

-was-contented-for awhile; but |”
nally _got—tired of-all-this,-as myj7)
idesother-was-Btwe “throwin tt)

“i the--rest went on Ww  Free-

a half. He nearly broke my_ back,
working meso hard that I was hardly
able to get up mornings... I madecom-
1] plaint, but !t was of no_ use; and_ the

farmers also made compiaiot, but to
no effect, for he_had_the— yapers-that
bound me—eut to him and this gave
him the. privilege. of doing as —-he
pleased with me. When I saw that
there was no remedy for me, I..1made
up my inind to,run away, which-] did.
At———<=this=——tinre— <eere y
aputher man working —for. him
whose name was Backus. He sald “if

n

and {I will hide.-you.” So when I ra
aie re

paway tt his was the first pl

Of, and one morning as he went to
town 1 followed behind just far
enough to keep out of_his-sight.—P
so0h- came to-this man’s house and
stayed there. Thatnight the farmer
found out that I-was—there,—or-mis-
trusted It. and began to search the
house. Hut in the meantime—I-had
found a trap door and] staid there

4

thenr-any~more trouble, which I did
immediately and was taken back and
rece|ved a sound thrashiny for It...
-— had got-the idea once into miy-head

 apduwas. wiliing-te-tryt tegen So}
one Sunday when they were at church
L packed what-little clothes.I had and
started off in the direction of a
sob

there about 6 o’clock.in the evening
and stayed in the depot. While there
a--man—¢atne-ino and asked’ me
who | was and where I was yo-
ing. to. ‘I told him, and he
oe me_to come—with—him,—which—H
did. :
——Patayed with this man_about th

country. 1 said I got into
the buggy and the first thing I knew

ud come. I then kicked, butitwas.
Ho use. He stopped by a farmer,
asked him a few questions and left
me with him. This man’s name was
Gochenor. Hehad seen me workin

with the farmer that I was boun

out to and had told him thesame sto-
ry I had. So he left me with this far-
mer whom | stayed with until one day
some farmer I had known saw me and

]

c

wistitottand and J]. had a

Hwriting -to.~ I-satd to my -wife, In a

vin
iad and told her I did not PAYAADY.
 wife--aniTirtherhiore, ry anyone |

by the name of: Ballyeville, IH. q

grinned at us. _

self that it was onl

from home and frie
not.
sense..to_listen—to—geod-advice-and | nights “to go ul

went on to my doom, as you will soon
see. I got mad gbout anyone accus-

in

lett.
boarding at Henry Carroll’s, at the St.
Nicholas.. I went to.the

some cu

1 did not ike {0 go. She inst{sted, so I
it going with her of an evening after
that. but I did not feel right for 1] was
astranyger and did not want w take
any advantage of her, beInga stranger
aud without money. But I finally got
to likin
going out with her-evenings. She
| kept.on working-at-Mre-Cummings'-f
boarding at-the-same-place-and still
working at the Ploneer. - On the oth
of May I quit working at the Pioneer
and went—to work at Hess, Crotty
&——-Wilitams’— brick.

take

few. words
about putting me outin the yard, not
wishing to go Into the yard to work as
I had been working at side trucking.
So 1 drew ny pay and _left, but still
kept-on-beard - m
whom I liked asa mother and she me
asason. Things went on this wa

for about three-weeks longer. Then T
got intoa quarrel with Mrs. Cum-
mings about Kate:Ford.—I- was—writ-
ing to-an intimate friend of mire, and
recel ving an answer, one of. the-board=|
erssaw It. This man _was_Charley
Kelley, who- asked me..whom I: was

‘back.

joke. He said nothin

pats 7 i . from--work-io
the evening, Mrs. Cummings sald |
had no business. going with one gir
and has -another—-That-madé me

would be a fool to marry” me,
especially--as--I - had~so~ friends” or
home. Kate Ford was, standing
listening to. this, but never a
word did she say, only stood there and
Lhad one letter.and_ I
wanted her to read {t and see for her-
a letter in friend-
not do: it. So I

eases: atadeas®

i =

‘Tike AD
l’ked her, for she w

» aut

me of- raed ‘another wife and
although . Cummings was
ike- a mother to me,.and went. to

B. & Q.
lepot about three weeks after this for
for my boss, and

street,

aA tn think af this persoo who had |n-

went right back and told this other

Kate _Ford, naturally went: _to

morhing, whic!
Jane 23;
the afternoon
the bi
log In

a r
Gouit'ot

there, for his w
and hesald he:
said, “turn hin
kick.”
moved off, not
then thought «
eat.
about noun.
town, getting!
Joy overto Mr
for her of Minn
she was in the
to her and told

Hearin

This I f

e-my—wite
thought she wi
said some one.
Kate talking tc
moroing about

her up

Kate at two o'
we sat in the p
about five o’cla

Cherry street w
T got to
six; staved ther
after six;-then
street and sat d
park.
way’s—that is ¥
Sor. I t-was-ju:
my wife at St
-here suw W.'C.
foreman, pass u
seen .him a li

Hall. He sald j
xo

$;
Hathev

I had g

° s
I told th

one I had told h
the Sdturday—b
later in the Cit)
fora white;-wh:
from the St. Nic

began tw talk to
St_Nicholas, an
the-hotel_ wher
along and saw m

| was the true sta!
We -staid-here
was striking el;
started up Colur
to-te-the-south—
for Kate to gouy
mé, as she had 8:
jng mad about he:
We went across t
we got there she
up to Mrs. Felt’s
go up to Mrs.

ut- when we- go
about-
and sat down thi:
ter house in the
tight-here state: |
chance

Smi

and we v

by_the wagon-brid
at Cherry street ar
back, intending t
and sleep, but thi:
right there after q
changed my mind,

meeting '

seeing | who sald *‘Hello, §
“‘Hello,.Fox.”-.H.

ow Vet ~ 522

ee eee Oo

ouse.—Aly-taslier tolhudy soe gory
o up and slog the. bell and when.
jon ay pet to the door she told her
| that | was to stay‘there as that was to
home, and further that
had told my father to
: bring me there 4s he wanted a small
a= poy to bring up and Jearn a trade.

* My father's first Idea was to put me
Into some Institution, but he happen-
ed to think of this person whe had In-

ns quired of him If he knew where he
pout pet ir Bright doy TW Tearo a trade,
ad he sald he had-ahoy-of that—de-
-scription who would sult him, and

this was the person's house that they

| were bringing me to now. The lady's
--+-—--—-ame was Mrs. Van Buren who came |
: —_ -the-door_and_spoke-@ few)
words to my grandmother; then bade
her good bye and me

one gE AAS

be my future
her husband

——_—————-¥ir, Van Buren Cat
a. shop. Then I was
eos questioned und in alittle while two
sons. of. bis came-
soon 38 supper wus ready they came
us » the, Jitve room. where .. 2... was.
brought me out and gave me my sup-
olen Peles — ne -anvonperame ene) a mans mee
==" After we were through, Mr. Van
Buren called me back iIntw the room
and plied me with « uestlons concern-
ing wy parents. His first ee as
was, “Churlie, is your mother iving?”
said I, and I began

. J did not underttand this
of proceeding. Then he
asked me how old 1 was. ‘Twelve
years, | said. ‘Where does your
father live now?” “In New York,”
~-gaid-l. How came you-here?” “My
sarents brought me.” “Did they say
“anything ax to Where they were bring-

ing- ” soy

“kind

you No, 6a

wot Ald) your mother diev” “tin Jersey
City.” “When?” "On the 26th of
May.” “Did your father come here
with you?” “Yes, but only us far us
Lhe dgor, then left: my grandmother
with me, who rang the bell.” “Well,”
says. Mr-. Van Buren, “your father
has deserted you; do you know
where yourgrandmother lives? Do you
think that you could find your wa
bac ome if 1 sent one of my boys

“Yes, sir,” sald 1.

‘Well,” sald Mr. Vanuren, ‘1 told

your father at one time that [| would

5a ike to have a’boy to ralse and learn a
oe trade, but that was long BO, und J
on have no need for one NOW, ’ k

. ‘This ended his convesation until 8

—=g'elock in the evening. Then he call-

‘ed me tohim and sald, “Chartie, | wil
ow pa y OMe, AIK
"pend pna.ot my ou, so-that.

i.

_y
ou will not get lost.” His boy then
_ took ‘me to the rallroad station. We
ae ‘vot on the train und were whirled
oN k tothe city where my yrand-

Seo safe and sound, the boy bade me good.
a bye and jeft me. I then opened the
chee door: and ‘stood -before my grand-
“wother, who rose up.io affrizht, as
>“ yhough she had seen a ghost. Finally
abe mustered up covraye enough to
os ge me how | came Loe eet

 eepinined tne. acts to her, and then
~~ you had otight to have seen her. Why
_ghe-fairl 4 : 7
Sp ibse : n_long-enough to ask
me the particulars.of which 1-put her
“fn possession fo a very.

ve
errs
ye,

short time.
“ghe heard them she told mine she
to my father and de-
The follow-
she shut ber store up, dress-
“and got aboard a car and took
nee street, where my father

5 words hs ther, then

-

Phat De he Daan ||

-T yeTTY. TER Bt ne
a LG Et edn ale

| around for employment and foundjit

“ we * We
& avenue .car} there.

ie buss tad de Boe te bay |
hud come. 1 then_kicked,. butt was
Ho use. He stopped by a farmer,
asked him a few questions and left
me with him. This man’s name was
Gochenor. He had seen me workin

with the farmer that I was boun

out to and had told him the same sto-
ry Thad. So he left me with this far-
mer whom I stayed with until one day
some farmer I had known saw me and
went right back and told this other

got me the next day.. I yot back about
Hour to the afternoon and stayed un-
til four o'clock the next morning.
Then slid down the lightning rod and
l escaped once more _then—_went-toe
the farmer—who-had-take

sawn Ti —

oD oe AWAY, |
ve Me enough—w-get-to Chi-
cagoon. _T'
: Was..100-quick

cago-safe-and sound,
In a shoe factory. 1 worked there for
a while far 75 cents _a-day;-nally got
tired of this and left, and then went
tw selliox newspapers, at .which.1J
mactea Tair living.

I. was a little over sixteen at this
time. 1 finally. got tired of newspa-
pers, and) went. out in the coun-
try to look for work. In the mean-
time 1 had met a boy about- my own
age Who, 48 soon as he saw mecoming,
stopped to talk to me. I asked him
what time It was. He said 10 o'clock
and asked me where | was yoing. 1
wuld 1 was looking for work. He sald
he was looking for work too. So we
started together and hunted for work,
butcould tind none. We finally got
hungry and degan talking ubout pgett-
ing something Ww eat. We made up
our minds to ask for something
the trestle we came
tw, und pretty soon we came
in sight of a house and | started tow-
ard itand knocked but po one came,
so | went back and told my compan-
jon. Well, we stood and talked
awhile, and finally my chum, whose
name, by the way, Was William Kv-
aos, sald, “Let us craw) through one
of the windows and get something,”
which we did. Ll was very reluctant

came my fears and with him crawled
through one of the open windows and
we got something to eat, I then
started to yo, but my companion was
not ready, 1 walted to see what he
was yolng todo and very soon found
out. He commenced bunting through
the bouse for whatever he could find.
Le td . . “I

’
Bh accordion and a watch, and left.
| Rut—we-had-not-gone far before we
espled some one following us on horse-
back and pointing at us. This was too
much for me and I stasted to run.
Mr chum ran in among some ever-
$f sos +38 ==frenr
sight. Loran through the corn flelds
and they all.took after me. So my
chum got away but was caught later,
We were tried and

aving
went.-

I
~ not.know where she {sat present.
stayed here for about three months

ee

where I worked.six weeks: then -went
to Binghamton and worked for Stick-
ney Bros, furniture men. Then quit

to dose, but-the pate of hunger over |

9 ie eS ie ee oe ek de aig! Pee pean ae? |
Sense ..w.listento- good-ad vice -and
went on to my doom, as you will soon
see. 1 got mad gbout anyone accus-
ing me of havigg sage wife and
left, although . Cummings was
like- a mother to me,.and went to
boarding at Henry Carroll’s,at the St.
Nicholas.. I went to.the B. & Q.
depot about three weeks after this for
some cups for my oss, and seeing
Kate ‘ird, naturally -. went. to

ae

farmerwho-came—back with him-and} meet her, leaving: my—-horse— at

the depot. She-told me she was going
to find-anuther place to work as.she
did not like the place she was at. So

off she-went to Mrs. Gagle’s; on Chest-

ete ise “off-as-her—cousin, not
fiking-to let-everybody know my bus!-
ness. went on until one

her ptace,
with her. This made her mad,.as
was then enguged to her. I wanted
Kate for my wife, as | was“véry fond
of her. So I told her she could choose
bel wee

me te golng home. Next day I left
work, came to my- boarding house and
told- Heory Carroll that [ wanted to
get married In a hurry, as her sister
wanted to take her home.. He told
ine to go and get her, which I. did.
Ilenry asked her if she wanted to
marry me and she sald yes. I
asked the loan of two dollars anda
half, which he gave me as I would not
yet paid unti! that evening, So
went up and got married, with Henry
asa witness. We then went to the
hotel and boarded —there_ope—weet
during which Henry told me would
not keep any one that would not keep
her room clean, So lad tomove my
wife and I took her up to,Mrs Pou-
tries and-teft her there, myself goin
ty Frank Lelx to board until. I ceul
yet some money ahead to start house
keeping. ‘This went on aod I-saw
could not geta head on account of the
ralny weather, as 1 was being docked
so much, sof made up my mind to
quit, telling the boss a Ile so that I
could get my pay, saying at the same
time that | was :
Wife to Chicago and 1 would . need the
money to pay our fare. I merely
wid this He to get my. pay. and
went and got my check cashed.
This was on Saturday, June 21, 1890. 1
then went In quest of ny wife, whom
I found coming down from Poutrie’s.
1 asked her if she would Iike to go to
Spring Valley. “She sald “n bu

you acquainted there,” 1-asked. Said
showas. ‘Well, Coal City it is,” sald

1, 40 we went to the depot and bought
our tickets for Morris, as we had to
change cars there. When ‘we got off

“Why, you ought to have stayed .on
that train to gv to Coal City,” he sald.
So we waited until the train went to

Stormont’s found ry and left bey, going
to Poutrle’s, T-gotng back to my-bdaro.
The next-day was-Sund then.

net—her—again—ti the city
parks by Bae around in th Iv-
og Par awhile, then went up east to
the white bridge. This js the day that
Hemmerle saw us and not:on Monday,
ashe swore. To the best of my bellef,
I do not think he saw usatall.:.:-We
came back at dusk and then I went

Jeft “her again -to yo to:

works at Twin Bluffs, tolook for ,
Stayed there that night, came

early pext morning, which. was.08
Lect went up B.. Holland's

me 4.) Senge Cee &

1|jolned us

the train there I asked the o tor

with my wife as far as Stormont’s and}.
Pouttie’s, | N

nights “to” go
was not as
by the wagon!
at Cherry stre
back, intendin
and sleep, but
right there aft
changed my m
street, meeti!
who sald “Hel
‘“Hello,. Fox.”
aré rather late
‘Oh, I don’t k
ought to be -hi
that she could
are most too

was Just ffte
pulling out_b

% ¥ ight to
rf * CE fa

u
for the man t!

J} lights, but-no!

for another f
him. So I +
where I: wot
|
and my. wift
‘Trask’s barn
lay down. 1 te
soon _falling
warm night.
ing and start
about men pe
morning. Is
awhHe and tl
to walt for

I! work. v1 had

minutes whe
me and sald:
1 sald,—‘'Pre!
He then said
jast night?”
pueune ‘Ino
rn. Ile sal
wife?” I salc
sald,.““You. c.
der arrest.”
ye
name of Calv
being. also a
asked Brenn:
and he said, *
ing to me,
around my—wi
Carr tw the Ja
was dehind.
When, we Re
made us uns
clothes. Bre
chief and sak
handkereblef
“Where |" di
sal he)
Ee en?” said
he then took :
in one cell,an
were then let
that my wife
days after tht
second or thi!

might as wel:
fouod a not

“What?” sl
g|killed-fn .Al

falls on your \
do not-know t
book or any

' @ccu:
poes not mak«
was the-last |
me until! one «
asked me whe
gave him -to

none of his bu
‘1 amo t


cote

ne iy |

’

OTTAWA, ILL,_ SATURDAY,

ER EGAN

AND FEED STABLE

dpoyerpedt yh
) Gaty, af the City

st Styles of Hacks,
ses and Buggies,

Egg thos he with Good hang

jo Te soaaus ken or frome “he
, mighs or -

the eg

ae of new ooert boas, on

neat and hest equipped me

lle county, asda still dbin

ne moderate re establishe

4 city three yoare ayo, Every

warranted.

$10.
7 La Balle et.

ere |

eddine ithe hip {n a fall yesterday.

DAILY ee

wiaieeey: Spelt 23. oe ee
A. A. Colley was in Streator to-day. |
BE. F. alge of Peru, was in the city
erviear Burkhart, of La Salle,
n the city to-day.

2 arepmes oe Ktreator,- mo

MR. FORD MUST HANG.

en SANSA ot

Attorney Allen “Convinced of His
Guilt Since the Stay.

HE WILL NOT FURTHER “90 mh

among friends here to-day.

Miss Emma Nator, of Streator, {8
the guest of friends in this city.

Clifton, sustained a serious injury of

_-Mr..and Mre.'Thomas F.. Quinn en:
tertained a number of thelr friends at
their home on the west side last even-
=| PB: :

Ed Hanna, the night clerx atthe}

He Explatas His Position in aw Open Let-

Taylor will Proceed with the
-—-Pinale Arrang

Murderer Charlie Ford will hang on
May 9, unless he dies a natural-death,
in the meantime, which ts quite

unlikely, as he js io

ter to the “Free Trader’—Sheriff "Tf

excellent) ing

We manta
* California Rais

be p Bacriticerand v

ae =F th Bon

ae funeral of Wm. Davis, lately a
t weaver In this wie
tica to-day, Rev. W
viatiee.
Revs, Chandler and Miller will re-
main through next Sunday at the Con-
regational church. Mr. Miller will
fold & young people's and children’s
meeting to-morrow at 4:15.

___ Friday, April_24, (891,

*, Day offici-

- PLEASING
> HOTOGRAPHY, Call on

IN & GERDING,
ular Artista. Very latest.

< -|Murph
. city.

_ | the guest of friends :
Robert Egan left for Chicago yester-

-} will take

Mrs. Frank Savage, 0 ise city, I
Streator.

day, where he will locate permanently.
The La Salle county Medical society
will meet in thig city on Tuesday
next.

Mra. J. T. Beatty, of La Grange, I11.,

C. 8. Phelps, the aattle desig ‘aniy:
sed nine car loads of cattle to Kansas
tity this week. x
The Athletic base bal] club goés to
Seneca the latter part of next week to
cross bats with the team at that place.
Miss Ethel Hatheway, of thiscity,
rtina May concert to be
given at the M. E. church at Streator.
The Purkey Indictments will [mme-
diately be nolle prossed by State's Attwr-
ney Blake at the next term of court.
A ee SAD) ee
STiigy Se: :

PY Pens ee OLY
BO ia OF it Lie Y a
Jemmmrarged een

pee trey

Window shades.

Those elegant dado window shades,
with apring Oxtures, only 50 cents at.
Hapeman & Graham's.

LOW PRIOES

Will Prove a Winner Kvery Time—Visit
Collips & Murphy's for Millinery,

Low prices and big reductions are
bound to prove a winner for a business
house, and to this fact can be attribu-
ted the succeas of Misses Collins &
me the leading. milliners inthis
hey carry the latest ane io

than any millinery house In ene city. |
In purchasing millinery, the ladies
should bear this fact {on mind. Drop
fn aod see thelr Jmmense stock. He
member the place, Opera House block.

¢ \ | Vintes ee have concluded for r myself not to pros-| ora in 1876. He then traveled a year or
a 9 *. an & pe compmg uterine ; “ Z ae vee in Semin es CN , SE
Bp of Sd oh SSAA os os eres - pzecet in: Henle: Ammerionss aad: yetorning|
a9) : rares0 tthat-as far ast Mur CON Brooklyn began the practice of
bag p Hapeman & Graham’ s. [corned will Jet the law Me tan course, | = op ceered os
‘fof LLEN,

was- held =

is the guest of her Brothas, dscns 5 At
4 torney Hlake.--- =

Re ea eee

health at present.
chief attorney for Ford, {nformed~the
Free TRADER this morning that he}
would not apply for a supersedeas In

“Mr. FB. OG. Alien,

the Supreme court for Ford. ’ He has
not at any time received ‘a dollar for
his services and it Is only doing jus-
tice to say fer him that until some
days ago he was unable to convince

hi pelt of. aoe ‘a _gullt. He banded |

tHe Prat Gncin. tie f0rae Teed -Squcowmm sl aps i emiaal

Wiihn t
Ottawa, Ill., Apri] 22, 1891.

Mr. Epiton: te the stay of ex-
ecution, granted by Governor Fifer In
the Ford case, certaln facts and cir
cumstanoes have cume to my. know-
ledge {n connection with the murder
of David Moore that have convinced
me of the gullt of Charles Ford, either
as principal or accessory in that crime.
Until such time I had always hada
doubt as to Ford's guilt and was ready
and willing to devote my time and
mone
ana -im
think ul at uoder the law of this state
ower|hbe has been convicted of the
crime of mtirdér, and am content
that on an appeal to the Supreme
court the case would be remanded for
a new trial, still, belong convinced of
his guilt, I ‘do not deem it my ‘duty to
avert a just fate from this man, aod

re about It why not geta
will stand the everyday
.r—year in and year out—
been tried and found not
bably you wont feel like

ee in a year or two, when
out your error. You can

r or a Wheelock of me,
have been used In this

many years with entire

at the most reasonable

‘t them direct from the
‘rs, and having very small
mn ‘In position to make low
ie best terms. me

ai -—
THE HUNT OLUB.

Ofmicers Elected for the Year—Preparing
eet uci, -for,Werk This Beason,

The La Salle County Huntclub oe
Ita annual election the other day. Th
olub is prenarite for the season's we
of chasing foxes, anise bays and other
foteresting and exciting runs. The
club has also a great Spuation for
coon poshon a moonligh

President— R. Milli
Vice-President—H. K. pair.

Sheriff Taylor will how proceed with
the arrangements for the execution
which wile coqducted a intesoaip)
ODM arel 238 teen oe seae tee rete tee

norton on Simao w Shadeg, nn nd

Those eleyant dado window shades,
with aye es only 50 cents at

Hapeman & Graham's.
Union planters at Sweetzer's.

Hapeman & Graham's for Wall Paper.

io an effort to seeure him a fatr}
rtlal.tral..While Ido not!

= ~~ 20c. per Ib.

"

form

pers Weekly, Munsey's Weekly, The
| ec Association, Texas Sift-
ings, and others, Recently he left
New York for Amoy, China, where he
is United, States vice consul. His de-
parture was much regretted by those in
New York “who knew him, for Billy

the term~ good fellow

humoristand:writer of gracefal verse he
knowledge, “ pscsindd  opexy thing | hae en-

heard Falea say‘! don't

- years to every =o
editor - in Mew York, and his. writings| :
.Lhawa Beeiisead:by. the. peaders -.00: Hare tig vais

implies.* “In {addition to his gifts as al.
is poasesged of'really vast erudition. His}... - --

Shihan ooo ee rear SS F385. tie Serer
David Gets oi0- Joliabosia’ Ul UN ° and is
: for. more than a year, said

pve:
know’ bat onde, end I hardly ever found
his-infortaation incorrect." It is com-

mon -amdng Peles’ friends to refer to

him as.¢ fiving encyclopedia.

—Falea ‘wha bora io'N New Bedford, Maass.,

his degree in the School of alpen
afterward studied tu the Cotumbis Law
ecbool, graduating there with high hon-

|. and

most g and brilliant member of
the barinthat city. Ho was associate.

tinction in the case. He also became

than fair prospect of political distine-
tion. For aix orseven years, however,
he has devoted himself entirely to his
pen.

As a newspaper worker Mr. Fale
came often in contact with the Chinese’
of New York, and in order to better

=| BURTAINS:|

f ay pesuLabe ae eae

~C)
pas)

:-withG I” “tn theo
Beecher trial, and won considerable dis- |.

‘prominent in7 politics; and hada more {~~

Attenti

_Secretary—F. H. Shaver. ©

cearne. .4 SP Whe we

TT. Se

See the barwa!ns offered by Hlapeman

& flipaham fn eninrert wall naror Ir.

sthdy their-Hfe- and habits hé learned

Tt7--4,.9| Tobe

——_

88

Main street. The Rev. Father Boles
officiated. The ceremony was follow-
ed by the supper, and later a dance at
Turner hall, where several hundred
spent an enjoyable evening.

June—George J. Groshens died of
consumption. Mr. Groshens was
prominent in business circles,

Frank, the ten-year old son of Fred-
erick Farrington, Burlington bridge-
man, was drowned in the Illinois riv-
er, near the slaughter house. He,
with a companion by the name of Mc-
Intyre, a lad about 14 years of age,
were in swimming.

July.—The Ottawa band, under the
lead of Charles Hentrich, secured the
first prize in the band contest held at
Burlington park, where over 4,000

arene siieeeeetiinn ay
RN Raa, a
ane

OTTAWA: OLD) AND NEW.

bride. Mrs. George Wood, of Morgan ff Ford was tried in December, 1890,
Park, played the wedding march. Judge Stipp presiding. He was de-
After the supper Mr. and Mrs. Butler \tended by Frank G. Allen, of Ottawa,
left for a trip of a week or ten days } nd W. H. Boys, of Streator. At 9:25,
to Chicago and other points. Many the night of December 17th, the jury,
out-of-town guests witnessed the cere- jafter a three weeks’ trial, returned a
mony. ‘verdict of guilty and fixed Ford's pun-

Peter Funk and Miss Carrie Reitz/ishment at death. The members of
were united in marriage at the home/the jury were E. A. Perry, Ottawa;
of the bride’s father, Daniel Reitz,/ William Dales, Groveland; Owen

West Main street. Rev. H. C. Struck-} Bassett, Groveland; Frank Patterson, |

meier officiated.

Anna Burns, a resident of the coun-»
ty house for twenty-one years, passed | Grove, Rutland;

away. There was no record of her

age, but those who knew her said that)

Hope; John Porter, Deer Park; H. A.
Roath, Daniel Austin and John L.
Frank Thompson,
Freedom; George Brown and Edward
Brewster, Earlville; Henry Pike, Fall

she must have been at least one hun- River.
dred years old, ! Kate Ford then entered a plea of

people were in attendance. (te Hanging of Ford.

August.—Thomas Egan, proprieto
of the Marquette house, opposite the
Rock Island depot, on Columbus
street, shot and instantly killed him-
self. He had been despondent for
some time.

John E. Downey, ex-town collector
and manager of the United Glass com-
pany, at Streator, died at his home

Thursday, May 14, 1891, Charles
Ford, aged 22 years, was hanged in a
temporary building erected for the
purpose at the south side of the county
jail, for the murder of David Moore,
of Omaha, Neb., traveling salesman
for the T. B. Scott Lumber company,
of Merrill, Wis. The murder oc-
curred in Allen park June 23, 1899,

after a short illness.
September.—The local milk dealers
formed an association, and arranged

where Moore had gone to meet Mrs.
Kate Ford, wife of the prisoner.

In hiding in the park when Moore
arrived were Charles Ford, William

a schedule of prices. Those signing
the schedule were Messrs. Peck &
Farnsworth, James R. Hunt, G. W.
Townsend, S. Kleiber, Pickens & Son,

O’Brien and Minnie Winterling.
This was La Salle county’s second
nd last legal hanging, the first being

PD,

MR. AND MRS, CHARLES W. IRION.

Cc. H. Olmstead, Charles Schaulin,
John Feeley.

October.—Patrick Flynn was caught
under the wheels of a northbound
Burlington freight, and so badly in-
jured he died.

H. S. Gilbert suffered a heavy loss
by fire when his elevator, cribs and
5,000 bushels of grain went up in
smoke. A grave danger threatened
the vicinity of the Rock Island depot
An oil tank filled with petroleum, near
the west end of the elevator, was
moved. A freight train was standing
so close that the cars were smoking,
when it was learned that two of the
cars contained gun powder. They
were speedily removed. The total
loss was about $6,000.

November.—John Hossack, a pion-
eer, whose name was familiar beyond
the state, passed away at the home of
his daughter, Mrs. Milo Putney. He
was an active and out-spoken Aboli-
tionist, and did all in his power to aid
the runaway slaves. His home was
ene of the stations on the “under-
ground railway.” He was nominated
for Governor on the Abolitionist ticket
in 1860...

Charles R. Butler and Miss Amie S.
Merrifield were married at the home
of the bride’s father, O. C. Merrifield,
Rev. W. F. Day, of the Congregational
church, officiating. The bride and
groom were attended by Harry M
Butler, brother of the groom, and
Miss Ida Merrifield, sister of the

‘George Gates, who was hung in 1853.
Following the murder Ford and his
wife went to the Poutre boarding
house and Minnie Winterling went to
the Cummings boarding house, where
she was employed. Kate Ford was
arrested the morning the body was
found, after she was seen tearing into
bits a piece of paper near the court-
bouse, which, after being put together
by Charles Bowermaster, proved to
bear the name of the murdered man.
She confessed. Her husband was ar-
rested at the Pioneer, where he was
found looking at the crowd around
Moore’s body across the river in Allen
‘park. Minnie Winterling was arrest-
‘ed at the Cummings boarding house,
and O'Brien was arrested at the Co-
vel creek quarries, where he was em-
ployed. The inquest was conducted
jby Deputy Coroner Weeks. The jur-
ors were George Beatty, Matthew
Bailey, Albert Maierhofer, H. S; Gil-
bert, L, A. Rising, Ira Nelson. The
prisoners were held without bail.
The witnesses were Deputy Sheriff
Reid, Thomas Brennan, Dr. Weis, Dr.
Hatheway, John Paul, George W. and
Charles Bowermaster, Charles Moore,
son of the dead man, G. 8S. Hollis,
Vernon Harris, Matthew Brown, officer
Walsh, Edwin Powe, James Davern
and J. H. French.

O’Brien was convicted the following
November, sentenced to prison for

H. Fowler.

ee

life, and later died in prison. He was
defended by Duncan McDougall and J.

guilty and was sentenced to the pen-
itentiary for a term of 14 years. She
served until 1896, when she was par-
doned, and is now a resident of Spring
Valley.

After much legal sparring Ford was
sentenced to be hanged May 24th.
The gallows used by Sheriff W. W.
Taylor was brought to Ottawa from
Morris, where it had been used the
fall before for the hanging of Charles
Maxwell. A temporary building had
been erected outside the jail, occupy-
ing the ground where the Sheriff's
residence now stands.

Jay Blodgett, who was on the death
watch with Ford, says Ford always
claimed to the very last that he was

MRS. CHAS. F. RYAN.

not guilty. It is believed, however,
that he made a confession to Dean
Keating.

All Ford wanted was to appear hand-
some when he went to the gallows,
and the night before he was to be
hung he wanted to see the gallows
where he was to meet his death. He
was permitted to see it, and then, at
his request, his hands were strapped
behind him, and his legs strapped to-
gether just as they were to be
strapped on the gallows.

At 10 o’clock in the morning th

death procession started from the jail,
led by Dean Keating, followed by
Ford between Deputy Sheriffs Barrett
and Maher, but he needed no sup-

port. The trap was sprung at 10:10
and fourteen minutes later his dead
body was cut down, placed in a coffin
and buried in St. Columba cemetery.

Ford was a pauper, and the presump-

tion is that he was buried at the ex
pense of Dean Keating.
Ford was a native of Brooklyn. H

had previously served time in the pen-
itentiary at Joliet for theft. He came
to Ottawa in 1888 and worked for a

time for Vernon Harris.

C. W. Irion & Co.—1892. -

formed a partnership in 1868 and en-
gaged in the dry goods business.
Later the firm became Scott, Houtz
& Co., and in 1892 the firm was incor-
porated and became known as J. E.
cott & Co. It was at this time that
r. Irion became interested in the
rm, In 1900 the firm name was chang-
d to Irion & Hull, the junior partner
eing W. H. Hull, now a resident of
exas. In 1907 Mr. Hull retired from
the business and went to Texas, and
he firm became known as C, W. Irion
& Co.
There have come many changes in
the style of the firm during the more
than half century of its existence, but
there have been no changes in the
bonesty of purpose, fair dealing with
customers and praiseworthy efforts
put forth to please.

1 C. W. Irion & Co. oceupy two floors
‘and basement of a big double store
palling at No. 708 and 710 La Salle
treet. The first floor is devoted to
ry goods, and the second to women’s
eady to wear goods, carpets, rugs,
étc., while a large stock of chinaware,
etc., is carried in the basement.
Mr. Irion was born in Naples, Ill,
in 1859, the son of Mr. Paul Irion,
ho removed to Ottawa when Mr. C.
. Irion was but a child. The mer-

i

fn th of to-day received his education

1 the public schools, and when quite
young man entered the employ of

Tl

CHARLES P. IRION.

Scott Brothers, founders of the busi-
ness now controlled by Mr. Irion, He
has been with the institution through
all its changes from the day he first
became a salesman for Scott Brothers,
and has seen the business grow from
year to year until the institution now

C. W. Irion became financially in-
terested in the business he now con-
rols in 1892. The business, however,
ad been established many years pre-
ious. To be exact, John B. Scott, now
resident of Pasadena, Cal., and Sam-
uel S. Scott, a resident of the east,

enjoys one of the best patronases of
ny dry goods store in the city.

In 1888 Mr. Irion married Miss Sal-
lie M. Parr, daughter of the late Sam-
uel B®. Parr, deceased, and Mrs. Jose-
phine Parr, of Fast Ottawa, They
have two children, Mrs. Lucile
Ryan, of St. Louis, and Charles ¥.
Irion, who holds a position in his
father’s store.

Fred. J. King.

King’s flower store and greenhouses,
Mrs. Kate King, proprietor, were es-
tablished in 1876 by ber late husband,
Fred J. King. Started in a compara-
tively small way, this business has
grown to be the largest of its kind in
La Salle county.

Justus Bruck.

Fifty years ago Justus Bruck open-
ed a tailoring shop at No. 106 West
Main street, and the business has been
conducted by Mr. Bruck continuously
since.

Mr. Bruck was born in Germany in
1843. He married Miss Bertha Rend.
They have four children: Oscar Bruck,
Frank Bruck, Mrs, Meta Kruse, and
Mrs. Wm. McAlpine, all of Ottawa.

ne teceome Willy dita, whaet |

staged with’ this man abou Loree
«Sy UNE oy no BS Cen mt

1 said yes. So I got Into
first thing I.knew
sk the saie-wa yh
come. 1 then_kicked,. but it was
ase. Tle stopped by a farmer,
dhim «a few questions and left
vith him. This man's name was
ienor. Hehad seen me workio
the farmer that I was bounc
o and had told him the same sto-
had. So he left me with this far-
whom ] stayed with uotil one day
- farmer I had known saw me and
right back and told this other
erwho-came- back with him-and
ne the next day. I yot back about
In the afternoon and stayed un-
our o'clock the next morning.
i slid down the Iightolng rod and
wd once more._1- then went w
armer-who-had-takeo-me Bway, |
ne gave ne enough Ww -get- toe Chi-
go. Theother farmer cume after
ut was. too-quick fur bli an

safe and sound. I then looked
id for employment and foundfit
shoe factory. | worked there for
ile far 75 cents a day;-Unally got

iury.
buggy and the

of this and left, and then went|of her.
newspapers, al. which. 1] between us,.which shed

‘Mipg
vw fatrliviny:
van a little over sixteen at this
L finally got tired of newspa-
and went out in the coun-
» look for work. In the mean-
{ had met a boy about: iny own
vbo, as soon as he saw mecoming,
wd to talk to me. | asked hiin
time it was. Hesaid 10 o'clock
wwked me where I was yoing. 1
| was looking for work. He sald
as looking for work too. So we
ed together and hunted for work,
ould tind none. We finally yot
rv and began talking about yett-
something to eat. We made up
minds to ask for something
TITS Te we came
and =opretty soon) we | came
ht of a house aud | started tow-
tand knocked but po one came;
went back and told my cuompan-
Well, we stood and talked
le, and finally my chum, whose
e, by the way, was William Ev-
sald, ‘‘Let us craw) through one
windows and get something,”
bh we did. | was very reluctant
brody be the hunger over: [
: my fears and with him crawled
ugh one of the open windows and
zo something to- eat. TP then
ad to yo, but my companion was
ready. 1 waited to see what he
volng todo And very soon found
Ile commenced hunting through
vouse for whatever he could find.
’
iccordion and a watch, and left.
we-had-not-gone far before we
-d some one following us on horse-
_ and pointing at us. This was too
h for me and 1 stasted to run,
chum ran in among some ever-
= brewe=0 nd sins

nese

the train there I asked the o tor
— wera when the—trati—went—to COC CIty-1

t. Lran through the corn flelds
they all took after me. So my
u poe away but was caught later,
ell as myself. We were tried and
enced, he yolny to the re
ol ang ; . : ry for
“Year. This was in Nov. 1&4.
:yed.there eleven. months and got

Di

then went back to Chicago and yot
vorking on the docks, working here
ably four months, then left, and
ing a little money to travel on,
t to Cleveland, Ohio, ‘where
had ae aister living, but
1ot.kpow where she {is at present.
ayed here for about three mooths
ser, theo left and went to Buffalo,
Y.' This was Jan. 24, 1888.
ge ks
cre I worked six weeks: then went

meet her, Téaving my—bhorse- at

Ping Ya 4% Verse Pee Pe * bite,
ot oamactoaind said f wodld’ stay Ho
canon Mrs, Cummings bad told me
Deore That hate- —was—too-cun*
hv erece rn ryT yy Pee bee
Heo they tarkea aovut her the
better | I'ked her, for she was away

from home and frlende—So- tf natural-| Dridge__asLhis_was-on-& direct line
; ik

not have the
went on tw my doom, as you will soon
see. ‘Ll yot’mad gbout anyone accus-
ing me of having another. wife and
left, although Mrs. Cummings was
like. a mother to me, and went to
boarding at Henry Carroll’s, at the St.
Nicholas. I went to.the C. B. & Q.
depot about three weeks after this for
some cups for my _poss, ‘and seelng
Kate ‘ord, naturally went two

the depot... She told nye she was golog
to findanother place to work as she
did not like the place she was at. So
off she-went to Mrs. Gayle’s; on Chest-
-} went

9 OF ae Pe SO

her ptace,
with her.
was then engaged to her. I wanted
Kate for my wife, as | was ‘very fond
So I told her she could choose

ket preferring,
Next day I left
house and
wanted to

met golng home.
work, cawe to my-boardio
told Heory Carroll that Tt
get married !n a hurry, as her sister
wanted to take her home. He told
me to go und get her, which I did.
Henry asked ber If she wanted to
waht | me and she sald yes. I
asked the loan of two dollars aada
half, which he gave me as I would not
yet paid unti! that evening. So
went up and got married, with Henry
as awitness. We then went to the
hotel and boarded there one-week
during which Heory told me he would
not keep any one that would not keep
her room clean. So l-uad to move my
wife and I took her up to. Mrs Pou-
tries and-teft her there, myself goln

tw Frank Lelx t© board until I ceul

yet some money ahead to start house
keeping. ‘This went on and I saw I
could not geta head on account of the
ralny weather, as 1 was belng docked
sO much, sO i made up my mind to
quit, telling the boss a lie so that I
could get ny pay, saying at the same

time that p_was_solng_1o_take hy
Wile t Chicago and 1 would need the

money lo pay our fare. I merely
wid this Iie to get my. pay and
went and got my check cashed.
This was on Saturday, June 21, 1890. 1
then went in quest of my wife, whom
I found coming down from Poutrie’s.
I asked her {f she would Iike to go to
Spring Valley. “She sald no, but

) 4

you acquainted there,” l-asked. Said
she was. ‘Well, Coal City it 1s,” sald
1, 80 we went to the depotand bought
our tickets for Morris, as we had to
change cars there. When we got off

“Why, you ought to have stayed on
that train to gv to Coal City,” he sald.
So we walted until the train went to
Ottawa again, yettl ’
: T took ner as far as
Stormont’s foundryand left bey, going
to Poutrie’s, I gotng back to my-barn.
The next-day was Sund ~L-then
met—her—again—to” the “at uare
rk; we roamed around in the Driv-
og Park awhile, then went up east to
the whfte bridge. Thisls the day that
Hemmerle saw us and not on Monday,
as he swore. To the best of my bellef,
I do not think he saw usatall. :We
came back at dusk and then I went
with my wife as far as Stormont’s and.
left her again to xo to Poutrie’s,

Sta there that night, came back

Priylit ford abatte

sense. to listen—to-geod-advice-andt

I! work. .1I had hardly been there fifteen

7 at Fwin Bluffs, tolook for works

th it this In the only
chance that | had _had tobe in-my
wife's com pathy. # CM. hd

by the wagon bridge.
at Cherry street and Poplar, and came
back, intending to go to Hess’ bara
and sleep, but thinking that I had no
right there after quitting at Hess’, 1
changed my mind, going.up La Salle
street, meeting with Thomas Fox,
who sald ‘‘Hello, Shorty,” and’ I saia
“Hello, Fox.” He said, “Kord, you
are rather late out tonight.” I said,
“Oh, 1 don’t know.” de said, ‘You
ought to be home with your wife so
that she could take care of you, as you
are most too young to’ be out alone
| this time_of_-night"—I—laughed and |
asked what tlme It was, und he sald it
was just fifteen minutes after ten,
pulling out his watch. J

up he Pioneer works and looking
for the man that tends to the electric
lights, but not finding him, enquired
for another friend but did not-tind
eae = I ie out, obeeggae
where. wou sleep, Jus eo
eninking of tne Trysting state i
and my. wife ueed to meet at by
‘Trask’s barn, I started for there and
lay down. I felt sleepy and exhausted,
svon falling adleép, it being a very
warm night. I woke up In the morn-
iny and started for the Pioneer Works
about half-past seven o'clock Tuesday
morning. strolled around the works
awblle and then went up to the offic:
to walt for B. B. Holland to go to

minutes when Hrennan came up to
me and said: ‘“Ilow do you do, Ford?”
1 sald, “Pretty well, Mr. Brennan.’
He then said, ‘.Where did you slee
jast night?” “Over there,” sald

polnting In the direction of Trask’s
varn. Ife sald, “ord, where is your
wife’” I sald, ‘Up at Poutrie’s.” He
said, “You can consider yourself un-
der arrest.” By this time Sinon had
joined us, he having a man by the
name of Calvin S, Carr Jn custody. he
belng also a prisover. Sinon then
asked Brennan !f be had got Ford,
and he sald, "Yes, this js he,” polot-
Ing to me. He then put a chain
erouod yw ris na]
Carr to the Jall. If Andrew J. Reed
was behind us 1 did not see him.
When, we got to the jail, Brennan
made us unstrip and examined our
clothes. Brennan found my handker-
chief and said, ‘‘What is that on your

handkerchlefy" “Blood,” sald I.
“Where - did you wet suv”
sald he, _‘tKrom_my_nose,”— sald—I..

When?” said he. “Monday,” sald I
he then took me up stairs and put me
in one cell.and Carr in another, We
were then let alone. {did not know
that my wife was arrested until two
days after they brought me there. The
second or third day Andrew 2d |
» you

r.
might as well tell the truth, for we
found a note book on ‘your wife.”
“What?” :

-Reed, ‘“Ihere was a nian
killed-tn Allen park &nd suspicion
falls on your wife.” ‘Well,” says I, ‘1
do not know anything about any note
book or any dead man- either, and:
further, accusing a man of murder’
poes not make him guilty of {t.” This
was the-last thing that Réed sald to
me until one day going up to court he
asked me where my folks were, and 1

te

~

‘ mate D C ae > .
ef Ore nme ot al nr eg i Sar:

that

oo 1
need

until

faint
with

this

an fee

Mrs.

——

_— wine sultcr Trom nervous and physical debi *| BRS
hy great-betp ts Tourn tH TKR Ayers
saparilla. 1t produces the rapid effect of a.
—arinimant, without the ~Injuriout reaction

, SUL of taking this-medieine is & permanent ~
increase of strength aus! vigor, both of mind
and body.» .

medicines or tonles, but never found a cure

state of the blood, causing faint turns,” —
Lena O'Connor, 121 Vernon st., Boston, Mass.

years of general weakness with turns of

Filla.

| _—-Fhis-ts-tocertify tm

Ayers Sarsaparilla for some time, and it has ——
done me a world of good,
headache, cleared my blo

-Ayer’s

“Dr. J. C. AYER & CO., Lowell, Masse...pOue™
“Sora BY ruvgisie. 8),ex 65. Worth @5abottle _

a

ema

aw ee. _ 2 2 4
‘2 mmepesagesy¥ ;
<< ~

~oume ‘

Sa
—T Ses —

= Baro =>

follows the use of sthuulaats, ‘The re- a

thal Ayer’s Barsaparilla Just what I have
ed for along tine. DT have ted different ~

i

+

1 used thia. My trouble has been a low

have been a victim_for the past two —

ing. Have tried various remedies, but

little relief tillt-used Ayer’s Sarsapa- |
Some six mouths sivee I began to use .

reinedy, and am greatly benefited.” — =

gt AT

And B

It has cured my :
BR:

thes

RSS Rak? a,

Taf, The B+

Sarsaparilla

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seperation nares Se oT

OTTAWA: OLD AND NEW

A COMPLETE HISTORY OF OTTAWA, ILLINOIS

9F-

1823-1914

REDDICK LIBRARY
OTTAWA, ILLINOIS

THE REPUBLICAN-TIMES,
OTTAWA, ILLINOIS,
PUBLISHER.

1912-1914.


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Wn OTTAWA FREE::

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Cheats tress : f ;
‘SATURDAY..-MAY- 9; ©1801) Ga"

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= seaeeeimmenanes *

ae essere ;

ils Building was situa:
‘rof Thirteenth street
ue. ‘They took me in-

not recelve me until
rtain papers from the
vhich they soon did.

then to Chicago In 1887; stayed there,
working forthe Silver Creek *Cual Co.
til] May, 1888,-then came to Ottawa
and worked for Vernon Harris: for a
couple of weeks; then
with Butch Beck:

his fostitutlon, Io this
bullding, 1 began to
and found wyself look-
‘oomlest bulldiag I

I] stayed there two
left and went to One
Seventy-sixth street
sylum, where I was to
ke shoes. They pave
the house of correc:
1 one a: trade in the

They then sent you
ound out with some
tarLed one day, about
and yiris: The tirst
was Rockford, where
1 were bound out: but

tb on tw  Free-
was bound f
Swen T

ibout two years aud
irly broke my back,
rd that I was hardly
rnings.: I made coim-
of no_use; and the
« complalot, but to
iad the: papers. that
him and this gave
ze of doing as he
When I saw that
ly for me, 1 made
n away, which | did.
mne-——“there-——_was)
working for him
tackus. Hesald “If
, come to my house

" So when I ran

ding as he went to

behind just far
ut of hia sight. -1
s man's house and
it night the farmer
was there, or mis-
egan Ww search the
e meantime—I-had
und J staid there
e ig, 4 then came
iend that I was go-

ee epee we A
-ouble, which I did

as taken back and
irashingy for It.
aoncejnto my head
actryiteegaine So}
hey were at church
e clothes.1 had and
Nrection of a place
dlyeville, Tl. rot
*k Im the avening
epot. While there
ani asked’ me
where I was yo-
| him, and he
ith-hlin,-which J

ry

‘. So I got Into
tirst thing I.knew
kicked, Dutit was
ed by a farmer,
uestions and left
4 man’s name was
seen me workin

nat IT was bounc
him the same sto-
Lme with this far-
with until one day
cnown saw me and
id told this other

sack with him-and]

‘man “about “three | berate thal Kate Fore

ack-the sameway ty took h

on private business; then got sick and
went back to Chicago. Stayed there
awhile and then went to Lansing,
Mich.. and from there to Port Huron,
then to Detroit, then back to Chicago
this was In January, 1890. Stay

two weeks, then went to Meadville,
Pa., and worked for Alex. Stecle, pro-
prietor of the Gable House... Then
came back to Ottawa, this was March
17th, 1890. Went so work In the Pio-
neer Works the same day, boardiog at
Mr. Cummings’. Here J first met Kate
Ford, my_wife, who-was- working-for
Mrs. Cummings. I was there about a
week when Kate asked me to go to
church with her, but being a stranger

I did not ike to go. She inslsted, so I
Dally wen eplall-Lyotcin-tne habit
Mh ack naan with her of an evening after

that. but I did not feel right for 1 was
astranyer and did not want w take
any advantage of her, beInya stranger
and without money. But I finally got
tw liking her and was_in_the habit of
going out with her-evenings. She
kept.on working at-Mre;Commings', !
boarding at. the same- place -and still
working at the Ploneer. On the 5th
of May I quit’ working at the Pioneer
and went .to work at Hess, Crotty
&  Wilifams’—bric
ttottand and TI had a few words
about putting me outin the yard, not
wishing to go Into the yard to work as
I had been working at side trucking.
So l drew my pay and left, but still

+s first place Linadepkept-on-beard

whom I liked as a mother and she me
asason. Things went on this wa

for about three weeks lonyer. Then

got intoa quarrel) with Mrs. Cum-
mings about Kate Ford.-- 1 was writ-
Ing to an intimate friend of mire, and
receiving an answer, one of the tward-
erssaw it. This man was Charley
Kelley, who- asked me whom I- was
writing to." I said to my -wife, Ina

the evening, Mrs. Cummings sald J
had no business going with one girl
and having another, That made me
mad and I told her I didn

wifes-andTrrtheérmmioré, that anyone
would be a fool to marry” me,
especially -as I -had-so™ friends or
home. Kate Ford was. standing
Hstening two this, but never a
word did she say, only stood there and
grinned atus. Thad one letter and |
wanted her w read [t and see for her-
self that It was only a letter in friend-
ship, but she would not do Itt. So I
ol mad and sald-Ll-would stay no

onger. Mrs. Cummin had told mg
—was—too-cunr

2 ee oe tll, carat Geigy amen e gtamm ste dee. 8a TES
ethiore tiey taikcd Bool er the

better I l'ked her, for she was awa

from home and friends.'- 8o I natural-
no ave the
sense..to _listen—to—geod-advice- and
went on to my doom, as you will soon
se. “I yot'mad gbout anyone accus-
ing me of hig another. wife and
left. although . Cummings was
Itke- a mother to me, and went to
boarding at Henry Carroll’s, at the St.
Nicholas.. I went to.the B.& Q.
depot about three weeks after this for
some cups for my boss, and seelng
Kate Ford, naturally went to
mect her, Téaving” my—horse_ at

’. Lyof back about
nm and xftaverdt win.

the depot. She told me she was going
to find-another niance fo work axe eh«

quit and worked
Mulligan

ard. D...B.j

> paw ’
morhing, which I did. This was Mon-
day, Jude 23d; 1890. -I met my wife tn
the afternoon at 2 o'clock. ‘.I putin
the biggest part uf the forenoon sleep-
ing in front of Frank Crane’s house on

there, for his wife asked who.that was
and hesalid he didn’t know. His wife
said, “turn him over and give hima
kick.” Hearing this I. got up and
moved off, not having any money. I
| then thought of getting something to
eat. This [ got at Judge Caton’s
about noun. |] then started back to
town, getting here just after one. Go»
ing over to Mrs. Cummingy’s, I asked
for her of Minnle Winterling, who said
she was in the parlor. I went around
to her and told her that I was
take-my—wife-to Spring Val
thought 6he was a little crack
said some one of her boarders had seen
Kate talking to two men on Saturday

take her up to Mrs. Felt’s.
Kate at two o'clock on Monday and
we sat in the park all afternoon until
about five o’clock, then we went off up
Cherry street where I left her, I going
to S. Hatheway’s and she to Poutrie’s.
I got to Hatheway’s at ten minutes of
six, stayed there until fifteen minutes
after six; then started off for La Salle
street and sat down /n the city square
park. I had got a lunch at Hathe-
way’s—that is what I went down there

my wife at Stormont’s foundry. 1
here suw W.'C. Channel, my previous
foreman, pass me in the park, but had
seen him a little before at Turner

buck. I told this He to get out of the
one I had told him when I pot my pay
the Saturday before, but he saw me
laterin the city park. We sat_here
fora while; when Dennis McCarthy
from the St. Nicholas, came. over an

began to talk to me about leaving the
St. Nicholas, ani I was just poing to
the hotel when Mr. Channel- came
along and saw me with wy wife. This

moroin about six o'clock, Tals made. |

for._It-was just 7 o’clock wher I’meat

Hall. He ihe thought L-had-gonereridence-that- fami THHOCenT, St
to Chiéayo. sald I had, but Just got] be the first to condemn me tw the

a sequel to this story, and then !t will!
be another that did “this dastardly
‘crime, and not Charlie Ford... ~
biased account of'mhy:rel

connected with this. affair,
so far as I know, and with a few con-
cluding sentences will cease to burden
you further. Those who heard the ev

evidence produced to prove me gullty,

dn fact was not convicted by a jury
as the law provides, but wus tried and

convicted
cution of public sentiment misled b
false rumors und the ‘Ottawa Journal,

should take its course, but assumed

me. Paramount of these is that my
attorneys, who must know from th
u
he
This they did at a recent
oe This is
c sentiment

lows. |
as aepouee to mé at the
another Instance of publ

law. I appreciate their services,
patience, courtsey, and — untiring
efforts {on my behalf, and trust that.
time, the healer.ofall Ills,and tranqu!]

sentiment of the 4
tt n and__enable them-t

Joke. Tle suid nothin : 2p, | was the true state of affatrs—
a rom work jo} - We staid-here until the town clock

was striking elght, then yot up and
started up Columbus street and over
to to the south bridge, -I sugested
for Kale to go.up.to.. drs.-Fel Vewith
me, as she had sald Poutries was get-
Ingmad about herstaying there so long
We went across the bridge, but when
we got there she did not want to go
up lo Mrs. Felt’s, and | sald we would
go up to Mrs.Smith’s and Up we went,
but when we got there, no one was
about and we wenta little further
and sat down this side of the slaugh-
ter house In the grass, where I will

Hwite's co OPAnY, ie
f We sat or lay here while,
then got up, yolng over the railroad

with Cherry street, where Lleft. her
nights to gO up to Poutrie’s, and
was not as far as going around
by the wagon bridge. -I- then left her
ut Cherry street and Poplar, and came
back, intending to to Hess’ barn
and sleep, but-thinking that I had no
right there after quitting at Heas’, 1
changed my mind, going up La Salle
street, meeting with Thomas Fox,
who sald ‘Hello, porte * and: I sala
“Hello, Fox.” He sa d, “Ford, you
are rather late out to night.” I sald,
“Oh, 1 don’t know.” He sald, ‘You

‘ ‘ ave ous Var: =
et ead aca ten Se RA

bridge as this was on a direct line|-

<tth wvour wife an;

vo

profit by thelr mistake. .

In conclusion, allow me to say that
d shall die as I have lived,.with aclear
conscience, stalnless of this crime anc
ful pared to mett my God, aware
that He knows all and has taken me

under II\s-
onicers of the .jJall and all connected

feelings and fully: appreciate -their
enerous treatment, an
avors and privileges extended to me,

i wish them alla ams and prosper-

I have now given a truthful and un- | “

dence know that there was no legal! -

y a long and bitter. prose-|-

who was not willing that the law}

ate!

based on false and malicious rumors, |:
but Is unparalleled: in the practice of-|-

ndt

rotection— Towards theft

for the many } -

therewith I have the most kindly]. °

Corn

olng to| the responsibility to prosecute through{—
fe ae thelr dally press. I will not pass judg:

She] ment on such villainous trickery, but|~
leave it ty the All Supreme Judge. To| ,4
the Hon. George W. Stipp I wish to| tons.

mind to| entreme kindness, patience and Impar} Ai
I met| tiality during the entire trial. He la- ant
bored in behalf of the law and justice poy
but was thwarted on every hand. He] “tu:
is rewarded with a cléar conscience, | o#>
with the knowledge that he did his}——~
duty and the best wishes of an inno-
cent man -falsely-condemned-to the |
gallows; For the governor of I)linols a
| who granted the reprieve, I entertain} &
the must kindly feelings, and am/S$
sorry that my attorneys were so weak| &
as to call on him to suifen thelr own } 53
| vacKBONEs, but the wovernor reprieved| —
aod I am not ungrateful for the same.| ©
My case has been full of surprises to be

Who suffer from nervous and physteal debi- *
ity great belp ds found ti taking Ayers Sar >>
saparilla, It produces the mipld_effect ofa.
—atiniMant, witout the injurious reaction |
that follows the use of stimulants, The re-.
_ SW Of taking this-medielne is & permanent ~~
Increase of strength ayd vigor, both of mind
wd body. . °

* § find Ayer’s Sursapariila fust what Ihave -
needed fur a jong tine. 1 have tried different
medicines or tonles, but never found a cure
until I used this. My trouble has been a low
state of the blood, causing faint turns.” —
Lena O'Connor, 121 Vernon st., Boston, Masa,

years of geieral weakness with turns of
fainting. Have tried various remedies, but
with little relief till 1 used Ayer’s Sarsapa-

=

©

rile, «Nome efx tuonths since I beran to use ~

ous life. _.Farewel
= _ CuARLIE Forp,— |. --
ey

“1 have been a victin for the past two} Speetel

d


here  Pheteapi telat re tou ges kl

3 ‘ 17 minutes later the nan wis pro-

Beto fe d deud-by-the physictans, “Tre

2... prisoner was placed In the cage In the
sam jall-officent 7 0’ “exs

; jail he-was as pleasant as at any time
a~— => during the past-week and talked free-
"TTT to Sherlff Taylor and the officials of
= .o =the jail joking laughing an¢ appearinie
"8 UNCONCcerned as A man UNconvicted
__- of the crime. At 8.o'clock last even-
~~ ing John Gutting, the. well-known
ome rber-visited the jattand shaved the
prisoner for the last tlme. When
“s, . dobn left, Ford bade him good-bye,
ss and from that time he began to count
a ————— the hours, whe elapse of which brought
“Sf. nlm-to the ropes, and at 8 o'clock the
Rev," Dean Keating,. who was with
-—~him almost constantly since Monday
so A. dast, called and administered to biny
=—===“the sacrament of. baptism, for which

jet he made preparation during the week.

Sa - -« ‘The reverened gentleman pod tne pis, |
2 vss : t

-<e considerable time in prayer. At ¥
S. -. O'clock Dean Keating left the Jall and
=the prisoner retired for the night. Ae-

Le side the-cage Bat the death’ watch.

be prisgper had—no des Prd

ut talked to the death watch on var-
subjects
Shortly after 1 o'clock this morning,
he - -. fell Into a .. slumber
Sie ‘and. slept. soundly for four
4+ hours. “His rest during the week was

es * disturbed, and on the two mornings
s prior he slept from 3 o'clock until 7
ee: and 7:30 o'clock. At 5:30 o'clock this
<=—~-— morning he awoke, sat-up in his
Se, > couch and bid the watch good morn-
S.” ing. THe appeared thoroughly rested
mand as bright as a dollar. A few mv-
ie -y- ments fater, he was attired In his jall
= rb. At 6 o'clock Dean Keating ar-
or “yived agd remalned with him. until 7
~—:o'clock. "The houy. wis spent In pray-
se er, and both prayed fervently. At 7
“o'clock the prisoner was served with
/.-—hreakfast; consisting of mutton chops,
Ec frled eggs, toast and coffee. His ap-
a" petite was poor, but no worse than It
“<<. . stad been during the week. He ate
cs +8 tmall piece of mutton, an egy, a
. “slice of toast, and drank the coffee.
=\.°, He retained hig nerve, in excellent
a pe; and-was-really tn—bettex spirits
“J. .¢°, than the ofictals of the Jail who walt-
—-—-—ed upon him. From that time until
¢-\ 9 o'clock, he conversed almost_con-|
——pually with Deputy Sheriff Maher,
‘and those around him. At 9 o’clock
he was taken from—his-celt-and began
his preparations for the scaffold. He

a

v-

the prisoner, [a Compa) with fepu

ties Maher and Barrett. Sheriff 'Tay-

lor broughy up the rear. ‘Thay ascends
w ee ‘ * ; h .

- r :

upon the trap aod seated himself ina
chair. The deputies stationed them-
selves on either side of the trap and |
 Snertft-TaylorRtood at his post In the
rear of the drop. Surrounding the
seaffold on the ground stood the spec-
tators.. Tho prisoner was nerve from
beginning to end, and from. the time
he entered the’ building he showed
no signs of weakening.. He was s>me-

TIis face bore the saine expression that
it did during the trial, upon ascending
the scaffold “a sbort prayer was re-
cited by Dean Keating.

Afte ascending the scaffold, Dean
Keating and the prisoner knelt dn the
trap. A prayer was recited by Dean

HOnded” After a-short deliberation
In silent prayer the men arose. The
prisoner remained on the trap and
Dean Keating stepped w one side.
| The _prisoner__was_ then as
by——-shentt—~Paytor If he ~ had
anything to. say. __The_ prisoner’s
responded that Father Keating would
say what he had to gay. -
Itev. Keating stepped to the
of the platform ‘and sald: The pris-
oner accused and tried under the name
of Charles Ford requests me to say that
he belleves In the best of all prayers,
the “Lord’s Prayer.” Te desires me

charge against him. Furthermore, he
desires me to thank the sheriff and his
assistants for their kind treatment
tw him,-andbaske that you all recitéa
prayer forhim. ~ Rae,

_At 10:00 ‘the prisoner's legs were
pinioned below-the knees, atid at the
ankles, by Deputy Sheriff Maher. The
black robe was then spread over him.
The rupe was placed around his neck
and before It was drawn tight he ask-
ed permission of the sheriff to say a
short prayer. The request was grant-
ed and at the conclusion of the
prayer, the cap was adlusted,
__At10:10 the rope-was-eut: by Sheriff
Taylor, the drup fell, and the prisoner
swung into the open space. Three
contractions of the .lower Iimbs_oc-
curred turing the first minute. The
physicians, Drs. Hatheway and Wels,
seulzed the pulse of the dying man as
soon as the drop fell, and it was not
until 10:27 that he was pronounced

what excited but controlled —himeelt.

front}.

to say that he ds Innocent of the main ||

kcafiuld, stul back -of thet etond th
coroner's jury. ‘The spectators atood
) : + of

he Pre EP anal As
iy a matter of coartesy to

h x en

until tne drop fell:

Hig the fuvethor
to prepare mysel!
death: 1 ai. als

and. knowing -. t
with a clear coos
he- cia-a0en b
thermore, I will di

The Prisoner's Traé Name,

The true name of the man gxecuted
forthe ‘murder of David” Moore was
not His life from ao
early age, as pictured In the biogra
phical sketch written’ by himself,
showed_ plainly. that—all_days.-did
not bring sunshine to him... His true
name was Rudolph. ‘This he did not
‘tell to the scribe on Thursday, but told
it to the man jn whom he placed all
contidence, and through that source
-we learned of it.on- Friday afternoon?
When quite small he was sent to é0
orphan asylum and entered: the tnsti-

teratt, Teaviny ho ¢
body.

—

Phe Prix

_ After reading tt
conversed a short |
ticular favor he as
tion be made of a:
in ope of the even
that he had given

Keating which sho
until after the exe
to this matter, h
given no package t
did give him a let
father (providing )
after the executio:
3% was then aft:
meal had been ca!

tution under the name of V

ev. e west. for the. -first
time. Shortly after arriving Ju
the west, he committed a number of
erjines, and when arrested_o

| charge-of-burgtary “In” Chicago, gave

his name as Ford, and by that name

true name, howevef, was Rudolph, snd
to Joha- Rudolph; his -father,~ ad-
dresswl the letter that he gave to
lees Keating on Tuesday of - last,
week. : P

,

THE PRISONER INTERVIEWED.

The First and Only Extensive Interview
Ever Held With Furd,

The first and in fact. the only Inter
view held with Charles Ford since his
conviction was obtained by a repre-
sentative of this paper on Thureday
noon, Through the kindness of-Sher~
iff Taylor the scribe was ushered Into
the offite’of the jall, and while. the
latter was scrutinizing the cage In
which the nervy criminal. spent the
weary hours of night, the prisoner,
Charles Ford, was ace a pb gy
ofiice. Ile was brought from the Jail
roper, and. as he en*ered,. his- face
sre the usual smile, Indicating that
his thoughts of the horrible crime
were lost in his preparations fora life
ea peaceful and happy In the other
and.
no change; true, his skin bore a pallid
color, caused by _ confinemen
put In healt he. was stron
and perfect. AS~he entered” with
hand: outstretched he
scribe the time of
| himself ina large arnr-chatr: tt 4
perfectly, cool, and manifested no
signs of nervousness,
allowed.-to read the papers, he was
conversant with the topics of the day
aod for a short time talked and joked

et Gee”

ogi peat black sult, saque coat, » purch
— n. He worea
i>itwhite shirt and turned down collar
swith a small black string necktie.
<. After dressing bimself he returned to
cage. . Dean Keating returned at 9
snd rema ; ith the}
-for forty minutes, which time
TES
; Deputy Sheriffs Barrett
s4 Maber entered the apartments 0c-
sied by Ford and the death war
‘qwasréad to. the prisoner ‘by
ne Taylor. .At 950 the prisoner

ead. Fach minute’ the

: , an at the
lapse of fourteen minutes, there
was po pulsation. Three minutes
later the body was cut down_py-the
sheriff and placed In the ‘comia which

made by the physiclans forthe pur
pose of ascertaining the manner In
which the prisoner came to his death.
His neck was broken !n the fall and
after the traf was sprung he knew
pothing of hia _ surroundings— and
prteret GU ali. The bod

was On the ground beneath the scaf-|change—of
the body waa, and

pDn-
atched, unguarded, and of
only the manly principle of a true and
honest man, against whom naught
might be said of his character. A
conversing {n a general way for some
ner, the matter.of

“The Ever utittemste bia regal

ac nterruga him ia

to a cotfeasion, and 10 answer to the

same be said: . val
No confession regarding this crimé

ever came from me, 1 kaow

bis :
a “waa then |} ¥ crime I have deca con
Eapepened ty. Depaty Sherif ‘ Raseeli; S06 vot death; furthermore,
er ty oun to the Catholic cemetery | ines I ans janocent, | will eter by
m ‘them waked ‘Tay- . eoaviction Ww the end. | am
Br sagin ie 2 the pe} fear i BAe pe
"a Lt rd Mg 7: A, od * 4 : UZ * nas. or? J Se 4

ln his appearance there was]:

Having been | pri

he. remained-te—+

reef lead ey |
nstead of “f

- of metanchny.
expected, his a
reverse. Tle bey
which, as he salt

ness of the sheri!
then- permitted =
proper. The cel
prisoner was a jar
ner hung acot, 4
stood a table. (
four vases filled w
an image of our
of beads. This te
were to the pris
from the numtx
that the: table
would be led to !
place of worship.
Above the dou
the side—wall ht

After a visitofan
the prisoner, the :
to a close. Th:
words were: ‘1 }
crime. Whatever
know nothing o
nocent man.”
HISTORY O
How Charlie Ford
F com plishe:
* So familiar Is 1
peneraloutiine of
oore, an event ¥
and is now a pa
crime in La Salk

currence to the d+
- ore

n
strengthens the

executione

loose woman frou.
over twenty years
ash

Cael
2000-34

:
a
5
Z

8
:
i

gE
sith


Blix ivrure ~

nou.>.
disturbed, and on the
prior he slept from

apd 7:30 o'clock. At) 5:30. o'clock this
morning he awoke, sat up in his
couch and bid the wateh good morn:
ing. Ile appeared thoroughly rested
and as bright as a dollar. A few mo-
ments later, he was attired in his jail
garb. AtGo'clock Dean Keating ar-
rived agd remained with him until <
o'cluck. The hour was spenlin pray-
er, and both prayed fervently. At
o'clock the prisoner was served with
breakfast, consisting of mutton chops,
fried egys, toast and coffee. His ap-
petite was poor, but No Worse than it

two mornings
3 o'clock until 7

it had been during the week. He ate
a tial! piece of tautton, ano ex. a
slice of toast. and drank the coffee.
He retained his nerve in excellent

shape, and was really in better aplrits
than the ofticials of the jail who wait-
ed upon him. From that time until
9 o'clock, he conversed alinest: cun-
——=Ipually with Deputy Sheriff Maher,
and those around him. At9 o'clock
he was taken from his cell and beyan
his preparations for the scaffold. He
threw off the Jail varb..and duaaead ay
neat black suit, saque coat, purchased
ally forthe occasion. He worea
white shirt and turned down collar
witb a small black string necktle.
After dressing bimself he returned to
Dis cage. Dean Keating returned at9

o’clock and remained alone with the
“prisoner for forty minutes, which tme
s—spent im deep prayer. At 9:45
= f Taylor, Deputy Sbhertts Barrett
Sand Maher entered the apartments oc-
-eupied by Ford and the death war-
= Fant. was-read to the prisoner by
; Sheriff Taylor. At 9:50 the prisoner

Deputy. Sheriff

=z were pinioned: by

Maher. “
So He was then asked by Sheriff Tay-
; Jor ‘ff be bad any special request to
“\make and he answered:

* os
apie ses aes

s taken from his cage and his arms +

CAEEELL eh Care te Chaare we

of Charles Ford reguestat me to say that |
he believes in the best of all prayers, |
the “Lord's Prayer.” Ile desires me |
to say that he is innocent of the main |
charge against him. Furthermore, he,
desires ie to thank the sheriff and his
assistants for their kind treatment |
ta him, and axks that you all recitea/!
prayer fur him.

At 10:09 the prisoner's legs were |
pinioued below the kuees, and at the |
ankles, by Deputy Sherif? Maher. The:
black robe was then spread over bim.
The rope was placed around his peck
and before it was drawn tight he ask-
ed permission of the sheriil’ tu say a
short prayer. The request was grant-}
ed and at the conclusion of the
prayer, the cap was adiusted. |
ALJU:10 the rope was «ut by Sheriff
Taylor, the drop fell, and the prisoner
swung inte the open space. Three
contractions of the lower lim'hs oc:
curred during the first minute. The
physicians, Drs. Hatheway and Weis, .
seized the pulse of the dying man as
suon as the drop fell, and it was nof
until 10:27 that he was _prongunceds

deads ~ "Rach — ‘ninute the___pulsa-|
tien grew “tess, and at the
lapse of fourteen minutes, there

was po pulsation. Three minutes
later the body was cut down by the
sheriff and placed in the coftin which
was on the ground beneath the scaf-
fold. Su ny

Ap examination of the body was!
made by the physicians for -the -pur’
pose of ascertaining the manner In
which the prisoner came to his death.
His neck was broken in the fall and
after the trap was sprung he Knew
nothing of his.
Suffered no palin. The body was then
taken Incharge by Undertaker Russell
and removed to the Catholic cemetery

where it was Interred. © .
The coroner's jury viewed the body
and affixed their sigcatures to the pa-

ee

xi ene! only request that I shall

‘no change: true, his skin bore a pallid |=

_surroundings— and4

&

The First and Only Extensive Interview
Ever Held With Ford, ny ‘eS

The first and in fact the only inter
view held with Charles Ford since bjs] =,
‘conviction was obtained ya ‘yepre=|
, sentative of this paper on ursday|
noon, Through the kindness of-Shered
| it? Taylor the scribe was ushered rte the
‘the office of the Jall, and while
latter was scrutinizing the cage In|
which the nervy criminal gow he thejt
weary hours of night, the P Pages ¥
Charles Ford, was brought into
‘office. He was brought from the Jail

roper, and as he en‘ered,. bis - ranean

ore the usual smile, indicating that] ©.
his thoughts of the horrible crime] =:
were lost: in his sedi for a lifé)
more peaceful and happy In the other
‘land. In his appearance there .jwas i

Ee

rhe a)

color, caused by _ confinemente
but in health he

was st
and perfect. <AS> he ror tong |

hand eine ot tere bade-—ae the d
scribe the time o and sea

himself jn a large armchair. 116 Wag {DOCRSary -— THeTe
perfectly cool, and manifested n0/
signs of nervousness. Having been]
allowed to read the papers, he was
conversant with the topics of the day,
and fora ogi time talked and ie

was. “attending - BABE, -
watched, unguarded, and

only the maaly, principle of a true and
honest man, inst whom naught
might be said - his character. A
conversing in a general way for some
time with the prisoner, the matter-of,

his execution was brought up. Thats
versation mad

change —of—een
change in the pet risoner's conntenahen, i
and-“manter. He talked freely, pro.
testing his | a eatered. tee
sentence that he uttered. _
The scribe interrogated him fn
to a confession, and in answer to
same he said:
No confession regarding this. ‘elins

ever came from me. J know-no

i Be

me gu

| et

43

ofthe ae Be DB i aLOo stor *
which crime I -have -been convicted {3
and sentenced-to—suffer-the putish=

fment of death; furthermo

peer
that I am innocent, I — at A
conviction to the end.

ing myself for a Chiltan deat Bea
fear nothing. I hold no enm ity :
ward: anyone who has, done «me |

per, certifying that they were present

ne OS

hy bg?

, ee

ae A

BEE RTRIe my body.” be: “given: tol8

given a christian burial. MAME
The, process{on ° was then, ‘formed,
land as the -

‘mee Fras Story of the Plot and Its Execu-
‘ton—Ford Interviewed in His Cell—
The Scenein the Death Chamber

., Graphically Described —His
Last Words to Sherif —
° Taylor:

ae Moore, ‘ihleh occurred at 10:00
“o'clock a. m. yesterday, spread the veil
over one of the most horrible tragedies

~

> i OTICT,

- gpat in the fifties, has the death pen-|
alty. been inflicted in our-courts.—-In |-——

‘George Gates, the con-
.-demned man, was driven to a point

thousands of people. The execution
was one most.brutal, and wus disgust-
~ {ng to the large crop that assembled

: =to- witness it. —

te ever committed in the, _county of La 5

10 o’clock, the procession ‘proceeded

"| cating correctly the main structure of
the jail building, entrance of spécta- |
tors and the. march to the temporary

structure.

Dean Keating, who will see that I am |

it :

_ | to the gallows.. The ‘plat ‘below Indl-

taind that the exectition wribfonde:
according to ‘laws ae Jury '

gentiéinen: Jained | “EMcHer
‘Dana, Val Link, Pera; Timothy. }
bard, Sheridan, Charles: Fy Made
Mendota; John ‘W:° Scanlan, }
rick Stewart, La’ Sallej: We #Dond

‘ville, Serena; George . ‘Beatty, N N

one and a half miles cast of thiscity,|;  _
---and_ hung-to actree, before the eyes-of fp

Ni cider d

veteran es Pe ad

CHARLYS FORD.

‘The execution of Charles Ford was

.:. conducted in a-most successful man-
ner. —Phetrap tettat 10: 10 o'elock, abd |
-17 minutes later the man was pro-
© nounced deud_by-the physicians,--The
prisoner was placed In ‘the cage In the

Ag ea
Af =448 Db
poopsrs

e "fail he. was as s pleasant | as at any time

= during: thé past-week-and-talked- free-
, Ty to Sheriff. ‘Taylor and the ofticlals of
‘ Me ’ > jail

-a8 unconcerned as a man Gtioonyicked

aT ng John Gutting,_ the ‘ well- ksidwn

1 The ‘procéssion was headed by Dean

a

Keating, attired in his lony. black
gown «and surplice, carrying in
his hand. the cerucifix.
he the “reverend “gentleman came

the prisoner, in company with Depu-
ties Maher-and Barrett. Sheriff Tay-
lor brought. up. the rear Thay 2 aad

upon the tap ane sont ‘himsell. ina
chair, The. deputies stationed. them-
selves on either side of the. trap and

Follow-|

Downey, Ottawa; John M. Steph
son, Troy Grove; Alf. Kennedy,
Finlen, Streator,

_The ‘phyilclans,_-tentamum!
were stationed. directly in front of
scaffold, and back_of them—stood
coroner’s Jury. The spectators st:
40 the——cast anid north |
eehes “eeniiy prem Eerse tty ¢
execu Too i a matter. Ox courtesy
the’ prisoner, every spectator vemo\
| his-ha “yy was
unt} the drop fell. _- seta

Sheriff! Taytor stood at his post In the

rear of. the drop. Surrounding. the| —
sea ffold-on the ground Gtood the spec-
tators.__Tho-prisoner-was-nerve from]

“harber visited the-jali-and shaved the

The Prisoner's “True_Name__—

“The true name of the man’ ul

forthe murder of David” Mc re wv
not Charles ‘Ford. His life from

beginning to-vnd; and fron the time e |.

am. etade bad ta ha ,

akties. aad era an


Gg
a

ee ae 7 Se ee ate woes! ly clléd to
my Body be given’ to | at the execution; that the prisoner | wrong 1 feel perfectly reconcile
| | wail sed-by: , - my fate'and anwatisted'to di¢, bul.I| seemed to indicate’ honest
who will see that Jam, nee by the "neck “Until dead will die innocent, convicted ooly.on}ing them: to introduce. b

‘and that the execution was conducted

tap burial.” | |!
ion’ was then, formed, according to law, | The, Jury was
y bell told the composed _ of ——-the—— folowing,

emen: James McHenry,
The plat below Indi-| Dana, Val Link, Peru; Timothy. Hib-
-y the main structure of| bard, Sheridan, Charles: F., Madden,
‘ng, entrance of specta- | Mendota; John W.' Scanlan, Pat-
aarch to the temporary | tick Stewart, La Salle; W. ‘Dondan-
| ville, Serena; George Beatty; N. M.

A

‘ hour-of+
procession proceeded | gent!

ral

é

Once. . :
__{» Parlor.

circumstances and public sentiment.
Have you’ ever made ee ee be
: ‘. niimated that.
you were !mplicared in this crime?
~ 1] mever gave any Intimations,
word, thought, look or action, that
was implicated in this crime. In this
connection I desire to contradict the
statement made: through the press
bs Mr. Allen, my attorney. 1 am. un-
able to account for the position taken
fn this matte Mr. Allen, and most
painful to me o

all the proceedings
since my arrest was the letter written
tome by him. He then handed the
following letter, which he claimed he.
yecetved from Mr. Allen, to the scribe
and requested that it be published.
It-reads follows: - -
* Attorney Aljen’s Letter.
“ - Orpawa, Ill. April 22, 1891.
Cuas. FoRD, EsQ.=3b5- ’
hy own wind from What I

1 oN

—t

|} 2

«a.

lll

gg

Kitchen. }_ Parlor.

a

know of you and your case, that you
are guilty of the crime as principal or
accessory. I feel sure that you were

resent at the time David Moore was

illed, and while you may not have
used the pin, still alded and abetted
in the deed... Feeling-as-I-do—In=the;
matter, I have concluded. to proceed
no further In the matter. I under-
stand that Hoys is of the same _opin-
fon, although I have. not—heard from
him_for-two weeks. Good- bye.~ May
God have-mercy on you: Yours,-_ -<

4 “FRANK G- ALLAN.

ue eenee ee

oe es °

a ent
a

Were you of the opinion that the}
case would be appealed to the Su-

preme court when the reprieve was
bythe overtone

ttt
T

“| viction.

Of course, I naturally expected that
when my attorneys: went" so-far a8 to
petition the Governor for a reprieve,
they would take the case-to-the
higher court. -Mr. Allen told me that
he thought I was !nnocent, that Jn all
the trial there was no testimony In-
troduced that would warrant my con-
— | -knew-of- no way -to-account for his
withdrawal from the case othe
tha fcsentiment.” The letter

S

provoked me, and in answer to the
same | wrote-the following letter: *-
Ford's Letter to Allen. :
J am surprised that one so familfar
with my case should be the. tirst..to

a

4 was headed by Dean.| Downey, Ottawa: Joho M. Stephen;
doin his long black|son, Troy Grove: Alf. Kennedy, M.
irplice, carrying in| Finlen, Streator, : ,
crucifix. Follow-| The_ physicians, _ten—ia--number,
nd gentleman came | were stationed directly in front of the
company with Depu-|scaffold, and Lack of-them-stood the
Barrett. Sheriff Tay-|coroner's jury. The spectators stood
-he rear They ascend-lto—----the-———east “and “north _of

=

tution, as a matter of courtesy to
the prisoner, every spectator removeil
his_hat,-and—net-a—word—was spoken

utiles stationed them-

“condemn aman tot a garners Ser
ublic.

to voice the sentiments of’ the

I think you were very weak after se-
curing a respite from- the: gorernor to
let the matter drop, on suspiclon of
my guult. But lum—net-ungratefut

behalf. By obtaining the_feprieve

’
5

tou prepare myself f :
Hieath: 1 ain. also very yrateful to

—= ———

and knowing —this,—-I.—ecan—die
with a clear coascience, feeling that
he did poenine but his duty. Fur-
thermore, I wil

trattteaviny ho’enmity toward any-

until tne drop fell. me

The Prisoner’s True Name, --—

The true name of the man executed
forthe-murder-of David" Moore was
not Charles Ford. His life from an
early age, as pictufed in the blogra
phical sketch written ‘by himeelf,
showed plainly that_all_days—dia
not bring sunshine to him. . His: true
name was Rudolph. ‘This he'did not

tell to the scribe on. Thursday, but told
it to the man in whom he placed all

side of the trap and
Loom at his post In the
op. Surrounding the
sround Stood the spec-
isoner-was- nerve from]
id-and from the time:
ve» building he showed
kening.. He was some-
it_ controlled himself.
1e saine expression that
.6 trial, upon ascending

ebort prayer was re-

enue © fh. ce

|
od seated himself ina
|

{

7

eanfideanra. and through that sonree!.

body. CHARLES FORD.
__ Phe Prisoners Cell, CS

After reading the above Jetter, he
conversed a short-tlmwe, and asa par-.
‘ticular favor he asked that a cortec-
tion be made of an article published
in one of the evening papers, stating
that he had given a package to Dean
| Keating which should-not -be-opened
until after the execution.- In relation
to this matter. he said that he had
given no package to Rev. Keating,but
did give him a letter to send to

for your garnest zeal and efforts In my }.

from the governor you yave me time] --

die with kind feelings }--Fbla eee

wien of Ford's stamp. Whons faced

and —
his-

Bes oh .the ‘Sunday eveniog in|) |
told

question that --Ford,

him. of wife

formed her of it: and, she, protest!

course, Kate .Ford ‘testified fo ‘the
O'Brien case. that-she—-made thea
intment with Mooré, but If su
ad n the case would it have.
likely that Ford would have at t-

Evidentiy,—it—w en |
Moore and’ Ford that a “girl” was to
meet Moore in Allen Park at 8 o’clock
on Monday evening; no matter what
girl it might be. - Kate Ford’s claim of
pay was merely an attempt at shield-
ng *
0) new that he alon@ cyould not
intimidate or inaster Moore, who was
ouble his size, and he hunted-up Bill
O'Brien to assist In the work.. He ev-
idently saw Hillon Sunday evening,
for he certaloly did not sec him on
Monday until efter Bill came from his
| work. at. the.
town. Both women kept their prom-
jses and met Ford at the corner of ‘La
Salle and Main streets at a little after
eight. o'clock Monday mA Nel 5 -- Here
| they—were-jotned by Brit-O
Then the four walked across the *
cund entered the park,
Ford, Minnie and O'Brien went up lato
the bushes near the south entrance
and Kate Ford remained below awalt-

rived, and had seated himself upon
the. yround.. beside Kate, - Ford-ran

flercely_d
leading his wife -astray about $50

-worth.— Kate to her confession says

that when Moore‘refused to give a

penny. Ford: struck him with his fist

und O’Brien, seelng them struggling,

ran to Ford’s assistance and used the

coupling—pir—with terrible eff
hen he-wa ref

DW

é e
mien robbed the body. Minnie Win-
terling, who was half crazed with fear,.
ran eustward through the park as
though. pursued by the dea
shadow. She '
brid the -wayon-way atm “made |
Lev! Cummings, by way of the yards of
struction Cotnpaay.” Mrs, Ford says

west LO the raliroad bridge and crossed
(Continued _on_Paye 2.) —--——

5 @nG nak f
ui -
women Or to Cell him of thelr residence. |’

giving] *,
her. a ficticious name. "He then ‘in-|

against belng.a party to the affait, he|
sought out Minnie Winterling.. Of}: “o

rien:

down the slope and demanded niohey, |-— -
ut—Moore—was |-—————_

man’s}
crossed_ the ‘Tllinois |.

her way7to her place of residence, |.
Sanders Bros. and the Fireproot Con-4} --
that her husband and_herself..went}

ed to substitute Minnie Winterling? —

Snare
———-

_

4

2 ee

cures of Catarrh effected by the —
—wse of Ayer’s Sarsaparilla are conclusive
~ @isease Is one of the blood, needing only

“toy

from eatérrh,
ied my

appetite and weakened my system, None of

“I have suffered for years

-until 1 used Ayer’s Sarsaparilia. I began to
take this medicine last spring, and am now -
entirely free from that disgusting disease, .
My. appetite has returned, and J am once -

_ more strong and healthy.” —Susan L. W..

m
father (providing he could be ‘tound)

wet lene

taken seven bottles of it, and tx now entirely

_ the remedies-1-took-affarded me any relief, |”

- Cook, 909 Albany street, Boston Highlands, — os

troubled for a long time with catarrh, in its” 1 *-
worst form, through the effects of which his}. ~
blood became poisoned. ..About a'year ago | |
he began using Ayer’s Sarsapariiia, has jf '

Yard oa Cita
Radwar inmnsd3
nn °° 9

bn


- , 7 , ealite -echarge of burgtary in Chicago, gave
aij | > traer 3 *

his uame as Ford, and by that name

a AS elt asked. pEaew in tie WH As
a@aeinr ff) he had true name, howevef, was Rudolph, and
say. The prisoner's te Joho Rudolph. his father, was ad-

dressud the letter that he gave to
Dean Keating va Tuesday of last
: Week. .

tather Keating would
.. Va say.
stepped te the front
and said: ‘Phe pris-
tried under the game
retest. tie to say that
che bestof ail prayers.
Hleodesires: tae
of the mato

Furthermore, he

THE PRISONER INTERVIEWED.

The First and Only Extensive Interview
Ever Held With Ford.

The drst and in fact the voly inter
view held with Charles Ford since bis
conviction Was obtained by a repre-
sentative of this paper on Thursday
neon, Through the kindness of Sher-
it Taylor the scribe was ushered into
the office of the jail. and while the
SS ho latter was scrutinizing the cage in

- prisoners legs Were Which the nervy criminal spent the
+ the khuees, and atthe weary hours of night, the prisoner,

ty Shert® Maher. The Charles Ford, was brought into the

then spread ever him, oftice. He was brought from the jail
«ut anand tos neck proper, and as he entered, his face
maced around Mis Beck - be. the usual stile, indicating that
was drawn Uisht he ask-; pis thoughts of the bhorr.tie erime
ef the shernf tu say a) Were lostin his preparations fora life

The request Was yirant- hmore peaceful and happy in the other
ven earn “ae ot the land. In his appearance there was
“He POR isan no change: true, his skin bere a pallid

een
rnhecent
cab tyy.
nank the sherit?and his
there Kind treatment
ee that you all recite a

eap was adtusted. eater, Caused by coutnemens,
rope Was eut by Sherif? tbut in health he was strong
ny fell. and the prisoner and perfect As he entered with
- . oe ‘hand outstretched he bade the
~The ie eal i eae Phree corite the time of day, and seated
the lower lims oc: himself ina large arte chair, Te was

manifested no

The first minute. The | perfectly cool, and
Having been

Hatheway and Weis, | Sigas of nervousness.
of the divine fan 4 ‘i allowed to read the papers, he was

e dyitk Man as) eonversant with the topics of the day,
yy fell, and it: was not | aod fora short time talked and joked

uat he was prongune

“minute the sy. | WSS attending -.#—-tete-2-tetz,  nn-
Se vat a? watched, unguarded, and possessed of
see “| only the manly principle of a true and
urteen intnutes, there! honest man, ayainst whom naught
sation. Three minutes} might be said of his character. After

was cut down by the | Cooversing in a general way for some
iaced in tbe conin which | ewe with the prisager, Che mabeeces
tound beneath the seat: | change of eunversation thade no

,change in the

jamd manner. Me talked freely, pro-

_ testing his innocense in nearly every

{sentence that he uttered.

The scribe interrogated him in regard
to a confession, and in aoswer to th

same he said: .

vation uf the tbody was
physicians for the pur’
ortafuing the manner ip
“soner came to his death.

broken in the fall and
rap Was sprung he knew

pod laughed as beartlls aa -thegh hes

was brought up. The!

yrisaner’s countenance

No confessiod regarding this crime

which, as he said, he knew duriag

en —

upyer ‘bray
ness of the sheriff the reporter was
then permitted to visit) the jail
proper. The cell occupied by the
prisoner was a large one. In one cor |
per hungacot, at the side of which
stood a table. On this table were
four vases filled with flowers, a bible,
an image of our Savior'’s and a seats
of beads. This table and ornaments
were to the prisoner an altar, and
from the number of sacred things
that the: table contained a persoo
would be led to believo that it was a
piace of rig

Above the door of the cell and on
the side wall huny sacred pictures.
During the time that the prisoner
was alone he was devoutio prayer.
After a visitofan houranda half witb
the prisoner, the scribe drew his visit
to a close. The prisoner's parting
words were: “i know nothing of the
crime. Whatever Kate Ford has done
1] know nothing of. [ shall die an in-
nocent man.”

=e

HISTORY OF THE CRIME.

How Charlie Ford and Bul O’Brien Ac-
complished the Murder.

So familiar is the public with the
reneral outline of the murderof David
Sfoore, an event which has passed into
and is now a part ef the history of
crime in LaSalle county, that a re
currence to the details may seem uD-|
necessary. There Is much, however,
which has not been told in the public
prints and every thread added
strengthens the web about Charles
Ford, proclaiming him the arch lot-
ter sad executioner of the murder. ord
946-400-1825 -$0-WOrk Lor.a- time
tfhan a few weeks or a moath in one
piace, and, like men dis toward
crime who look upon work as slavery,
he cast about him to make a living by
his wits. He married Katie Weiner, a
loose woman from Spring Valley, not
over twenty years of age,and with her

as-his decoy, began a Career of petty}
dblackmailing. Fe Tooked for larger

d his first victim of size was
a te a eae

-accost h{m is not known to a cer-
seiner, No one but Ford knew and he
has died with the incident locked in his
breast. That ~- did wand i —

ned by the men who have kep

oe / since the discovery

eed an

ever came J

nis surroundings and {of the uititer aie — aerate
iain. The dy was then
tye by Undertaker Russell
i to the Catholic cemetery
s interred.

ers jury viewed the body
thelr sigcatures to the pa-
ng that nay dere present

conviction to the end. lam
Ing myself for a Christian dea
fear nothing.

or
which crime I have been convicted
and sentenced. -to-siffer the-punish-
mentof death: furthermure. knowing
that I am innocent, I will stay by my
repar-
and |
1 hold oo enmity to-
ward auyone who has done mé any

ex of the case
a Moore's body In Allen Park: on
Tuesday morning, June 24th. .Moore
came to Ottawa on Sunday evenlngon

business for the T. B. Scott Lumbér
Co., of Merrill, Wis., for whom he was
chief traveler. He was neither. a
drinker nof a gambler, bis vice was
that of incontinence. * Doubtless he
had been {pb the habit of approaching

‘SEEMY

— $$

YCURSHCES

ONCE A MONTH: °
OTHER DAYS, WASH THEM CLEAN

WITH WET SPONGE _.
LADIES, IT COSTS.

centa Of

to change the appearance
your busbands will think it ie new. ‘

ON -

ASK POR Ite

wit 0S IT.

rr

meas so0n—as his plans were ma- —

Wee Gee
sea an oa pane Monee *
mM. CLARK

LCEORCE

ee nants ee ee

e


wine

company with Depu-
Sheriff “Tay-
nd-

| Lo gentleman
|
|

farrett.
he rear. ‘Dhaey ance

yf ea

id seated himself ina
ities stationed them-
side of the trap and |
vod at hie post In the
p. Surrounding the
round gtood the spec-

vee bau ditoctly do front of the
scaffuld, and Lack of them stood the
corouer’s jury. The spectators stood |

te odls

ty -the--oeast and“ borth of

isa matter of ‘courtesy to
his—hat t
until tne drop fell. ot

__The Prisoner's True Name.
The true name of the man executed

wanuer was nerve from
1, and from the time
‘building he showed
ening. He was some-

controlled himself 4

sume expression that
trial, upon ascending
short prayer was re-
eating.
yw the scaffold, Dean
prisoner knelt on the
was recited by Dean
pis Shia
a short deliberation
the men arose. Pre
“Jon the trap and
copped Ww one side.

for the murder of David Moore was
not Charles Ford. His life from an
early age, as pictured In the biogra
phical sketch written by himself,
showed plainly that. all. days did
not bring sunshine to him. Il{s true
name was Rudolph. This he did not
tell to the seribe on Thursday, but told
it to the man In whom he placed all
confidence, and through that source
wy learned of it.on Friday afternoon:

ammall he was sent to an
tered the tnsti-

the
arriving

"2 for
tlme. Shortly after
the west, he committed 2 number of
erjmes, and when arrested op the
charge of burgiary In Chicayo, yave

wis then iiske¢
iyior’ If he had
¥. The prisoner's}
ather Keating would
Ww Say.
Lepped to the front
and sald: ‘Phe pris
tried under the pame
ents me lo say that
best of all prayers, |
yer.” He desires me |
innocent of the mato
im.) Furthermore, he
nk the sherttfand tly |
herr kind treatment |
that you all recite a

prisoner's legs were
he knees, and at the
y Sherif! Maher. ‘The
hen spread over bim.
vced around his neck
s drawn tight he ask-

the shorlif tu say a
he request was grant:
» conclusion of the
‘ap owas adtusted.
pe-was ett by Sherif
fell, and the prisoner

vpen space. Three
the lower limbs oc:
he frst minute. The
Hatheway and Wels,
of the dyloyg man as
fell, and jt waa not

t he was pronounced
minute the

| convietion was obtalned by a repre-

, an at the
teen ininutes, there
ion. Three minutes
was cut down_by-the
ed Jn the cofia which
ind beneath the scat

jon—et-the body was

nysiclams for_the-pur-
aining the manner ip

his name as Ford, and by that name
nowt

true name, howevef, was Rudolph, and
ww John Rudolph, his father, was ad-
dressed the letter that he gave o
Dean Keating on ‘Tuesday of last
week. ‘

THE PRISONER INTERVIEWED.

The Viret and Only Extensive Interview
Kver Meld With Purd,

The Orst and in fact: the ooly Inter
view held with Charles Ford since bis

sentative of this paper on ‘Thureday
noon. Through the kindooss of Sher
iff Taylor the scribe was ushered Into
the office of the Jall, and while the
latter was serutinizing the cage In
which the nervy criminal spent the
weary hours of night, the prisoner,
Charles Ford, was brought Into the
office. He was brought from the all
aad ath and us he entered, his face
yore the usual simile, Indicating that
his thoughts of the horrible crime
were lost in his preparations fora life
more peaceful and happy In the other

lund. Jo his appearance there was
no changes true, his skin bore a pallid
color, caused by confinement,
but in. health he was stron
and perfect. AS he entered wit
hand outstretched he bade- the

scribe the time of day,~and seated
pertoctiy cool, and manifested 20
signs of nervousness. Having been
allowed to read the papers, he was
conversant with the topics of the day
and for a short time talked and joked

> One

only the manly principle of a true and
honest man, ayainst whom naught
might be said of hischaracter. After
conversing in a general way for some
time with the prisoner, the matter.of

his execution was brought up. The
change—of—conrersation “Made 10
change in the risoner’s countenance,

and-manuer. Ife talked freely, pro-
testing his Innocense {n nearly every
sentence that he uttered. mie?
The scribe interrogated him jn regard
to a coffeasion, and 1n answer to the

same be said:
No confession regarding this crime
Bothi

wal taet

he remained te—conVerse Ln.
LCP Vee > SRS * * —
co red to his .-.=-eelko— 1d;
nstead of sinking Into a

himself Joa large arin ‘chair, Tte wag} pecee

- . iti
watched, unguarded, and possessed of |p

behait. By obtuabog. the reprieve
from the governor you: fave me time
tu prepare myself fora Christian
Hteath. “Tatu also. very grateful to

ori be ey r*.F F

can die
feeling that
Fur-

I

body.

The Prisover’s Cell.

After reading the above Jetter, he
conversed a short tlwe, and as a par-
ticular favor he asked that a correc-
tion be made of an article published
in one of the evening papers, stating
that he had given a package to Dean
Keating which should-not be opened
until after the execution.
to this matter, he said that he had
yiven no package to Rev. Keating,but
did ylve him a letter to send to my
father (providing he could be found)
after the execution,

Jt was thet after dinner Umd: his
meal bad been carried to his eett-batyT

tt of melancholy, as would naturally
be expected, his actlons were Just
reverse. Tle begun to sing a song
which, as he sald,

he knew -durio
waebdbitad trees: csreapebesine-teivre™4

ness of the sheriff the reporter was
then permitted to visit) the Jail
proper. The cell oceupled by the
prisoner was a Jarge one. In one cor-
ner hung acot, at the side of which
stood a table. On this table were
four Vases filled with flowers, a bible,
an image of our Saviors and a seats
of beads. ‘This table and ornaments
were to the prisoner an altar, and
from the number of sacred things
that the: table contained #@ person
would be led to believe that [tl was a
place of worahip.

Above the door of the cell and on
the side wall hung sacred pictures.
During the time that the prisoner
was aione he was devout lo prayer.
After a visitofan hourand ahalfwith
the prisoner, the seribe drew his visit

to a close, The prisoner's parting
words were: ‘lh know nothing of the
crime. Whatever Kate Ford has done

L know nothing of. 1 shall dle an In-

nocent man.”

HISTORY OF THE ORIMBE.
How Charlie odd mel Mill O'srien Ao-
complished the Murder, -

So familar iy the public with the |.
enecral outline of the murderof David
Ri aore, an event which has passed into
and Is now a part of the history of
crime in La Salle county, that a re
currence to the detalls may seem UnD-
sary. There \s much, however,
which has not been told In the public
prints and every thread added
strengthens the web about Charles

Ford, proclaiming him the arch saa

teran executioner of the murder. ‘ord
month in one

han & few weeks or &

tace, and, like men dis toward
crime who look upon work as slavery,
be cast about him to make a living by
his wite. He married Katie Weiner, a
loose woman from Spring Valley, got
over twenty years of age,and with her
as-his decoy, .

ackmalling, Ke
game as- _his-plans—were-ma~
tured and his first victim of size was

core, —J

ve
22°

woovery

_the remedies -I- took

In relation |’

paar

‘SE

n a career ‘of peliy, 3
ite Tooked. for'larger| . A

aoe

mea who bave kept |.
the

_which-was-so-severe that 1t destroyed my
appetite and weakened my system. None of
aflounied me any relief,
until 1 used Ayer’s Sarsaparilia. I began to
take this medicine last spring, and am now -
entirely free from that disgusting disease -

My appetite has returned, and I am once -
more strong and healthy.” — Susan L. Ww.
Cook, 909 Albany street, Boston. Highlands,

Boston, Mass.

\“ My son— now fifteen years of age — was

troubled for a long time with

eatarrh, Inits .

worst form, through the effects of which his
blood became poisoned. About a year ago
he began using Ayers Sarsapariila, has
taken seven botties of it, and ts now entirely _
weth—D. P. Kerr, Big Spring, Ohio.
necting

ru |

’ .
1 ee
~* ~
a » e eS ae
‘a # Lo \ C = StS < = a= ntact 7 ET
—— a
Remarkable cures of Catarrh effected by the vahe ght r
use of Ayer’s Sarsaparilla are conclusive eye
proofs that this loathsome and dangerous. oe
disease is one of the blood, needing only. Tard on Ciinton pi
a as. shiing, - aa _-powertnt miterative to} Ova
thoroughly eradicate tt.
“1 have suffered for years from catirrh, _ _—

Special Accamm:
. ttes

ATT

AT_$!

And Roarders by
_-— fe evnecetion
: dak

will b
JOH

"tind Mock Kast
Ottawa, 11).

EMY

vee

SISTERS

ORESS
YOURSHOES

witht

WOLEF S
ACME

BLACKING

ONCE A MONTH:

OTHER DAYS, WASH THEM CLEAN

WITH WET SPONGE

ce Oe ee CL COLLOID

PONGE? |

LADIES, IT COSTS

cent aC foot.

to change the appearance of old
oon plete) at

Furniture- 20
your busbands

IK-

witt 00 If. ---

7th

ewill think it ie new.

ON

(ASK POR Vf.

_ JEWEL

e

Fresh an.
Grass !

Clover, T

on han«
Guns,

nitio!

All -kinc


i why] |

ABH} ie ee
welded aboot the hurt

t

ea ‘

r ent | a tie he i at wea beQy ARETE i

covered with vlot blood. and-.ad+| Hill O'Brien: 8 wugh employed at rd Hi ton Bis IEE bo
bering to it was & small quantity of| Holme’s quarry, south of the city, |4P mee rom with Moore;
“man'é-halr-—It—was and Minnie Winteriiog, his-mistress; ny-snd-ethers that

Gaia Te

UA

P ae eA} 2 4s ysitt ei va ’

$2.00. - Here was the| They we park an

hen the crowd, had}she remained under one of the great . at roas-exaMm: | ees 1

siderable proportions; peo | ures,” the-others went up into the nation. of- -—Ford that ~ _Senator--Sanders ~- says” he-cannot }—.
:

- ddentitied | bashes-on-the hitiside, above theteret {lied “as~ to they 1aves To which he | eer t= steeping Car
David Moore, of | of the rk and awaited developments. claimed to have slept on the night of
ae -|Then_Moore came and sat_down be- the murder; by the. wermasters that}———_—— -
side ber. He began talking to her| Kate Ford, whom Ford says he was =
Me _ |and Ford thereupon ran down the} with until J0 o'clock; by_Ford’s own
“ae hill and demand $50_or Moore's life, radmilssions that he and- his. wife
~ i> <"lelaiming that Moore was attempting crossed tbe.tallroad bridge; and by ex- vee
to seduce her, Moore refused to dis-|Officer|Fox: that Ford told him of do} ° =~
gorge @—cent and Ford thereupon|in 1 de man who had attempted to| — wile
grruck him. Moore was getting the take his wife away from him; the va Ta
__- | petter—ot—- Ford when -- O’Brien state had established a clear case and ayers!
ran. down the fillside with the/after twenty-three days of trial the
4 Coupliag Pia uy brought in’ a verdict of death.
in his hand and brought the terrible | Motions for » new trial and an arrest| //
Moore's head, of judgment were overruled by Judge| 7/
ean ox. Fearing that Stipp, who, on Feb. 24th, sentenced
4, O'Brien fairly rained | FO tb be hanged on March 2lst..Gov-|— 4
ernor Fifer granted a reprieve W May mm £3
yea kicked and stamped |%tb in order to give the defense an Op} -
ertain. | portunity to have the record written
Faas hs bee say cot DORE RETIN SURO pnt aT m
nn ytiriuy, UrUppea as ise q

was arrrested at the That's the way you feel after one or

home of Levi Cummings, where she]. ‘Editors. Frew TRADER :—Is it not}— ;
_ war employed as a domestic and. upanjomewhar. Htinpge thatthe-poiere+-swo.of Dr. Pierce's Picasant Pellets -
perrenmneres aan lee — vowel Reroy arrested she at once broke down which every Republican paper makes have done their work. You feel

a. and made a full confession, difering | a-favor of the cKdnley bill are ex- :
oon ane LV A VT OORT howereras tathe striking of the first In favor ot eee_polnta wherela-tt-teiap we instead of -biliousand.consti- }-¢
a blow with the coupliog-pin. ‘Shestat- | strict accordance with the principles pated ; your sick headache, ‘dizzi~ a

4 -~Omaha, Neb. chief traveling sales-|/ed that Yord struck” Moore upon the eC. tarift-reform °Phe-cheapness Of | ness and in —
man for the T. Is. Scott lumber Co. temple with the pip and, the pin fall- sugar is dealt upoa. This is because ages and indigestion _ gone, Iva},
- “doing business at Rages Wis. He] ing ot of his band, O'Brien got the beg trade in saga ea ay done mildly and easily, too. You
registered at the ifton house oc instrument an finish the ot counting. _ Recl ty.|- 5 =
Sunday night and remained until| work. @Wheo - Bully O'Brien |! praised for all that ‘t ts wath. The don’t have to feel-woree before you
advantagesof trade with South Amer feel bett.r. That is the trouble

a
that of

geg SC re Si
ae y

¥

Monitay evening, belng last seen talk-|came from bis work at Holmes’ quarry)
ing to Harry Haum, a Chicago drum-jat 7 o'clock on ‘Tuesday evening, he|ica are dwelt upon; properly enough;| with tho huge, old-fashioned pill
‘mer, at 8 o'clock = On Monday | was arrested by Marshal Breonao and | but thls Is Hmlted free trade. Th 1 ted

who drove out to {a 1t imagined by those who delight cao are amall, sugar-coated, cas |

evening }o ‘the rotunda of the Constable Norris,
house. Deputy Coroner Weeks ar-|meet him. Ife was taken to jall but in covering up real issues with feigned jest to take. Ono little Pellet’s a

rived early upon the scene and Im-| would divulge nothing. He was told ones that the people who see that) Jazative, three to four are cathartid.
’

paneled @ jur consisting of Capt. L. lof the confessions of the women but, suyar Is cheapened by. the removal of
A. Rising, Matthew Batley, Albert {like Ford, deciared that he knew | the: duty are golng to stop here, and They regulate and cleanse the liver,

- Malerhofer, H. 5. Gilbert, Ira Nelson] nothing about the murder, So great] med as whether cheap carpets, chea —-auickly,.
and George Beatty. After an-inspec-| was the interest of the public and #0 clothing, and cheap tron are not rad stomach and bowels quickly, but
worth having ? In It to be sup thoroughly. They're the cheapest

sia DY the Jury tne tole re re- | general the demand {OF at Foe a ronty with : posed
- moved to the south-east sam e room) y Pusishme . e wh i
b yy where afb autopsy was eld by Drs. that [It was found advisable to call al little with us Ina anki! ican Lent pill, sold by druggists, because you
ty Hatheway, elss, Dyer and epecial gree jury to elvupon the case ae punt sel pro with Canada or only pay for the gopd you get.
Trainor. he face an head | 80 ully Investigate allo 6 evi-| Kogland, our arygest custor \ aran ive
vwere carefully bathed and when dence at hand. An alleged unknown Democraticcurse? ncsinck vale They re es steed sah te satis-
the blood had disappeared, ‘elght}™man, whom Kate Ford and Minnie} One of the coolest assumptions is faction, every time, or your money

Be Great Wounds Winterling attempted to spring upon that the recent rise no grain and meat| is returned, That's the pecultar
“7 Ywere found upon the head and’ face, the public, could not be found and the | 1s due to the McKloley bill. “It has) plan all Dr. Pierce's medicines are
1 Las deny one of which was of sumicient women finally adn) tped him to be a[not opened a new market for either a P ° ;

depth and effect to have caused death. myth. The coroners jury had closed bushel of yrain or a can of beef: Short sold on.
its proceedings = 00 June, 27 and|crops are the only reason, The far-| Can you ask moro?

Five gashes upod the back of the
head, each nearly two inches mer, then, ought to be grateful for a “ce!
jn length; a horrible gash upon — rion
7. the’ right - temple, large enough
7 ~ wo cover the Index floyer: & battered | e
7 left. ear, swollen and. black; a. Jaw
shattered to fragments; aod a number
of bruises upon the sides of the chest,
told the tale of death. When the

scalp.was removed jt was-econ thatthe ;—————

> crop, for he certainly will get| ,,

, mene prices in a season of scarcity. Co iiNons, La Sautg County oe. ty Son

Iow Is {t, though, with the man ote decree one ae oe aa ena

: ’ be was

whe-bu the in-and the Meat? | the application a the underaigned, quarian ot Hattie
apry

Where does his blessin

. d mm ne b gcome In? » Let | & Brows, H Brown apd Milton D. Brown,
4 tw sell the follow! 4 Abed } eatato |

all the working men rejoice In high jonpind tosala 1 ee Stuated 1m eae gounty, of Ta

prices of meat. The , cheapness of | Sale and atate of iinete, via: lat Afteon (19) in |

; sugar and the_dearn eek f Bleck oleven ( ss hiland Secu eer tw Ottawa,

both blessings; and bo rarew dae r OM sell
yy : a vou .
Ls th come fron) | pale. at the lt Ay of the Court House, ia Ottawa, |

- ay, Leal
he sald real estate at public |

é } p-
4 »
: ng oe 7 4 Paar temple Sne “i Poe 9 the same excellent legislation. Don't | Ht. tv the highest and best biuder. Terme of sale.
you see It? Clear as.day to B® ba l us
Y DYONE | “Dated Apttl 23d, THF, yy. WARNE,
who wears the tied spectacles. B, «| Gusrdiat of Hattie G. Brown, Harry B. Brown. and |
ll. ; Miltou D, Browa. —s api 23 iw

Evanston, 1

YHRERINEF
cutlon faa
Coart of
me al . ww
“~ eee amount of &
pat Jona Sbor

after eating, as}.
contents of the stomach

- the sbove described property. 08 Saturday, the tu day
: tne peri ak tenaciock bm at ine Lorih Maer OE

— = Y | “Sol. Wm. Schaffer, of New: York, ~ SB TRE cnt ot Le na oung. Di
aren . ~ the d rides. himself on his we leaeie th ence =

saya" "169 REWARD!

“He Wants is Known eae Se
~—yir- J. HW. Straab a well-know
120 6

:

fis

i
'

f One- an

Ww
Met ease

{wee good and reliable work |

. : ® *.
the river.on the narrow pl
a Bees detection.
h

lroad embankme
took her to
rs. Poutrie’

toward .th
le of stone

ank walk, fo

She thinks | once picked 1p the p
2:

ot or io the
the curner]: 00

eading to M
was boarding.

fter ‘leavin
e. river. ao
inthe rear
rten waded.
hed his hands}

for life, a sentence which. he :is now],
serving at hard labor in. the - cooper} 9
shop in the ed stone buallding at they:
+Stone City. Ch e tt

recent eae and Is. babe to nearly
every reading wan and woman in ba) .. 4.
Salle county. It-lasted twenty-three “MrvaA.T
ea ee
ole é

Wagon Facto

IN STREET,
¢ River. Bridge; ——
VA ILLS.

ton Hotel. an
” Into the river a

Main street,
ter the murder.

rown, the] -

{ur a sentence torsoliet pe

arlie Ford’s trial !6- of:

execution )

‘he first week “was seriously 1!)
“gee - 7} Dre-Hathes
hen, with but | the ‘evidence of}*: Mr. and”

.

that, unevenly balanced young woman, and Mrs. |

will'spend
GEN ee: ‘: Cannon,

m

- grass an
turned, to th
father thata

ider marks the spot
“Rrown saw & horrible |
arn UL

¢* A small bou
where Matthew

4. WANT OF

\y; pelnting, trimming

blades: of

dewdrops upo
drops of some-

ut there were ~
darker, there

not penetrate. -— pee
ATE YORD. (|

» had recently married al.
ed Charles Ford. She was
of the state’

uress, whic
tramp nan)
taken into the office

the
and the pocket book

scraps of paper.

= AAEM ION) = a the trap fa
< ' ve Ga d + fe en rday mo!
: aE : pas er nes 2.Carl- Zw.
wo 4 tardy m0!
| United. St

~_ 7 ewer.to th:
py ano

nea mY

ae =Jom Cu
“1 fm this elt

ate es

it os . Geo. Pp. ]
! , MINNIK WINTERLING. - woeks’ vac

re’s body. She con-
kndw something about
rehal-Mreonan, pul-

ir and trinklin :
essed that she
the crime apd Ma
apd two together, arres
roof Constructioa
his arrest ver

e Suveral damaging ad-
wg he slept in Allen
ther places before
he reached the loll.
t-thetbars he was as

half dozen.
pool of _.vore. gbo

Ford at the Fire

lately took c
he bent over the ¢

been,
~examinat S. “Hoya, _theJatier- now mayor-of -with tts 8)

-dumb-as:an-o

hen. put through the
“and made a confes-
-the-officers—upon .the
She clatmed that she
Monday morning on the
the Ulipols_ river. bridits.

8:30 o'clock the

She told her husband
_- Matter ---and - the
ve of blackmall,
extort money
id that herself, Ford,
a tough employed at
south of the city,
-his-mistress,

reat was pinned | Kate Ford was t

«inside pocke
A ssbut. _ Unpinnt
ao envelupe co
and forty doll
remaining pockets
all, that. re

was murder an
he blood sta

right track.

met Moore oo
south end_of.
and made ao agreeme
Allen Park at
same eveolng.
about. — .the

made out a programm
intending - to

Bill O'Brien,
Holme's quarry,
‘Winterliog,
across—tie—tiver—at- tor

nee CHAS
ite ee reas] sof

had been ©
f yalue was the

“collar pDutton.
d robbery.
Ined grass be-
as an.old C.
a bar of fron
g with a ring

1 leWorks J

ing upon t
aaah hash
. coupling pin,
Inches 100

blood and ad-
sinall quantity of
‘sy hair It-- was

4

~a_ most

oe 8 1S SA

eit a Wftfr tit, by D @ 2
ee that Ford was the first assailant
re)

o park and while
ed under one of the great
others went up into the
ehitistde; abore the fevet
awalted developments.
sat down
Iking to her

book, contaloin
first clew. dj she remain
trees,” the >

tled }bushes-on-th

-~-peached considerable
ple frum-the-CHifloa
-~the body as that of

IL
Lino. Moore came. and.

He began ta

~~

son the C

ER DAY.
ER DAY!

r wee A oe
Hote ce port ig :

wnadle lrices,

RA Lar ad hugh
d with choice Boer, Wines

and Cigars,

HLAGETER,

PROPRIETOR
< aiancanasnenae soeinonmimntit soraakte hokinn eel Doe
Housd, 16 and 18 Main 8t,

n down the

and Ford the dow!
oore's life,

~ Jnill and demand
claiming that
to seduce bdr.
gorge a-cent
struck him.

better-—of-—-- Ford
ran, dowo

feupon ra
ed 850 or MM
Moore was at
Moore refused to d
and Ford thereupon
Moore was gettin

Aillside with the
ke Coupliag Pia -

in bis hand and brought the
instrument down upon M
felling bim like
he was not dead,

for Jurors, Witnesees ad

Fearing that
O'Brien falrly rained
head of the prostrate
rd kicked and stamped

m to make Theo the

home os aa Cummi
wat employ

belng arrested
and made &

the east.

Minnie’ Winterling as a base upon 2

which to build thelr case, State's At; ceo
tog | Horney: Blake and Dir, Molone wound | Of Calcage

about the slight form of Cha af
a web of proo? so dense tbh
break was tobe made In-its maternal | from. whic
threads by the defenee, conducted as Orleans. t
but few defenses In murder cases have prize aight
. len_and-W v

te Ford | bead In ta
t nota} - Jean 0.

Streator, took charge of the case they | day moro
had a hopeless task. They worked so} either of
diligently that the prosecution found | theft “peg
time to praise them. and. Judge Stipp, vird, etc.
befory whom the case was tri fe ses C

g

y commended thelr rat ,
Attorney Blake ata eer ahi Jo. sant
wang well that the prosecution had 80 remains W
invulnerable ‘a case. After proving |on the 4:2
by M. O. Maher that- Ford met Moore | take place
on the night of the murder, and Moore [7-077

asked hjm 1 he had ‘seen, that party,” | - ee
meaning Kate Ford; by Hemmerle that There !
ord te furced his wife to keep the} persons w
appoln

ore with Moore; by Minnie
ater neue ethers that Ford call-

~ he CHEE g s >4 * st a!
G ae ‘ um 4 Ss seBet ee 2

= See et Ei a Mens

cote In Allen Park: by Cross-eXami-

nation... of - -- Ford..--that-- het: ean

ted “ag“-to the” plates Ti which he steep ima
claimed to have slept on the night of
be-| the murder; by the Bowermasters that

Kate Ford, whom Ford says he was)... :
with until Jo o’clock;_ by_Ford's own | .--———-
aduilesions that he and -his. wife] —
crossed the.rallroad bridge; and by ex-| —
Ofticer|Fox! that Ford told him of do-|-
ing up a inan who had attempted to} -.
take his wife away from him;+the} 0%")
state had established a clear caseand| ~"."-
after twenty-three days of trial the|.
jury brought In’a verdict of death.|..

otions for & new trial and an arrest
of Judgment were overruled by Judge
Stipp, | who, on Feb. 24th, sentenced
Ford tb be hangod on Ma;ch 2lst..Gov-}—7, (
ernor Fifer granted = reprieve WO May| ~, :
Oth in order to give the defensé an Op- Vs
portuolty to have the record written. ayer noch

ce

Sat gs ROT EE e+ marian” fet Wer tie ;
POE Sa ee eee Deri sR |b Tred oe Deh eee

RUrIyy, U epojevomas

_ ‘Editors. Furx TRADER —Ys tt:
somewha FEES wie  aeeol.

twhich every Itepubltcan paper makes| bave do

in favor of the McKdnley b jl are ex-
actly-Jn. these- pointa--whereinit-te1m" well, ins

Le on oan wren ee LY

vtrickaccordanee with the pribciples “pated ;


anit ta Mac 8.
Aplisty.

“ools
=DS

all kinds of"

sundance.

‘Blne Grass

-<2 Prices.

Ammu-
idges,

and un-
Machines

crices from
rranted five

palle Street,
ILLINOIS,

LENIS,

DUPZEOL,

=

-INOIS.

es of Do-
tmals.

paeupadie. Veter
bc infirmary, one mig

paileeé and Member of ;

YIi\s 7

cee DAVID MOORE. OT

- Omaha. Neb., chief traveling sales-
man forthe T. KB. Scott lumber Co.,
doing business at Merril!, Wis. He
had registered at the Clifton house oc
Sunday night and remained until
Monday evening, being last seen talk-
ing to Harry Baum, a Chicago drum-

. mer, at & o'clock on Monday
evening in the rotunda of the
house. Deputy Coroner Weeks ar-

rived early upon the scene and {m-
paneled a jury consisting of Capt. L.
A. Rising. Matthew Bailey, Albert
Maierhofer, H. 8. Gilbert. Ira Nelson
and George Beatty. After ao inspec-
tion by the jury, the tody was re-
moved to the south-east sample room,
where ap autopsy was held by Drs.

Hatheway, Weiss. Dyer and
Trainor. The face and head
were carefully bathed and when
the blood had disappeared, eight

Great Woands

*were found upon the head and face,
-any one of which was of sufficient
depth and effect to have caused death.
Five gashes upon the back of the
head, each nearly two foches
in length: a horrible gash upon
the right temple large enough
to cover the index taoyer a battered
left. ear, swollen aod black; a jaw
shattered to fragments: aod a number
of bruises upon the sides of the chest,
told the tale of death. When the
___scalp. was remaved it was seen that the
bones of the right temple and of the
back of the head Were broken into
small fragments. The train, where-
ever it touched the broken portions of
the skull, was bruised and pulpy. The
_. stomach was removed aad in- ib -were
found undeniable evidences of the
__--hour_of the murder. The murdered

sr and tbese were in
itton, showing that
death came within three or
our hours after eating, as
- ytherwise the contents of the stomach
__would-have beep either-wholly-or par-
tially digested. This scientific evi-.
dence placed the hour of the murder
at not later than 10 o'clock on Mon;
day night. :

——

TWO GREAT TRIALS.

State’s Attorney Biake, M. T. Moloney
and City Marsnal Brennan.

toes for sup
perfect con

man had eaten strawberries and pota-+" ~

‘|ling and returned trae bills against

and made a full confession, didenng
howerer, as to the striking of the first
blow with the couples pin. She stat-
ed that Ford struck Moore upon the
temple with the pin and, the pin fall-
ing out of his hand, O'Brien got the
instrument and finished the
work. @When~ Billy O'Brien
came from his work at Holmes’ quarry)
at 7 o'clock on Tuesday evening, he
was arrested by Marsha} Brennaa and
Constable Norris, who drove out to
meet him. He was taken to jail but
would divulge nothing. He was told
of the confessions of the women but,
like Ford, deciared that he knew
nothing about the murder. So great
was the interest of the public and so

general the demand for
Speedy Punishment

that it was found advisable to call a
special! grand jury to sit upon the case
and to fully investigate all of the evi-
dence at hand. An alleged unknown
man, whom Kate Ford aod Minnie
Winterling attempted to spring upon
the public, could not be found and the

women finally admitted him to be a
myth. The coroner's jury had closed
June, 20

its proceedings on aod

BI LLY ' BRIEX.

The special grand jury, meeting a few
days after the verdict of the coroner’s
jury, heard the detailed confessions of
the Ford woman and Minnie Winter-

Ford, O'Brien and the women. Dun-
ean McDotgall and Chase Fowler-were

PLES BENT FREE
me patierna wth
w Bnd ceilings to
- Ove belf mivioa
O@ernj at wivireaio
White blanks 4e 10

PER

oY

The first clew leading toward the
_ discovery ofthe murderers was furo-
-}shed by th2 Bowérmasters, who,

while painting the Interjor of the
~ groum floor of the court house, no-
- tieed a Woman walking up and down

- the street inay mysterious man-
ner. Finally she stopped whea oppo
afte the center of the court house aod
Lore up a Dove Look, News pf the murdei

fend O'Brien and hfs trial gan on]
Aug. 18, lasting twelve days. ‘The ev-
idence against bint was. conclusive to
a degree but pointed to ‘his having
been an accumplice, as he really was,
rather than one of the instigators of
thecrime. Kate Ford was the ooly wit-
ness who gate direct naan A the
remaining testimony belog circum:

ot --tarif reform ?--The-cheapneé

had het? the quartette for murder.|

ee ee ee ee nw ome ey ase AS wa.”

actly-in these- pointe: wherein 'itisin fe

strict accordance with ‘the principles:
sugar is dealt apoa.- This is because}:
we have free trade in sugar—the boun-}-
ty as yet not counting, _ Recipi
ts praised for all that ‘t is Seek ine
advantages of trade with South Amer-| 2

‘ welt upon; pro 3} with
but this is limited free a bomen i) Tt

Is it imagined by those who delight | 2 2ee-*
in covering up real issues with feigned | fest to”
ones that the people who see that} :
sugar is cheapened by the removal of}
the duty are going to stop here, and/|.
men as whether cheap carpets, cheap]’
clothing, and cheap tron are not also
worth having? Is it to be supposed
that reciprocity with péople who trade]
little with us ls a Republican blessing, |
ane saat recthecrs ty with Canada or}

gland, our largest cus
 S curse? . ec np .

ne of the coolest assumpti
that the recent rise in grain oe rated
isdue to the McKinley bill. It has
not opened a new market for either_a} 4
bushel of grain or a can of beef. Short
crops are the only reason. -The far-
mer, then, ought to be grateful for al |

short crop, for he certainly w
higher prices in a season of cane:
How is it, though, with the man
whe buys the -grain and the meat?
Where does his blessingcomein? -Let
all the working men rejoice in-hight
prices of meat. The cheapness of
sugar and the dearness of beef.-are
both blessings: and both come from
the same excellent legislation. Don't’
you see it? Clear as day to anyone
who wears the party spectacles. B
Evanston, lit ; :

—_ —— aoe —" eres

Wie Baby Waa Mele; we pave her Cantorta——+ SPPuPy fee:
When she was a Child, she cried fcr Castoria.
When she became Miss, sha clang to Castoria. -

or

tol. W —- Pea:
Col. m. affer, of ‘New York, | °
rides himself on his resembance to -
ecretary Blaine, © 2.0 8 so0)2 > SS

f *
Peet & ok FF ;

¢ Wants It Known.)
Tan citizen o
was terribly. aMiicted -with=
tory rheumatism vom “Mr. J. F. Sal-] ap.
mon, a prominent. druggist * , ad+} bie
vised him to use ret sriain’s Pain’
Sw One bottle of it Rap beding 74
as ® very seyere sHe
sufféred a t deal” ee reists :
know, what

had already reached thé Bowermas

«

stantial. Of course, Kate naturally

©.%-.<
‘


tug at” (sill am.

Oi Pd oe S4lEGl


white, hanged at Ottawa, Illinois, on May 9, 1891.

FORD, Charles,

OTTAWA: OLD AND NEW.

Main street. The Rev. Father Boles tride. Mrs. George Wood, of Morgan
officiated. The ceremony was follow-
ed by the supper, and later a dance at

‘Turner hall, where several hundred

Ford was tried {,December, 1890, formed a partnership in 1868 and en- >
Park, played the wedding march. Judge Stipp presidjz. He was de- gaged in the dry goods business... .
After the supper Mr. and Mrs. Butler fended by Frank q@ Jlen, of Ottawa, Later the firm became Scott, Houtz rae
left for a trip of a week or ten days and W. H. Boys, ofgreator. At 9:25, & Co., and in 1892 the firm was incor. < -:

The Improvemc

What was kn
ment Council”
brick paving in

spent an enjoyable evening. to Chicago and other points. Many the night of D - 17th, the jury, porated and became known as J. Beco f rae

¥ June.—George J. Groshens died of out-of-town guests witnekxed the chre- after : three ote: yl returien i Scott & Co. It was at this time that -s°- See ea
, consumption. Mr. Groshens -was mony. verdict of guilty ang fixed Ford’s pun- Mr. Irion became interested in the-<* , Al Fr
j - prominent in business circles, Peter Funk and Miss Carrie Reitz ishment at death,+ the members of firm. In 1900 the firm name was chang-" > When for.
Frank, the ten-year old son of Fred- were united in marriage at the home the jury were EA Perry, Ottawa; ed to Irion & Hull, the junior partner -~ one gate ely

‘ erick Farrington, Burlington bridge- of the bride’s father, Daniel Reitz, William Dales, Groveland; Owen being W. H. Hull, now a resident of “., = Puble. MDTON
é wan, was drowned in the Illinois riv- West Main street. Rev, H. C. Struck- Bassett, Groveland: frank Patterson, Texas. In 1907 Mr. Hull retired from~"~: sewers, paving
er, near the slaughter house. He, meier officiated, : syeters. He %

Hope; John Porter, deer Park; H. A. the business and went to Texas, and *. started out to n

ten et ene He

Lette Ce npn eo

— sees nl agp epneene wenn

with a companion by the name of Me-
Intyre, a lad about 14 years of age,
were in swimming.

July.—The Ottawa band, under the
lead of Charles Hentrich, secured the
first prize in the band contest held at

Anna Burns, a resident of the coun- Roath, Daniel Austn and John L. the firm became known as C. W. Irion Foi

ty house for twenty-one years, passed Grove,

away.

dred years old.

Rutland; Frank Thompson,

There was no record of her Freedom; George Byown and Edward
age, but those who knew her said that Brewster, Earlville: Henry Pi
she must have been at least one hun- River. : !

Kate Ford then entered a plea of there have been no : af
guilty and was sent. uced to the pen- honesty of purpose, fair dealing with =. 4

& Co.

There have come many changes in:

ke, Fall the style of the firm during the more -- =
than half century of its existence, but ;

chanzes in the™

Previous to
no system of ¢
engineer, Andr«
ha, Neb., Was
lish grades, -ar
made his assis

Burlington park, where over 4,000 ic i y
People were in attendance, The Hanging of Ford. itentiary for a term of 14 years. She customers and praiseworthy efforts ..... panic ong a
August.—Thomas Egan, proprietor Thursday, May 14, 1891, Charles served until 1896, wien she was par- put forth to please. Crna Owe residetice,

of the Marquette house, opposite the
Rock Island depot, on Columbus
Street, shot and instantly killed him-
self. He had been despondent for
some time.

John E. Downey, ex-town collector
and manager of the United Glass com-
pany, at Streator, died at his home
after a short illness.

September.—The local milk dealers
formed an association, and arranged
a schedule of prices. Those signing
the schedule were Messrs, Peck &
Farnsworth, James R. Hunt, G. W.
Townsend, S, Kleiber, Pickens & Son,

apmies.

_MR. AND MRS, CHARLES UPR sede

Ford, aged 22 years, was hanged in a doned, and is now a resident of Spring

temporary building
purpose at the south side of the county

erected for the Valley.
\ After much legal sparring Ford was building
jail, for the murder of David Moore, sentenced to be

hanged May

of Omaha, Neb., traveling salesman The gallows used \y Sherif! W. W.

of Merrill, Wis. The murder oc-

for the T. B. Scott Lumber wer oof

24th. street.
dry goods, and the second to women’s
aylor .was brought to Ottawa from ready to wear goods, carpets, rugs,
Morris, where it had been used the etc., while a large stock of chinaware, °

CG. W. Irion & Co. occupy two floors ~_

and basement of a big double store ~ ~,-

at No. 708 and 710 La Salle~ .4
The first floor is devoted to =.=

curred in Allen park June 28, 1890,’ fall before for the hanging of Charles etc., is carried in the basement.

where Moore had gone to meet Mrs. Maxwell.

Kate Ford, wife of the prisoner.

A temporary building had

been erected outside the jail, occupy- in 1859, the son of Mr.
In hiding in the park when Moore ing the ground where the Sheriff's who removed to Ottawa when Mr. C. .<:3
W. Irion was but a child, The mer. ~

arrived were Charles Ford, William residence now stands.
Jay Blodgett, who was on the death chant of to-day received his education. —
JThis was La Salle county’s second watch with Ford, says Ford always in the public schools, and when quite ioe
and last legal hanging, the first being claimed to the very last that he was a young man entered the employ of s

O’Brien and Minnie Winterling.

MRS. CHAS! F. RYAN.

wey Seanih: vast —_

Paul Irion, +

4
i
Mr. Irion was born in Naples, ML, 4) {
3
:

CHARLES P. IRION,

Cc. H. Olmstead, Charles Schaulin,
John Feeley.

October.—Patrick Flynn was caught
under the wheels of a northbound
Burlington freight, and so badly in-
jured he died. :

H. S. Gilbert suffered a heavy loss
by fire when his elevator, cribs and
5,000 bushels of grain went up in
smoke. A grave danger threatened
the vicinity of the Rock Island depot
An oil tank filled with petroleum, near
the west end of the elevator, was
moved. A freight train was standing
so close that the cars were smoking,
when it was learned that two of the

George Gates, who was hung in 1853.,
Following the murder Ford and his”

wife went to the Poutre boarding
house and Minnie Winterling went to
the Cummings boarding house, where
she was employed. Kate Ford was
arrested the morning the body was
found, after she was seen tearing into
bits a piece of paper near the court-
Louse, which, after being put together
by Charles Bowermaster, proved to
bear the name of the murdered man.
She confessed. Her husband was ar-
rested at the Pioneer, where he was
found looking at the crowd around
Moore’s body across the river in Allen

' 3
not guilty. It is; believed, however,
that he made die ca teenton to Dean
Keating. “4

All Ford wanted‘was to appear hand-
some when he went to the gallows,
and the night before he was to be
hung he wanted to see the gallows
where he was to Meet his death. He
was permitted to see it, and then, at
Lis request, his hands were strapped
behind him, and his legs strapped to-
gether just as they were to be
strapped on the gallows,

At 10 o’clock in the morning the
death procession started from the jail,
led by Dean Keating, followed by

new mae See ed

Scott Brothers, founders of the- bua. =?
ness now controlled by Mr. Irion. He ~~!
has been with the institution through <=
all its changes from the day he first..°¥
became a salesman for Scott Brothers,.--_%
and has seen the business grow from” |
year to year until the institution now. |
enjoys one of the best patronages of= =
any dry goods store in the city. aks 5:
In 1888 Mr. Irion married Miss &2!

phine Parr,
have two
Ryan, of St. Louis,
Irion, who holds a position in . bi!

paving, and in
system and the
system, sewers
street and Jacl

Some lively t
council. Mayo
eight votes, the
put through hi:
one meeting of
ler, one of the
jury in the Circ

Cent

of the Mayor, Jt
an order for a I
him to the cou:
and more public
progress. This
$400,000 in publ

The members
{stration during
were Mayor Al

' : park. Minnie Winterling was arrest- Ford between Deputy Sheriffs Barrett father’s store. men Paul Zicki
i Cars poner iy Pinky aa eke und ed at the Cummings boarding house, and Maher, but he needed no sup- Paul. Cataunive
were. Bpeeah aia and O’Brien wag arrested at the Co- '

loss was about $6,000.

November.—John Hossack, a pion-
eer, whose name was familiar beyond
the state, passed away at the home of
his daughter, Mrs. Milo Putney. He
was an active and out-spoken Aboli-
tionist, and did all in his power to aid
the runaway slaves. His home was
ene of the stations on the “under-
ground railway.” He was nominated
for Governor on the Abolitionist ticket
in 1860.

Charles R. Butler and Miss Amie S.
Merrifield were married at the home
of the bride’s father, O. C. Merrifield,
Rev. W. F. Day, of the Congregational
church, officiating. The bride and
groom were attended by Harry M.
Butler, brother of the groom, and
Miss Ida Merrifield, sister of the

vel creek quarries, where he was em-
ployed. The inquest was conducted
by Deputy Coroner Weeks. The jur-
ors were George Beatty, Matthew
Bailey, Albert Maierhofer, H. S, Gil-
bert, L. A. Rising, Ira Nelson. The
prisoners were held without bail.

The witnesses were Deputy Sheriff
Reid, Thomas Brennan, Dr. Weis, Dr.
Hatheway, John Paul, George W. and
Charles Bowermaster, Charles Moore,
son of the dead man, G. S. Hollis,
Vernon Harris, Matthew Brown, officer
Walsh, Edwin Powe, James Davern
and J. H. French.

O’Brien was convicted the following
November, sentenced to prison for
life, and later died in prison. He was
defended by Duncan McDougall and J.
H. Fowler.

port. The trap Was sprung at 10:10
and fourteen minutes later his dead
body was cut dowa, placed in a coffin
and buried in St. Columba cemetery.
Ford was a pauper, and the presump-
tion is that he was buried at the ex-
pense of Dean Keating.

Ford was a native of Brooklyn. He
had previously served time in the pen-
itentiary at Joliet for theft. He came
to Ottawa in 1888 and worked for a
time for Vernon Harris,

C. W. Irion & Co.—1892,

C. W. Irion became financially in-
terested in the business he now con-
trols in 1892. The business, however,
had been established many years pre-
vious. To be exact, John E. Scott, now
a resident of Pasadena, Cal., and Sam-
uel S. Scott, a resident of the east,

Fred. J. King. TS pct

x
5
*
King’s flower store and greenhou f
Mrs. Kate King, proprietor, were €s- -
tablished in 1876 by her late husband. “4
Fred J. King. Started in a compara. -f
tively small way, this business bas.
grown to be the largest of its kind i F
La Salle county. nets
Justus Bruck. wrk”
Fifty years ago Justus Bruck opce= °
ed a tailoring shop at No. 106 Wess= 3
Main street, and the business has bee" - 4
conducted by Mr. Bruck continuous! <4
since, SSP
Mr. Bruck was born in Germany 3°
1843, He married Miss Bertha Ret».
They have four children: Oscar Bruc*: ~
Frank Bruck, Mrs. Meta Kruse, ‘@>%
Mrs. Wm. McAlpine, all of Ottaw:

A Pe ornare

C. Corcoran, H. ‘
W. J. Sinon, J.
Haight, Jerry (
T. C. Trenary, «
Hook was city |
er, engineer, D.
trey and James

Events of 1892.

January.—The
Co., dry gods,
E. Scott, S. S. S
Robert L. and A
ed the company

February.—A!
days Daniel L:
died at his hon
He was born i:

d, and came
In 1843 he ma

RESIOENCE

ap) :
Cha h, Ford  \O Petia, AU VA AYE
GA\Wh | Fabre [Otten Piatt gdp

° ae e
4. at Ae Kod AA ye *, Me FRA — lS OMA

An Pathan Goethe an = het A oe A

ORI TS PRM JL gs bern ar lott bo at Let:

APPEALS


FRAIME William ‘Feilding, white, hanged come — oe . T

i di wame/Z A f Aa gabe cot & MEAS V
i lian Uildiieg Teas, Cantu eage. All UZ Le £aY

Peswewon dle ag Jerscl ty eek de Ae es LAT Lin
custun “Herp onl Miia, TARLAC

pos OR AGE

a

Reporo

5 MOTIVE

SYNOPSIS

4 Mt Att POPE PY PI OF Ladin £1 LA Lztlage 6 Ltecberie. Boe LL Lye,
mn ddaayles Cowuly .C of VierMausesh le ape! GE, L3

ee ya ee We. hitliag L bets, Lt Sais a ae PA a Le A

eS Aiece Arotiren paca li oy Una’ tata aulid Cece wuse, f Meyulet

Ate iieet Pos L Poca ded VG. Lord breathe, tre tn Ss

ee feu tabyoted db Gesreg Le tee toes pied Chdruld Aply i.
ee: | AAEM, ooh. Bb lteoelln fla / Merten fete CAL fhileul Ker

: a Sy 2 Thee wo. te «cla oe hi yliah. Le-vicsieds, bss) ¥- ge fol ade a Ves tLfy
a i Le a Sa Poe J 74 A fof her Siac’. Lonesome

celts (C67

i hat Coma fe spay hiya Ch awn Ber tulbleg L, large ther

ay ean
iat - ae ett. kee Jee SS pee La Oe tg Pd Abb. oy oe _ ferte Eiinheng Ce

rs
in a gs in, Wie fed Ake. Ybne wnethy Lit AGE se

BAe aX Ra a

nema hese AT Dacca ae AEEATEULE Cae 2X, S CE tu GAB Poy fe pia ee Sl peices as
el lye tlece Latsgnicd by fice At fhe at Macs eck (4 fit< ik tx a tLe ia

APPEALS

LAST WORDS

pila asa
A fess ZB ZL ence Pleat CF an. tihegs - Lasge Cis feat.

Aernaene Tb, a. £,, oats, iG Theva Ge. Pl. If50 by +P OU ardae ie
: di sarki Seed ph bal tyne! HL
! rent fo isl ha s

. Bet coi
; r


CHAPTER XXVI.
THE CRIMINAL RECORD

In this work must be brief,—not because there have been no
crimes to record, but partly for reason of the difficulty in procur-
ing the proper data to make an intelligent report in each case.. The
criminal records show, of course, that John Doe or Richard Roe
was indicted on such a day for murder, or burglary, or arson, as
the case may be, and on such a day was tried, convicted and sen-
tenced to the penitentiary; but they do not show who was the
sufferer, or where, when or how, the deed was committed. The
bare mention of a scamp’s trial and conviction, we take to be not a
matter worthy of a place in history, in these days when human
life has become so psi Besides, we have a strong convietion
that the frequency with which these ‘things are brought to the pub-
lic gaze, has a tendency to increase the evil.

hose the organization of the county in 1829, we judge that not
less than a -juarter of « hundred indictments for murder have been
recorded. (f the defendants in all these cases, only one has been
hung: and we take a special pleasure in recording the fact, that
only once in our history has that relic of barbariem, the gallows,
been seen on our prairies. A dozen others, perhaps far more guilty,
have escaped punishment altogether, throug indiinienes of prose-
cutors. finely drawn scruples of jurymen, or insecurity o jails.
Not a few have shown themselves more fleet of foot than the
sheriff. z

There have been a few cases, however, that from the enorvaity of
the offense, or for some other reason, have attracted unusual public
attention. Some of these we shall endeavor to notice.

In a preceding chapter the case of the first murderer— Hankins
—has been reported. He escaped from the log-cabin jail, at Quincy;
though one might conclude that log-cabin jails be quite as
secure as are the jails now-a-days, built of iron and stone.

Fielding Frame.

The next is the case of him that was han . The crime was

“committed in Schuyler county, ina saloon, at the village of Fred-

eric, on the Illinois river. The indictment read: “The People vs.
William Fraim,” but he yave his name as Fielding Frame; was
a deck hand on the steamer “ Hero,” plying on the Illinois. The
indictment was found at the June term, 1838, in Schuyler county,

and was tried here on « change of venue. The murdered man was
56 (wm)


978 HISTORY OF HANOCOOK COUNTY.

William Neathaumer. Henry L. Bryant, of Fulton. was prosecus
ing attorney; Ralston, Judge;. Dickey, attorney for defense, assisted
by Abraham Lincoln. The latter moved an arrest of judgment tor
several causes, the paper being now on file among the others in the
case at Carthage, in Mr. Lincoln’s own handwriting.

Frame was found guilty on the 24th, after trial, at the April
term, 1839, and sentenced on the 25th by Judge Ralston, to be
hanged on Saturday, May 18, between the hours of 12 (noon) and
two o’clock in the afternoon, on a gallows to be erected within one
mile of Carthage. And it was done; the site selected was in or
near the ravine running southeasterly from town, the spectators
lining the sides. . :

The Mormon difficulty trials are reported at length in other
chapters. .

Joshua Vanee.

The next case we report is that of “The People vs.
Joshua Vance,’ for murder ; on change of venue from Adams
county; verdict rendered at the April term, 1849. In a drunken
brawl at Lima, Vance had killed a young man named Harness. The
verdict read—* The jury find the be. ie Joshua Vance, guilty
of feloniously slaying Jackson Harness, in manner and form as
charged in the aforesaid indictment, and affix the term of his im-
prisonment in the penitentiary at eight years.”” Sentenced for eight
years—one month solitary confinemment—the remainder hard labor.

This case is more worthy of mention from the fact that it was so
ably prosecuted and defended. Robert I. Blackwell was prosecutor,
and he was assisted by Col. Edward D. Baker. The defense was
conducted by O. H. Browning, assisted, we believe, by Oyrus
Walker and Calvin A. Warren. Perhaps no three or four more el-
oquent and logical speeches were ever made in that court-house than
were made on that occasion.

Alfred Logan.

At a singing-school one night in Sonora township, Alfred
Logan stabbed and killed Charlies Yates. They were both boys
sn associates at school ; quarreled about some trivial matter, and
the result was the death of the latter. At the June term of Court,
1871, Logan was put upon his trial ; prosecuted by Wm. G. Ewing.
pals pment assisted by B. I. Scofield and George Edmunds,
and defended by Nehemiah Bushnell and R. W. McKinney. The
jury rendered a verdict of guilty, and fixed the punishment at 23
years in the penitentiary. We believe that after several years’ aer-
vice Logan was reprieved by the Governor.

John Rose.

The next case we shall report is that of the murder of Jesse Rime
of Carthage tp., by his son, John, aged 18, on Oct. 4, 1866. The


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SZllustrated.

GREGG.

By TH

CHICAGO
CHAS. C. CHAPMAN & CO.

4

1880.


HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

. Caan of Mancock County and filed in the clerk’s
| eface as airvady stated, on March 13, 1839.

ne record shows that the defendant had al-
quedy pleaded not guilty, answering when the
judictment was read to him, “that he was not
gaiity and wanted a fair trial and a just one.”
At the same time his counsel tendered & writ-
ten plea of not guilty which the court ordered
to be filed. The defendant by his counsel asked
Jeave of the court to withdraw the oral plea,

Jeave to do which was refused. The defendant —

objected to going to trial until the prosecution
should in some manner reply to his written plea,
but the court overruled the objection and de-
cided that the prisoner should go to trial and
ordered a jury to be called for that purpose,
to which opinion and decision the defendant
excepted. The foregoing facts are shown by the
bill of exceptions signed and gealed by the
judge on April 23, 1839. Subpoenas were issued
for the following witnesses for defendant:
David Martin, Edw

and John Allen. David Martin

“ged an affidavit for his fees, Fey
ynileage as fifty-three miles and Langner giving
his as fifty-nine. $ :
The trial was a ver brief one, having been
commenced and concluded in one day, Monday,
Apri 22, 1839. The Hon. James H. Ralston
was the judge who presided at the trial
At the (ime of this trial the old common law
ef England prevailed whereby a defendant in a
case of this kind was not permitted to testify in

the court upon 4
the time and place of the execution.

The verdict of the jury was as fojews: “We,
the jury, find the defendant guilty of murder
as charged in the indictment.” The paper on
which this verdict is written is marked “ver.
dict,” it is not signed or marked “filed.” Signing
was not necessary if the verdict was pruqummerest
in open court and filing of this paper #ae Bex
necessary if the records show that the wage te.
was rendered by the jury.

The names of the jurors were ss Te apr
fea C. Kimbrough, Joseph Lionberge cube

Huckens, Daniel H. Wells, Andrew B. Welch, °
James Welch, Nathan Mason, Moses Stevens,
John D. Mellen, James M. Renshaw, Alfred
Mead and David Brank.

‘At this point in the proceedings the name of
Abraham Lincoln, afterwards the great-war
president, appears in a motion in. arrest of
judgment signed “Lincoln, p. d.,” that is, Lincoln
pro (or for) defendant, which motion was filed
on April 25, 1839. Doubtless Mr. Lincoln took
part in the trial, although this is his first ap-
pearance by name in the papers.

A copy of the motion in arrest of judgment,
evidently in Lincoin’s handwriting, is among the
files of the case in the office of the clerk of
the Circuit Court of this county. This motion
ig clear in statement, correct in orthography
find composition, and shows Mr. Lincoln, who
was thirty years of age at that time, to have
been well qualified for the preparation of such
legal documents. This writing was carried
away from the courthouse at one time and used
in a distant part of the county as a specimen:

. Lincoln’s handwriting, but it was after-

im our circuit clerk's

the clerk therefor

after be bad learned the name of the unlawful
castodian of the document.

‘hia motion in arrest of judgment was as
follows: .

“William Fraim
ads.
The People
And the said

Indictment for Murder. -

. comes and moves the
court in arrest of judgment in this case for
the following reasons, towit:

1—The Record in this cages
ciently show that an indictment was found by
a grand jury of the coustry against the De-
fendant Frais

@oee not sufi-

2—The Reoowd te tiehe cause does not show
that a grat? “57 was empannelled (an author-
ized syetaags at the Term of the Court
at whierk cme imdictment purports to have been
fomen

%. Yeere is no sufficient record in this cause
a wasporize the Court to try the Deft. and pro-
.xeamew jadgment upon him. : *

@--The record from the Schuyler Circuit
twert ts defectively and imperfectly certified.

&—The said record is otherwise informal,
eeroneous and insufficient.

@—The indictment is bad in this, that i


OF

ILLINOIS

EDITED BY

Newton Bateman, LL. D. Pau Sevsy, A. M.
J. SEYMouR CuRREY

AND HIST ry OF

-HANCOCK COUNTY

EDITED BY
Cuarves J. ScoFiELpD ,

VOLUME I

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO
ovsett PUBLISHING COM¥
PUBLISHERS
1921

re en ee


HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

“At Dallas City: B. F. Newton
“At Hamilton: Thomas Ruggh« -

PRESENT-DAY ATTOSANEY*

A ist of the lawyern of Banca Ceemier as
published in the Ber timrtm< of the t2seait
Court for the October Perm. 40, bp the Caerk
of the Circowltt ‘wert. m aa findows .

Residing #1 Curthage, Chartes J. Scofield, J.
Paul (ait. Wm H Harteet!, Bert M. Cavanagh,
Edward 4 Martin, Apollos W. O’Harra, Olifton
J. O’Harra, Roswell B. O’Harra, Earl W. Wood,
Heary 8 Walker, Orville F. Berry, Meivin P.
Berry, David BE. Mack, Edward €. Mack, Wil-
Mam B. Risse, Edwin S. Coombs, Linus Cruise,
Samuel Naylor, Charles S. DeHart, William
A. Symonds, Clyde P. Johnson, James D. Baird,
J. Arthur Baird, E. W. Dunham, Lee Seiben-
born, Warren H. Orr, J. W. Williams, H. H.
Williams.

Augusta :
mon. <

Warsaw: Truman Plantz, Louis Lanet,
Frank Halbower. ‘

La Harpe: John H. Hungate, Clifford W.
Warner.

Hamilton: Wallace G. Humphrey, O. C. Me
Cartney. :

Basco: William H. Damron.

Dallas City: O. C. Kirkpatrick

Bowen: Charlies Crossisad (recently de-
ceased).

West Point: James {. Miller.

Plynfouth: & 8. Geoven

Lately there have Bewn wwe acitttions te the
bar of this county, Frankiin M. Ularteell, sen
of Hon. William H. Harteetl, and Karl W. Bell,
who read law with Swofield & Calif.

John A. Mead, Sterling P. Gem-

NOTAMLE CIBCUIT COURT CASES

Trial and Execution ef William (Fielding) -

Fraim. (The only execution by judgment of
court in tht: coussty.)

The papers filed their case purporting to
be signed by the defembeut are signed by his
mark, indicating that 8 was unable to write
his name. For th reswen there is confusion
in the papers and rerords x t# the erthography
of the. name, which + spytied sometimes
“Fraim,” sometimes “Fretue.’ ead sometimes
“Frame.” While the defeasant na indicted and

4
4

761 —

executw) as Wiliam Fraim, it is stated in the
a@vondant’s ples on file that his name was Field-
tage been.

Vo  iateetment against William Fraim for
roareet wee retepeml by the grand jury at the
June cerm. 7888, «f the Ciremit Court of Schuy-
jer ('emnty Tain weti-tmenwt which is that the
defemdant, ‘det hatte the fer of God before
his eyes, but being mrad ant seduced by the
instigation of the devit.” on beeruary 17, 1838,
assaulted William Neet®emme with a knife,
which he struck and thrwet inte the mit side
of the breast, the wound being a wertu! wound
from which the assaujted man ineseutiy died.
The indictment is signed, “H. L. Brywet, seste's
Attorney,” and bears an indorsemet a» fol-
lows: “Filed June 6, 1838, Robt. 4 Giema,
Clk.” The indictment is also indorsed, “A tree
bill. Peter N. Holme, foreman of the granl
jury.” The names of the witnesses endorsed op
the indictment are John Hammond Myers, Joha
P. Fey, Christian Langner, Henry Weischede,
Antony Messer, Joseph Hofman. Another file
mark ,on the indictment relates to the case
after it had been transferred by change of
venne to the Circuit Court of Hancock County
and fs as follows: “Filed March 13, 1839. Wesley
Williams, Clk. H. ©. ©. per 8. Otho Williams,
D.C.”

The cenveaing order for the June term of the
Cireult Court of Schuyler County, in the year
1838, shows the feliowing officers present: Hon.
James H. Batsten, Judge; H. L. Bryant, State’s
Afttoruey ; Robt. A. Glenn, Clerk; and J. G. Mc-
Mati, Sheriff. On June 7, 1838, a motion by
@efewéannt for a continuance was sustained and
the defendant was remanded to jail.

On November 6, 1838, while the cause was
pending in the Circuit Court of Schuyler County
Dickey, attorney for defendant, gave notice» that
he would apply for a change of venue “wm ac-
count of the prejudice of the minds of the te
habitants of Schuyler County s0 that tw (tm
defendant) can not have a fair triat”° f #
also stated in the petition that “great peaes he
been taken to prejudice the minds — the #
habitants of the counties of Caes, twiten sad
McDonough against your petiten: wet enol
they are prejudiced against Sra ‘iy +bange
of venue petitioned for was greats: Chfwias
Langner and John Pey ewerr «~~ aed ac wit-
nesses for the peopte i= te» sum ot SpO0’ each.
A transcript of the weaned 4meed March 8, 1839,
was transmitted \ ‘e vk «@ the Circuit

SE eSiales entband eat wiltaee


HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

does not show with sufficient certainty is the
eonclusion, whether the Deft. was the sswexbews+
“or the murdered man.

%—The indictment is bad, tn che cee sentie
‘{n not showing that the weeteyveer ete ene pee OE
-in the manner and by |
in the indictment

8—The sald tadtetevet>
and inewfirien

For ati Wie wed veasone the said Deft.
mover she ‘sant a: arrest of judgment herein.

Lincoln, p. 4.”

» spheocw sme indtermat

Tee jedgment of the court disposing of the
motion im arrest and sentencing the defendant
to be hanged, which was rendered on Thuraday,
April 25th, is as follows:

“This day the prisoner William Fraim was
again led to the bar in the custody of the
coroner, and the motion made on yesterday in
arrest of judgment being fully argued, and upon
due consideration, it is ordered by the court that
the said motion in arrest of judgment be over-
raled. And it being demanded of the prisoner
by the court what he had or knew to urge in
this behalf why judgment should not now be
pronounced against him, and the said defendant
having nothing to urge except what. had been
before urged in this behalf: It is therefore con-
sidered by the Court that the said William
Fraim be hanged by the neck till be be dend.
It ts further ordered by the Court that the
Sheriff of te wid County of Hancock do cause
‘execution of thin seatwace te ke done and fer-
formed upon the body af Yims the nt White m
Frahm on Saturday the eighteenth day of May
next between the howrs of tweive ochick Mert
dian, and two o'clock Post Meridian of said
day on a gallows to be erected within one mile
ef the Town of Carthage in said County. It.is
further ordered that the said William Fraim
pay all the costs of this suit. And the said
William Fraim is committed to the custody of
the Sheriff of sald County, to be by him kept
in close copfinement until the sentence is exe-
cuted. It ie farther ordered that the Clerk of
this Court make awi certify a copy of this
order and deliver the same to the sheriff of sald
County, which shefi be efficient authority in
the hands of said Aheriff t carry into effect

' the foregoing judgment.”

This case wae wet taken to the Supreme
-Oonrt, The defendemt was ~xecuted pursuant

~ . to the sentence of the cirewii cvurt

,

*

763

Tee exowtion of this unfortunate man oc-
sqnwed vgity-ome years ago, and there are few
wwimssi-tee swat tewteag who have any personal recol-
wean 6h Oe Seow It is well known, how-
ory ee teewtion was in a field south-
nau at betas ewe poblie, and was attended
by a behet ewoat al people from all parts of the
county and exam heve eho counties. It is
said that some of thew: ~gartmers breaght their
familied and their diwwese ain wate # wort of
picnic of the occasion. Net as saw adults
present, but young boys and gitt. am re Ht-
tle children. One of our well-haew. «‘erthagr
citizens, then a mere child, was preswmt aod
has some recollection of the occurrese» aed
especially of the fact that the prisoner made
some remarks of warning to others just prior
to his execution. Since that day, the great evil
of public executions has been corrected By a
statute requiring these executions to be cem-
ducted privately, with only a few witnesses in
attendance. The deterrent effect of such &
public spectacle is more than counterbalanced
by the evils resulting from the unspeakable. cu-
riosity of many people to’ behold a tragedy in-
volving the sufferings of a human being.

Additional matters in connection with this
ease are shown by the records of the County
Commissioners Court, and are here given as they
appear in those records.

“It is ordered that the following persons be
allowed the feleetmg same on the certificates
of the Corea Ser guarding Frame, a prisoner
from Schoyter County:

seven dollars
seven dollars
seven dollars
three dollars
three dollars

$7.00
$7.00
$7.00
$3.08
$3.08"

Tresas 8. Kimbrough,
Wm. P. McClure,
George W. Stigall,

R. Breedlove,

David Bettisworth,

“It is ordered that the following persons be as
lowed the following sums on the certificate «f
the Sheriff for guarding Frame, a prisoner from
Schuyler County:

Thomas 8. Kimbrough, twenty does R00
Wm. P. McClure, twenty dative egnwtO
David Bettisworth, twenty dein SHPO
Nathan Mason, twain orm Baeed

peel be

‘i atime: gad eleven
eer pti tinr cents

“It is ordered voll
allowed the sum “ian “
cents—forty-nine

ba el ‘ oie < ‘ ee ‘ wg are ty
Br, Sse pret HY ee See Sake T's PONE ars UW. Pale weaemrs rte Sa) see


7164 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

ef *gech was for charges for sundries for the
exd@wetve ame of Frame, a prisoner from Schuy-
ler t'wunty, and eleven dollars and eighty-seven
ceasts for said Frame’s comfort and safe keep-

“tt is ordered that Edmund G. Haggard,
Sheriff, be allowed the sum of twenty-five dol-
lars for executing prisoner Frame.”

“It is ordered that George W. Thatcher be
allowed the sum of six dollars for guarding
Frame, a prisoner from Schuyler County.”

“It is ordered that 8. Thompson be allowed
the sum of two dollars, the same being for A.
Cleveland’s services in guarding Frame, a pris-
oner from Schuyler County.”

“It is ordered that Nathan Mason. be allowed
two dollars for guarding Frame, a prisoner from
Schuyler County, on the certificate of the« coro-
ner—2 days,” :
~ “It is ordered that the clerk of this court cer-
tify to the County Commissioners’ Court of
Schuyler County the various ameunts allowed
to the several persoas tee ther dint bor
guarding aad supporting (oud atiet charge &
to the exeretion sad beriel) Wilinm rear. »
prisoner from sald county of Schuyter.”

The following account of the execution ef
William (Fielding) Fraim was written by Mrs.
Eudocia Baldwin Marsh, and published: by
THe Howagp-Srverance Company of Chicago,
Illinois, in No. 8 of Vol. 2 of Social Progress and
fs published here by the courteous permission

of that company.

(Mra. Marsh died recently at her home in
Warsaw. She was the wife of Judge John W.
Marsh, a well-known attorney of Hancock
County, and at ome time judge of the county
court of thie cumnty. Whee Fraim was exe-

" cuted, Mra. March wae bats tittle girt. cad her

account is based, in gart, egwe her rerwitection
of what occurred, and ts erresweus ie a few
particulars, but is essentially correct and very
interesting. The brick courthouse referred to
by Mrs. Marsh was built tm 1837-0, inswead of
1834 as Mrs. Marsh has it, and was first used
as a courthouse at the April term of the Circuit
Court, 1839, at which term Fraim was tried.
The prisoner was indicted by the name of Wii-
liam Fraim, and filed a written plea in the case
in which his name is given as Fielding Freim
Mrs. Marsh refers to him as Charlie Fraim
It may be that Charlie was a pet name for the
young man, or that the school chikirea called
hime by that name, and this may be the reew=a

why Mrs. Marsh speaks of him as Chartie/ ~~

Fraim. The trial oecurred in April instead of
May, as the records show, and sentence of
death was pronounced on April 25th, and was
carried into effect on May 18th, and not two or
three months afterwards. With these excep-
tions the article of Mrs. Marsh is to be accepted
as history. As explanatory of certain state
meats made in Mrs. Marsh’s article, it may be
stated that the juryroom in the southwest cor-
ner of the new courthouse, in which the pris-
onere was confmed, was in the second story, and
on the same feor as the courtroom, and was
connected therewith by a door. The log school-
house referred to as almost directly opposite the
room in'which the prieamer was confined, was the
old log courthouse, noe loager weeded for a court-
house, and then used, as it had been theretofore
at certain times, for school purposes, While
the prisoner was constantly under gnard by the
sheriff or his deputy, this was not always by
the sheriff or deputy in person, but by one or
more of the guards employed for that purpose,
whene nemee appear in the orders of the County
Cminivenee Comet eheve set forth.)

“te [EEK wer bewt courthouse was built in
the center of the ypublir square at Carthage.
Soon after its completion a prisoner, Charlie
Frame, charged with murder, was brought from
an adjoining county on e@ change of venne to
Carthage to stand his trial. This took piace in

y, and he was found guilty and sentenced to
be hanged, as I remember, two or three months
later. The jail was not yet built, so the con
demned murderer was confined in the new court- -
house, in the southwest jury reom. This was
almost directly opposite our log schoolhouse.
Always at recess, amd at the noon hour, when
we were at play, Charile sat at the window and
watched ua We wank? go near, fascinated by
the thought of the ewful doom awaiting him.
He tevpumtig ‘ethed with us, always in a
fervaetie Aceuefet way. He was full of pranks
68 weet? sometimes tempt the boys to come
uader be window by throwing out nuts, candy
ew fruit, When they stooped to pick them up,
he weaid throw out a cup of water. This prac
térai joking always kept the girls too timid to
try to get any of the dainties. .

‘Charlie was fettered by a chain about his
emkies, fastened to a large iron ball, which made
a noise like thunder whenever he walked about
the large, bare-floored room. He was never
atone, for either the sheriff or his deputy wae


tetenemigaeelife has become so

CHAPTER XXVI.
THE CRIMINAL RECORD

In this work must be brief,—not because there have been no
crimes to record, but partly for reason of the difficulty in procur-
ing the proper data to make an intelligent report in each case.. The
criminal records show, of course, that John Doe or Richard Roe
was indicted on such a day for murder, or burglary, or arson, as
the case may be, and on such a day was tried, convicted and sen-
tenced to the penitentiary; but they do not show who was the
sufferer, or where, when or how, the deed was committed. The
bare mention of a scamp’s trial and conviction, we take to be not a
matter worthy of a te in history, in these days when human
cheap. Besides, we have a strong convietion
that the frequency with which these things are brought to the pub-
lic gaze, has a tendency to increase the evi].
te the organization of the county in 1829, we judge that not
less than a quarter of a hundred indictments for murder have been
recorded. (f the detendants in all these cases, only one has been
hung: and we take a special pleasure in recording the fact, that
only once in our history has that relic of barbarism, the gallows,
been seen on our prairies. A dozen others, perhaps far more guilty,
have escaped punishment altogether, throng inallisiaes of Fhe
cators. finely drawn scruples of jurymen, or insecurity of jails.
Not a few have shown themselves more fleet of foot than the
sheriff. .

There have been a few cases, however, that from the enormity of
the offense, or for some other reason, have attracted unusual public
attention. Some of these we shall endeavor to notice.

In a preceding chapter the case of the first murderer— Hankins
—has been reported. He escaped from the log-cabin jail, at Quincy;
though one might conclude that log-cabin jal 8 wont be quite as
secure as are the jails now-a-days, built of iron and atone,

Fielding Frame.

The next is the case of him that was hung. The crime was

“committed in Schuyler ber-6 in @ saloon, atthe village of Fred-
"

eric, on the Illinois river. The indictment read: “The People va.

William Fraim,” but he gave his name ag Fielding Frame; was

a deck hand on the steamer “ Hero,” plying on the Illinois. The

indictment was fonnd at the June term, 1838, in Schuyler county,

and was tried here on a change of venue. The murdered man was
56 (em)

° * Nae oe ‘ * panes DEL Pia
wt aallaS As Sl te al alt Steal nie Rei POR Re Ao Seeadoe D

”

* Ne 4
~s %,
NED a

-

AS Pee :
Se Sa eae ee


ILLINOIS, |

TOGETHER WITH

AN OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE,

AND A

° DIGEST OF STATE LAWS.

Illustrates.

By TH. GREGG.

CHICAGO:
CHAS. C. CHAPMAN & CO.
1880. y

4Qayi

PET er ere cnc! inter ig he a sa AERA i ge A EM


HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY ; +69

always in the room. They treated him wtth
great kindness and leniency, however fev ‘oe
was a pleasant and engaging bee) eet: teermnctiend
Irishman, only twenty-one year+ watt ie we
full of the fun of his race sm aeionma ity
teased his jailers amd berks o7F tem It was
under the influence of tyece that he had given
way to anger sm? <rwmcuttted the crime for
which he was Aé [GF eteit his life.

f ite execution, long before

ea the rumble of heavy farm
wagons rolitag inte town from all directions.
By sunrise the little town was thronged with
men, women avd children, afoot, on horseback
and in) wagons. Some came fifty miles, a few
even a hundred, to witness the gruesome sight.
School dismissed for the day. At our home the
morning hours dragged slowly by. Everyone
was too wrought up to work according to the
usual ritual; Anne said she felt choked. In
order, I suppose, to relieve the nervous excite-
ment, the teacher, who was boarding at our
house at the time,—Mr. French of the uncertain
temper—proposed that we have some music.
Lowell Mason’s ‘Book of Sacred Music’ was
brought out, and we all joined in singing a num-
ber of hymns. Among others, we sang ‘Ariel’ —
‘Oh, could I sing the matchless worth.’ Our
voices rose high and sweet, blending melodiously
with the tones of the flute. The rhythm of the
stately music, and the ecstatic nature of the
words almost lifted me out of myself.

I’d soar to tench the heavenly strings
And vie with Gabriel while he sings
In notes almost divine.

Well, the delightful day will come
When my dear Lord will bring me home.

I wondered if, after they had taken poor Charlie
Frame’s life, he too would ‘soar’ and call this
a ‘delightful day.’ It was quite sure my baby
brother and Sister Alice were in that ‘home,’
bat I did not know whether poor Charlie’s kind-
ness to us children would make him good enough
to be taken to be with them. .

“after dinner, Father and my brothers sad-
dled horses and made ready to £0. I asked
them to take me, but they all said, ‘Do you
sappose we'd take a girl to a hanging? No,
sir-ee; you stay at home with Mother like a
good girl.’ However, soon after they left,
Mether, Anne and Mr. French decided to walk
into town. To comfort me, they took me along.

Mether aml I went to call on a friend living on
vtae north side of the square, and Anne and Mr.
Frenah went on a block or two farther to see
snes other fried

‘While Mother ard ber friend talked I strolled
out ov "he @ewerted street. Presently a man
whe freyoentiy mms to our house on business
drove by. Avetig ws alone he stopped his
horse and asked, Svs, youd rom like to ride
out and see the hanging‘ .

“‘Why, yes,’ I hesitated Howld. vou take
me?’ ”

“‘Of course,’ he replied. ‘Jump 4%)’

“Before I had time to think of wha i was
doing, he had taken me by the hand, Liftes!. me
to a seat by his side and was driving ru pestly
on the well-beaten way. The place of executiou
was less than a mile away, southeast of towa,
and we soon reached the edge of the crowd.
From there, by slow degrees, he edged his light

. buggy through the press of people and the jam

of vehicles, to the very heart of it all, to the
piteous spectacle that had drawn together the
vast throng. Fortunately for my peace of mind,
we were only in time to see a perfectly still
figure, whose face was covered by a black cap,
and, whose body was attired in a blue jacket
and white trousers. For, at one time in his
short life, poor Charlie had been @ sailor. What
a sight to take a seven-year-old girl to see!
But in justice to my escort, I must say that
he was an ex-ehert® and probably so inured to
executions that be considered it no harm to
gratify a child's curiosity.

“We remained but a moment, then again
force’ a way through the throng. Driving rap-
idly back to town, my companion set me down
wherg he had found me, and I went timidty
into the house. My absence had not been
noted; Mother and her friend were still talkteg
Neither Father nor my brothers had seen we.
90 no one knew of my escapade. But I was os»
happy, weighed down by the remembrances #
poor Charlie’s limp body and ashamed tha? L
had gone without Mother’s consent. Apter &
time the burden grew too heavy to rev, S? L
told Mother the whole story. Much 7Owmy Sta >
prise, she was less vexed with < Then te yh
the man who took me. She #@S SPS Fagen ath
grieved that my childish e Shorhdaave
looked upon such a SrephT the] Z MeGed her
over. and over again 7447 ‘'Z~werldewer do it
again’—a promise t¥m7 hes Maver gSved aiff-
cult to keep.


» Safi
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY 761—

“At Dallas City: B. F. Newton.
“At Hamilton: Thomas Hugg} —

PBESENT-DAY ATTUSA FYs

; A List of the lawyers of Basa. UH ae
published in the Hee [met- of ‘ne {tit
Court for the October Pram 0°20, be the Caerk
of the Circealt :‘wer is aa Siteows .

Residing #1 (wrthoge, CRartes J Scofield, J.
Paul Cait. Wm Mo Hartsell, Bert M. Cavanagh,
Edward 4 Mertin, Apollos W. O’Harra, Clifton
J. O’Harra, Roswell B. O’Harra, Earl W. Wood,
Henry #8 Walker, Orville F. Berry, Melvin P.
Berry, David BE. Mack, Edward ©. Mack, Wil-
liam B. Risse, Edwin S. Coombs, Linus Cruise,
Samuel Naylor, Charles S. DeHart, William
A. Symonds, Clyde P. Johnson, James D. Baird,
J. Arthur Baird, E. W. Dunham, Lee Seiben-
born, Warren H. Orr, J. W. Williams, H. H.
Williams.

ese Augusta: John A. Mead, Sterling P. Gem-

Jateg Heer SWPP A AL sey i Bek as ce ee mt

- ea
ght TP wow ,

mou. ; <

Warsaw: Truman Plantz, Louis Lanet,
Frank Halbower.

La Harpe: John H. Hungate, Clifford W.

’ Warner.

Hamilton: Wallace G. Humphrey, O. C. Me
Cartney. .

Basco: William H. Damron.

Dallas City: O. C. Kirkpatrick

Bowen: Charles Crossisad irecentty de-
ceased).

West Point: Jamen [. Miler.

Plyntouth: 8. 5. Gurren

Lately there have Bewn iwo aditttions io the
bar of this county, Prankiin MM. (ilaritseil, son
of Hon. William H. Bartell, and Earl W. Bell,
who read law with Seofietd & Califf.

NOTABLE CIBUIS COURT CASES

Trial and Execution ef William (Fielding) -

Fraim. (The onty etecution by judgment of
court in thts county.)

The papers filed  thrir case purporting to
be signed by the #@fvm@eut are signed by his
mark, {ndicating that Be waa unabie to write
his name. For th resx-n there is confusion
in the papers and records «1 te the erthography
of the. name, which + spvtied sometimes
“Fraim,” sometimes “Frecce «ed sometimes
“Frame.” While the defemeant +a indicted and

pee ira eo wre et oe Seed Raeeendat tieesinn dlinmmamaanetadanenetnataantiiiaiadsiaiedieliatinedemethindebensitenetnadieseiinanan inenethtabinedad Soin ance een eaete Miter stintneceath te AtRR Nee: eit Re een enemy aI A Be Retain inns > mae em mA cr OE

ececuiteed as Wiliam Fraim, it is stated in the
aevondast's plow on file that his name was Field-
‘ag F Pe tae.

Yhe isxcetmen! against William Fraim for
Truster wee retaemml by the grand jury at the
Jure serue 3488, of the Cirewit Court of Schuy-
ler (eunty Taetx wsthetmer which is that the
iteferdant, wet hartee the Awe of God before
his eyes, but being wer! ana seduced by the
instigation of the devi on beseuary 17, 1838,
assaulted William Nest®emmes with a knife,
which he struck and thrwet ints the mit side
of the breast, the wound being a wertu! wound
from which the assaulted man inwsantiy died.
The indictment is signed, “H. L. Brywet, “tate's
Attorney,” and bears an indorsemest a» fol-
lows: “Filed June 6, 1838, Robt. A Garman,
Clik.” The indictment is also indorsed, “A t*we
bill. Peter N. Holme, foreman of the greed
jury.” The names of the witnesses endorsed «=
the indictment are John Hammond Myers, Johe
P. Fey, Christian Langner, Henry Weischede,
Antony Messer, Joseph Hofman. Another file
mark ,on the indictment relates to the case
after it had been transferred by change of
venue to the Circuit Court of Hancock County
and fs as follows: “Filed March 13, 1839. Wesley
Willtams, Clk., H. C. C. per 8. Otho Williams,
D. C.”

The convening order for the June term of the
Cireait Court of Schuyler County, in the year
1838, shows the fellowing officers present: Hon.
James 1. Baiwtea, Judge; H. L. Bryant, State’s
Attoruey ; Hobt. A. Glenn, Clerk; and J. G. Me
Ratiom, Sheriff. On June 7, 1838, a motion by
déefew@ent for a continuance was sustained and
the defendant was remanded to jail. ‘

On November 6, 1838, while the cause was
pending in the Circuit Court of Schuyler Coenty
Dickey, attorney for defendant, gave notiew that
he would apply for a change of venue “#® ar-
count of the prejudice of the minds of the te»
habitants of Schuyler County so that tw (tte
defendant) can not have a fair triat tt #
also stated in the petition that “great pwimes ino «
been taken to prejudice the minds ~* ihe
habitants of the counties of Casa, ten «wd
McDonough against your petitwaer ext tert
they are prejudiced against Sim “de «tage
of venue petitioned for was etaute: (hrwtian
Langner and John Fey weer cum ied 2a wit-
nesses for the peopée in its> «mm <i SPOW each.
A transcript of the wastd tered migeeh 8, 1839,
was transmitted w “Se #vk «@ the Circuit

Pig

or |

4, ihe Se hats wipes eo ea
F eee Af Peat aa
we ©. Save poe oh 2 SD wy
ek yar yan & 2

762 HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

. Cam of Bancock County and filed in the clerk’s
| g@ftew ae aigroady stated, on March 13, 1839.

“he rreard shows that the defendant had al-
weedy pleaded not guilty, answering when the
indictment was read to him, “that he was not
gmiity and wanted a fair trial and a just one.”
At the same time his counsel tendered a writ-
ten plea of not guilty which the court ordered
to be filed. The defendant by his counsel asked
leave of the court to withdraw the oral plea,
leave to do which was refused. The defendant

objected to going to trial until the prosecution

should in some manner reply to his written plea,
but the court overruled the objection and de-
cided that the prisoner should go to trial and
ordered a jury to be called for that purpose,
to which opinion and decision the defendant
excepted. The foregoing facts are shown by the
bill of exceptions signed and sealed by the
judge on April 23, 1839. Subpoenas were issued

pine segue: £OT the following witnesses for defendant:
“David Martin, Edward Buckley, Mary Miller

and John Allen. David Martin was served with
subpoena, but the others were met. Among the
witnesses testifying fer the youpte were fokn
Peter Fey and Christian Langner, cach of whom

ed an affidavit for his fees, Fey giving his

mileage as fifty-three miles and Langner giving
his as fifty-nine. . ;

The trial was a very brief one, having been
commenced and concluded in one day, Monday,
Apri! 22, 1839. The Hon. James H. Ralston
was the judge who presided at the trial.

At the time of this trial the old common law
of England’ prevailed whereby a defendant in a
case of thts kind was not permitted to testify in
his own twiaif ih was also the law at that
time that the jury aad nething to do with the
punishment to be sditctat woser a verdict of
guilty of murder, Get the est pewweribed capital
punishment in every case, am} the jadgment of
the court upon a verdict of guilty determined
the time and place of the execution.

The verdict of the jury was as foljows: “We,
the jury, find the defendant guilty of murder
as charged in the indictment.” The peper on
which this verdict is written is marked “ver.
dict,” it is not signed or. marked “filed.” Signing
was not necessary if the verdict was prensa wowed
in open court and filing of this paper Re wer
necessary if the records show that tive sep.
was rendered by the jury.

The names of the jurors were &# Paehgeeae
jstea C. Kimbrough, Joseph Lionberget. ste

é

Huckens, Daniel H. Wells, Andrew B. Welch,
James Welch, Nathan Mason, Moses Stevens,
John D. Mellen, James M. Renshaw, Alfred
Mead and David Brank.

At this point in the proceedings the name of
Abraham Lincoln, afterwards the great-war
president, appears in a motion in arrest of
judgment signed “Lincoln, p. d.,” that is, Lincoln
pro (or for) defendant, which motion was filed
on April 25, 1839. Doubtless Mr. Lincoln took
part in the trial, although this is his first ap-
pearance by name in the papers.

A copy of the motion in arrest of judgment,
evidently in Lincoin's handwriting, is among the
files of the case in the office of the clerk of
the Cireuit Court of this county. This motion
is clear in statement, correct in orthography
ind composition, and shows Mr. Lincoln, who
was thirty years of age at that time, to have
been well qualified for the preparation of such
legal documents. This writing was carried

away from the courthouse at one time and used

in a distant part of the county as a specimen
of Mr. Lincoln’s handwriting, but it was after-
wards returned to the Oles in our circuit clerk's
ofee wyon application of the clerk therefor
after he bad learned the name of the unlawful
custodian of the document.

‘m@nig motion in arrest of judgment was a8
follows: 5

“William Fraim :
ads. Indictment for Murder.

The People ‘i
And the said Deft. comes and moves the

court in arrest of judgment in this case for
the following reasons, towit:

1—The Record in this cause does not suili-
ciently show that an indictwsent was found by
a grand jury of the couetry against the De-
fendant Fraim.

2—The Revwet i theke cause does not show
that a grain “+7 was empannelled (an author-
ized <qeciiegs oat the Term of the Court
at whieh ome iadictment purports to have been
fomea,

® Yeere is no sufficient record in this cause
<« #aserize the Court to try the Deft. and pro-
vane Yadgment upon him. © —

#- The record from the Schuyler Circuit
wert is defectively and imperfectly certified.

&—The said record is otherwise informal,
srruneous and insufficient.

@—The indictment is bad in this, that it

ee


978

HISTORY OF HANOOOK COUNTY.

William Neathaumer. Henry L. Bryant, of Fulton. was proseews
ing attorney; Ralston, Judge; Dickey, attorney for defense, assisted
by Abraham Lincoln. The latter moved an arrest of judgment for
several causes, the paper being now on file among the others in the
case at Carthage, in Mr. Lincoln’s own handwriting.

Frame was ae guilty on the 24th, after trial, et the April
term, 1839, and sentenced on the 25th by Judge Ralston, to be
hanged on Saturday, May 18, between the hours of 12 (noon) and
two o’clock in the afternoon, on a gallows to be erected within one
mile of Carthage. And it was done; the site selected was in or eae
near the ravine running southeasterly from town, the spectators ae
lining the sides. E
_ The Mormon difficulty trials are reported at length in other
chapters. .

Joshua Vance.

i a -_ The next case we report is that of “The People ws.
Joshua Vance,’’ for murder ; on change of venue from Adams Beets}
county; verdict rendered at the April term, 1849. In a drunken Bere 5
brawl at Lima, Vance had killed a young man named Harness. The ;
verdict read— The jury find the ofeadint Joshua Vance, guilty i, ¢
of feloniously slaying Jackson Harness, in manner and form as :

charged in the aforesaid indictment, and affix the term of his im- p
ay prisonment in the penitentiary at eight years.” Sentenced for eight :
ay years—one month solitary confinement—the remainder hard labor. a

This case is more worthy of mention from the fact that it was 80
ably prosecuted and defended. Robert I. Blackwell was prosecutor,
and he was assisted by Col. Edward D. Baker. The defense was
conducted by O. H. Browning, assisted, we believe, by Oyrus
Walker and Calvin A. Warren. Perhaps no three or four more el-
oquent and logical speeches were ever made in that court-house than
were made on that occasion.

. | Alfred Logan.
s At a singing-school one night in Sonora township, Alfred
; Logan stabbed and killed Charlies Yates. They were both boys

and associates at school ; quarreled about some trivial matter, and
. | the result was the death of the latter. At the June term of Court,
« ' 1871, Logan was put upon his trial ; prosecuted by Wm. G. Ewing.
public prosecutor, assisted by B. F. Scofield and George Edmunds;
and defended by Nehemiah Bushnell and R. W. McKinney. The
jary rendered a verdict of guilty, and fixed the punishment at 23

years in the penitentiary. e believe that after several years’ ser
vice Logan was reprieved by’ the Governor.
: John Lose.

The next case we shall report is that of the murder of Jesse Rune
of Carthage tp., by his son, John, aged 18, on Oct. 4, 1866. Twe


% Law an 3° 5, eat J ms "9 4 SZ

here This eeok ig ihe preoerty
Sg 7 TRE GARTRASE PHELIT GiPAAP.

: : HISTORICAL amd snapel be aah rey

. LLINOIS

EDITED BY

NewTon Bateman, LL. D. PauL SELBY, A.M. ae

J. SEyYMouR CURREY so.

AND HIStory OF

~HANCOCK COUNTY —

EDITED BY

Cuarves J. ScoFIELD , . ‘

INE Ex ah oh ute MNOS. 2

VOLUME II

. ae
se ie.

-

os ea ag)

ILLUSTRATED

wast.

tae | Wag CHICAGO
eee Tinie PUBLISHING COM: >: ae
Pe PUBLISHERS Pes
1921

=> s

a. ee t nade el s % den .
7 a . - . ¢ a ’ ;

' " ’ ecarea-> a> dann uneen anaceaanliin teiiemiaanieiae deiiaein taeda ahaa nated ee pene ra act Mie a , <7?
a

i ae el ie ed
ct a a Ni : “ halt
nD ee “


FREE, James, dre, white, LI IL@ (DuPage) Mafch 22, 1995

SAGO SUN-TIMES,

SATURDAY,

DECEMBER 17, 1994 17

li Execution Date
Set for Killer in
Glen Ellyn Attack

|
|
|
|

By Ray Long
Staff Writer

A March 22 execution date was
set Friday for a long-term Death
Row inmate convicted of murder-
ing a Glen Ellyn woman in 1978.

dames Free Jr., 40, is the first —
inmate scheduled for execution —
| since serial. killer John Wayne

Gacy died from lethal injection in
May, Attorney General Roland
Burris said.

“The attorney general’s office

_ has continued to uphold the law

in death penalty cases and will
follow the orders of the court to
see that justice is served,” ‘Burris
said.

Free is among a handful of in-
mates who have been on Illinois’
Death Row since 1979. °

He was convicted of the shoot-
ing death of Bonnie Serpico, who

was attacked with another woman |

while working late at night April
24, 1978, at ‘a Glen. Ellyn office
building.

Free had had a job at the office
complex, kept a key when he
stopped working there and used it

to enter the building the night he
attacked and shot both women.
They had been working in a data

| processing department.

‘jury
_ said.

In a widely watched appeal.

- Free argued that MHlinois’ jury in-

structions in death penalty cases
were too hard to understand. But

‘he lost that argument in Decem.

ber, 19938, when the U.S. 7th Cir-
cuit Court of Appeals reversed a
lower court order that had sup-
ported Free.

In October, the U.S. Supreme
Court denied Free a hearing, thus
concluding the appeal based on
instructions, Burris’ office

The Free case could have
opened the door for a potential
review of many convictions of the
more than 150 inmates now on
Death Row in Illinois.

As in almost every death penal-
ty case, court briefs .are filed to
stop the execution until nearly the

-very moment of execution.

In addition, Free has the right
to file a petition for executive
clemency. That would go before

_ the Prisoner Review Board, which

would make a confidential recom-

“mendation to the governor.

Before Gacy, the execution of
Charles Walker in September
1990 was the first in Illinois since
cop killer James Duke was electro-

- cuted in 1962.


SER INR Sy i a Ar a P aabt gpen ye ae
< ‘ - .

- “«

‘i a Bagals Bat OMe agg a

i

te

intr ee

we

Se ie tS ae

sta i Sy

EEO. Arbo abiinn Pe
ON pe eng iR Ab  B RL OANty IIRe Lm ©
ad . sen Ge LE coreg Seg pe yp vena Ae OD, A eG PEE Tr Ge ct Ml Re laa Vi eta ae. = pimiten ring pom os
: many NP a NB a nts ag A le PO OTE tae te ae
; ; "3 5 Oe NR om

ort tad ad ie oo wae

-{n not showing that the marr es
.in the manner and * TO eee
in the indictment

“gal RO RM alee

ahi »
a had aaa ed eet Re a eS is ee oer 3
2 errs

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY 163

does not show with sufficient certainty. in the
conclusion, whether the Deft. was thee eager

‘or the murdered man.

reise et teh

7—The indictment is bad, tn «#

8—The said indice  <tarewe infurmai
and ineufikrten:

For oti Wks asd erascus the said Deft.
mover the «sure a arrest of judgment herein.

Lincoln, p. d.”

The Judgment of the court disposing of the
motion in arrest and sentencing the defendant
to be hanged, which was rendered on Thursday,
April 25th, is as follows:

“This day the prisoner William Fraim was
again led to the bar in the custody of the
coroner, and the motion made on yesterday in
arrest of judgment being fully argued, and upon
due consideration, it is ordered by the court that
the said motion in arrest of judgment be over-
. And it being demanded of the prisoner

“py the court what he had or knew to urge in

this behalf why judgment should not now be
pronounced against him, and the said defendant
having nothing to urge except what. had been

- before urged in this behalf: It is therefore con-

sidered by the Court that the said William
Fraim be hanged by the peck till be be dead.
It is farther ordered by the Court that the
Sheri@ ef tee wid County of Hancock do cause

‘execution of thie sentence ts be done and fer-

formed tpon the body af tm Se sax CFE en om
Fraim on Saturday the cightoenss day of Mar
pext between the hours of tweive eeiock Mert
dian, and two o'clock Post Meridian of said
day on a gallows to be erected within one mile
of the Town of Carthage in said County. It.4s8
further ordered that the said William Fraim
pay all the costs of this suit. And the said
William Fraim is committed to the custody of
the Sheriff of sald County, to be by him kept
in close confimement until the sentence is exe-
cuted. It te fmrther ordered that the Clerk of
this Court make ami certify a copy of this
order and deliver tt same to the sheriff of said
County, which teil be sufficient authority in
the hands of said beri te carry into effect

_ the foregoing judgment.”

This case was wet taken to the Supreme
Court. The defendamt war -«ecuted pursuant

_ to the sentence of the cirewii rvurt.

,

‘tw esevation of this unfortunate man oc-
<cien’ stghty-ome years ago, and there are few
wwvut toe swe tyetegg who have any personal recol-
See pote It is well known, how-
nae he ae epee was in a fleld south-
aut 4 Oye ome pabite, and was attended
by a pith vet ow peogle From all parts of the
county and enn fewey eeicaing counties. It is
said that some of thew: «qacteeore breught their
families and their dinwer: acs sate # wort of
picnic of the occasion. Net .ace sew adults
present, but young boys and @ittx am oer Nt-
tle children. One of our weil-Kmow:. « wrthage
citizens, then a mere child, was prewew* ate
has some recollection of the occurresre » ent
especially of the fact that the prisoner made
some remarks of warning to others just prior
to his execution. Since that day, the great evil
of public executions has been corrected by a
statute requiring these executions to be com-
ducted privately, with only a few witnesses in
attendance. ‘The deterrent effect of such @
public spectacle is more than counterbalanced
by the evils resulting from the unspeakable cu-
riosity of many people to’ behold a tragedy in-
volving the sufferings of a human being.

Additional matters in connection with this
case are shown by the records of the County
Commissioners Court, and are here given as they
appear in those records.

“It is ordered that the following persons be
allowed the feiisertmg sams on the certificates
of the Cores fee guarding Frame, a prisoner
from @echuyter County:

wh RI

Theseas S. Kimbrough, seven dollars $7.00
Wm. P. McClure, seven dollars $7.00
George W. Stigall, seven dollars $7.00
R. Breedlove, three dollars $3.00
David Bettisworth, three dollars $3.08"

“It is ordered that the following persons be »)
lowed the following sums on the certificate «*

the Sheriff for guarding Frame, a prisoner Pr0™

“Schuyler County:

Thomas 8. Kimbrough, twenty doltass s20:¢0
Wm. P. McClure, twenty dadene Qo
David Bettisworth, twenty dies SDPO
Nathan Mason, twas worms goa?

“Tt is ordered that . Fy yrds ¥ rd be

allowed the sum of «*: Ss ancimes amd eleven
cents—forty-nine dadAsars +rQSr-four cents

a)

ws, tS wy dO ae ‘ i ts Me ade ig
, es aril tt Ae oe ORT TRL Ware: © er ow Veer ts anPibened Soha VaR
RP oe. ee ce ere

wo kta aR a a lei i i

wee aes oe

4 i 4%
me nit «

f in iaiee rhe aes Spice 0 BG Soca eae:

se neg RR ee tO hee ae cline Bemonmm gen * ow


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aot 3 Si Monn
Patt seas Ua

5 2h uaa pitta Belle yon

164

of “%ech was for charges for sundries for the
exeiweive ame of Frame, a prisoner from Schuy-
ler ‘'«#anty, and eleven dollars and eighty-seven
Ceufs for said Frame’s comfort and safe keep-
ing.* 4

“It is ordered that Edmund G. Haggard,
Sheriff, be allowed the sum of twenty-five dol-
lars for executing prisoner Frame.”

“It is ordered that George W. Thatcher be
allowed the sum of six dollars for guarding
Frame, a prisoner from Schuyler County.”

“It is ordered that 8. Thompson be allowed
the sum of two dollars, the same being for A.
Cleveland’s services in guarding Frame, a pris-
oner from Schuyler County.”

“It is ordered that Nathan Mason. be allowed
two dollars for guarding Frame, a prisoner from
Schuyler County, on the certificate of the coro-
ner—2 days.”

“It is ordered that the clerk of this court cer-
tify to the County Commissioners’ Court of
Schuyler County the various amounts allowed
to the several persoun fer thely eet for
guarding am4 swpeewting (end atiew charge op
to the execution ead barialt: Wiiliem trea. «
prisoner from said county of tchayter.”

The following account of the execution ef
William (Fielding) Fraim was written by Mrs.
Eudocia Baldwin Marsh, and published: by
THe Howagp-Severance COMPANY of Chicago,
Illinois, in No. 3 of Vol. 2 of Social Progress and
is published here by the courteous permission
of that company.

(Mra. Marsh died recently at her home in
Warsaw. She was the wife of Judge John W.
Marsh, a well-known attorney of Hancock
County, and at ome time judge of the county

_ court of this cumatp. When Praim was exe-

cuted, Mre. Maresh wae but.» tittle girl. emd her
account is based, in part. sgpe her rerutieetion
of what occurred, and ts errenseus in «a few
particulars, but is essentially correct aad very
interesting. The brick courthouse referred to
by Mrs. Marsh was built in 1837-@ inswed of
1834 as Mrs. Marsh has it, and was first used
as a courthouse at the April term of the Cireuit
Court, 1839, at which term Fraim was tried.
The prisoner was indicted by the name of Wi-
Ham Fraim, and filed a written plea in the case
in which his name is given as Fielding Fraim
Mrs. Marsh refers to him as Charile Fraim.
It may be that Charlie was a pet name for the
young man, or that the school children called
hires by that name, and this may be the reewm

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

‘the large, bare-floored room. He was never

i Be
Ca gaa 2 Abe Se ‘a,
g Ge Ae ye fe

mei
. a.
ig

’ ae et
RN ae ae

why Mrs. Marsh speaks of him as Charlie! —
Fraim. The trial vecurred in April instead of
May, as the records show, and sentence of
death was pronounced on April 25th, and was
carried into effect on May 18th, and not two or
three months afterwards. With these excep-
tions the article of Mrs. Marsh is to be accepted
as history. As explanatory of certain state-
ments made in Mrs. Marsh’s article, it may be
stated that the juryroom in the southwest cor-
ner of the new courthouse, in which the pris-
oner was confined, was in the second story, and
on the sme fleer as the courtroom, and was
connects therewith by a door. The log school-
house referred to as almost directly opposite the
room in'which the prissmer was confined, was the
old log courthouse, nv longer needed for a court-
house, and then used, as it had been theretofore
at certain times, for school purposes, While
the prisoner was constantly under guard by the
sheriff or his deputy, this was not always by
the sheriff or deputy in person, but by one or
sore of the guards employed for that purpose,
whent names appear in the orders of the County
Cwnhimvenes Cwart eheve set forth.)
“tn [FIH, com vewk ewurthouse was built in
the center of the yveblir square at Carthage.
Soon after its completion a prisoner, Charlie
Frame, charged with murder, was brought from
an adjoining county on a change of yenne to
Carthage to stand his trial. This took place in
May, and he was found guilty and sentenced to
be hanged, as I remember, two or three months
later. The jail was not yet built, so the con-
demned murderer was confined in the new court- .
house, in the southwest jury room. This was
almost directly opposite our log schoolhouse.
Always at recess, and at the noon hour, when
we were at play, Charile saat at the window and
watched na We weull go naar, fascinated by
the thuught of the «wal doom awaiting him.
fie fevremeiy tetted with us, always in a
friends tcomePet way. He was full of pranks
émt wows? eumetimes tempt the boys to come
“wader See window by throwing out nuts, candy
‘# frott. When they stooped to pick them up,
he wersid throw out a cup of water. This prac-
t#eai joking always kept the girls too timid to
‘ry to wet any of the dainties. .
‘“harlie was fettered by a chain about bis
emkiea, fastened to a large iron ball, which made
« noise like thunder whenever he walked about

atone, for either the sheriff or his deputy was


always in the room. They treated him w«tth

rs great kindness and leniency, however fev
$ was a pleasant and engaging tm) 1 rect serm tens
‘4 ; Irishman, only twenty-one years oa sir eae
se > full of the fun of his race ecw eed zitban Fy

teased his jaflers and jehkes 2 sree i was

under the influeme of feuz 8 ctai he had given
way to anger wei qomcotttet Che crime for

: which he wus Aé (25 .eteit his life.
= “On the dogs ime execution, long before
: Bubrive wr Aear? the rumble of heavy farm
wagonr reine town from all directions.
By sunrise the little town was thronged with
men, wumen aad children, afoot, on horseback
x and in wagons. Some came fifty miles, a few
even a hundred, to witness the gruesome sight.
School dismissed for the day. At our home the
morning hours dragged slowly by. Everyone
was too wrought up to work according to the
usual ritual; Anne said she felt choked. In
order, I suppose, to relieve the nervous excite-
ment, the teacher, who was boarding at our
house at the time,—Mr. French of the uncertain
_temper—proposed that we have some music.
~ Lowell Mason’s ‘Book of Sacred Music’ was

pittay

ay brought out, and we all joined in singing a num-
pos ‘ber of hymns. Among others, we sang ‘Ariel’—
F ‘Oh, could I sing the matchless worth.’ Our
: voices rose high and sweet, blending melodiously
with the tones of the flute. The rhythm of the
stately music, and the ecstatic uature of the
ig words almost lifted me out of myself.
Boe I’d soar to tench the heavenly strings
And vie with Gabriel while he sings
int In notes almost divine.
BY Well, the delightful day will come
a When my dear Lord will bring me home.
e I wondered if, after they had taken poor Charlie
ay Frame’s life, he too would ‘soar’ and call this
FP oh a ‘delightful day.’ It was quite sure my baby
Eo brother and Sister Alice were in that ‘home,’

nek but I did not know whether poor Charlie’s kind-

Yo: ness to us children would make him good enoug
to be taken to be with them. .

“After dinner, Father and my brothers sad-
dled horses and made ready to go. I asked
them to take me, but they all said, ‘Do you
suppose we'd take a girl to a hanging? No,
sir-ee; you stay at home with Mother like a
good girl.” However, soon after they left,
Mether, Anne and Mr. French decided to walk
into town. To comfort me, they took me along.

pn Mae

HISTORY OF HANC«(K'K COUNTY

+69

Methber and I went to call on a friend living on
‘ti north xide of the square, and Anne and Mr.
French went on a block or two farther to see
seams hes firtenada

Wiite Mother ami ner friend talked I strolled

ont oe ‘he dewrtwi «treet. Presently a man
whe fpeypaertis caees cv our house on business
drove by. Meetig a alone he stopped his

horse and asked, S/S, woudl yon like to ride
out and see the hanging ‘ :

“‘Why, yes,’ I hesitated Wow la. you take
me?’ re

“<‘Of course,’ he replied. ‘Jumy 4?

“Before I had time to think of what i was
doing, he had taken me by the hans. lift+si?. me
to a seat by his side and was driving rapeily
on the well-beaten way. The place of execution
was less than a mile away, southeast uf town,
and we soon reached the edge of the crowd.
From there, by slow degrees, he edged his ligt

. buggy through the press of people and the jam

of vehicles, to the very heart of it all, to the
piteous spectacle that had drawn together the
vast throng. Fortunately for my peace of mind,
we were only in time to see a perfectly still
figure, whose face was covered by a black cap,
and, whose body was attired in ‘a blue jacket
and white trousers. For, at one time in his
short life, poor Charlie had been a sailor. What
a sight to take a seven-year-old girl to see!
But in justice t my escort. I must say that
he was an @x #keri® and probably so inured to
executions that be eonsidered it no harm to
gratify a child's curiosity.

“We remained but a moment, then again
forest a way through the throng. Driving rap-
idly beck to town, my companion set me down
where he had found me, and I went timidly
into the house. My absence had not been
noted; Mother and her friend were still talkiwg
Neither Father nor my brothers had seen w=»
so no one knew of my escapade. But I was <
happy, weighed down by the remembran:+ <#
poor Charlie’s limp body and ashamed 7447 7
had gone without Mother's consent. #27 *
time the burden grew too heavy to brev, $4 L
told Mother the whole story. Much 7a°my Siar
prise, she was less vexed with »<¢ Then gay TI
the man who took me. She #4S S5>S hocheda
grieved that my childish eyes Ssfoirhdsave
looked upon such a S347 Fhe! Z AGG her
over. and over agai 7497 ‘'Z~wiuldewer do it
again’—a promise t¥yt jas wever proved diffi-
cult to keep.


4 Section 2 Chicago Tribune, Friday, February 12, 1988
City/suburbs

Court widens death

By Daniel Egler
Chicago Tribune

SPRINGFIELD—Criminal defen-
dants who voluntarily plead guilty
but mentally ill to murder charges
can be sentenced to death under
State statutes, the Illinois Supreme
Court ruled Thursday.

In the first test of its kind in Ihi-
nois, the high court upheld the death
penalty for Willian} Crews, a con-
victed killer who pleaded oa but
mentally ul to the 1984 fatal Stab-

bing of a Prison guard at the
Menard Correctional enter.
The high court also set execuuion

dates for five other Death Row in-
mates, but it ordered a new sentenc-
ing hearing tor a Cook
Convicted of murdering another man
in 1982 over $200,000 in cocaine.
Crews, a 35-year-old
native of Downstate Emden, who is
on Death Row at the Pontiac
Correctional Center, ed that im-
posing the death penalty on a per-
son found guilty but mentally ill
would be excessive Punishment for-
bidden by the Constitution.

But Justice Ben Miller, writing for
the court's majonty, said that such
defendants are subject to the same
sentences—including the death pen-
alty—as are defendants who are not

mentally ill.
“A GBMI [guilty but mentally ill]
Offender is no less guilty than one

who is guilty and not mentally ill;
unlike insanity, a GBM] finding or

plea does not relieve an offender of
cnminal responsibility for his con-
duct,’ Miller: said. “:. mental

illness, as that term is used with re-

Parents

spect to GBMI offenders, must not
be equated with insanity.”

Crews pleaded uty but mentally
ill to charges o murder and at-
tempted murder in the Stabbing
death of Cecil Harbison, a Menard
correctional officer, and the woun-
ding of Lamont Gilbert, another
guard who came to Harbison’s aid
during the attack. Crews was serving
a 20- to 60-year sentence for the
fatal shooting of his Stepfather in

County.

The state high court set a May 25
execution date for Crews, although
further appeals in his case and the
other death-penalty cases almost Cer-
tainly will delay execution.

“If the enactment of the GBMI
Statute precluded GBM] defendants
from being sentenced to death, it
would radically transform our capital
punishment Statutes,” Justice Wil-
liam Clark said in a special concur-
ning statement. “A large class of de-
fendants, hitherto Subject to the
death penalty, would now be ex-
empt.”

Nonetheless, Clark and Justice
Daniel Ward said they would have
voted to vacate Crews’ death sen-
tence had Crews not been wamed
that his plea could result in the im-
position of the death penalty.

Justice Seymour Simon, the
court’s most vocal Opponent of the
death penalty, ‘argued in a dissent
that the imposition of the death sen-
tence in Crews’ case “flies in the
face” of other Provisions of the
guilty-but-mentally-ill Statute that
call for psychiatric treatment for
mentally ill offenders as well as

-penaity use

punishment, :

In other death-penalty cases:

@ The high court upheld the mur-
der conviction of Robert Gacho for
his role in the 1982 fatal drug-deal-
related shooting of Aldo Fratto and
Tullio Infelise, who were found
locked in a car trunk by a Du Page
County forest ranger. The men were
quarreling over $200,000 in cocaine
profits when the shooting occurred.
But the justices ordered a new sen-
tencing hearing for Gacho because
of “improper and Prejudicial”
Statements admitted dunng his first
hearing.

@ The coun set a March 29 exe-
cution date for Leroy Orange, con-
victed in the murder of four people
on the South Side on Jan. 12, 1984,

@ Justices upheld the conviction of
Willie Enoch, found guilty of the
Stabbing death of a 25-year-old
supervisor at the Methodist Medical
Center in Peoria and sentenced him
to be executed May 12.

@ The court set a Mav 24 execu-
tion date for James “Pud” Ashford,
convicted of murdenng two men
and two women dunng an armed
robbery in Springfield.

@ The cour denied a second re-
quest for a new trial for Raymond
Stewart, 36, sentenced under the
death-penalty statute for murdenng

people in two Rockford-area
es.

@ The justices reaffirmed their
1983 decision upholding the con-
viction of James Free for the 1978
murder of one woman and attempt-
ed murder of another In a Glen
Ellyn office complex. ’

_———

severely abused,” he said.

Sabrina, now 6, is living with a
family that wants to adopt her and |
her twin sister, Foreman said. “This

At
Willia
VISitsS
Linco

WE ARE A WHOL
BUT ON SATURI

Winter 1995

OLITION Now

Newsletter of the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty

Volume 1, Number }

Double-execution
set for March —

Third execution set for May

By SETH DONNELLY

James Free and Hernando Williams are
scheduled to be executed on March 22,1995.

James Free, who is white, was sen-
tenced to death on November 27, 1979, for
the murder of Bonnie Serpico, attempted
murder of Lori Rowe, and attempted rape of
both women. The case was highly publi-
cizedy he was the first person sentenced to
death in DuPage County since the reinstate-
ment of the death penalty in 1977. The
imposition of the death sentence upon Free
was arbitrary and capricious. Free had no
prior record of serious, violent offenses— in
fact, he had a strong military record prior.to
his capital conviction. He was on PCP— the
most mind-altering of drugs— when he
committed the offense. The trial judge would
not instruct the jury on toxic psychosis even
though a psychiatrist testified at the trial.
Since his incarceration, Free has had a
model prison record.

Hernando Williams, who is African-
American, was sentenced to death on Janu-
ary 14, 1980, for the abduction, rape, and
murder of Linda Goldstone, who is white.
Williams was sentenced to death by an all-
white jury after the prosecutor excluded 26
prospective African-American jurors, elimi-
nating even African-American alternates,
in a county of Illinois in which approxi-
mately 25% of the registered voters are
African-American. The U.S. Supreme Court
turned down his appeal, but Justice Marshall
and Justice Brennan dissented, stating that
race discrimination in jury selection was

“one of the gravest and most persistent
problems facing the American judiciary
today”.

Race discrimination injury selection had
long been held unconstitutional, but the
burden of proof placed on the defendant was
nearly impossible: s/he had to prove a long
pattern of such discrimination beyond her/
his own case. In 1986, ten months after
Williams’ direct appeal was’ refused, the
U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Batson v.

' Kentucky that a defendant could challenge

race discrimination in jury selection in her/
his case alone. However, the Court stipu-
lated that Batson could only be applied
retroactively to cases still in direct appeal,
thus excluding Williams. Due to this techni-
cality in timing, Williams is scheduled to be
executed on the basis of a verdict reached by
an unconstitutionally selected jury.

An investigation into peremptory chal-
lenges in Illinois, conducted by the Chicago
Tribune newspaper in 1984, found that
prosecutors eliminated African-American
jurors at more than twice the rate at which
they excluded whites, and that the dismissal
rate was even higher in cases with white
victims. Approximately one-third of all Af-
rican-American defendants sentenced to
death in Illinois since reinstatement have
been convicted by all-white juries.

A recent study by Professor Diamond

demonstrates that at the time of Free’s and

see Executions on page 2...

Alert:
Petition Inside!

We are launching a statewide peti-
tion drive against the double-execu-
tion and the death penalty. Enclosed
with this newsletter is a copy of the
petition for you to photocopy aud
circulate. Please return filled out
petitions to the Coalition's office
ASAP so that we can drop them off
at Governor Edgar’s Chicago office
on March 16.

Demonstrate

your opposition to the
scheduled executions!

Chicago
Protest at:
State of Illinois
Building
(100 W. Randolph St.)
Thursday, March 16°
4:30 p.m.

Springfield
Protest at:
The Illinois Supreme
Court Building
(East of the State Capital)

Monday, March 2|st
8:30 p.m.

For more information call [CADP at
(312)849-2279


hese are the men on Illinois’
Death Row, the convicted mur-

_ derers sentenced to the state’s
maximum punishment for killings that
involved more than one victim, children,
public officials, prison inmates or were
committed with other crimes.

The prisoners below, listed with their
Cuireat ages and in order of their sen-
tencings, are in various stages of appeal-
ing their cases. None, however, has had
his death sentence replaced, according to
the Illinois Department of Corrections. °

1} John Szabo, 32. Fatally shot and |
stabbed brothers John and Christopher
- Rajca, 19 and 17, Jan. 27, 1979, during a
drug deal south of Naperville.
2} George Delvecchio, 42. Slashed the
throat of 6-year-old Tony Canzoneri during a
4 west Side home invasion Dec. 22, 1977.
3] James Free Jr., 36. Fatally shot Bonnie
Serpico, 34, of Gien Ellyn, after raping her
and another woman April 24, 1978, in a Glen
Eliyn factory. “
] Kenneth Allen, 48. Shot and killed Chi-
Caco police officers William Bosak, 33, and
Roger Van Schaik, 31, March 3, 1979, in re-
taliation for peiice confiscating weapons from
his nome three months earlier.

sor ai Northwestern Memorial Hospitai.
ams abducted Goldstone March 30, 1978,
from near the hospital and drove around for
26 hours with her in his trunk before shooting
her to death. =

6] John Wayne Gacy, 47. Convicted of 33
counts of murder after authorities discovered
29 bodies of young men and boys buried in
the crawl space of his Norwood Park Town-
ship home in 1978. Authorities also found
four other bo.tias in the Des Plaines River,
where Gacy said he had thrown them.

7 and 8] Juan Caballero, 29, and Luis
Ruiz, 30. Stabbed and slashed to death Mi-
chael Salcido, 17; Arthur Salcido, 19; and
Frank Mussa, 16, Feb. 24, 1979, in a North
Side alley following a dispute over gang af-
‘iliations.

9] Andre Jones, 34. Killed East St. Louis

A4 Se;

Chicago Tre fur eo
On Illinois’ Death Row, 125 murderers face the ultimate punishment

Silagy
cleaning store owner Samuel Nersesian and
mail carrier Debra Brown in an April 30,
1979, shooting spree.

10] Duriynn Eddmonds, 38. Smothered 9-
year-old Richard Miller while raping him Oct.
24, 1977, in a South Side apartment.

11] Chartes Silagy, 40. Choked, stabbed
and stomped to death his girlfriend, Chery!
Block, 32, and her sister, Anne Waters, 29,
Feb. 14, 1960, near Danville, after quarreling
with Biock for attending a mate strip show.

12] Waiter Stewart, 35. Fata!ly shot Danilo
Rodica, 39, and Thomas Paviopoulous, 27,
Feb. 10, 1980, while robbing a Berwyn jewel-
ry store.

13] Dennis Emerson, 38. Stabbed two peo-
ple Aug. 13, 1979, insice a South Side lounge
during a robbery, then set fire to the building,
killing one of the stabbing victims, Delinda
Byrd, 22.

14] Girvies Davis, 32. Murdered Charles
Biebel, 89, Dec. 22, 1978, and Esther Sep-
meyer, 83, July 13, 1979, during robberies of
their homes near East St. Louis.

15} Larry Mack, 35. Fatally shot bank
guard Joseph Kolar, 59, Nov. 23, 1979, on
the South Side.

16] Derrick King, 33. Shot and killed sales
clerk Dwaine Miller, 17, Dec. 19, 1979, during
a robbery of a South Side candy store.

17, 18 and 19] William Bracey, 49; Roger
Collins, 42; and Murray Hooper, 44. Fatally.
shot Frederick Lacey, 35; R.C. Pettigrew, 41;
and Richard Holliman, 28, Nov. 12, 1980, in a
South Side viaduct in a dispute over money

Gacy. ,

f

Brisbon
the victims owed. . ;

20] Rebin Owens, 29. Used a hammer to
fatally bludgeon Arfrazia Hodges, 38, Dec.
18, 1980, during a home invasion and rob-
bery in Kankakee. j

21 and 22] Harold Bean, 51, and Robert
Byron, 43. Convicted of the Feb. 17, 1981,
murder-for-hire of Dorothy Polulach, 81, a
Southwest Side widow. Bean, disguised as a
priest, entered Polulach’s home, handcuffed
her and shot her.

23] Tafford Holman, 41. Fataliy shot Antho-
ny Townsend, 17, during a Feb. 21, 1980,
home invasion in Joliet. :

24] Henry Biisbon, 34. The “I-57” killer

_ sentenced to 1,000 to 3,000 years for the

1873 murders of a Chicago couple, Brisbon
received the death sentence for fatally stab-
bing Richard “Hippie” Morgan, 31, a fellow
inmate at Stateville prison Oct. 19, 1978.

25] Charles Albanese, 53. Fatally poisoned
his mother-in-law, Marion Mueller, 69; his
wife's. grandmother, Mary Lambert, 89; and
his father, Michael, 69; by lacing their food
with arsenic in 1980 and 1981 in McHenry
and Lake Counties. Albanese wanted to
inherit his relatives’ money and take over the
family business.

26] William Jones, 35. Stabbed Margaret
Dare to death during a Jan. 25, 1982, burgla-
ry of the elderly woman's rural Jefferson
County home.

27] Gregory Madej, 31. Raped and
stabbed to death Barbara Doyle, 38, after
meeting her Aug. 22, 1982, at a North a

Albanese

Sienday

: Walker

‘ favern.

28) Willie Thompkins, 40. On Dec. 22,
1980, shot Gerald Holton, 31, and Arthur
Sheppard, 39, two Markham drug dealers
who had been infringing on the territory of a
drug-selling gang with which Thompkins was
affiliated.

29] Raymond Stewart, 23. Fatally shot
Rockford grocer William Fredd, 54, and
stockboy Aibert Pearson, 20, Jan. 27, 1981.
The murders were the first of six Stewart
committed within a week in Rockford and
Beloit, Wis., during robberies. In 1971, Fredd
had testified against Stewart in an armed-
robbery case.

30) Edgar Hope, 31. Murdered Chicago
police rookie James Doyle, 34, Feb. 5, 1$82,
on a South Side bus as Doyle and his part-
ner tried to arrest Hope for.suspicion of bur-
glary. Police later found a gun in Hope's
apartment that they used to convict him for
the Jan. 11, 1982, slaying of Lloyd Wyckliffe,
35, a guard at a South Side McDonaid’s.

31] Johnny Neal Jr., 44. Used a pipe to
fatally beat Lillian Waid, 63, a Wauxegan
widow, ir: an Aug. 19, 1982, rodbery.

32] Perry Clinger, 42. Stabbed and shot
James Adams, 31; Gordon Stevens, 36; and
Debra Bushman, 25, May 25, 1982, during
robberies in Sterling and Rock Falls.

33] Samuel Morgan, 43. Shot and killed
acquaintances Kenneth Merkson, 24, and
William Motley; 28, Jan. 28, 1982, after con-
suming large amounts of drugs in a North
Side apartment.

aH

ge

Of PA
/ Y he

a

34] Domingo Perez, 30. Stabbed fellow
Stateville prison inmate Ronald Kleis, 21, to
death April 16, 1981, during a gang-related
fight.

35] Ulece Montgomery, 33. Raped and
strangled his landlord, Pearl Briggs, 72, and
her sister, Betty Tyson, 68, April 25, 1981, in
Robbins. . :

36] Anthony Guest, 44. A Missouri prison
escapee serving a iife sentence for a murder,
Guest was caught Feb. 5, 1982, shoplifting a
toothbrush and toothpaste from a West Side
grocery store. After being led to the
manager's office, he opened fire, killing John
Geever, 23, a store employee.

37] John Whitehead, 40. Kidnapped and
strangled Vickie Wrobel, 5, a girl from his
Joliet neighborhood Aug. 9, 1982. :

*_ 38] Paul Erickson, 33. Raped and stabbed
Elizabeth Launer, 15, of Arlington Heights
July 31, 1982, after she. refused to have sex
with him following a party.

29] Anthony Porter, 32. Shot and killed
Jarry Hilliarc, 18, and his fiance, Marilyn
Green, 19, Aug. 15, 1982, during a robbery at
Washington Park on the South Side.

69] Charles Walker, 50. Looking for beer
money, Walker robbed and shot Kevin Paule,
21, and his fiance, Sharon Winker, 25, of
Mascoutah, while the couple fished in a St.
Clair County creek June 18, 1983.

41] Patrick Wright, 47. Broke into a Mat-
toon apartment June 7, 1983, and slashed to
death Caro! Specht. 44. Wright, diagnosed
later as suffering from a psychosexua! disor-
Ger, testified that he broke in searching for
women’s shoes.

42] Willie Enoch, 36. Raped and murdered
Armanda Kay Burns, 25, April 22, 1983, in
her Peoria apartment.

43] Donald Lego, 58. Stabbed and beaf to
death Mary Mae Johnson, an 82-year-old
Joliet widow, during a burglary Aug 25, 1983.

44] Anthony Hall, 31. While in Pontiac state
prison for robbery, he fatally stabbed prison
cook Frieda King, 50, Feb. 8, 1983.

45] William Young, 40. While in Statevilie
prison for murder, he strangled and stabbed
fellow inmate Brian Jackson March 31, 1983,
in a gang dispute.

46] Floyd Richardson, 35. Shot grocer

See Death Row, pg. 4

+
}


Executions from page 1...

Willams’ trials, the jury instructions in Illinois were incomprehen-
sible, confusing jurors on the standards for sentencing someone to
death

Girvies Davis is scheduled to be executed on May 17. Davis,
who is African-American, was convicted and sentenced to death by
an all-white jury in St. Clair County for the murder of Mr. Biebel,
who was white, along with other murders involving white victims for
which Davis allegedly confessed. Like the prosecution in Williams’
case, the prosecutors in Davis’ case systematically excluded Afri-
can-American jurors. Davis’ trial attorneys failed to introduce any
miligating factors to the court.

Nothing linked Davis to Biebel's place of residence or toa murder
weapon. The primary evidence used against Davis was a written
confession that he signed at a time when he could not read or write.
According to Davis, the police coerced him to sign the confession
by driving him around in the fields at night, then taking off his
shackles, and telling him he would either sign or “escape.” Records
show that the police had Davis between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.
that night. The confession implicated him in 10 attempted murders
and 10 murders, including some crimes for which other people had
already been convicted. The victim of one of the attempted murders
has said that Davis was not involved.

Davis entered death row with an elementary school education.
He taught himself to read and write on death row and is now an
ordained minister.

The defense teams for James Free, Hernando Williams, and

Girvies Davis will submit petitions for clemency to the Prisoner
Review Board. The Prisoner Review Board has the power to
recommend clemency to the governor, who has the power to grant
it. Clemency means to moderate the severity of a punishment and can
take different forms: life imprisonment without parole, a term of
years, ora new hearing or trial. It is imperative that!C ADP members
write letters to the Prisoner Review Board and the Govenor (see
below).

The State of Illinois has not carried out
a double-execution since 1952. Between
1928 and 1962, the state of Illinois carried
out 98 executions, including a quadruple
execution, 7 triple-executions, 12 double-
executions, and 49 single executions.

Free and Williams.

Girvies Davis.

:

Drop the Governor a line

Take action: Write or call the Prisoner Review Board and Governor Edgar,
urging the Board to recommend and the Governor to grant clemency for James Free,
Hernando Williams, and Girvies Davis. Do not write one letter that combines all
three cases. Individual letters and/or calls should be made for all three people,
focusing on the critical points raised in the above article. Act as soonas possible for

Illinois Prisoner Review Board*
319 E. Madison, Suite A
Springfield, IL 62701
ph:217-782-7273.

Gov. Jim Edgar
State Capital, Rm 207
Springfield, IL 62706

ph: 217-782-6830.

Please photocopy this section of the newsletter or take the whole newsletter and
pass it On to as many other people as you can in order to raise awareness about the
cases and generate more letters on behalf of James Free, Hernando Williams, and

*Select one of the following members of the board to write: James Williams,
Clyde Brooks, Barbara Hubbard, Herbert Brown, James Donahue, William Harris,
Milton Maxwell, Joanne, Anne R. Taylor, and William Walsh.

ABOLITION Now


“Te

FREE, James, Jr., white, LI IL@ ( DuPage) March 22, 1995

0
Killer Executed In Illinois

AP 22 Mar 95 2:10 EST V0O532 _

Copyright 1995 The Associated Press. All tights reserved.

JOULE?) Daye, (AP) -- A convicted killer was executed early
Wednesday by injection, while another awaited death in what was to be
Illinois’ first double execution in more than than 42 years.

James Free, 41, convitted of murdering an office worker, was
executed at Stateville Correctional Center. Hernando Williams was
scheduled to die an hour later. , saree | :

_ Williams, 40, pleaded guilty to abducting, raping and shooting to
, Geath a childbirth instructor. he had held prisoner in the trunk of
his car for 36 hours. :

Both killings were in 1978. The dual execution was a matter of
coincidence; the state Supreme Court set the execution dates.

Free was the third person executed since Illinois reinstated the
death penalty in 1977; Williams was to be the fourth. The state’s
last double execution was Oct. LY hOB uk |

Only Texas and Arkansas have executed moré than one person on a
Single day since the Supreme Court allowed capital punishment to
resume in 1976. Texas put two men to death Jan. 31. Arkansas executed
two on May 11 and three on Aug. 3.

Free lost what might have been his last appeal late Tuesday when
the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a bid to delay his execution.

Meanwhile, a federal appeals court rebuffed Williams’ request for
a stay. Attorneys had held out the possibility that Free might file a
new petition if Williams was granted a stay. .

Williams, who igs black, contended that blacks were systematically
excluded from the jury that decided he was eligible for the death
penalty. Both men also argued that the jury instructions were too
vague. ‘ | :

In Nebraska, Robert Williams, 58, had faced execution after
midnight Wendesday for shooting two women to death in 1977, but won a
temporary reprieve from the é6lectric chair by asking the three-member
state pardons board to give him a clemency hearing.

The board, which includes Gov. Ben Nelson, will meet at 9 a.m.
Wednesday to consider that request but there is nq guarantee Williams
will win a hearing. If he doesn’t, he still could be executed by
11:59 p.m. Wednesday. | a |

Williams said he had gone to see one of the women, a friend,
looking for sympathy over his divorce. Instead, she criticized him, .
so Williams shot her; the other woman, a neighbor, was shot when she
heard the noise and came over.

Nebraska had not had an execution for 35 years before Harold Otey
died in the electric chair Sept. 2.

+ S$

Chicago Tribune, Saturday, September 26, 1992

Section 1 5

}City/suburbs

Ruling may put state Death Row inmates in limbo

vy William Grady

~egal affairs writer

The, death sentences imposed on .

‘itwo-thirds of the inmates awaiting
sexecution in Illinois could be over-
iturned as a result of a federal
2court ruling that for the first time
saccepts research suggesting that
tthe jury instructions used in capi-
‘Ital cases are flawed.

In a 44-page ruling released Fri-
bday, U.S. District Judge Marvin
‘Aspen said he was persuaded by
@survey research done by a former
silaw: professor at the University of
>Chicago that many jurors are con-
\fused by the legal instructions
‘\judges give them to guide their de-
liberations over whether to impose
ithe death penalty. .

The immediate beneficiary of
the ruling is convicted killer James
Free Jr., who was sentenced to
death in 1979 in Du Page County
Circuit Court for the murder and
attempted rape of a woman in a
Glen Ellyn computer center.

Aspen set aside his sentence and
ordered that he be resentenced.

But the potential impact of the
ruling could be much broader, said

lawyers for Free and for the Ilh- .

nois Attorney General’s Office.
New sentencing hearings could
be required for any condemned in-
mate who opted to be sentenced
by a jury rather than a judge—an
estimated two-thirds of the 144 in-
mates now on Illinois Death
Row—if Aspen’s decision is

upheld on appeal, lawyers said.

“This is a very important deci-
sion,” said Kimball Anderson, a
lawyer at legal giant Winston &
Strawn, which is representing Free
without charge.

In Illinois, the death penalty can
be imposed on people 18 years old

‘or older who have been convicted

of killing a police officer, a fire-
fighter, a prison guard or a prison
inmate. It also may be imposed
for other types of murders, in-
cluding murder-for-hire, murder
during a drug deal or while com-
mitting another serious crime or
killing a witness to prevent him or
her from testifying.

The state’s death-penalty statute,
which was adopted in 1977, re-

quires judges or juries to balance
what are called aggravating and
mitigating factors before imposing
capital punishment. Aggravating
factors such as evidence of past
crimes weigh the scales of justice
toward imposing the death penal-
ty; mitigating evidence favorable
to the defendant is supposed to tip
the scales the other way.

Defense lawyers have long con-

‘tended that the state’s death-penal-

ty statute, which was adopted in
1977, is flawed because it seems to
favor imposing capital punish-
ment. They also have argued that
jury instructions used since the
late 1970s, and the language of the
law on which they are based, are
constitutionally inadequate to help

jurors make decisions in death-
penalty cases.

Courts, including the Illinois Su-
preme Court and the U.S. Court
of Appeals in Chicago, have re-
jected these arguments and have
upheld the constitutionality of the
death-penalty statute.

The U.S. Supreme Coutt also
has given tacit approval to the law
by turning back several direct
challenges to it.

But Aspen said the findings of
surveys done in 1990 and earlier
this year by the late Hans Zeisel, a
noted jury expert at the U. of C.,
raise questions about the assump-
tions underlying past court de-
cisions.

The results of questions asked of

people: called for jury service at
the Daley Center suggested that
between 40 percent and 68 per-
cént of potential jurors do not un-
derstand the guidance intended b
the jury instructions. 5
“The magnitude of these results
are staggering,” Aspen wrote.
Terence Madsen, chief of crimi-
nal appeals for the attorney
general’s office, said prosecutors
will appeal.
The attorney general’s office ar-
eh that Zeisel’s study was
awed. It contended that it did
not adequately measure what hap-
pens in real deliberations and that
it was suspect because Zeisel was
an acknowledged opponent of the
death penalty.

)
Killer Executed In Illinois

AP 22 Mar 95 1:53 EST vo524
Copyright 1995 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

The information contained in this news report may not be published,
broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written
authority of the Associated Press.

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) -- James Free, convicted of killing a suburban
Chicago office worker in 1978, was executed by lethal injection early
Wednesday to begin what was to be Illinois’ first double execution in
43 years.

Free was pronounced dead at approximately 12:40 a.m. at Stateville
Correctional Center after a rambling final statement, much of it
inaudible, in which he apologized for his crimes and blasted the
death penalty. : veo |

“Capital punishment is not the answer," Free said.

A second convicted killer, Hernando Williams, was to be executed
an hour after Free. His lawyers gave up on last-minute appeals early
Wednesday after being rebuffed by a federal appeals court in Chicago.

Free became the third man executed in Illinois since the state
reinstituted the death penalty in 1977.


©
2 Killers Executed In Illinois |

AP 22 Mar 95 6:52 EST V0593 .
Copyright 1995 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

The information contained in this news report may not be published,
broadcast or othérwise distributed without the prior written |
authority of the Associated Press. | .

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) -- Nearly 17 years ago, James Free and Hernando
Williams committed murders about a month apart. | s
Barly today, about an hour apart, they were strapped to hospital
gurneys, wheeled into a small. room at Stateville Correctional Center .

and executed by injection, ge |

it marked the first time since 1952 that Tllinoig has put two _
convicts to death on the same day, and increased to four the number
of inmates executed in the state since the death penalty was
reinstituted in 1977. Bh

The dual execution was a matter of coincidence; the state Supreme
Court set the execution dates. _

Only two other states have executed more than one person on a
Single day since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed capital punishment to
resume in 1976. Texas executed two men Jan. 3]. Arkansas put to death
two killers on May 11 and three on Aug. 3. _

Free, 41, was convicted of murdering an office worker in April
1978. Williams, 40, had pleaded guilty to abducting, raping and
shooting to death a childbirth instructor he had held prisoner in the
trunk of his car for 36 hours. in March 1978, |

Free was executed first and pronoun¢ed dead at 12:42 a.m. He gave
a long, rambling statement, parts of it inaudible, in which he asked
forgiveness for his crime and criticized the news media and the death
penalty. BS GO ae Mee Ua RE ts

Williams died a little more than an hour later, Described by
prison officials as jovial in his final hours, Williams had no
audible last words. Re eet :

Families of Free’s and Williams’ victims were allowed to watch the
executions on closed-circuit television from elsewhere in the prison.
They. left without speaking to reporters.

Both men had butterfly shrimp for their last meal; Free also ate

hominy, french fries, strawberry cheesecake and a soft drink. A Roman
Catholic priest said Mass for Free; Williams declined to meet with a
clergyman. Ba ae eh mn tn ie lt oe”

Lawyers for the two killers tried unsuccessfully Tuesday to delay
the executions. Williams was turned down by the Illinois Supreme
Court and a federal appeals court in Chicago, while Free’s last
appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.


John and Minnie Nungessor were
happily married until sudden death
intervened.

An indefinable fear clutched at
her heart when Nungessor pro-
posed. “I like you, John,” she hesi-
tated. “But marriage is such an
important step.”

Her heart cried out that her
words were a lie. Yet she forced
herself to say them. Nungessor’s
face fell. “You don’t love me,” he
said. The words were a dull thud in
the little room.

“Oh, yes I—_—” she caught her-
self.

“Then why won't you marry me?”

She was silent for only a mo-
ment. Yet to her it seemed eons
later when she answered his ques-
tion. “I do love you, John,” she
confessed. “But I’m afraid. You
know how Bob died.”

“Still letting his suicide get on
your nerves?” he demanded.

“It wasn’t suicide,” she flung
back. “It was murder!”

“If you think that, there must be

somebody you suspect. Why didn’t
you go to the authorities?”
* She averted her eyes. “I didn’t
see him die. I Know it was murder
but I can’t prove it. And now, I’m
afraid if I marry you-—_”

“Won’t you tell me who you
think killed Bob?” Nungessor asked
her gently.

Minnie turned away, gazed sor-
rowfully out the window. When she
turned once more to her young
man she was sobbing. “I can’t tell,”
she cried. “It might mean my life
as well.”

Minnie and John were married,
in spite of her fears and appre-
hensions. They settled on a small
farm of their own. As the months
lengthened into years, Minnie’s
fears were lulled into a sense of
security.

Perhaps she had been wrong in
her surmise about Bob’s sudden
death, so soon after their marriage,
she thought. Perhaps he did com-
mit suicide after all.

Two years passed, peacefully, un-
eventfully. The day of September
15 was no exception. Minnie sang
as she milked the cows, cleaned
the house, cooked for her man. The
hours passed quickly. Soon it was
night. Minnie glanced anxiously
out the window toward the road.
John had not come home from
town as soon as he expected. She
reassured herself with the thought
that perhaps he’d been delayed at
the feed store.

She sat down in a chair, took
up her sewing. Another hour pass-
ed. John did not come. Still anoth-
er hour winged by. Minnie Nun-
gessor began pacing the floor,
apprehension gnawing at the back
of her consciousness. Her mind
flashed back to the night she had
waited thus for Bob Kehrii.

In her anguish and anxiety the
minutes seemed to drag by as if
leaden. Somehow or other, she
managed to pass the time until
midnight. As the clock struck
twelve there was a knock on the
door. She ran to open it. Sheriff
Edward Deimling of Madison
County stood on the threshold, his
hat in his hand. y

Deimling’s expression caused
Minnie to cry out: “Something’s
happened to John?”

The portly, white haired officer
nodded. “I’m sorry to have to tell
you like this. He’s dead, Mrs. Nun-
gessor.”

The young woman was shocked
into momentary silence. It had
happened again. Was there no hap-
piness for her on this earth? She
sank into a nearby chair, began
sobbing.

The sheriff sat down in a rocker
opposite her, pulled at her sleeve.
“Please, I must ask you a few
questions. Did your husband have
any enemies?”

Her eyes flew open wide. “You
mean he was murdered?” °

Deimling inclined his head. |

“Some farmer found him on a
country lane near Highland, shot
twelve times.”

“Twelve times!” She covered her
face with her hands, sobbed con-
vulsively. When she had quieted
down -again, Deimling added: “He
was shot with three different
guns.”

‘The woman sat bolt upright.
“Does that mean that he was mur-
dered by threé persons?”

“That’s the impression the bul-
let holes give. Of course, a clever
Sschemer might have used three
guns to make it appear he was
shot by three different persons.
Now tell me, what about enemies?”

Minnie Nungessor gazed hard at
the opposite wall. She bit hard
into her full red lips. “Enemies?”
she echoed. “John was such a good
man. Seems odd to hear you talk
about enemies.” .

“Yet he was murdered,” Deim-
ling reminded her. “That he had
an enemy or enemies is certain.
Can’t you think of someone who
held a grudge, over property, live-
stock, or perhaps .. . yourself?”

At this last the widow flinched.
Dare she tell what she knew? No,
she could not. She was too afraid.
And she might. be wrong. She
shook her head slowly in the nega-
tive. “I don’t know who could have
killed John,” she added.

But the sheriff would not give
up so easily. He asked her many
questions about hers and John
Nungessor’s past. He finally suc-
ceeded in obtaining from her the
story of Bob Kehrli’s death. When
she said: “I never could believe
Bob killed himself,” Deimling sat
bolt upright. ;

Was there’ a connection be-
tween Kehril’s “suicide” and Nun-
gessor’s murder?

DE™LING talked with the widow

until early morning. Dawn
came up as he drove back to High-
land where Deputy Coroner Ever-

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1939, Frank B. Robinson.


oo

Oey

FRICKER, Emil, wh, hanged Edwardsville, IL on April 16, 1926

yY OU can’t do this to me!” The
y man’s voice was hoarse with

frustration and rage.

The beautiful, venus-like girl
tilted her regal head. There was
fierce determination in the outline
of her chin, stubborn resolve in
the set of her lovely shoulders. She
rose, started for the door.

The face of the man was hideous
with thwarted passion. His lips
twitched, his hands _ trembled.
Harshly, he jerked out: “I'll see
that both of you starve to death.
He won’t be able to get a job any-
where.”

Her sudden smile was a sneer.
‘You think you’re God, don’t you?
There are other places in the world.
We'll find one of them ... so far
away...”

In a flash his attitude changed,
his features softened. He was
humble, apologetic. “Away?” he
stammered. “Oh please, Minnie,
don't go away. If you must marry
Bob, go ahead.

“But don’t leave Clinton County.”
He paused, his eyes pleading. He
added: “I’ll even help Bob find a
job if you'll stay.”

Her blue eyes were dark with
suspicion. She studied his features
intently, as if puzzling over the
sudden change in his manner. She
appeared to hesitate. Then her
head went up again in the familiar
defiant gesture. “We must go
away,” she told him.

The man was desperate now.
There was frantic terror in his
eyes. He clutched at the sleeve of
her dress. “You can’t go away and
leave me. It will be torture to see
you married, but the sight of you
will keep me alive.”

The suspicion died out of her
eyes. Her body seemed to relax.
She said: “Oh, all right, if it
means that much to you. We'll
stick around.”

The man smiled eagerly. “You
send Bob around. I’ll see that he
gets a job. You won’t regret stay-
ing in the county.”

“T hope not,” she replied, a lit-
tle sharply.

Minnie Kehrli was to remember,
with bitter regret, those last three
words. She became the bride of
Bob Kehrli on Apri) 13. Both were
fortunate enough to find work on
the fine farm of Emil Fricker, one
of the wealthiest and most pros-
perous of Clinton County’s dairy
farmers.

Although the work was hard,
Minnie Kehrli didn’t mind. She
was married to the man she loved.
Her shoulders were as strong as
they were lovely. She had worked
around dairy farms ever since she
was a small child. She was very
happy. Her merry songs could be
heard in the fields where her hand-
some husband toiled.

On May 9, Minnie looked out the
door of her kitchen anxiously. Bob
had not come in from the fields.
Long purple_ shadows stole across
the evening sky. Twilight deepened
into darkness. Still Bob did not
come. She lighted the lamps, fid-
dled with the pots of food which
she had placed in the warming
oven.

Seven o’clock. Eight o’clock. Nine
o’clock. The hours passed slowly,
each weighted with agony for the
young bride. Finally, it was morn-
ing. In desperation, Minnie threw
a shawl over her head, raced to
the big house in which her em-
ployer and his family lived. “Bob
hasn’t come home,” she told the
husky land owner as he opened
the door for her. f

“Perhaps he went to Carlyle,”
Fricker suggested.

“He didn’t have on his good
clothes,” Minnie replied. “Oh, can’t
you do something? Can’t——”

Fricker studied his dairy maid’s
pretty face intently. A moment la-
ter, he said: “What’s the matter
with you, Minnie, hysterics?
There’s no cause for alarm just be-
cause Bob is late.”

“Late!” she shrieked. “He’s been

THE WOLF
FOR WOMEN

By ELOISE COOPER MACKEY

gone all night. He was never later
than sundown before. Never!”
Seeing that the girl was deter-
mined, Fricker consented to go
look for Kehrli. He set off through
the corn field adjacent to the
house. For more than an hour Min-
nie Kehrli waited at the big house.
She paced the floor like a trapped
animal, drummed on the window
pane with nervous fingers. As the
minutes piled up she grew more
and more worried, apprehensive.

Sheriff Edward Deimling talks to the man who was known as the “wolf for women.” Sheriff Deimling is now deceased.

24

Fricker returned, finally. His face
was the color of putty. He looked
as if he had seen a ghost. He be-
gan, haltingly: “Minnie, you must
be brave.”

The girl flung herself upon him
as she cried out: “Something’s
happened to Bob?” She tugged at
his arm for confirmation. He slow-
ly inclined his head. She whisper-
ed: “Is he—dead?”

The man’s voice was gentle. “I
found him in the woods—shot
through the head. There’s a gun
beside him. Looks like he killed
himself.”

For a fleeting moment, rank dis-
belief shone on her face. Her body
Swayed and she crumpled into a
heap at Fricker’s feet. Immediate-
ly, other members of the house-
hold were aroused. They adminis-
tered to the bereaved woman.
Fricker phoned Carlyle, Dlinois for
the sheriff, a doctor and an ambu-
lance.

Days later, the sheriff talked the
matter over with Emil Fricker. “It
still looks like murder to me,” he
stated. “I can’t find a motive for
his committing suicide.”

“But there’s no motive for mur-
der, either,” the dairy man pointed
out. “He had no money, no insur-
ance. No one was mad at him. No
one harbored any revenge.”

The sheriff’s eyes narrowed. ““I
wonder,” he replied enigmatically.

Several days later the coroner’s
jury returned a verdict of “suicide.”
Minnie Kehrli remained on at the
Fricker establishment in her role
of dairy maid.

WO years later, John Nungessor,

a handsome young farmer of
the neighborhood, courted Minnie,
asked her to marry him. The young
woman was still as beautiful as
ever. But there were shadows °*
around her fine blue eyes—shad-
ows of grief and pain.


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| devoted to John.

ett Tibbetts, Highland’s Chief of
Police Tony Winters and Chief
Deputy Thomas Dooner discussed
the mystery in Winters’ office.

The sheriff asked Tibbetts: “Find
out anything more about Nunges-
sor’s death from the autopsy?”

Tibbetts’ faint, grim smile was a
little rueful. “Those bullet holes
made a sieve of his body. But they
didn’t kill him. He died of a brok-
en neck!”

“Probably caused by the run-
away horses,” Deimling said. He
paused. Presently, he inquired:
“Any ideas as to who killed him?”

Chief Winters spoke up. “Not an
idea, nor a clue. Nungessor had
no enemies as far as we can find
out. He owed no one, had no finan-
cial difficulties with anybody.
Everyone admired and _ respected
him.”

The sheriff was silent as he di-
gested these facts. Finally, he ask-
ed: “What about that pretty wife
of his? Maybe she was the motive.”

Winters shook his head. “Not a
chance, Sheriff. Minnie was utterly
Dozens of wit-
nesses have told us that. She never
looked at another man after she
married him.”

Deimling took out his pocket-
knife, swung it about on its tiny
gold chain. Presently, he said: “Do
you still think Bob Kehrli’s death
was suicide?”

Winters spoke up. “Fricker’s farm
is out of my district. But I did
hear something about the case at
the time. Couldn’t find any motive,
could they?”

“No. No motive for either suicide
or murder. Seems very odd.”

Winters glanced up_ sharply,
peered at the sheriff from .under
heavy eyebrows. “Do you think Bob
Kehrli was murdered, Sheriff?”

Deimling shifted around in his
chair. “I haven’t decided. But I
can’t get away from a feeling that
Kehrli’s and Nungessor’s deaths
are somehow connected.”

The sheriff drove home to the
county seat in Edwardsville, grab-
bed a couple of hours sleep, then
returned to Highland where he re-
doubled his efforts to get a line
on John Nungessor’s mysterious
death. Consulting the physician
who performed the Nungessor au-
topsy, Deimling learned that the
three different kinds of bullets
taken from the body were from
32 Colt, .25 Colt and 32 Break-
open revolvers, The sheriff jotted
down these facts, pocketed the

slugs.
He drove about the countryside
for several hours’ interviewing

friends, relatives and acquaintan-
ces of Mr. and Mrs. Nungessor. He
asked dozens of leading questions.
He strove to obtain some clue
which would form the connecting
link between the mysterious deaths
of Minnie Nungessor’s two loves.
His tremendous effort was in vain,
however. Not one of the several
dozens of persons he talked with
could shed any light on the mys-
tery.

By this time, Mrs. Nungessor had
arranged for her husband’s funeral
and had returned to her farm
home. Deimling called on her
again. :

“Sorry to bother you this way,”
the sheriff apologized. “But I can’t
seem to get anywhere. No one
seems to know a thing.”

Minnie Nungessor’s gaze was
steady. “And you think I can help

you?” she asked him frankly

“I’m hoping you can,” Deimling
told her. “I want you to think care-
fully over my question. Did your
husband or you have difficulty with
anyone? Anything which lead to
court?”

Mrs. Nungessor gave the question
long consideration. Presently, she
spoke, haltingly, “There was a lit-
tle something. I sued my former
employer, Emil Fricker, for back
wages.”

“For what amount?”

“Fifteen hundred dollars.”

“Who won the suit?”

“Tad.”

“And did he pay?”

The woman hesitated, as if
loathe to discuss the subject. “Yes,
he paid one installment.”

“And why didn’t he pay the rest
of it?”

She twisted her hands nervously.
“I didn’t go after the rest. I guess
he would have paid it if I had.”

“Why didn’t you go after it?”
Deimling persisted.

Minnie’s face flushed. “It just
seemed more trouble than it was
worth,” she replied.

Deimling was not satisfied with
this answer. He left Mrs. Nunges-
sor, visited several of John Nun-
gessor’s relatives, asked them about
the suit. He kept pounding away
to learn the reason why the beau-
tiful dairy maid had not collected
the rest of the installments. 4

He could see that the witnesses
were not giving him complete
statements. Finally, after a dozen
failures. He told one witness: “If
you don’t tell me the truth, I’ll
have to hold you for questioning!”

The face of the witness reddened
“Don’t like to drag out family
skeletons, Sheriff,” he murmured.
“Truth is, the second time Minnie
went after her back pay, she didn’t
come back home. John waited until
nearly midnight, then asked me to
go with him and see what was up.”

“And what was keeping her?”

“We didn’t find out until we got
to John’s place. Then, after John
badgered her with questions for a
while, she finally blurted out that
Fricker wouldn’t let her come
home.”

“Why?”

“Minnie never did give us any
satisfaction on that point, Sher-
iff.”

Deimling sped back to Mrs. Nun-
gessor, acquainted her with what
he had learned. “Why did Fricker
prevent you from going home?” he
persisted.

The pretty woman hesitated, her
eyes darting about the room. She
said: “He wanted me to come back
and work for him. I guess he
thought if he kept me at his
house long enough he could per-
suade me.” ,

“And why did he especially want
you?”

Minnie smiled. “I guess it’s be-
cause I’m so strong and so quick
with the work,” she replied.

Try as he would, Sheriff Deim-
ling could elicit no further infor-
mation from the widow.

He: drove to the Fricker farm,
talked with the wealthy farmer. He
put his questions adroitly. If Frick-
er were mixed up in this, direct
questions would put him on his
guard. The landowner answered
Deimling’s questions in a straight-
forward manner, however, and
Deimling was soon convinced that
Fricker’s only motive in keeping


*

Minnie Nungessor so long at the
farm was as she said: to try and
persuade her to return to his em-
ploy.

Deimling was not daunted by his
failure, however. He went back to
Nungessor’s mother. During their
conversation, she said: “I guess
Minnie won’t bother to move to
the new place now.”

Immediately, the sheriff’s inter-
est was aroused. “Why were they
going to move?”

The elderly woman picked at an
imaginary thread on her sleeve.
“John got the idea something was
going to happen to him if he stay-
ed in that neighborhood.”

“Did he say what he was afraid
of?”

“No, he didn’t. Sometimes I
thought he was afraid of being
killed accidentally. He wouldn’t go
on a dynamite party.”

The sheriff strove to hide the
elation her words stirred within
him. “What dynamite party?” he
asked casually.

Mrs. Nungessor replied: “Jake
Landert and Eldo Wernle asked
John to help them dynamite some
fish in a pond close by. John
wouldn't go because he was afraid
something might happen.”

It was a very slim lead, indeed,
the sheriff reflected, but it was
better than nothing. He drove
about the countryside, asking ques-
tions about Jake Landert and Eldo
Wernle. Both men were friends of
John Nungessor, he learned. Lan-
dert worked for Fricker, stayed on
the place. Wernle was proprietor
of a shoe shop in Highland.

Landert seemed a very well re-
spected man in the community, a
hard worker. Fricker commended
him highly.

Deimling drove to Highland,
probed more deeply into the life
of Wernle.

The young man was the husband
of Emil Fricker’s daughter, he
learned, and was well respected
in Highland.

Was it because he was afraid of
accidental death that Nungessor
refused to go dynamiting with
these men? Or was there a more
insidious reason for his action?

Deimling probed this angle re-
lentlessly, but it only led him
eventually to dead ends.

He began working from a differ-
ent angle. Nungessor’s murder had
all the earmarks of a gang killing.
The way his body was riddled with
bullets, and the fact that he was
shot from ambush. Yet, there was
no reason in Nungessor’s life for
gang vengeance. The dead man’s
brother told the sheriff: “I don’t
reckon John even so much as saw
a gangster during his whole life.”

Deimling canvassed the farm-
houses along the road where Nun-
gessor’s body was found, asked if
anyone had seen or heard any-
thing suspicious. This effort netted
only one result. A farmer told
Sheriff Deimling that he had seen
Eldo Wernle pass by in a Ford
coupe came along before John Nun-
gessor came along with this wagon
and team. One other witness had
seen the Ford coupe, but did not
know who was driving it.

The sheriff was struck by the
coincidence of Wernle’s name crop-
ping up again. He resolved to find
out at once if Wernle’s being in
the neighborhood of the crime just
before its commission meant any-
thing. He went to Wernle’s shoe

shop, asked the man: “Why were
you driving in the country the af-
ternoon John Nungessor was mur-
dered?”

Wernle glanced up from the last
on whieh he was pounding a tack
down into a child’s slipper. He said:
“I took my wife out to see her
father.”

Deimling replied: “John Nun-
gessor was murdered not thirty
minutes after you passed him on
the road.” ;

“So what?” Wernle snapped back.
“Didn’t you ever hear of the long
arm of coincidence?”

Deimling mopped his perspiring
brow with a handkerchief. “Yes,
I’ve heard of the long arm of coin-
cidence, Wernle. But there’s anoth-
er long arm to think of—the long
arm of the law. If you’re mixed
up in the Nungessor killing we’ll
get you sooner or later.” ‘

Wernle smiled faintly. “I don’t
know a thing, Sheriff. Forget my
wisecrack, will you?”

Sheriff Deimling left the shoe
shop but he did not forget Wernle’s
snappy retort about coincidence.
He checked again with the wit-
nesses who had seen Wernle in
the Ford coupe. Both witnesses de-
clared that there was no woman,
but two men in the Ford coupe!

It was patent to the sheriff that
Wernle had lied. Was he shielding
himself or someone else?

The sheriff felt that he now had
something tangible to work on. He
interviewed mutual acquaintances
of Wernle and Nungessor. He got
the jump on them by framing his
question this way: “What caused
Eldo Wernle to have it in for John
Nungessor?”

His question brought surprising
results. The twelfth person inter-
viewed replied: “I guess it’s about
those pigeons I heard Wernle stole,
Sheriff. Somebody turned him in
and it seems he always thought it
was John Nungessor.”

At last, someone had suggested a
motive for the crime. Revenge! Had
Wernle killed John Nungessor: in
order to settle the old score?

Deimling lost no time in ac-
quainting Chief Winters with what
he had learned. Winters accompa-
nied the sheriff to Wernle’s shop
where they took him in custody.

The sheriff and Winters shot a
barrage of questions at the lanky
young shoe man, throughout the
afternoon and evening. Stubbornly,
Wernle clung to his plea of inno-
cence, stuck to his story that his
wife was with him in the Ford
coupe, even in the face of two
witnesses’ testimony to the con-
trary. Throughout the long hours
of the night, he was grilled rigor-
ously. Still he refused to admit
knowing anything about Nunges-
sor’s death.

Sheriff Deimling searched Wern-
le’s house for a gun, found none.

In spite of this, he had a feeling
that he was on the right. track.
He booked Wernle—“hold for
questioning.” Then he started out
to gather more evidence. He was
determined to prove either that
Wernle was guilty of that he was
innocent.

First, he sought to ascertain the
identity of the man in the coupe
with him. But here he met with
total failure. The witnesses had
not recognized the other man.

Arguing that a man who has one
enemy might have another, Deim-
ling strove to find other parties

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have his daughter unless I did as
"he wanted me to.”

“Did he say why he wanted Nun-
gessor killed?” Deimling interposed.

“Yes. He said he wanted Minnie
back.”

Wernle explained in detail how
the crime was committed. His story
coincided in every item with Lan-
dert’s confession. He concluded: “I
didn’t have anything against Nun-
gessor. Fricker is the one who
made up that pigeon tale. But I
knew if I didn’t help kill him,
Fricker would kill me.”

Deimling and Winters sped out to
Fricker’s farm, told him he was
under arrest for the murder of
John Nungessor. The portly far-
mer’s shoulders twitched when he
heard the news. But his steely grey
eyes bore into Deimling’s calmly,
without the slightest trace of ner-
vousness. “You're barking up the
wrong tree, gentlemen,” he object-
ed.

The two men did not argue with
Fricker. They saw from his man-
ner that he would probably never
confess. They took him to High-
land, locked him up. Fricker taun-
ted them: “You’ve got nothing on
me.”

Deimling replied: ‘““We’ve got the
statements of Landert and
Wernle.”

Fricker threw back his head,
laughed uproariously. “What good
is the word of two self-confessed
murderers against an honest citi-
zen like me?”

The sheriff walked away from
his cell. Fricker was right. Al-
though he was certain of Fricker’s
guilt, he must have more evidence
or the wily killer would be loosed
to kill again and again.

Perhaps the citizens of Clinton
and Madison Counties would loosen
up and talk if they knew Fricker
was put away where he could do
them no harm. Deimling’s surmise
was correct. One of Fricker’s for-
mer employees told the sheriff that
Fricker had sought to hire him to
kill Nungessor.

“I was courting his daughter at
the time,” the young man contin-
ued. “I didn’t want to have any
part in a killing. But he got so
persistent that I finally had to
leave the state. I didn’t come back
until after I heard his daughter
had married someone else.”

Deimling sped to the Nungessor
home, spread his facts before the
grief-ridden widow. “You can tell
us the whole truth now, Minnie,”
he told her. “We know Fricker en-
gineered your husband’s murder
because he wanted you back. But
it wasn’t because you were such a
good dairy maid, was it?”

The young woman burst into
tears. She struggled to gain con-
trol of her emotions. Finally, with
quivering lips, she said: “You're
right. Fricker wanted me, for him-
self. He told me he liked me better
than his wife.”

“You mean he wanted you to
marry him?”

“Oh, no. He didn’t want to get
rid of his wife. He just wanted me
extra—because' I was young, and
strong.”

But she did not give in to his
desires. She was really a good wom-
an.

Uncontrollable sobs wracked the
young woman’s beautiful body. She
raised her tear-stained face. “He
tried several times to get me to
leave John. He even threatened

me with a gun when I tried to
collect my back pay from him. He
locked me up when John came
after me. So John and I decided
to move. I guess that caused Frick-
er to hurry up with his terrible
scheme.”

Deimling asked: “Do you think
Fricker killed Bob Kehrli?”

“T’ve always felt that he did.
But there’s nothing to prove it.”

Deéimling pursed his lips
thoughtfully. “I wonder. There’s no
such thing as a perfect crime. If
Fricker killed your first husband,
there must be some way of proving
£2" ‘

The sheriff again talked to Frick-
er, urged him to confess. The far-
mer laughed in Deimling’s face.
“You can’t prove a thing on me,”
he boasted.

Deimling conferred with J. P.
Streuber, prosecuting attorney. To-
gether, they prepared the case for
the grand jury. Several days later,
Deimling received word that he
was wanted at the Clinton County
Home in Carlyle “about the Frick-
er case.”

The white haired sheriff sped
down there in his car. He was
taken to. the room of an elderly
man suffering from a complieation
of heart disease and asthma. The
old man stretched out his hand to
the sheriff. He. said his name was
Rudolf Kamuf.

“Had to get something off my
conscience,” he explained: “I be-
lieve Fricker killed Bob Kehrli.”

Deimling leaned forward over the
bed eagerly. “How do you know?”

“I worked on the Fricker farm
when Minnie married Bob. Fricker
was fit to be tied. He asked me to
kill the young man. I said I would
not. He talked about killing Kehrli
for several weeks. One day, he
came back from the woods and
said: ‘Come on down into the
woods with me: I’ve got Bob Kehrili
exactly where I want him’.

“T said: ‘You can’t kill him, Emil.
The law will get you for it.’ But
he just laughed at me, waved a
gun in my face and made me walk
down into the woods. I could see
that Bob was dead drunk. Fricker
had given him enough liquor to
kill ‘him.

“I turned, ran away. I knew
Fricker was going to kill him and
I didn’t want to be mixed up in it.
As I walked away I heard a shot.
Fricker caught up with me a few
minutes later. He said: ‘Well, he’s
done for. I have the satisfaction of
knowing he didn’t get ahead of
me.’

“On the following day’ Fricker
made me go down into the woods
with him again. I saw Bob Kehrli
laying there in the leaves—dead.”

The old man paused for breath.

Deimling asked: ‘Why didn’t, you
tell the authorities about this?”

Kamuf gasped for breath. “I was
afraid. Fricker would have killed
me. But now I can die easy. It’s
off my conscience.”

On Sept. 22, 1924, the Madison
County grand jury indicted Emil
Fricker, Eldo Wernle and Jake
Landert for the murder of John
Nungessor. Landert and Wernle en-
tered a not guilty plea on the basis
that they had been forced into the
murder plot. Fricker denied all
charges.

A few days later, Fricker ‘was
brought to trial for the murder of
Bob Kehrli,. Rudolf Kamtf and

Minnie Nungessor were star wit-
nesses for the state.

For seven days, the legal battle
was waged. It ended with the jury
bringing in a guilty verdict and
recommending life imprisonment.
Shortly after the trial, Rudolf
Kamuf passed away. The state’s
case had not been presented any
too. soon!

Wernle and Landert were pre-
vailed upon to plead guilty. They
did so and were given life senten-
ces for their part in the ghastly
crime. They testified against Emil
Fricker when the latter was tried
for the Nungessor murder. But the
jury failed to agree and was dis-
missed

Jesse R. Brown succeeded
Streuber as county prosecutor at
this time. He was later to become
a circuit judge. He handled the
prosecution at Fricker’s third trial,
with the result that the jury found
him guilty on April 3, 1925. He was
sentenced to be hanged.

On Friday, April 16, 1926, Emil
Fricker’s strong body plunged
through the death trap on the gal-
lows in the Madison County jail
yard. As he swung at the end of
the knotted rope, he was a lesson
to all who beheld the execution,
a lesson the moral of which is
“You can’t get away with murder.”

APE MAN KILLER
(Continued from page 7)

know what I had done. Maybe the
pawnshop has a record of the num-
ber.”

_The pawnshop records quickly
revealed the number of the stolen
watch and the hunt was on. By
wire, by teletype, by radio that
number sped on crackling wings
to all the Eastern seaboard. Find
the watch and we can find a mur-
derer, the electric message said.

Unknown to the Metropolitan
Police of Washington, the raping,
strangling phantom had made his
first mistake. He will regret this
stupid error as long as he lives;
the lure of the glittering, inex-
pensive wristwatch was destined to
betray him.

Detectives Carroll and O’Connor
worked hard and long to break the
Andersen murder case. They knew
that the missing watch was their
only real clue; so most of their
time was spent in pawnshops, going
through records, examining pawn
tickets, hoping to find that serial
number. Day and night they work-
ed at this prosaic. task, probably
the most monotonous job connect-
ed with police work. But finally
their efforts bore fruit.

On August 28th the two weary
sleuths entered a shop in the Negro
section of Harlem. Again the
routine search began, and soon
they found the number.

“Is this watch here now?” De-
tective O’Connor asked holding up
the ticket.

“Sure, that’s here,” the pawn-
broker replied. “I only took it in
a few days ago. What’s more,
Charles Wollfolk is really the man’s
name; I know him personally.”

Wollfolk, the man who had
pawned the watch, lived at 6 East
113th Street, just around the cor-
ner from the shop. The detectives
had no trouble finding him.

(Continued on page 32)

31

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who might have held a grudge
* against the young farmer. For sev-
eral days he had tough going.
Either the many persons he inter-
viewed didn’t know anything, or
they were afraid to tell all they
knew. The sheriff received the dis-
tinct impression from more than
one witness that he or she was
holding something back.

After tremendous effort, Deim-
ling found a young man who as-
serted that Jake Landert had talk-
ed about going to Nungessor’s
place and blacking his eyes.

Landert, the sheriff remembered,
was the other man who with
Wernle sought to get Nungessor to
go on a fish dynamiting spree. He
asked: “Why did Landert want to
black Nungessor’s eyes?”

The youth shrugged. “All I know
is he tried to get me to drive him
out there.”

“But there must have been some
reason for his wanting to do that,”
Deimling persisted.

The young man eyed the sheriff
thoughtfully. Was there just a
flicker of indecision in the young
blue eyes? Apparently not, for the
youth still insisted he didn’t know
the cause of enmity between Lan-
dert and Nungessor.

Sheriff Deimling and Chief Win-
ters went out to the Fricker farm,
took the hired man into custody.
As the man shucked into his coat,
put on his hat, Deimling searched
his living quarters. A moment
later, he came back into the room
with Winters and Landert.

“Look what I’ve found!” he ex-
claimed. He extended the palms of
his hands. He held three revolvers.
Winters could see that one was a
32. Colt, another a .25 Colt and a
third a 32 Breakopen!

“What are you doing with these
guns, Landert?” he asked the man
sternly.

The handy man clamped his
thin lips into a tight line, refused
to say anything.

At the police headquarters in
Highland Landert insisted that he
had worked in the fields during the
entire day of John Nungessor’s
murder. ~

“But you were seen in Wernle’s
car near the murder spot,” Deim-
ling flung back at him. It was a
shot in the dark. Deimling almost
held his breath while waiting for
an answer.

Landert’s face underwent a swift
change. He pulled the corners of
his mouth down. He twisted his
hands nervously. Finally, he blurt-
ed out: “You’ve got me dead to
right. I did it. I killed John Nun-
gessor!”

Deimling immediately summoned
witnesses to hear Landert’s formal
confession. But when the witness-
es had assembled, Landert put his
lips together tightly, refused to
amplify his statement one iota.

“Tll find a way of making you
talk,” Deimling told him coldly. He
ordered Landert back to his cell,
asked that Eldo Wernle be brought
to Tony Winters’ office.

“Landert has confessed,” he told

Wernle. “What have you got to
say?”
Wernle’s dark eyes’ snapped.

“Nothing,” he replied crisply.
Several hours of questioning fail-
ed to budge him from this stand.
Deimling and Winters went into
a conference in the latter’s office.
I feel sure that Landert’s telling

the truth when he says he shot
John Nungessor. But I feel equally
certain that Eldo Wernle is in-
volved. There were three guns. It
stands to reason there was still
another with Wernle and Nunges-
sor. Either the third party was on
the scene and fired one of the
guns, or else he was the instigator
of the plot.”

“What makes you think three
guns means three killers?” asked
Winters. “Maybe Landert and
Wernle wanted it to appear that
there were three.”

Deimling shook his head. “TI still
believe there were three men in-
volved. Evidently, the leader of the
plot wanted this to look like a
gang killing.

“He wanted to use a number of
guns. Now why did he happen to
choose three?”

“Maybe that’s all he could scare
up.”

“I don’t think so. I think he
unconsciously chose three because
there were three of them in on the
plot!”

A silence fell between the two
men. Finally, Deimling said: “I’ve
got to find out who that third
party is.”

Deimling went back, in their dis-
cussion, over all the facts at hand.
“There’s Bob Kehrli’s death, which
I think is connected with Nunges-
sor’s. Now Wernle may have been
sore at Nungessor for fingering
him on the pigeon job, but he
couldn’t have been sore at Kehrli
for the same reason.”

“And Landert didn’t even know
Kehrli,” Winters put in.

“You're wrong there,” Deimling
told him, “Landert has been with
Emil Fricker for fifteen years. Bob
Kehrli worked on the Fricker farm
after he and Minnie were married.
They were bound to have been ac-
quainted.”

“But where does that get us?”
objected Winters. -

“Just this,” replied Deimling,
hitching his chair forward, eleva-
ting his feet to another chair. “We
haven’t yet discovered the real mo-
tive for Nungessor’s. murder. Now,
if the Kehrli and Nungessor cases
are connected, what is the link
between them? What did the two
men have in common?”

Winters’ eyes opened wide in sur-
prise. “They married the same
woman,” he replied in an awed
voice.. ‘Do you suppose Wernle or
Landert wanted Minnie?”

“I’m going to check on that at
once,” Deimling told him.

Sheriff Deimling concentrated on
Eldo Wernle first. He learned that
Wernle was happily married, al-
though his early married life had
been fraught with difficulty.

“Mr. Fricker didn’t want Wernle
to marry his daughter,” an inform-
ant told the sheriff. “So they
eloped, got married anyway. It was
more than a year before they dared
put foot on Fricker’s place he was
so sore about it.”

“But Fricker finally became re-
conciled?” asked the sheriff.

“Sure. He and Wernle are great
friends now.”

Deimling had his doubts about
this last statement. If they were
such great friends, why didn’t
Fricker sign Wernle’s bond? He
had not even attempted to effect
his son-in-law’s release.

It was clear to the sheriff that
Wernle had not been interested in

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Minnie Nungessor, Hence, if Deim-
os deductions were correct, it
followed that Wernle was only a
secondary member of the plot. Was
Landert the schemer who had mo-
tivated the murder?

Eagerly, Deimling went to work
upon this angle. He soon learned
that Landert Was a confirmed
woman hater, had never noticed
Minnie Nungessor dn the least.

Was Deimling’s “third party” the
one who schemed for Nungessor’s
murder? If so, who was he?

The sheriff gave these questions
long thought as he drove over the
highways and by-ways of Madison
and Clinton Counties. Without de-
liberate intention, his mind stray-
ed back to the incident of Minnie
Nungessor’s suit against Emil
Fricker. As he recalled that, he re-
called something else:

Fricker’s name had cropped up
with regular frequency in this mur-
der business.

He was Landert’s employer, and
Wernle’s father-in-law. Not only
that, but he was suddenly bosom
pals with a son-in-law he had
started out disliking. Did this mean
that the change from enmity to
friendship had been occasioned by
some placating action on Wernle’s
part?

Believing that Minnie was still

~the link between the two murders,

Deimling probed more thoroughly
into Minnie Nungessor’s private af-
fairs. He learned that when she
married Nungessor she had eloped.
Now Minnie had been an orphan
since a baby. And Nungessor’s rela-
tives did not object to the union.
Why, then, did they feel it neces-
Sary to elope?

As the sheriff puzzled over this
fact, he learned something else
which seemed to give the elope-
ment significance. Minnie had be-
gun her life as a dairy maid at
the age of fifteen. Her first and
only employer was Emil ‘Fricker.
She had been working for him
when she eloped with Nungessor.

This looked very significant to
the sheriff. But how was he to
prove anything from such intan-
gible facts?

Suddenly, Deimling remembered
the youth who had given the ini-
tial testimony against Landert. He
drove to the youth’s home, faced
him squarely. “Look here, you
didn’t tell me the whole truth
when you said Jake Landert want-
ed you to drive him over to black
John Nungessor’s eyes. We've
found out Landert had no personal
grudge against Nungessor. Yet he’s
confessed to killing him. That
means he did it for someone else.
Now, who was it that Landert
wanted to avenge?”

The youth hung his head. “I was
afraid to tell you. He’s a mighty
mean man.” F

“Who?” the sheriff demanded.

Something in his tone was so
compelling that the young man
jerked out: “He wanted to do it
for Emil Fricker!”

The sheriff sat down in a nearby
chair. He had not hoped for this
much. He asked: “Did Fricker him-
self ever approach you on such a
Proposition?”

“Well, not exactly. But I did
drive Fricker out to Nungessor’s
place a couple of times.”

“Did he make a habit of visiting
with the Nungessors?”

“I should say not. He hated Nun-
gessor’s insides. I don’t know why

he went out there. He never went
in. He’d just look the Place over
and then we'd drive away. It got
so it made me nervous, his doing
that. I refused to take him there
any more.”

Deimling thanked the youth and
hurried away. He felt that he had
struck pay dirt at last. No doubt
Fricker had driven to Nungessor’s
to get a line on its location. Evi-
dently, he had planned for a long

: time to settle a score with Nun.
‘ gessor for abetting his wife in the

suit? Or did he hate Nungessor for
taking away his expert dairy maid?

Or was it Something more than
that? Was Emil Fricker enamored
of his beautiful chore girl? ;

Humming a tune, Deimling went
back to the Highland jail, went
directly to Landert’s cell. He peer-
ed through the bars, gazed deeply
into the farm hand’s weary look-
ing eyes. He said softly; “Did you
do it for Emil Fricker, Jake?”

The man shifted in his bunk. “I
don’t know what you're driving at,”
he replied in a surly tone.

“Fricker was in love with Min-
nie, wasn’t he?” Deimling persisted,
in the same gentle, though deadly
tone.

“I don’t know anything about
that,” Landert retorted.

Deimling straightened, assumed
a@ more stern tone. “Look here,
Landert, I know Fricker hired yoy
and Eldo Wernle to kill John Nun-
gessor for him. Maybe you don't
know the exact motive. But tell
me: he did hire you, didn’t he?”

Landert’s dull eyes wandered to
the ceiling. “Yes, he did,” he said
at length. “He kept at me about
it for a long time. I even ran away
to get away from him. But he kept
giving me liquor, promised he’d
give me $250 to do it. I got on my
uppers and, well, I gave in.”

“Why didn’t he do it himself?”
asked the sheriff. “Did he tell you
that?”

“Yes. He said he’d be suspected
on account of what happened to
Bob Kehrli.”

“Did he think people suspected
him of killing Minnie’s first hus-
band?”

Landert nodded. “He was sure
of it. That’s why he wanted some-
one else to do the killing.”

“So you and Wernle thought up
the dynamite stunt, didn’t you?”

“No, Fricker planned that. But
the plan went haywire. Nungessor
wouldn’t come to the pond with
us,”

Landert further explained that
Fricker gave them three guns in
order that the crime would appear
to be the work of three men. He
told how he and Wernle waited for
Nungessor, shot him in cold blood,
causing his horses to break into
a run.

Deimling immediately brought
Wernle and Landert face to face.
“Jake has confessed everything,”
he told the shoe repair man. “I ad-
vise .you to do the same. The court
might take it into consideration.”

Landert spoke up: “It will go
easier on us if we confess.”

Wernle slumped against the back
of his chair. He passed his hand
over his forehead, muttering:
“Guess we might as well tell. No
use in taking. all the punishment
for another’s crime.” He paused a
moment, then resymed: “Fricker
began trying to get me to kill John
when I was keeping company with,
his daughter. He said I couldn't


TRUE DETECTIVE,

OUNG JOHN NUNGESSOR was tired. He had

worked hard all day on a new farm near Highland,

Illinois, to which he intended to move soon. “Guess

I'll be getting along home—Minnie’ll be expecting me,”
he muttered to himself as he mounted his wagon. He spoke
to his team and the horses started forward at a brisk trot
along the dust-covered country road.

John smiled as he thought of his affectionate young wife.
Although they had been married two years now, they were
still like honeymooners. Each evening the young farmer
looked forward to Minnie’s cheery greeting.

Nungessor had not driven fur before he noticed two men
standing at the side of the road adjoining a cornfield. Ap-
parently he recognized them for he drew up his reins sharply.
“Whoa,” he called.

The smile on John’s face faded when one of the men,
approaching him, suddenly whipped out a gun and fired
pointblank at the young farmer, striking him squarely in
the pit of the stomach. Nungessor doubled up in pain. “I
thought you were friends,” he cried, bewildered.

Deliberately, the “friends” began firing simultaneously,
riddling the wounded man’s body with bullets. Nungessor
collapsed under the fusillade and fell heavily to the ground.
The horses, terrified by the shooting, plunged forward along
the road toward Highland.

66

June, 1937

SLAIN

(Left) A killer’s last stand—
the dramatic moment before
the gallows trap was sprung.
(Above) Robert Kehrli, first
of the bridegrooms to die

For a good mile they raced on until fatigue caused them
to slow up. A farmer who knew Nungessor came upon them
on the outskirts of Highland. “That’s young Nungessor’s
team,” he exclaimed in alarm, “I wonder what’s happened?
Could they have thrown him?”

He led the horses, still hitched to the wagon, to the police
station where he turned them over to Chief of Police Tony
Winters.

Winters had just finished a phone call. He listened to
the farmer’s report. “John’s dead,” he cut in sharply.

“Dead?”

“Yes. Charley Burton just called me. They found him
a piece up the old Indian trail. He’s all bloody and bat-
tered. The Coroner’s going there with me. He'll be along
in five minutes.”

It was a short ride by auto from Highland to the scene
of the tragedy. Deputy Coroner Everett Tibbetts’ hurried
but thorough examination disclosed a dozen bullet wounds
in Nungessor’s body. There were no guns lying about. “It
must have been a gang assassination,” he suggested.

Winters shook his head decidedly. “Nungessor was a quiet
fellow—always minded his own business,” he retorted. “But
I had better call Sheriff Deimling at Edwardsville to take
charge.” Edward Deimling was the senior police official of
Madison County.

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BRIDEGROOMS

By PHIL A. PAUL

Leaving the body in Tibbetts’ hands to be removed to .

Highland for the inquest, Winters phoned the Edwardsville
Sheriff and prepared to ride to Nungessor’s home to perform
a task for which he had no relish—informing the widow of
her husband's brutal murder.

Much to Chief Winters’ surprise, Minnie Nungessor, 4
comely young woman in her middle twenties, took the news
almost calmly. With little visible emotion she prepared to
go to Highland to claim the body. Winters suddenly re-
called with a start that this was not her first tragic meeting
with an unkind fate.

Back in 1920 her first husband, Bob Kehrli, a World War
veteran, had died under mysterious circumstances a month
after their marriage.

Both had worked for wealthy Emil Fricker, Clinton County
dairyman, a person of substantial influence in the rich Illinois
dairy region. They had suddenly decided to marry and, on
April 13th, the knot was tied.

Bob and Minnie Kehrli had planned to go on living at the
Fricker home, continuing their tasks in the household of the
dairy farmer. And they were happy.

But all at once death shattered the dream of happiness of
this girl who apparently had met love for the first time.
Bob Kehrli was found in a wooded section of the Fricker
farm on May 10th—shot through the head. A revolver lay
beside his body.

No one could imagine why Kehrli should have destroyed
himself when his happiness and that of his pretty bride
seemed so complete. They were perfect mates. Tongues
wagged, of course. A vague rumor of murder filled the air,
but there was not the least bit of evidence pointing toward
murder. Everybody seemed to have liked genial Bob Kehrli.
The coroner’s jury ended discussion on the case with a
suicide verdict.

Minnie Nungessor, dazed by the tragedy that had robbed
her of her man, went on mechanically with her tasks at the
Fricker home. But she was not destined to remain a dairy
maid for long. Two years later, John Nungessor, a likeable
fellow two years her junior, fell in love with the dimpled
country girl and they were promptly married.

John was pretty well-to-do and ambitious. There was no
reason, he said, for his wife to continue as a dairy maid or
kitchen worker. The couple set up housekeeping on a small
farm. John was working on a piece of land he had recently
purchased when disaster overtook him.

While Minnie Nungessor made funeral arrangements for
her late spouse, Sheriff Deimling, energetic and fearless, took
over the investigation. To reporters at the time he said it
was the most brutal slaying of his long police experience.

The first thing Deimling did was scout for a motive for the
killing. No outsider stood to profit by Nungessor’s death,
the Sheriff soon learned. Jealousy hardly figured either, he
reasoned, for those who knew the Nungessors said Minnie
had never had ardent lovers who might have wanted John
out of the way. And revenge? Apparently Nungessor had
never been connected with scandal or wrongdoing of any
sort.

Nungessor’s relatives in Highland were eager to help along
the investigation. A brother of the slain man mentioned a
difficulty Minnie Nungessor had had with Emil Fricker, her
ex-boss, over back payments due her for her services.

Fricker had owed her $1,500, according to Minnie. When
her farmer employer refused to pay it, she had sued him

John Nungessor
Cleft), second hus-
band of the comely
dairy maid, was
shot down on the
road as he returned
from a day’s work


——

68 True Detective Mysteries

and won a court judgment. Fricker had arranged to pay
the money but had declined to turn it over in a lump sum.
Ambiguously, he had stated he would pay a monthly sum if
Mrs. Nungessor would come and get it. According to the
family, the first payment had been made, but when Minnie
went the second time she had not returned and her husband
and his sister had found her apparently held against her
will in the Fricker home.

“I don’t like this,” John later told his folks with a shake
of his head.

The dead man’s grief-stricken mother sent the Sheriff off
on another angle. “John’s life had been threatened,” the
aged woman insisted. “That’s why he planned to move to
another farm.”

P2eSE for more particulars, she mentioned an occasion
when her son had refused to help dynamite fish in a pond
on a neighboring farm. “He was: uneasy and said he was
afraid something would happen to him after that,” she
remarked.

“Who were the men who asked your son to help them
dynamite fish?” Deimling wanted to know.

“Jake Landert and Eldo Wernli.”

Landert was Emil Fricker’s hired man. Wernli was
e — son-in-law and worked as a shoe repairer in High-
and.

The murdered man’s brother gave Sheriff Deimling another
bit of information. He was working on the road, he said,
shortly before John was killed when he saw Eldo Wernli
drive by in a Ford coupé. John had come along later in
his wagon—unknowingly going to his doom.

Deimling was unsuccessful in picking up more clues. He
decided to strike while the iron was hot. Perhaps questioning
of Wernli, Bricker and Landert would lead to something.

With Chief Winters and Deputy Sheriff Paul Taylor, the
Sheriff went to Wernli’s home.

“What do you want of me?” the shoe repairer demanded.

“IT want to talk to you about the killing of John Nun-
gessor,” Deimling replied sternly.

“T’ve got nething to say,’ Wernli returned in a sneering
tone. Deimling did not press him further. The prisoner
was taken to Edwardsville and lodged in the county jail.

“What’s our next move, Chief?” Deputy Taylor queried.

“We're going to pick up Fricker,” Deimling returned
quickly. At Carlyle, the county seat of Clinton County,
Deimling called on Sheriff William Ragen who was a bit
dubious about seizing the dairy shipper. “Fricker’s a power
in this community,” he pointed out. ‘“He’s got one of the
best dairy farms in Southern Illinois. However, my son Joe

(Above) State’s Attorney Jesse
Brown points to the spot where
John Nungessor was slain. (Right)
The home of Emil Fricker, well-
to-do dairyman, where Minnie
Nungessor was’ employed as maid

will go with you. I think you'll be able to handle Emil.”

Joseph Ragen, deputy under his father and present head
of the Illinois prison system under Governor Henry Horner,
got into the car with the Madison County officials.

They drove up in front of the dairy baron’s house. No
one was visible. Deimling decided to proceed with caution.
While he went back of the barn to do a bit of reconnoitering,
Lv others stepped on the porch. Winters knocked on the

oor.

A tall, stooped man soon appeared calmly smoking a pipe.
“Hello, Tony,” he exclaimed, “bringing visitors?”

Winters had his hand on his gun. “No, Emil,” he answered
tersely. ‘You're under arrest. You'll have to come along
with us.”

Fricker asked. no further particulars but favored the
officers with a keen, searching glance. “I'll get my hat and
coat,” he said shortly and re-entered the house. The officers
followed him in. They stood in the hall while the dairyman
went upstairs. Winters noted, a bit apprehensively, three
revolvers strung along the wall near the door.

It was fully ten minutes before Fricker came down. He
submitted to being handcuffed. Deimling rejoined the party
outside and they drove away from the farm.

At a small farmhouse near by, the men routed Jake Lan-
dert out of bed and took him away. He made no protest.

At Carlyle, Deputy Ragen took leave of the party. “Isn’t
this a liquor pinch?” Fricker inquired curiously. Deimling
spoke up. “Liquor nothing. This is murder. The murder
of John Nungessor.”

Fricker’s manner now changed. “Where are you taking
me?” he demanded arrogantly.

“To Edwardsville,” retorted the Madison County Sheriff.

Fricker lapsed into a sullen silence. He grumbled a bit,
too, when he was locked up on the second tier of the Ed-
wardsville jail.

Deimling realized the next morning that he would have
to obtain some evidence on which to hold the three men. At
any moment he expected a lawyer to dash into his office
with a habeas corpus writ.

About noon of that day a young man named Conrad who
lived in the neighborhood of the Fricker farm called on
Sheriff Deimling.

Without ceremony he inquired if the Sheriff had jailed
Emil Fricker and Jake Landert for the Nungessor slaying.
Deimling replied in the affirmative.

“Well,” Conrad went on hurriedly, “Emil Fricker asked me
repeatedly to drive Jake Landert to Nungessor’s new place.
He said Jake was going to give John a good beating.”

“Did you do it?” asked the official.

“T did no
was afraid
Nungessor {
involved.”

The Sher
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ng.”

(Above, left to right) Eldo Wernli, the dairy baron’s son-in-law; Minnie Nungessor, whose two hus-
bands died violent deaths under suspicious circumstances; Jake Landert, hired man at the Fricker farm

“I did not. I felt I would gain nothing by it. Besides I
was afraid and suspicious of Fricker. He had it in for
Nungessor for something or other. I didn’t want to become
involved.”

The Sheriff had a feeling he was on the right track. He
had Landert brought in.

But an hour of intensive grilling failed to bring an ad-
mission from the middle-aged hired man. He insisted he
had worked in the fields all day. Deimling’s patience was
sorely tried. “Jake,” he snapped, “let’s cut out all this
nonsense. You know something and I know you know some-
thing. Didn’t your boss tell you to beat up John Nun-
gessor?”

Landert slowly answered in the negative.

“But you did ride around with Eldo Wernli in his car
yesterday, didn’t you?”

“No, sir.” The suspect was visibly nervous. “I never saw
Eldo all day. Did he say I was with him?”

The Sheriff pressed his advantage. “Yes,” he lied, “and
you were seen with Wernli driving along the road where
John was shot.”

Landert became white as a ghost. His hands shook as
Chief Deputy Sheriff Tom Dooner handed him a glass of
water.

“T did it!” he cried suddenly, bitterly. “I killed John
Nungessor. But I had to do it or Fricker would have killed
me. I’m glad it’s out.”

 bypleinreid now became as eager to talk as he had been to
remain silent a few minutes before. According to his
story, he had worked for the dairy king on and off for fifteen
years. In January, Fricker began to hint to him and Eldo
Wernli that he wanted them to bump off Nungessor. Wernli
was going with Fricker’s daughter at the time. Fricker gave
them liquor freely and made dire threats regarding what
would happen to them if they didn’t do as he said. Landert
was - be the “trigger man” while Wernli was to sit at the
wheel.

“J was scared stiff and ran away,” Landert asserted.
“Finally, in July of the following year, Emil persuaded me
to return. He said he’d pay me what he owed me.”

But Fricker’s promises didn’t mean much, Landert rue-
fully admitted. All he had on his mind was getting rid of

Nungessor. He kept giving his hired man cheap liquor and
stated there was $250 for him if he would help kill John.

Jake had the courage to ask his boss why he didn’t do the
job himself. “Some nosey people think I killed Bob Kehrli,”
Fricker retorted, according to Landert, “so it wouldn’t look
good for me to be near when the job is pulled. Nobody’ll
connect you with the murder.”

On September 10th, Landert went on, Fricker told Wernli
and him that he thought it would be a good idea to get
Nungessor drunk and throw him into a near-by pond. “Every-
body’ll think it was an accident,” Fricker said with a laugh.
Wernli’s job was to tell Nungessor they were going to dyna-
mite for fish. Eldo was friendly with John. Wernli reported
to his father-in-law he tried to get John to go with them
but Nungessor was suspicious and refused.

Fricker blew up. “You numbskulls,” he raged, “if you
value your hides you'll do the job soon and do it right.
Monday, September 15th, is. the deadline. Remember that.
I’m sick and tired of your excuses.”

The three conspirators made their plans Saturday, Landert
said. Sunday afternoon Fricker met them in his field and
gave Jake a .32 Colt automatic. He gave Wernli a .25 Colt
and a .32 revolver. All three weapons were loaded and all
three were to be used so that it would appear three men had
done the killing. Landert was instructed by Fricker to lie
down in the car while Wernli drove so that no suspicion
would fall on one man when three were being sought.

“We drove in Wernli’s Ford coupé,” Landert continued.
“We hid in a cornfield and waited. After a while Nungessor
came down the road. Wernli stepped out into the road to
hail him. Then Eldo shot him once. I ran out and we
emptied the three guns into Nungessor’s body.”

Returning to the Fricker farm they fed the stock and
went to the dairy baron’s house. Fricker inquired eagerly:
“How's everything?” Wernli laughed and said, “Okay. It’s
done.’

Fricker was gratified. “You fellows are all right. I mis-
judged you,” he said. He told them to hide the guns at the
near-by farmhouse where Landert slept.

Before sending Jake back to his cell, Deimling wanted to
know why Fricker was so eager to get rid of the young
farmer, but Landert could not enlighten him on this point.

“Now we'll see what Wernli has (Continued on page 124)


True Detective Mysteries

The Mystery of the Slain Bridegrooms

to say,” Deimling told his chief deputy.

But the younger man stoutly maintained
his innocence. “I wasn’t near the old Indian
trail,” he insisted vehemently.

Wernli became nervous when Deimling
ordered Landert brought back.

Presently the two suspects stood face
to face.

“I guess we might as well spill the
beans,” Landert said with a crestfallen air.

Wernli nodded silently. “You got us,”
he admitted sadly. The story he told
agreed with Landert’s. He related how he
had been “keeping company” with Fricker’s
daughter. One day Emil asked him sud-
denly if he owned a gun. Wernli was a

Circuit Judge Louis Bernreuter,
who pronounced sentence of death
on a ruthless killer

bit surprised, he said, and answered in
the negative.

Then Fricker made him a startling
proposition. “You can have my daughter,
Eldo, if you help me get rid of John
Nungessor,” Fricker said. “Nungessor must
die. I want Minnie back and, by heaven,
I will have her back!”

Eldo told Fricker’s daughter. Together
they fled the Fricker household and were
married. Fricker was so angry at them that
he refused to allow them to cross his
threshold for more than a year. Then he
relented. But he demanded once more
that the youth slay Nungessor.

“You got your. woman and I want
mine,” he told Wernli tersely.

Wernli stated he was finally won over
to the commission of the crime through
fear of the dairy lord. “Weren’t you and
John Nungessor on good terms?” Sheriff
Deimling interrogated.

“Yes, we were good friends,” Wernli
admitted, “but it was John’s life or mine.
If I hadn’t helped kill him Fricker would
have killed me.”

Returning the pair to their cells, Deim-
ling had Fricker brought in. The dairy-
man listened without any visible emo-
tion as Deimling related in detail the
confessions of his hired man and_his
son-in-law.

“A frame-up,” Fricker said shortly. “I’ve
had trouble with Eldo Wernli. He’s no
good. Shiftless and lazy. I didn’t want
him to marry my daughter. Jake and I
had differences over some money due
him. I refused to pay him when he was
drunk. I never had any trouble with John
Nungessor. I hardly knew the man.”

“Did Wernli have a grudge against
Nungessor?” the Sheriff demanded.

“Yes. Wernli stole some pigeons from a
farmer and got nabbed. I helped him beat

4

(Continued from page 69)

the rap. Wernli thought Nungessor had
— on him and was bitter against

im.”

“Did you own the guns?” Deimling
questioned.

“I owned a .32 Colt. I lent it to Landert
in August in return for a shotgun.”

Deimling sent Deputies Dooner and
Taylor to the place where Landert had
told of hiding the guns. Sure enough!
They were there.

And then another chap named Rein-
hardt came forward to tell the Sheriff of
Fricker’s attempt to get him to drive a car
so that Jake Landert. might kill Nun-
gessor. The informant was a former suitor
for the hand of the dairy baron’s daugh-
ter—now married to Wernli—who had
been employed by Fricker. He was now
driving a milk route and said he had
been forced:to change his route because
of Fricker’s threats and. efforts to get
him to do the murderous work. He had
kept silent because he feared Fricker’s
vengeance.

Deimling was convinced he was nearing
the climax. But he asked himself. this:
Why should Fricker want Nungessor
killed? What was his reason for wanting
Minnie Nungessor back?

The only logical way to solve this
puzzle was to send for Minnie, The comely
widow willingly came to the courthouse
and there told her story in full to the
Sheriff.

She had worked for Fricker for nearly
fifteen years, she asserted. She evidently
was a tireless worker. Morning and eve-
ning she had milked his dairy herd—a
huge task in itself—in addition to per-
forming innumerable other chores.

Strongly built, she had done the work
of two or three other hands and her ex-
ample led others to greater effort. Fricker,
so it was said, had come to believe
Minnie responsible for his success. With-
out her he really believed he was doomed
to failure.

Her marriage to Nungessor—an elope-
ment—had taken Fricker by surprise. He
was far from pleased. In fact, he had felt
cheated—just as if a valuable piece of
livestock had been stolen from him.

At first, Minnie’s pay was $8 a month.
Gradually it was increased to $30 but
Minnie rarely drew her entire salary for
her needs were small. Minnie looked up to
Fricker as_a sort of feudal lord and
served him loyally.

Then, suddenly, he had placed their
relations on a more intimate footing, Min-
nie had to place her body at his disposal.
She had no choice in the matter.

“Emil was jealous of my husband,” she
confided, “because he liked me better than
his wife.”

“Was he in love with you?” Deimling
questioned.

“Love?” she answered scornfully, “Emil
Fricker loved no one but himself, I was
just a piece of property to use when he
so desired. You can’t call that love.”

“How did his wife and daughter like
his associating with you?” the Sheriff
asked.

“We always got on well together,”
Minnie answered. “They would hear me
trying to keep him away. They knew it
wasn’t my fault. I wasn’t to blame. They
would hear him say, ‘You have to give in
to me. It’s par€ of your job.’

“Nobody ever fought him but me. His
relations all gave him his way in every-
thing. They feared him like Satan. I
fought him. I would resist until he would
compel me at a point of a gun to obey.

“When he found out I was going to
marry John, he was furious. He threatened
to kill any man I married. But I defied
him. I married John.”

Minnie’s eyes blazed.

Continuing she said: “I wasn’t married
a week when he sent for me and said he
wanted to pay me some of my money.
When I went there he gave me some
money and compelled me to do his will
again. He kept me there all day. A month
later he sent for me again. That time, he
kept me there from Thursday until Mon-
day. I walked the six miles home.

“He tried then to get me to leave John.
But I wouldn’t do it. John came for me
and Emil locked me up and wouldn't let
him into the house. I thought there was
a plot against my husband and warned
him. It was because of Fricker’s threats
that he would get me back at any cost
that we decided to move to another
county. That’s where John was working the
day he was killed. He was getting ready
to move.”

Certain he had-the motive for the mur-
der, Deimling now questioned the dairy-
man about his relations with Minnie.
Fricker, however, was not whipped yet.
“She stayed at our house because ‘she
wanted to,” he said heatedly. “I never
held her against her will. She hates me
now and is determined to ruin me.”

Amid all these startling: disclosures,
word now came from the Clinton County
Home for the Aged at Carlyle that
Rudolph Kamuf, a sixty-seven-year-old
inmate, had information of importance
for the officers on the Fricker case.

The man was near death from heart
trouble and asthma, and was taken to
Edwardsville courthouse in an ambulance.

“Knowing that I am soon to die,” he

State’s Attorney Jesse R. Brown
conducted the prosecution in the
strange murder case

said wearily, “I want to get this off my
mind. I make this statement to clear
my conscience.

“I worked for the Frickers almost thirty
years. I knew Robert Kehrli and Minnie.
When Minnie married Kehrli, Fricker
went up in the air. I never saw a man
carry on so. He wanted me to kill Kehrii.
I refused and Emil said he wished he had
a rifle because he would shoot Kehrij like
a rabbit.

“That guy sneaked away the girl that
belonged to me for eight years,’ he
stormed.

“IT argued with him to let the matter
drop. But_it was no use. You couldn't

(Continued on page 126)

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hadn’t
er hus-
-d him-

sed the
and his
far as
closed
out it.”
Lean
and a
around
i tyrant
wbeaten
e sound
; tyran-
ich less.

| stood in
| aunty law
nd most
‘ction of
a feudal
and em-
sals born

im in his
\ expres-

strangely
icide” of
ot so In-
d freely,
inuendoes
rambling
shrubbery

Emil

Fricker's.

|

/ Fricker.

FEUDAL BARON AND

AID

and gnarled trees, where Minnie lived
with Fricker, his wife and his daughter.

The talk buzzed for months, finally
died down. ‘Then it flared up again, -
more furiously than ever, for in the fol-
lowing year Minnie became the center of
another shocking tragedy.

SHE MARRIED again. And her sec-
ond bridegroom, like her first, was a
young ex-army man. His name was John
Nungessor, and he was a boyish-look-
ing chap who wore his thick hair
brushed back from his forehead. A
pleasant smile, affable manner, handsome
face and military bearing made him a
prepossessing fellow.

Like his predecessor, Nungessor was
popular with everybody. Unlike Kehrli,
however, he decided firmly against living i
with his bride at the home of Emil

“J can earn a living for my wife,” he
said. “She doesn’t need to work for an-
other man, milking . cows and © doing
kitchen chores. We'll have a home of
our own.”

The young couple moved to a small
farm Nungessor had bought, and, deeply
in love with each other, they seémed
supremely happy. Minnie hummed
cheerfully as she performed her house-
hold duties, while John worked indus-
triously to improve their little farm.

And then black tragedy, swift and hor-
rible, struck like the hand of Fate—just

"I tried to fight him
off,"' said Minnie, “but
he was too strong for
me. He -would say,
‘What | want | always
get, and I'm going to
have you.’ He's made
mea prisonerforyears.”

PO ee ema

allabincbe e

126

reason with him. ‘No sir, I won’t let it
drop,’ he swore. ‘By——, it will be either
now or later. Kehrli’s got to die!’

“One day Kehrli and I went with
Fricker to a lonely part of the farm to
work. I was set to work while Fricker
took Kehrli into a neighboring grove to
chop wood. Fricker had several bottles
of wine and whisky with him and when
he came back later in the day, he said
to me in a satisfied tone: ‘Well, I’ve got
him dead to rights. He’s drunk as can be.’

“IT said I was going home. Fricker
glared at me and said: ‘Oh no you won't.
You're going to stay right here.’ I was
afraid to leave. Emil went back into the
woods. Shortly afterward I heard a shot.
Fricker came back alone. ‘Well, he’s done
for, he said, rubbing his hands. ‘I have
the satisfaction of knowing he didn’t get
ahead of me.’

_ “The next morning Fricker took me
into the woods. Kehrli lay dead: A 38
caliber gun was about a foot from his
head. ‘I told you,’ Fricker sneered, ‘that
I could shoot him down like a rabbit.’
The bullet wound was in his right temple.

“They found Kehrli a day or so later.
I didn’t say anything. Emil promised me
a home for life.”

Sheriff Deimling read Kamuf’s state-
ment to Minnie. Tears came into her eyes
as she said slowly, “Yes, I was suspicious
at the time because I never could make
out why he should kill himself. We were
so happy. But I was afraid to open my
mouth. And Fricker was so powerful.”

Exactly one week after the Nungessor
murder—September 22nd—Fricker, Lan-
dert and Wernli were indicted by the
Madison County Grand Jury for mur-
der. An additional indictment was voted
against Emil for the Kehrli killing. All
three of the worthies pleaded not. guilty
at arraignment and were remanded to jail
without bail.

Because the State’s star witness, Kamuf,
was near death’s door, Fricker went on
trial first for the Kehrli slaying. Minnie
took the stand against him. It was soon
learned that the great dairy baron was
in financial difficulties due to the fact

that he had mortgaged part of his
property in his desire to expand his
operations.

On November 19th, a circuit court jury

B (8) X (5) Z (5)

P (12): N (3): B (8) | J eR V (8)
X (5): P (12) |Z (5): B (8) | P (12): W (9)
W(9):L (2) | K (3): A (1) | N (8): X (5)
M (7): P a N (3) M(¢ D 0: M (7)
X (5): U 3 S (3): B (8) |J_( 6): V_ (8)
bd | ng |e
X (5): - Av. 3.4 6.4 | Av. 6.2 7.4

45 48
Ay. 6.4 8

(#) This sign indicates repeated letter.

Let us first examine the chart for the
letter P, which has a frequency of 12. The
average of the preceding letters (first col-
umn) is 6; that of the succeeding letters
is 6.5. As this is about the frequency of the
average consonant, we will assume that
the majority of the letters preceding and
following P throughout the message are
consonants. Again, we note that P con-
tacts four low frequency letters—K (3),
F (1), L (2) and S (3). This is, when
coupled with the low average frequency,
practically positive proof that P is a
vowel. However, we can obtain further
proof. In an earlier article it was stated
that vowels rarely contact each other. Let

True Detective Mysteries

(Continued from page 124)
at Edwardsville decided that: Fricker was
guilty of murder and sentenced him: to
prison for life. Five days later Kamuf
died in the hospital.
State’s Attorney Jesse R. Brown agreed

to recommend life terms for Landert and -

Wernli on their promise to testify against
Fricker in the Nungessor case. They were
sentenced by Circuit Judge Gilham on
December Ist to life imprisonment at
Southern Illinois Penitentiary at Chester.

In February of the following year,
Fricker went to trial for plotting Nun-
gessor’s death. Landert, Wernli and Nun-
gessor’s widow were the State’s chief
witnesses. The jury agreed as to the arch-

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plotter’s guilt but could not agree on
the punishment.

On April 3rd, however, at Fricker’s
second trial for the Nungessor killing, the
jury agreed with State’s Attorney Brown
that Fricker should hang.

“What have you to say?” Circuit Judge
Louis Bernreuter demanded of the doomed
man.

Fricker answered without emotion: “I
was framed.” He said no more, Judge
Bernreuter ordered the execution for
June 26th, but an appeal to the Illinois
Supreme Court postponed the execution
many months. Finally the high tribunal

Secret Writing

(Continued from page 74)

us therefore see if P contacts the high
frequency letter W. A glance at the chart
shows that it does not, although together
the letters appear in the message not less
than 21 times. A combined frequency of
21, with not a single contact! Here is
ample proof that both P and W = are
vowels, and a study of the chart for W
will show other vowel characteristics for
that letter.

On the other hand, the charts for Y
(9) and B (8) show that each contacts
low frequency letters but twice; the aver-
age frequency of the contacting letters is
almost as high as the letters hewuaiven:
and, as a final clincher, both show several
contacts with P and W (already identified,
or rather determined, as vowels) which
proves conclusively that these letters are
high frequency consonants.

On the chart for X (5) we find that
there appear two outstanding character-
istics: of vowels—contact with low fre-
quency letters (no less than four!) and
lack of contact with our two determined
vowels, P and W. Consequently we now
know that P, W and X are vowels; where-
as Y, B and Z undoubtedly are consonants.

set the date of the hanging for April
16th, approximately a year after the
conviction.

For sixty days before he died, Fricker
was under a twenty-four-hour death
watch. He spent most of his time playing
pinochle with his guards. Up until the day
before he swung he confided to Deputy
Sheriff J. E. Flynn, his day guard, that
he would not hang. “I’m going to Chester
Prison for ten or twenty years,” he as-
serted confidently. At no time was he
close to making a confession.

The death warrant was signed by Chief
Deputy Clerk Simon Kellerman, Jr., be-
cause. Circuit Clerk Mellon had scruples
against capital punishment.

Finally Governor Len Small declined
to save Fricker. On his last day on earth
the doomed man Jost his nerve and refused
to eat anything but eggnogs. He had one
at every hour. He received a bottle of
whisky from Sheriff Deimling to bolster
his courage. Although he had scorned re-
ligion most of his life, Fricker was finally
persuaded by his aged mother, his one
friend in his hour of need, to re-embrace
the Catholic faith. Father Ernest Eckhardt
was with him until the end.

As the condemned man was being
escorted to the scaffold that cloudy April
morning by Sheriff Deimling and Illinois’
famous hangman, Phil Hanna, he turned
to Chief of Police Winters of Highland
with a faint smile and said: “No hard
feelings, Tony; if you hadn’t pinched me,
somebody else would have.”

A large crowd composed mostly of
peace officers from Missouri and South-
ern Illinois stood in the jail-yard as the
once proud dairy baron pimend through
the gallows trap. Sheriff Deimling sprang
the trap himself. Minnie Nungessor did
not watch the execution of the man who
was responsible for the murders of her
two husbands. It might be assumed she
had seen enough of him anyhow.

Landert was a model prisoner at
Chester and soon became a trusty. How-
ever, he was never destined to walk free
again for he died at the Southern Illinois
Prison on May 13th, 1935. Minnie married
again shortly after Fricker’s hanging.
Wernli’s efforts to obtain a parole thus
far have been futile.

With this start it should be an easy mat-
ter to determine the classification of the
remaining letters in the message.

Some of the readers have misunderstood
the meaning of the figure attached to the
letters preceding and succeeding the vari-
ous symbols, as given in these charts.
For instance:

G (10)
EK): ¥ (6) Bie.

which happens to be a theoretical example
for purposes of illustration. The figure
(10) following the letter G indicates that
G occurs ten times throughout the mes-
sage. The letter K (4) is one of the
letters which precede G in the message,
and the (4) indicates that the K actually
occurs four times throughout the message.
It does NOT indicate that K precedes G
four times. The (4) has nothing what-
ever to do with the position of the letter
K, as some readers have thought; it
merely shows frequency, nothing else.
When a letter precedes or succeeds more
than once, it is actually set down in the
(Continued on page 128)

~

UCCESS comes
those in full hea
many of us go drag;
cessive days, each
the last—each one hi
of frustration and
ment. The cause f.
our lack of success—
traceable to nothing ;
chronic constipation.
Medical opinion ,
that many headaches
nerves or the “jitter
constipation or auto-i
somnia, too, rears its
is so frequently caus
complaint, just as me
dition or ailment ma
in many cases, to neg
for constipation.
But medical opinior
a bright ray of hope
sufferers, It has disc
cacy of high color
They attack the condi
thoroughly flushing ar

A RATIONAL \

JBL


Daten MB

oe

FRICKER, Emil, white, hanged eewardsville,

———

IL on April 26,

1926.

ILLINOIS’ BLOODY ENIGMA OF THE UNLUCKY BRIDEGROOMS, THE

"MINNIE THE MILK

““@ UICIDE,” said the coroner’s jury,

S but others in the district whispered,

“Murder!”

The body was found on a delightful
spring day—on the, morning of May 10,
1920, to be exact—when the country-
side was quickening with new life.

It was the body of Robert Kehrli, a
young World War veteran who had re-:
cently become a bridegroom.

Kehrli, an upstanding young man with
a rugged face and straightforward gaze,
had been employed on the dairy farm
of Emil Fricker in Clinton County,
southern Illinois. .

His body was found in a clump of
woods on Fricker’s farm. ‘There was a
bullet through his right temple and a
revolver in his right hand. One shot
had been fired from the revolver.

It was a clear case of suicide, the
coroner and his jury decided, though no
motive could be found for the young
man’s having killed himself.

On the other hand, there was no reason
for anyone else to kill him. Young
Kehrli was well liked by everybody. ‘So
far as. was known, he hadn’t an enemy
anywhere.

But what made his apparent suicide

even more puzzling was his recent mar- .

riage. Less than a month before, on
April 13, he had eloped, and it was ob-
vious to all that he was rapturously in
love with his new wife.

His bride was “Minnie the Milkmaid,”

Minnie, a buxom lass of 20,.'
lost two, mates. within a year.

BY EDWIN

also employed by Emil Fricker. Follow-
ing their elopement, the young couple had
returned to Fricker’s farm to live.

Minnie, a healthy young woman just
turned 20, had worked for Emil Fricker
since she was in her ’teens. Slim, full-
breasted and: rosy-cheeked, the girl had
captivated Kehrli. And she in turn had
fallen in love with him...

Their elopement followed as a matter
of course.

“It stands to reason,” said neighbors,
“that Bob wouldn’t | kill himself right
after marrying that girl. He was crazy
about her! Why would he want to com-
mit suicide? There’s something more to
this than meets the eye.”

“Poor Robert!” sobbed Minnie. “How
could he do such a thing? We loved
each other so!” ia

“Too bad, too bad,” clucked Emil
Fricker, “A young man in the prime of
life shooting himself that way! And
just married, too!”

Strangely enough, the two persons most
closely connected with the tragedy—Min-
nie and Fricker—seemed the least willing
to talk about it.

Minnie, though obviously stricken with
grief, seemed haunted by some secret
fear. After her bridegroom’s funeral she
went about her chores on Fricker’s farm
in stony silence. Her face was a white
mask. hiding her inner emotion, but in
her wide, childlike eyes lurked a strange
look of terror. ,

acdc

wer

'
\

‘of his harsh voice.

‘Jake Landert, a farm hand, de-
nied knowledge of the crimes.

ATRD

What was she afraid of? Why hadn’t
she questioned the verdict that her hus-
— the man she loved, had killed him-
self?

As for Emil Fricker, he dismissed the
matter with a brief word or two, and his
stern attitude seemed to say, “As far as
I’m concerned, Bob’s suicide is a closed
affair. I want to hear no more about it.”

Emil Fricker was a hard man. Lean
and lank, with a rawboned face and a
big Adam’s apple, he ruled those around
him with an iron hand. - He was a tyrant
to his wife: and daughter. Browbeaten
and cowed, they trembled at the sound
He was less tyran-
nical with Minnie—though not much less.
She, too, seemed awed by him.

For that matter, everybody stood in
awe of him, even the Clinton County law
officers: He owned the largest and most
prosperous dairy farm in that section of
Illinois, and he governed it like a feudal
baron. He. regarded his family and em-
ployes as nothing more than vassals born
to do his bidding. :

There was always a crafty gleam in his
narrowed eyes—and at times an expres-
sion of lust.

Although he and Minnie were strangely
silent about the mysterious “suicide” of
her bridegroom, neighbors were not so in-
hibited. Their tongues wagged freely,
and there were whispered innuendoes
about “queer goings-on” in the rambling
old farmhouse, half hidden by shrubbery

Eldo* Wernli, Emil

Fricker's x, "
son-in-law, refused to talk. |

"3

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as it had struck once before—and Minnie’s happiness was ended.
Her second husband, like her first, was found shot to death.
This time, however, there was no doubt about it being a case
of murder. Young Nungessor had been riddled with bullets,
and there was no gun near his body.

He was found in a lonely spot on a country road outside the
town of Highland. He had been returning home when he was:

shot down.

Who had murdered him? Why should anybody want to kill
John Nungessor? And why had both of Minnie’s bridegrooms
been doomed to death?

These were the questions confronting Sheriff Edward Deim-
ling and Chief of Police Anthony Winters.

The first thing to seek, of course, was a motive for the mur-
der. But, as in the case of the first bridegroom’s death, no
motive could be found. Everyone liked John Nungessor, just
as everyone had liked Bob Kehrli.

For all her seductive comeliness, Minnie had no other suitors,
so jealousy was eliminated as a motive. And so was. robbery,
for nothing had been stolen from the dead man. His watch and
money were found in his clothing.

The officers acquired their first important clue when Deputy
Coroner Everett Tibbetts showed them the bullets which had
ended young Nungessor’s life. There were twelve of them, and
they had been fired into his body at close range. The significant
fact was that they were of three different calibers. This indi-
cated that more than one person shot Nungessor, for three sepa-
rate guns had been used,

“This looks to me,’
killing.”

“But why should gangsters want to kill him?” Chief Winters
objected. “That fellow was never mixed up with any gangs.

. He was a quiet, hard-working chap, thoroughly honest and a law-

abiding citizen. Gangsters don’t murder fellows like that.”

“Tt does seem queer,” the sheriff agreed.

Both he and the chief were further puzzled when ‘e called
at Nungessor’s home to ask his attractive widow if she could
shed any light on the mystery or offer any clue to the identity
of her bridegroom’s assassins.

Her lovely eyes filled with tears, she looked at the officers

and shook her head. “No,” she told them, “I don’t know who
could have killed John. Who would want to kill him? He

- never did anybody any harm.”

It was quite clear that she was deeply shocked and grieved
by her second bereavement, but it was also clear—to Chief
Winters, at any rate—that she was’ either withholding some-
thing or shielding somebody. He had detected a singular reti-
cence in her manner, a peculiar look in her eyes, that: denoted
fear.

It was the same secret terror she had betrayed when her first
bridegroom, Bob Kehrli, was found dead in Fricker’s woods, a
bullet through his head, a revolver in his hand,

Did she hold the key to the mystery of these two strange
deaths? If so, why was she afraid to give it-to the law? |

further questioning, he and Sheriff Deimling bade her goodbye
and left her alone with her sorrow.

Both men, of course, had heard echoes of the gossip which

had circulated through the district after Bob Kehrli’s “suicide,”

and Chief Winters now suggested that they look up some of -
Fricker’s neighbors—‘Just to see what all that talk was about. ee

THE FIRST farm woman they questioned made a ‘startling

statement. Pointing across the fields in the direction of
Fricker’s home, she said:

“Tf you men knew what’s been going on in that house over
there for the last seven or eight years, you’d know what’s back
of these two murders,”

“What’s been going on over there?” asked the sheriff. ~’

“T’m not one to repeat idle gossip,” said the woman, “but I

happen to know that Minnie’s been more than a hired girl in’

that house.”
“Meaning what?”
“Emil Fricker hired Minnie to milk his cows,” said the woman,
“and help with the housework. But Minnie has the sort of

figure that men admire, and she’s always been a mighty pretty

girl. .
“You mean she’s been Fricker’s mies

* commented Sheriff Denuling “like a gang

ling.

. Stared through: the foliage like sightless eyes.
Chief Winters was pondering this riddle when, after, some

“I guéss that’s one name for it. And from what ‘I hear,” said

‘the woman, “Emil Fricker began his affair with Minnie soon
after he® hired her—when she was only a kid in her ’teens,

He’s been forcing her to continue it ever since.”
“But what about his wife?” Chief Winters asked.
living with him?”
The woman laughed scornfully.

“Isn’t she
“His wife!

and his daughter, too. - Neither of ’em dares lift her voice
against him, no matter what he does.
carried on with Minnie right before their eyes!”

The .two officers decided that their next move was to question
Emil Fricker. .They started at once for his home, but as they
drove along the highway they were stopped by a farmer who
gave them a. new lead.

“On the afternoon John Nungessor was killed,” said this man,
“T was walking along that dirt road where he was shot, and I
saw Eldo Wernli and Jake Landert drive past in a Ford. A
little farther on I passed John. Nungessor driving in the same
direction in his farm wagon. I looked back and saw that
Wernli and Landert had pulled off to one side of the road.

They’d stopped in the exact spot where Nungessor’s body was
found later on that day.”

Sheriff Deimling and Chief Winters exchanged significant.
- glances.

Eldo Wernli had recently married Emil Fricker’s
daughter, and Jake Landert had been one of the dairyman’s
farm hands for the past ten years or more.

“We'd better look up this pair,” Chief Winters said.

*TLet’s
see what they have to say for themselves.” :

‘They went first to the home of Wernli, a tall young man with »
‘a bony face; thin nose. and pointed chin. His’ extraordinary
thinness was accentuated by his scrawny neck .and large ears.

He at.once made it clear that he didn’t care to discuss the

matter of young Nungessor’s death.

-“T don’t know anything about that,” he said, in response to

their questions, “and.I don’t see why I should talk about it.”
“You'll have to come with us, anyway,” said Sheriff Deim-

“We'll want to ask you some more questions later.”

They. took him to the Madison County jail at Edwardsville

and locked .him up for safekeeping. Then the officers went in

search of Jake Landert.
They found him living in a squalid shanty on the outskirts

.of Fricker’s farm property—very much as a serf would live in

the shadow of his feudal lord’s castle. A dour man of middle
age, Landert was as uncommunicative as Wernli. He stead-
fastly refused to answer their questions.

They lodged him in the Clinton County jail at Carlyle, and,
accompanied now by Deputy Sheriff Joseph Ragen, started for.
the home; of Emil Fricker.

As they approached the house of the wealthy dairyman, they
were struck by its sinister appearance. Towering trees spread
their branches over the gabled roof,-tall grass and shrubbery
grew in profusion about the front portico, and gaunt windows
There seemed

‘something singularly forbidding about the rambling old place.

WHEN ‘Chief Winters pulled a brass knob beside the front
door, they heard a bell jangle in the rear of the house.

. Then a heavy. footfall. sounded. in the hall beyond, the door

swung open, and Emil Fricker stood before them.

Grim and aloof, he somehow resembled his gloomy old

“castle.” He stood with his hand on the doorknob, his lank
shoulders bent forward, his crafty eyes on the three men. There
was an austere smile on his face as he greeted the officers by

< their first names.

“Come in, men,” Fricker said with forced cordiality, ‘opening
the door wider. “Come right in and make yourselves at home.”
- “No, we won’t be coming in, Emil,” Chief Winter replied.

“We just stopped by to ask a few questions,”

‘Fricker looked inquiringly at the chief of police.

Tony? Questions about what?”
together as if perplexed.
- “About the death of John Nungessor!” put in Sheriff Deimling.
‘ Emil Fricker transferred his narrowed gaze to the sheriff.
“But I couldn’t tell you anything about that, Ed. All I know is
that the man was found murdered.”

“We've an idea, Emil,” Chief Winters went on, “that you can

“Questions,
’ He drew his shaggy brows

tell us a gdod. deal more than that.”

DID MINNIE KNOW WHO HAD KILLED HER 1 TWO YOUNG HUSBANDS?

Emil Fricker’s '
’ wife is afraid to call her soul her own. He’s got her that scared,

I shouldn’t wonder if he °

“Wha
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The «
him? .
killed.
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Ragen.
Frick:
moving
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face to
For a

way, we
Fricke
coldly b
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being he
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Unabk
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ference.

“Our 1
may be

He wa
ployer w
poured o
locked in

It was
abused a:
to be her

IF $

ome of Jake
ods in which

rge or he would
nee when he saw
approach.

ng out, however.
airy baron and
is. car.

e nearby, the men
it of bed and took

d back to Carlyle.
riff took leave of

iriously. “Aren't
me here?” he de-

ling answered
» prisoner. I'm
county and you're
with complicity in
angessor.”

ned but he made

nber 16, the three
lodged in separate
con County jail at

= to say, Fricker id
locked up the big

te man snarled, but
ruse used to arrest
‘re than the charge
he faced a possible
ed not to enter his

sets A Break

shred of evidence
told his three pris-
ith the chief and the
ically to the task of
vestigations.

next day, the three
me clue that would

‘LING DETECTIVE

In this comfortable home, surrounded by
his fertile fields, huge herds of cattle and
up-to-date farm buildings, lived the love

baron—like a feudal lord of old.

enable them to break one of the suspects,
but it appeared to be no usc,

Shortly before noon, however, a
young man hunted up the sheriff. He
was a youth of 25 who lived in the
neighborhood of the Fricker farm.

“Is it true,” he asked as he faced the
officer, “that you are holding Emil
Fricker and Jake Landert for the Nun-
gessor killing ?”

The sheriff nodded.

“Well,” the young man went on.
“Emil Fricker asked me repeatedly to
drive Jake Landert to Nungessor’s new
place. He said Jake was going to give
Nungessor a pair of black eyes.”

“Did you do it?” asked the sheriff
quickly.

“No, sir. I had nothing to gain and
I was suspicious of Fricker. He didn’t
like Nungessor at all. I knew that. But
I did make a trip or two with Fricker
to get the location of John’s place be-
fore I became suspicious.”

The sheriff sighed with relief. At
last he had one slightly stronger thread
leading to Jake Landert. It might
serve,

That night, with his chief deputy,
Dooner, the sheriff brought Landert in-
to his office for questioning. For two
hours the suspect denied any connection
whatever with the case. He had worked
in the field all day, he said. Finally, the
sheriff’s temper snapped.

“Jake,” he roared. “Towant the truth,
Didn’t Fricker tell you to give Nunges-
sor a pair of black eyes?”

Landert slowly shook his head.

“But you were riding around with
Eldo Wernle in his car, weren't you?”

“No, sir.’ The prisoner’s hands
rubbed nervously together. “T never
saw Wernle that day. Did he say T was
with him ?” i

ADVENTURES

Employed as a shoe repairer in
Highland, Eldo Wernle was the
dairy baron’s son-in-law.

The sheriff tried a bluff. Something
in the man’s manner had suggested it to
him.

“You were seen with Wernle driving
along the road where Nungessor was
slain.”’

To the surprise of the sheriff, Landert
grew very pale. A strange expression
came over his face. He gripped his
chair and swallowed hard.

“T did it,’ he suddenly shot at— the
sheriff. “J killed John Nungessor.”

There was another swift change in
the man then. It was as though the
words had torn a burden from his soul.

Relates Death Plot

wa ND then his story tumbled out. Pe
had been employed by Fricker off
and on for 15 years, he said. In Jan-
uary, the year before the murder,
Fricker began to negotiate with him and
Eldo Wernle, who was then keeping
company with the baron’s daughter, to
get rid of Nungessor. He plied them
with liquor and threatened them with

Jacob Landert, a hired man on the
great dairy farm, played a part in
the mystery of the stolen bride.

death if they didn’t do as he said.
Wernle was to drive the car and Landert
to do the shooting.

“Finally, [ ran away,” the hired man
declared. “I stayed away till July this
year. Then Fricker got me to go back.
He promised to pay me what he owed
me and said he would treat me better.”

The man paused.

“All he had on his mind,” he went
on, “was killing Nungessor. He gave
me a lot of liquor and promised me $250
if T would kill John.”

He told how Fricker planned his own
alibi.

“He said it wouldn't do for him to be
near when the thing was done,” Landert
declared. “They already suspect me of
killing Bob Kehrli,’ he quoted the
baron as saying. “ ‘Nobody will suspect
you.’ ”

On September 10, according to Jake,
Fricker told Wernle and him that they
should get Nungessor drunk and throw
him into a nearby pond. It would be
accepted as an accident, he told them.
Wernle was to tell Nungessor they were
going to dynamite fish. Wernle tried
to get Nungessor to go with them but
Nungessor refused. °

The baron raged at them.

“Pl give you boys one more chance,”
he roared. “The job has got to be done
by Monday night or there’ll be some-
thing doing.”

Fricker was with them Saturday and
made the plans, Landert said. Sunday
afternoon he met them in his field and
gave Landert a .32 Colt’s automatic. He
vave Wernle a .25 Colt anda 32 Break.
open, All three guns were loaded, he
said. All three were to be used so that
it would appear three men had done the
killing. Landert was instructed to lie
down in the car while Wernle drove so
that no suspicion would fall on one man
when three were being hunted.

[Continued on page 72]


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in circumstances not satisfactory to their
kin, of causes called mysterious because
ignorant people, and some wise ones too,
do not yet understand how loved ones
can come to die. Such deaths were popu-
larly ascribed to Bougrat, the skeleton
maker of Aix, And to this day you can-
not convince many a Provencal parent
of a missing son or daughter that the
lost one was not put through Bougrat's
laboratory and sold for whatever a skele-
ton will bring in the medical institutions
of the South of France.

Married On Devil’s Island

HEERY news comes from the penal

colony on the Isle du Diable, off
French Guiana on the north coast of
South America. Convict Bougrat has
married again. In the course of the
first years of his life sentence, the mur-
derer, by good conduct and because of
his valuable medical knowledge, has
won a post of trusty and assistant in the
colony hospital, where there is always
need of one more man, With the post
goes certain privileges, such as a yearly
leave to visit the town of St. Laurent-du-
Maroni on the Guiana mainland. St.
laurent is another French penal settle-
ment, with a climate less deadly than
that of the island. The “grand criminals”
go to the island but the lesser male-
factors stay here and are permitted a
tolerable sort of existence in the penal
huts on the outskirts of town. Escape
through the inland swamps or over the
patrolled seas being the kind of adven-
ture which attracts only those most des-
perately willing to die, the lifers: live
quite freely, hoe their patches of ground,

have their local society, and have at-
tracted to the settlement a few store-
keepers whose shops in the main street
give the place quite an air, From time
to time, the women’s prisons of France
are emptied of the “repeaters’—those
inveterate female offenders who fall into
every police drag. These leprous ladies
are sent in batches to the prison colony
and bring to St. Laurent romance.
Romance has been brought to Bougrat,
who is thus compensated for the loss of
Andrée. The wedding was a penal
colony event of last season and was re-
ported by cable to the Paris press, which
printed a menu of the wedding breakfast
and the names of the guests. Some of
the names are very famous ones.

So Dr, Bougrat has made an honest
woman of his new beloved. She does
not seem to have made a strictly honest
man of Bougrat. He writes letters to
the Paris papers, They are really good
descriptions of the remarkable and little
known Guiana scene. But into every
letter Bougrat manages to slip a page
calculated to tease and confuse the home
folks, Two paragraphs, rougishly juxta-
posed, recur in every letter. The first is
a solemn protest that he is innocent of
the murder of Rumebe, that the pay-
master did indeed commit suicide as he
claimed. The second, written without
pause to dip his pen, is always some-
thing in the nature of a critique of the
technique of his crime. If he had the
thing to do all over again, he declares,
he would line that closet with zinc.

There is an invariable postscript:

“Tell Finot I forgive him, and give
the poor dog a bone for me.”

THE END

Illinois’ Stolen Bride

[Continued from page 27]

“We drove in Wernle’s Ford coupe,”
the confession went on. “We hid in a
cornfield and waited. After a while
Nungessor came down the road. Wernle
stepped out into the road. He hailed
Nungessor and then shot him. I ran out
and shot him too. Then we emptied the
three revolvers into his body.”

They went back and fed the stock and
went to Fricker’s house, Landert said.
Fricker asked: “How's everything?”
Wernle told him: “It’s all over with.”

Fricker chuckled and told them to hide
the guns at the nearby farmhouse where
Landert lived.

“Why was Fricker so anxious to get
rid of Nungessor, Jake?” the sheriff
asked as the confession ended.

“T don't know,” Landert replied, “He
never gave any reason at all.”

Convinced that Landert and Wernle
might have done the killing as described,
the sheriff was frankly suspicious of the
linking of Iricker with the case. The
confession must be the dastardly work of
a disgruntled employe.

Fricker, powerful and probably hated
by his workers as he might be, was a
rich man. By no possible stretch of the
imagination would he stoop to a murder
plot over a matter of $1,500, especially
after the money had been paid. He
might try to ruin his enemy but to kill
him would be ridiculous.

With this thought in mind, he brought
young Wernle from his cell. Perhaps

the two had made up the story between
them. He’d see.

But Wernle flatly denied his guilt.
He described his actions on the murder
day and told where he was at the time
of the crime. His story was clear. But
on Deimling didn't wait to hear it
all.

“Bring Landert back,” he demanded
and presently the two suspects stood
face to face.

“We might as well tell it,” the farm-
hand said presently,

Then Wernle broke down.

“We did it,” he said. And then he
went into a story that paralleled Lan-
dert’s. He had been keeping company
with Fricker’s daughter, Suddenly the
baron asked him if he had a gun.
Wernle said he hadn't,

Then Fricker made him a strange
proposition, he said.

“You can have my daughter if you
help me get rid of John Nungessor,”
Fricker vaid, according to Wernle. “J
want to get his wife back.”

Wernle said he told the girl, They
ran away and were married. For a
year, the dairy baron would not allow
them to come near the place. Then he
took them back. But he began again his
demand that Wernle kill Nungessor,

“You got the girl you wanted and I
must have Minnie back,” Fricker, said,
according to his son-in-law.

Afraid of the big man, Wernle said

ve THanxk You For MENTIONING STARTLING DErEcTIVE ADVENTURES

that I
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And
sheriff,
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Andt
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had bee:
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was at
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cen

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But
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er, said,

“nie said

ae

he finally agreed. He met Landert and
Fricker in the field. The plan was made.

The rest of his story agreed with
Landert’s. The sheriff decided that the
two tales were almost too similar.

“You were a good friend of Nunges-
sor’s, weren’t you, Eldo?” he asked.

“I was,” came the answer, “but it was
his life or mine. If I hadn’t helped to
kill Nungessor, Fricker would have killed
me.”

There was only one thing for the
sheriff to do after that and he did it at
once.

“Bring Fricker in here,” he ordered
after returning the other two to their
cells,

When the baron of the dairy country
stood before him, a tall and powerful
peure: the sheriff shot the whole story at

in,

“What have you got to say?” he con-
cluded.

The big man eyed him narrowly,

“I’ve had trouble with Wernle,” he
said calmly. “I objected to his marry-
ing my daughter. Jake Landert and I
had differences over some money due
him. I refused to pay him when he was
intoxicated. I never had any trouble
with Nungessor.”

“What did Wernle have against him?”
the sheriff demanded.

“Wernle stole some pigeons from a
farmer and got caught. I helped him out
of the fix. Wernle seemed to think
Nungessor had snitched on him. He
was bitter against Nungessor after that.”

“Did you own the guns?” Deimling
demanded.

“I owned a .32 Colt. I lent it to
Landert in August in return for a shot-
gun.”

Find Murder Weapons

ONVINCED that he had a part of
the truth, the sheriff sought to
check on the confessions. He sent a
deputy to the place where Landert had

told of hiding the guns and they were
found,

They proved nothing, however, except
that Landert had had a hand in the kill-
ing. Fricker’s story stood up.

And ‘then to the amazement of the
sheriff, another man came in to tell of
Fricker’s trying to get him to drive a
car so that Jake Landert might kill Nun-
gessor. The informant was a former
suitor for the hand of the baron’s daugh-
ter, a young German who had been em-
ployed by Fricker. He was now driving
a milk route and said he had been forced
to change his route because of Fricker’s
threats and efforts to get him to do the
murderous work,

Fricker’s threats to kill him had kept
the young man silent, he told the sheriff.

Where there was so much smoke,
there must be some fire, the sheriff de-
cided. Why should Fricker want Nun-
gessor killed? What was this about try-
ing to get Minnie Nungessor back?

And then the story of Minnie Nunges-
sor began to come out. Tongues that
had been silenced were loosened by news
of the two confessions,

Minnie, the sheriff found, had worked
for the dairy baron for 14 years. She
was a tireless worker. Morning and
evening she milked the dairy herd and
performed countless other chores.

Strongly built, she did the work of
two or three other hands and her ex-
ample led others to greater effort.
Fricker, it was said, had come to believe

oy

Minnie responsible for his success.
Without her, he thought, he was doomed
to failure.

Her marriage to Nungessor had been
an elopement, That put a new face on
the matter, The baron had felt himself
cheated, according to the new whispers
roused by the case. He had felt as he
would have done if a valuable piece of
livestock had been stolen from him.

If the woman could only be made to
speak, the sheriff thought, more might
yet be made of the case, He summoned
the young widow to the courthouse and
there she told her story.

A nameless half orphan, she had gone
to work for Fricker when she was 15,
Minnie Nungessor said. She had worked
in the barn and in the field. Ungrudg-
ingly, loyally, proud in her strength, she
had been anxious to outdo every other
worker on the place.

At first her pay was $8 a month.
Gradually it was increased to $30. Her
needs were small and she did not draw
all of her salary. The powerful man
for whom she worked took on the
stature of a feudal lord and she served
him dutifully.

Then suddenly had come marked evi-
dence of his favor, He had paid her
little attentions, And finally, he had de-
manded the tribute of her body.

“He hated my husband because he
liked me better than his wife,” the
woman suddenly cried out as she faced
the sheriff.

“You mean he was in love with you?”
the sheriff queried.

“No,” the widowed dairy maid said
scornfully, “you don’t call that love. He
thought I was a better woman than his
wife because I’m stronger.”

Fricker did not put his wife aside,
Minnie said, and she would have been
the last to demand such a condition.

“His wife is a good woman and his
daughter is a good woman,” she went
on. “We always got along well to-
gether. They would hear me trying to

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keep him away. They knew it wasn't
my fault. They never blamed me. They
would hear him say, ‘You have it to do.
It’s part of your work.’

“Nobody ever fought him except me.
His relations all feared him, I fought
him, I would fight him till he would
place a gun at my head or hold a club
over me.”

“When he found out I was going to
marry John, he was furious. He told me
then he would kill any man I married.

’ But I married him.

“I wasn’t married a week when he
sent for me and said he wanted to pay
me some of my money. When I went
there he gave me some money and made
me do his will again. He kept me there
all day.

“A month later he sent for me again.
That time he kept me there from Thurs-
day till Monday, I walked the six miles
home. He had to use the gun to get me
then.

“He tried then to get me to leave
John, But I wouldn’t do it. John came
for me and Emil locked me up and
wouldn't let him into the house. I
thought there was a plot against my
husband and warned him.

“It was because of Fricker’s threats
that he would get me back at any cost
that we decided to move to another
county, That’s where John was work-
ing the day he was-killed. He was get-
ting ready to move.”

A Startling Development

HE story was so complete and so

sincerely told that Sheriff Deimling
for the first time realized that there
might be a powerful motive for the mur-
der in the heart of Fricker.

He questioned the dairy baron about
his relations with the woman.

“She stayed at our place because she

wanted to,” he flamed. “She wasn’t
held.”

But Deimling had enough evidence
now to go before a jury. He turned it
over to the prosecutor, J. P, Streuber,
who was preparing it for the grand jury
when there came another startling de-
velopment,

From the Clinton County Home at
Carlyle came word that Rudolph Kamuf,
a 67-year-old inmate, wanted to see the
officers about the Fricker case.

The man was dying from heart trouble
and asthma but he was taken in an
ambulance to the courthouse in Ed-
wardsville.

“I'm afraid I’m going to die,” he said,
“and I make this statement voluntarily.

“I worked for the Frickers thirty
years,” Kamuf went on. “I knew Robert
Kehrli and Minnie. When Minnie mar-
ried Kehrli in April, 1920, Fricker was
enraged. He wanted me to kill Kehrli.
I refused and Emil said he wished he
had a rifle, that he would shoot Kehrli
like a rabbit.

“‘He sneaked away the girl that has
belonged to me for eight years,’ he
stormed.

“I argued with him to let the matter
drop. Fricker bellowed: ‘No, I won't
let it drop. It will be, either now or
later. I’m going to kill him.’

“On May 7, 1920, Kehrli and I and
another farm hand went with Fricker
to a lonely part of the farm to work.
The other hands and I were set to work
while Fricker took Kehrli into a neigh-
boring grove to chop wood. Fricker had

several bottles of wine and whiskey with
him and when he came back later in the
day, he said to me: ‘Well, I’ve got him
where I want him now, He’s just about
asleep.’ He said Kehrli was dead drunk,

“T said I was going home. Fricker
said: ‘No, you won't. You're going to
stay right here.’ I was afraid to leave.
Emil went back into the woods, Shortly
afterward I heard a shot. Fricker came
back alone. ‘Well, he’s done for,’ he
said to me. ‘I have the satisfaction of
knowing he didn’t get ahead of me.’

“The next morning Fricker took me
into the woods. Kehrli lay dead. A
.38 calibre gun was about a foot from his
head. ‘I told you,’ Fricker sneered, ‘that
I could shoot him down like a rabbit.’
The bullet wound was in his right
temple.

“They found Kehrli a day or so later.
I didn’t say anything, Fricker promised
me a home for life.”

Then they brought Minnie Nungessor
in and read the statement to her.

Her eyes gleamed as she heard the
accusing words.

“IT was suspicious at the time,” she
said slowly. “I never could make out
why he should kill himself. But—I was
always slow—and Fricker was like a Ring.
1 would have been afraid to tell.”

Fricker, Landert and Wernle were in-
dicted September 22, 1924. Landert and
Wernle pleaded not guilty declaring they
had been forced to commit the crime.
Fricker denied both murder charges.

The great dairy baron was found to
be short of cash and to have mortgaged
a part of his holdings in his desire to
expand his operations, His case was
called first as Kamuf, the state’s star
witness, was on the point of death in the
county home, The charge was the mur-
der of Robert Kehrli.

The aged Kamuf told his story and
was followed on the stand by the widow.
Minnie Nungessor’s testimony revealed
the whole truth about the motive for the
two murders.

As she spoke the shadow of the gal-
lows loomed behind the chair of the
dairy baron. But one juror’s vote saved
the powerful killer’s life. He was sen-
tenced to life imprisonment on Novem-
ber 19, 1924. A week later the old man
who had testified against him died.

Wernle and Landert finally pleaded
guilty and were likewise sentenced to
life. Their promise to testify against
Kricker in the Nungessor case saved
their lives.

I succeeded the former prosecutor in
office and Mr. Streuber was engaged as
special prosecutor to handle the second
trial of Fricker, The jury failed to agree,
however, and the third trial I handled
alone,

On April 3, 1925, the verdict of guilty
was returned and the punishment
assessed was death by hanging.

Fricker’s appeal held up the case till
early in 1926, At last the date of Friday,
April 16, of that year, was set for the
execution,

The dairy baron who had been “like
a king” to Minnie Kehrli Nungessor
maintained his bravado to the end, but
he trembled with fear as the noose was
adjusted in the jail yard of the Madison
County jail.

He straightened as the black cap was
caught beneath his chin, Then, sud-
denly his body shot downward and the
lordly dairy baron expiated the crimes
of his brutal passion.

For MENTIONING STARTLING DEtECTIVE ADVENTURES

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States.
$4.700.¢
$2895 1

5,000.6
made }
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$1,0

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and win
lay. No:
and to q
of over °
WHO Tas
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swer. Kk
ness Cer:

H. O. Bh

Iilinois may join trend
toward more executions

By Janan Hanna

Since the U.S. Supreme Court

TRIBUNE LEGAL AFFAIRS WRITER —sanctioned-death penalty laws in

It took 16 years for Illinois to”

carry out two executions after the
death penalty was reinstated here
in 1977.

Early Wednesday, the state
plans to double that total.

James P. Free and Hernando
Williams, convicted murderers
who have been on Death Row for
more than a decade, are scheduled
to die by lethal injection about an
hour apart in Stateville Correc-
tional Center near Joliet.

And before the year is up, two
more of the state’s 166 Death Row
inmates also may be executed, ac-
cording to the Illinois attorney
general’s office.

Illinois is poised to quicken the
pace of executions, contributing to
what is expected to be a rise na-
tionally in the number of inmates
put to death this year. It’s a trend
that previously had been confined
' to a handful of Southern states,
which have been responsible for
most of the executions nationwide

“Clearly, there is a move to get
on with the death penalty in this
country,” said Richard Dieter, ex-
ecutive director of the Death Pen-
alty Information Center in Wash-
ington, which opposes capital
punishment.

The U.S. government is planning
its first execution in 32 years
under a federal law that calls for
Capital punishment for certain
“drug kingpin” crimes.

Dieter predicted that more exe-
cutions will be carried out na-
tionwide this year than last year,
when 31 inmates were put to
death. So far, nine inmates have
been executed nationwide in 1995.

And Illinois Death Row inmates,
many of whom have exhausted
their appeals, will likely contrib-
ute to the expected rise.

But whether the expectations of
an increase will become a reality
is a question that confounds most

—

Bovey S19 45

a SEE EXECUTE, PAGE 14
Chrrayi Tinhin AL


oe ce eo Me ye

6 ; Section 2

Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, March 22, 1995

GO

N we *

Execute |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

1977.

Unlike the execution last May
of John Wayne Gacy, which
drew more than 400 death-penal-
ty supporters and protesters, the
scene outside Stateville late
Tuesday and early Wednesday
was more subdued.

About a dozen death-penalty
opponents held a prayer vigil
outside the prison while more
than 100 death-sentence sup-
porters chanted a countdown to

midnight. State Department of »

Corrections officials had said
they planned to get Free from

his cell, in the same building as.

the death chamber, shortly after
midnight. oo

Death-penalty opponents ex-
pressed digust at those who ap-
peared outside Stateville to
show their support for the death
penalty.

“The public is thirsting for
blood, and the grandstanding
politicans are not helping,” said
Matthew Baldwin, a Baptist min-
ister from Chicago and a mem-
ber of the Illinois Coalition to
Abolish the Death Penalty.

Only Texas and Arkansas had
executed two inmates on the
same day in the 19 years since
the landmark Supreme Court
ruling reinstating capital
punishment. Both states have
carried out double executions in
the last year. In addition, Arkan-
sas put three inmates to death
on the same day last August.

The last multiple execution in
Illinois had been Oct. 17, 1952,
when LeRoi Lindsey and Bernie
Davis, both convicted of killing
police officers, went to the elec-
tric chair in Cook County Jail.

Following the example of
Texas, which has performed
more executions than any other
state, Illinois for the first time
allowed relatives of Free’s and
Williams’ victims to watch the
execution on closed-circuit TV
from within the prison grounds.

Last year, relatives of victims
of Gacy expressed outrage that
they were not allowed into a
viewing room of the execution
chamber to watch the serial kill-

‘er die. The relatives said they

were doubly upset to learn that
some legislators and other offi-
cials who were not directly con-
nected with the Gacy case were
allowed to watch.

Free and Williams spent Tues-
day talking with family mem-
bers, friends and lawyers before
dining on meals of shrimp,
french fries and cheesecake, De-
partment of Corrections officials
said.

Among Williams’ visitors were
Chicago Ald. Shirley Coleman
(16th), who was married to Wil-
liams before divorcing him in
1978. The couple’s daughter,
Shirlynda, 19, also visited Wil-
liams, prison officials said.

The state used a hired execu-
tioner with a syringe instead of
the $24,900 lethal-injection ma-
chine used in the last two execu-
tions.

In the 1990 execution of double
murderer Charles Walker and
last May’s execution of Gacy, the
machine was activated by two
executioners, with neither one
knowing who had administered
the fatal dose. .

But in Gacy’s execution, a tube
leading from the machine
clogged when two of the lethal
chemicals mixed, delaying his
death by 10 minutes.

Tribune reporters Janan
Hanna, Christi Parsons and
Suzy Frisch contributed to this
article.

————————— =


“ioe Pet Wis U8. @ tt Ie Me ES Pm oe * sg? : ‘ 6 dus

‘6 - * “GHICAGO SUN-TIMES, TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1995

er er ee, $33 ~y ha}

“Tio, Ops Grow Stor

- For 2 Death Row Inmates —

By ALEX RODRIGUEZ
- STAFF WRITER

With their last meals selected
and hopes for last-minute legal
relief nearly exhausted, James P.
Free Jr. and Hernando Williams
appear headed for execution early
Wednesday morning.

Free, on Death Row for the
1978 murder of 34-year-old Bon-.
nie Serpico of Elmhurst, is sched-

uled to die by lethal injection at |

12:01 a.m. Wednesday at State-
ville Correctional Center near Jo-
liet.
‘Williams, who was sentenced to
death for the 1978 rape and mur-
der of 29-year-old Chicago La-

maze instructor Linda Goldstone, -

will be executed at Stateville
about an hour after Free.

On Monday, both men lost at-
tempts to stave off their execu-.

tions.

U.S. District Judge Marvin As-
pen rejected Free’s request for a
stay based on a Texas case in
which a condemned man claims he
is the victim of cruel and unusual
punishment because court delays
have kept him on Death Row for
20 years.

Free argued the Texas case par-
allels his own and wanted a stay
until Friday, when the U.S. Su-
preme Court is expected to decide
whether to take up the Texas
inmate’s appeal. -

Aspen ruled Free’s case is dif-
ferent because the delays in his
case were caused by his appeals.

_ Bruce Braun, a lawyer assigned to

Hernando
Williams

James P.
Free Jr.
Appeals rejected in court

Free’s. defense team, said he
planned to weer Aspen’s ruling
to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of

. Appeals by today.
Williams asked the Illinois Su- ©

preme Court to delay his execu-
tion so he could appeal a Cook
County judge’s denial of his re-
quest for a new sentencing hearing
on several grounds, including the
claim that prosecutors deliberate-
ly tried to keep minorities off the
jury.

But late Monday afternoon, the
state Supreme Court rejected Wil-
liams’ request. Lawyers for Wil-
liams could not be reached for
comment. .

To reduce the chance of any
delays, Illinois Attorney General

- Jim Ryan has assigned 24 lawyers

to quickly respond to appeals filed

_by lawyers for Free and Williams.

“If anything is filed, we'll know
within minutes and we'll have re-
sponses ready,” Ryan spokeswom-
an Anna Kukec said.

Free selected. as his last meal -

| shrimp, french fries, hominy, —

strawberry cheesecake and Moun-
tain Dew soda, Illinois Depart-
ment of Corrections spokesman
Nic Howell said. Williams’ only
request was any type of seafood,
so he will be served shrimp, How-
ell said: so
Williams, now: 40, kidnapped -
Goldstone from a North Side hos-
pital parking lot March 30, 1978. _
He kept her tied up in the trunk
of his car for 36 hours, taking her
out twice to rape her in a motel.
Williams released Goldstone in
the early morning of April 1, but
when he saw her knocking on |

- gomeone’s door asking for help, he

dragged her into an abandoned
garage and shot her in the head

-_and chest.

Free, now 41, broke into a Glen
Ellyn office building at about 4
a.m. April 24, 1978, where Serpico
and Lori Summer were working.
Free tried to rape Serpico, then

shot her in the back as she tried

to flee. Afterward, he walked up
to Summer and shot her in the
arm, Summer survived.

The Corrections - Department
has scrapped the lethal injection
machine that clogged during John
Wayne Gacy’s eXecution last May,
and instead will directly inject the
drugs through two intravenous
tubes, one placed in each arm.

‘An anteroom to the execution
chamber is equipped with phone:
lines linked to Gov. Edgar’s office,
and federal and state courts. ~


SUNDay

Chica GO

349-95

“Tri bun e€_

Double execution Ist outside South
since capital punishment’s return

By Susan Kuczka = -
TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Wednesday’s executions of con-
victed murderers James P. Free
and Hernando Williams will mark
the first time that any state out-
side the South has carried out a
double execution since the U.S.
| Supreme Court reinstated capital
punishment in 1976.

But it hardly will be the first
‘| multiple execution in Illinois.

Multiple hangings were common
here from the mid-1800s through
the early 1900s. On Feb. 16, 1912,
five men were hanged at Cook
County Jail.

In 1928, the state switched from
hanging to the electric chair. And
until 1962, when executions in Ili-
nois ceased for 28 years, the state
carried out 20 multiple executions
that killed 49 inmates, including
one woman.

In that period, the most in any
one day was four, on Oct. 16, 1931,
at Cook County Jail.

Illinois’ last multiple execution
was Oct. 17, 1952, when two men,
LeRoi Lindsey and Bernie Davis,
who were convicted of killing po-
lice officers, went to the electric
chair in County Jail.

Since the 1976 Supreme Court
ruling, many states have resumed
executions. Illinois did so in 1990,
when double murderer Charles
Walker waived his appeals and

was given a lethal injection at
Stateville Correctional Center
near Joliet.

But only two states, Texas and
Arkansas, have put more than one
person to death on the same day.

That will change when Free, 41,
and Williams, 40, are executed an
hour apart at Stateville.

When Arkansas executed two,
and then three, inmates in a day
last year, prison officials said the
practice was more efficient and
reduced stress on employees who
must administer death sentences.

Officials of the Illinois Depart-
ment of Corrections say those fac-
tors didn’t come into play in set-
ting the execution date for Free
and Williams. The Illinois Su-
preme Court set the date earlier
this year without explanation.

“We're not sending any message
at all,” court spokesman John
Madigan said last week. “There is
no significance to it at all.”

Asked whether the court sched-
uled the double execution by coin-
cidence, Madigan said, “The court
has the calendar. They’re aware of
the date.”

The state plans another change
with the executions of Free and
Williams.

It will scrap the $24,900 lethal in-
jection machine it bought in 1987
and used to kill Walker in 1990
and convicted serial killer John
Wayne Gacy last May. Instead, an

executioner will manually inject
the three lethal chemicals into
Free and Williams.
During Gacy’s execution, an in-
travenous tube feeding the drugs
from the machine became clogged
when the first two chemicals
mixed. But Department of Correc-

_ tions spokesman Nic Howell

maintained that the switch had
nothing to do with the Gacy prob-
lem.

One prison “crew,” including at
least one executioner, will carry

out both executions. Free will be

executed first because the Su-
preme Court issued his execution
order first.

Williams will become the first
African-American executed in Illi-
nois since the death penalty was
restored here in 1977.

Both men will have spent their
final hours in Stateville’s ‘x
House,” used to house Death Row
inmates between 1977 and 1980.
They will be moved from the Con-
demned Unit at Pontiac Correc-
tional Center sometime before
Tuesday evening.

At about 12:01 a.m. Wednesday,
the prison crew will enter Free’s
cell, strap him on a gurney, hook
him to an IV and wheel him to the
execution chamber.

About an hour after Free is pro-
nounced dead, prison officials will
get Williams and begin the execu-
tion process again.


were guilty or possessed of guilty knowl-
edge, he must proceed boldly. He de-
cided to strike at once.

He would arrest the two men, keep
them separated, and try to learn from
one or the other what lay behind the
whispers and the suspicions that had been
aroused.

At the same time, he determined, he
would question Fricker. But Fricker
was a power in the community. He was
a very rich man and his farm was
stocked with the finest of pure bred cattle
and the best of machinery. His in-
fluence would be difficult to overcome if
he chose to fight for his son-in-law and
his employe.

.Keeping his own

counsel, Sheriff

Deimling decided upon a still more dar-
ing course. Fricker had had trouble with
Nungessor’s wife. i

He would bring in

the dairy baron as well and question all
three men separately. From one or an-
other, if there was anything back of the
whispers of suspicion in his mind, he
would get the truth.

Fricker’s farm was not in Sheriff
Deimling’s county but he was determined
to act.

With Chief Winters and Deputy
Dooner, the sheriff moved down on Eldo
Wernle. He seized the shoe repairer at
his home in Highland and locked him in
the county jail. The 21-year-old kins-
man of Fricker showed little concern as
he found himself in a cell.

The officers moved fast now. They
rushed for the county seat of Clinton
county at Carlyle and sought out Sheriff
William Ragen. Under his leadership
they raced for Fricker’s farm. On the
way a plan of campaign was laid.

WEBCT Ny SSeS UAS ALIN een enero Pe

Dark murder plots were hatched in the farm home
shown at the top, whose owner, Jacob Landert,

right. was a tenant on the cattle baron’s farm.

The arrow points to the woods where the body of
Robert Kehrii, circle, first husband of the buxom
milkmaid, was discovered.

14

-€

“There have been reports of a still on
Kricker’s place.” Sheriff Ragen said.
“Fricker might kick up a fuss if he
thought he was being implicated in the
murder but he wouldn’t think much of
a liquor charge. Let’s take him on that.”

Deimling agreed and the four men
pulled up in front of Fricker’s house.

A tall, gaunt man dressed in over-
alls stood on the porch as they ap-
proached.

“That’s Emil,” whispered the Clinton
county sheriff.

Ragen strode forward as they reached
the porch.

“Hello, Ragen,” boomed the voice of
the dairy baron.

“You're under arrest, Emil.
charge. Are you ready to go ia

Fricker laughed shortly. “T’m ready,”
he said.

Sheriff Deimling glanced into a room
of the house and saw there two shotguns
and a repeating rifle hanging on the
wall. Fricker, he thought, was clear at
least of the murder charge or he would
have made some resistance when he saw
the sheriff of his county approach.

Ragen played his string out, however.
He handcuffed the dairy baron and
whisked him away in his car.

Liquot

a

At a small fi
routed Jake La
him away.

The machin
There the Clit
the others.

Fricker look
you fellows dr
manded.

“Fricker,” [
“You're my pr
Madison count
charged with
of John Nunge

Fricker's ey
no reply.

By 4+ a. m.,
suspects were
sections of th:
Fdwardsville.

“Have you:
Deinmling ask
man.

‘ts of a still on
f Ragen said.
a fuss if he
plicated in the
think much of
ze him on that.”
the four men
-ker’s house.
‘essed in over-
h as they ap-

red the Clinton
as they reached
ied the voice of

_ Emil. Liquot
togor”
ly. “I’m réady,”

iced into a room
ere two shotguns
hanging on the
rht, was clear at
urge or he would
nce when he saw
- approach.

ing out, however.
jairy baron and

ir.

Eldo Wernle, above, son-in-law of the dairy
baron, was involved in a mystery that in-
cluded two murders. Sheriff Edward R.
Deimling, right. of Madison county, IIL, pulled
the lever that sent a killer to his doom.

At a small farmhouse nearby, the men
routed Jake Landert out of bed and took
him away.

The machines roared back to Carlyle.
There the Clinton sheriff took leave of
the others.

Fricker looked up curiously. “Aren't
you fellows dropping me here?” he de-
manded.

“Fricker,” Deimling answered shortly.
“You're my prisoner. I’m the sheriff of
Madison county and you’re under arrest
charged with complicity in the murder
of John Nungessor.”

Fricker’s eyes narrowed but he made
no reply.

By 4 a. m., September 16, the three
suspects were safely lodged in separate
sections of the Madison county jail at
Fdwardsville.

“Have you anything to say, Fricker?”
Deimling asked as he locked up the big
man.

“No, damn you,” the man snarled, but
it was clear that the ruse used to arrest
him annoyed him more than the charge
against him. That he faced a possible
death sentence seemed not to enter his

mind.
A Strange Story

Wo hardly a shred of evidence
on which to hold his three pris-
oners, the sheriff, with the chief and the
deputy turned frantically to the task of
completing their investigations.

All forenoon the next day, the three
men sought for some clue, that would en-
able them to break one of the suspects.
hut it appeared to be useless.

Shortly before noon, however, a young
man hunted up the sheriff. He was a
youth of 25 who lived in the neighbor-
hood of the Fricker farm.

“Ts jt true.” he asked as he faced the

1 G8 Sot AO dl are RNR ok woe
‘ * em
Shag

officer, “that you are holding Emil
Fricker and Jake Landert for the Nun-
gessor killing?”

The sheriff nodded.

“Well,” the young man went on.
“Emil Fricker asked me repeatedly to
drive Jake Landert to Nungessor’s new
place. He said Jake was going to give
Nungessor a pair of black eyes.”

“Did you do it?” asked the sheriff
quickly.

“No, sir. I had nothing to gain and
I was suspicious of Fricker. He didn’t
like Nungessor at all. I knew that. But
I did make a trip or two with Fricker
to get the location of John’s place be-
fore I became suspicious.”

The sheriff sighed with relief. At last
he had one slightly stronger thread lead-
ing to Jake Landert. It might serve.

That night, with his chief deputy,
Dooner, the sheriff brought Landert in-

[Continued on page
15


ney Dewing
; jealous of
he might be
attack. The
ped portions
state brought
nd duplicates
is room and
1. Witnesses
t the Asquith
date of the

ime neighbor
she had seen
vith Bartolini
t the time she
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oxicated Mrs.
ight of recent
id all the ap-

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che jury with-
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filed into the
lini guilty of
which in Mas-
cy capital pun-

his upper tier
wily Thursday
‘hile taking his
xercising along
r, he suddenly
bedquickly up
out into
isoners.
hesnouted and
re concrete pit
air, as though
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is body crashed
jorce of the fall
ces.
he hospital and
but he moved
on cot.
rsely. “Grayce.

ohn Lyons still
»s before Oscar
th chamber he
of his frightful

- Deadly Passion of Illinois’ Love Tyrant :

[Continued from page 15]

to his office for questioning. For two
hours the suspect denied any connection
whatever with the case. He had worked
in the field all day, he said. Finally, the
sheriff's temper snapped.

“Jake,” he roared. “T want the truth.
Didn’t Fricker tell you to give Nun-
gessor a pair of black eyes?”

Landert slowly shook his head.

“But you were riding around with
Eldo Wernle in his car, weren’t you?”

“No, sir.” The prisoner’s hands
rubbed nervously together. “T° never
saw Wernle that day. Did ‘he say I was
with him?”

The sheriff tried a bluff. Something
in the man’s manner had suggested it to
him.

“You were seen with Wernle driving
Bona the road where Nungessor was
slain.”

To the surprise of the sheriff, Landert
grew very pale. A strange expression
came over his face. He gripped his chair
and swallowed hard.

“1 did it,” he suddenly shot at the sheriff.
“1 killed John Nungessor.”

There was another swift change in the
man then. It was as though the words
had torn a burden from his soul.

Tells Whole Story

Ar then his story tumbled out. He
had been employed by Fricker off
and on for 15 years, he said. In January,
the year before the murder, Fricker began
to negotiate with him and Eldo Wernle,
who was then keeping company with the
baron’s daughter, to get rid of Nungessor.
He plied them with liquor and threatened
them with death if they didn’t do as he
said. Wernle was to drive the car and
Landert to do the shooting.

“Finally, I ran away,” the hired man
declared. “I stayed away till July this
year. Then Fricker got me to go back.
He promised to pay me what he owed
me, and said he would treat me better.”

The man paused.

“All he had on his mind,” he went on,
“was killing Nungessor. He gave me a
lot of liquor and promised me $250 if I
would kill John.” ,

Rig told how Fricker planned his own
alibi.

“He said it wouldn’t do for him to be
near when the thing was done,” Landert
declared. “ ‘They already suspect me of
killing Bob Kehrli,” he quoted the baron
as saying. “ ‘Nobody will suspect you.”

On September 10, according to Jake,
Fricker told Wernle and him that they
should get Nungessor drunk and throw
him into a nearby pond. It would be
accepted as an accident, he told them.
Wernle was to tell Nungessor they were
going to dynamite fish. Wernle tried to
get Nungessor to go with him but
Nungessor refused.

The baron raged at them.

~“T'll give you boys one more chance,”
he roared. “The job has got to be done by
Monday night or there'll be something
doing.”

Fricker was with them Saturday and
made the plans, Landert said. Sunday
afternoon he met them in his field and
gave Landert a .32 automatic. He gave
Wernle a .25 and a 32. All three guns
were loaded, he said. All three were to be

used so that-it would appear three men
had done the killing. Landert was in-
structed to lie down in the car while
Wernle drove so that no suspicion would
fall on one man when three were being
hunted.

“We drove in Wernle’s Ford coupe,”
the confession went on. “We hid in-a
cornfield and waited. After a while
Nungessor came down the road. Wernle
stepped out into the road. He hailed
Nungessor and then shot him. I ran out
and shot him too. Then we emptied the
three revolvers into his body.”

They went back and fed the stock and
went to Fricker’s house, Landert said.
Fricker asked: ‘“How’s everything?”
Wernle told him: “It’s all over with.”
Fricker chuckled and told them to hide
the guns at the nearby farmhouse where
Landert lived.

“Why was Fricker so anxious to get
rid of Nungessor, Jake?” the sheriff
asked as the confession ended.

“TI don’t know,” Landert replied. “He
never gave any reason at all.”

Convinced that Landert and Wernle
might have done the killing as described,
the sheriff was frankl suspicious of the
linking of Fricker with the case. The
confession must be the dastardly work of
a disgruntled employe.

Fricker, powerful and probably hated
by his workers as he might be, was a
rich man.
imagination would hé stoop to a murder
plot over a matter of $1,500, especially
after the money had been paid. He
might try to ruin his enemy but to kill
him would be ridiculous.

With this thought in mind, he brought
young Wernle from his cell. Perhaps
the two had made up the story between
them. He'd see.

But Wernle flatly denied his guilt.
He described his actions on the murder
day and told where he was at the time
of the crime. His story was clear. But
pe! Deimling didn’t wait to hear it
all. ;

“Bring Landert back,” he demanded
and presently the two suspects stood
face to face.

“We might as well tell it,” the farm-
hand said presently.

Then Wernle broke down.

“We did it,” he said. And then he
went into ‘a story: that paralleled Lan-
dert’s. He had been keeping company
with Fricker’s daughter. Suddenly the
baron asked him if he had a gun.
Wernle said he hadn’t.

Then Fricker made him a strange
proposition, he said.

“You can have my daughter if you
help me get rid of John Nungessor,”
Fricker said, according to Wernle. “I want
to get his wife back.”

Wernle said he told the girl. They ran
away and were married. For a year, the
dairy baron would not allow them to
come near the place. Then he took them
back. But he began again his demand that
Wernle kill Nungessor.

“You got the girl you wanted and I
must have Minnie back,” Fricker said,
according to his son-in-law.

Afraid of the big man, Wernle said he
finally agreed. He met Landert and
Fricker in the field. The plan was made.

The rest of his story agreed with

By no possible stretch of the.

Landert’s. The sheriff decided that the
two tales were almost .too similar.

“You were a good friend of Nunges-
sor’s, weren’t you, Eldo?” he asked.

“T was,” came the answer, “but it was
his life or mine. If I hadn’t helped to
kill Nungessor, Fricker would have killed _
me.”

There -was’ only one thing for the
sheriff to do after that and he did it at
once.

“Bring Fricker in here,” he ordered
alee returning the other two to their
cells.

When the baron of the dairy country
stood before him, a tall and powerful
figure, the sheriff shot the whole story at

im..

“What have you got to say?” he con-
cluded.

The big man eyed him narrowly.

“Yve had trouble with Wernle,” he said
calmly. “I objected to his marrying my
daughter. Jake Landert and I had dif-
ferences over some money due him. I re-
fused to pay him when he was intoxicated.
I never had any trouble with Nungessor.”

“Did you own the guns?” Deimling de-
manded. ;

“T owned a .32. I lent it to Landert in
August in return for a shotgun.”

Convinced that he had a part of the
truth, the sheriff sought to check on the
confessions. He sent a deputy to the place
where Landert had told of hiding the
guns and they were found.

Fricker's Story Stands

"T BEY proved nothing, however, ex-
cept that Landert had had a hand in
the killing. Fricker’s story stood up.

And then to the amazement of the
sheriff, another man came in to tell of
Fricker’s trying to get him to drive a
car so that Jake Landert might kill Nun-
gessor. The informant was a former
suitor for the hand of the baron’s daugh-
ter, a young German who had been em-
ployed by Bricker. He was now driving
a milk route and said he had been forced
to change his route because of Fricker’s
threats and efforts to get him to do the
murderous work.

_ Fricker’s threats to kill him had kept
the young man silent, he told the sheriff.
- Where there was so much smoke, there
must be some fire, the sheriff decided. -
Why should Fricker want Nungessor
killed? What was this about trying to get
Minnie Nungessor back? :

And then the story of Minnie Nunges-
sor began to come out. Tongues that had
been silenced were loosened by news of
the two confessions.

Minnie, the sheriff found, had worked
for the dairy baron for 14 years, She
was a tireless worker.

If the woman could only be made to
speak, the sheriff thought, more might
yet be made of the case. He summoned

‘the young widow to the courthouse and

there she told her story.

A nameless half orphan, she had gone
to work for Fricker when she was 15,
Minnie Nungessor said. She had worked
in the barn and in the field. Ungrudg-
ingly, loyally proud in her strength, she
had been anxious to outdo every other
worker on the place.

At first her pay was $8 a month. Grad-

47


ually it was increased to $30. Her needs
were small and she did not draw all of
her salary. The powerful man for whom
she worked took on the stature of a feudal’
lord and she served him dutifully.

Then suddenly had come marked evi-
dence of his favor. He had paid her little
attentions. And finally, he had demanded
the tribute of her body.

“He hated my husband because he liked
me better than his wife,” the woman sud-

‘denly cried out as she faced the sheriff.

“You mean he was in love with you?”
the sheriff queried.

“No,” the widowed dairy maid said
scornfully, “you don’t call that love. He

thought I was a better woman than his

wife because I’m stronger.” ;

Fricker did ‘not put his wife aside,
Minnie said, and she would have been
the last to demand such a condition.

Threatens To Kill John

ri IS wife is a good woman arid his

daughter is a good woman,” she
went on. “We always got along well to-
gether. They would hear me trying to
keep him away. They knew it wasn’t my
fault. They never blamed me. They would
hear him say, a i have it to do. It’s
part of your work.’ a

“When he found out I was going to
marry John, he was furious. He told me
then he would kill any man I married.
But I married him. :

“T wasn’t married a week when: he
sent for me and said he wanted to pay
me some of my money. When I went
there he gave me some money and made
me do his will again. He kept me there.
all day.’ ‘

“A ‘month later he sent for me again.
That time he kept me there from Thurs-
day till Monday. I walked the six miles
home. He’had to use the gun to get me
then. f

“He tried then to get me to leave
John. But I wouldn’t do it. John came.
for me and Emil locked me up and
wouldn’t let him into the house. I thought
there was a plot against my husband and
warned him.

“Tt was because of Fricker’s threats
that he would get me back at any cost
that we decided to move to another
county. That’s where in was working
the day he was killed. He was getting
ready to move.” .

The story was so complete and so
sincerely told that Sheriff Deimling
for the first time realized that there might

be a powerful motive for the murder .in '

the heart of Fricker.

He questioned the dairy baron about
his relations with the woman. ,

“She stayed at our place because she
wanted to,” he flamed. “She wasn’t held.”

But Deimling had enough evidence now
to go before a jury. He turned it over
to the prosecutor, J. P. Streuber. who
was preparing it for the grand jury when
there came another startling develop-
ment. :

From the Clinton County Home at
Carlyle came word that Rudolph Kamuf,
a 67-year-old inmate, wanted to see the
officers about the Fricker case.

The man was dying from heart trouble
and asthma but he was taken in an ambu-
lance to the courthouse in Edwardsville.

“I’m afraid I’m going to die,” he said,
“and I make this statement voluntarily.

“I worked for the Frickers thirty
years,” Kamuf went on. “I knew Robert
Kehrli and Minnie. When Minnie mar-
ried Kehrli in April, 1920, Fricker was

48

enraged. He wanted me to kill Kehrli.
I refused and Emil said he wished he
had a rifle, that he would shoot Kehrli
like a rabbit.

“ ‘He sneaked away the girl that has
belonged to me for eight years,’ he
stormed,

“I argued with him to let the matter
drop. Fricker bellowed: ‘No, I won't
let it drop. It will be either now or later.
I’m going to kill him.’

“On May 7, 1920, Kehrli and I and
another farm hand went with Fricker
to a lonely part of the farm to work.
The other hands and I were set to work
while Fricker took Kehrli into a neigh-
boring grove to chop wood. Fricker had
several bottles of wine and whiskey with
him and when he came back later in the
day, he said to me: ‘Well, I’ve got him
where I want him now. He’s just about
asleep. He said Kehrli was dead

“T said I was going home. Fricker said:
‘No, you won't. You're going to stay right
here’ I was afraid to leave. Emil went
back into the woods. Shortly afterward,
I heard a shot. Fricker came back alone.
‘Well, he’s done for,’ he said to me. ‘I have
the satisfaction of knowing he didn’t get
ahead of me.’

“The next morning Fricker took me
into the woods. Kehrli lay dead. A 38
calibre gun was about a foot from his
head. ‘I told you,’ Fricker sneered, ‘that I
could shoot him down like a rabbit.’ The
bullet wound was in his right temple.

“They found Kehrli a day or so later.
I didn’t say anything. Fricker promised
me a home for life.”

Then they brought Minnie Nungessor
in and read the statement to her.

“I was suspicious at the time,” she said
slowly. “I never could make out why he
should kill himself. But—I was always
slow—and. Fricker was like a_ king.
would have been afraid to tell.”

Fricker, Landert and Wernle were in-

dicted September 22, 1924. Landert and -

Wernle pleaded not guilty, declaring they

Ra ALF Mie Weak

“That's our new lie detector—the sergeciil’s wile.”

had been forced to commit the crime.
Fricker denied both murder charges.

The great dairy baron was found to
be short of cash and to have mortgaged
a part of his holdings in his desire to
expand his operations. His case was
called first as Kamuf, the state’s star wit-
ness, was on the point of death in the
county home. The charge was the murder
of Robert Kehrli. ‘

The aged Kamuf told his story and
was followed on the stand by the widow.
Minnie Nungessor’s testimony revealed
the whole truth about the motive for the
two murders.

As she spoke the shadow of the gal-
lows loomed behind the chair of the dairy
baron. But one juror’s vote saved the
powerful killer’s life. He was sentenced
to life imprisonment on November 19,
1924. A week later the old man who had
testified against him died.

Wernle and Landert finally pleaded
guilty and were likewise sentenced to life.
Their promise to testify against Fricker
in the Nungessor case saved their lives.

Jesse R. Brown succeeded the former
prosecutor in office.and Mr. Streuber was
engaged as special prosecutor to handle
the second trial of Fricker. The jury failed
to agree, however, and the third trial
State's Attorney Brown handled alone.

On April 3, 1925, the verdict of guilty
was returned and the punishment as-
sessed was death by hanging.

Fricker’s appeal held up the case till
early in 1926. At last the date of Friday,
April 16, of that year, was set for the
execution,

The dairy baron who had been “like
a king” to Minnie Kehrli Nungessor
maintained his bravado to the end, but
he trembled with fear as the noose was
adjusted in the jail yard of the Madison
County jail.

He straightened as the black cap was
caught beneath his chin. Then, suddenly
his body shot downward and the lordly
dairy baron expiated the crimes of his
brutal passion.

nt

, Jax

wandered into Grant
some fresh air. She
_what happened. On
denly appeared out o-
was slapped in the fac
she and Burns fell to
When Mrs. Burn
taken immediately
Buehler, who by thi
hysterical after telli:
women stared at eac!
then were taken into
questioning. The w
vinced the officials th
of her husband’s de
who might have wan
_ Miss Buehler, on t
ing admitted that Bu
a dozen or more me
made ardent love to
on a tangent look
rival.
Unlike the slain Mi
a diary about her anx
Miss Buehler had on!
phone nufnbers. Po
these for a clue.
Next morning, hov
were amazed to run
of names, First, the
told them that she \
widow of Burns, but !
him for nine years ;
wife. Then she add
not the real name of h
but that he was Her!
styled widow reveal:

its ghastly contents
He had but one jo’
of the corpus deleci. |

body so that it never c:
safe from every police
because nobody had w
and therefore it could
murder had been done
body. of this woma:
Suspicion alone coulc
prison. ‘

: He figured well anc
his digging. Deep in :
laid the naked corpse
to leave her in the bl:
be traced back to him,
could be identified jus
ing buried the body,
blanket back into the t:
into the car. The spa
into the clinging brus!
side,

Then he drove home
return. He washed
himself and the car. H
back into’ the basen:
it to kindlingwood, fe
box of the furnace wi:

_He went back to hi
ning had seen, he thous
detail. He had murd«
would never know. °
be suspected of foul pl


“WIS

2 executions set

for the same date

Barring legal delays, Illinois will execute two |
- Death Row inmates March 22, following an order

issued Thursday by the state Supreme Court.

Officials said they believed it would be the first
time that Illinois carried out a multiple execution.

'

The Supreme Court on Thursday set the execu- )

tion date for Hernando Williams, a 39-year-old Chi-
cago man convicted of the 1978 kidnapping and
slaying of a natural-childbirth instructor at North-

sas officials said multiple ‘executions reduce the

 gtress on workers who: have to administer the

death sentence and save taxpayers money. M616

Pie

“@ regional news —
-¢0 Tribune Online . ,
* ©N| MACE 2, SECTION 1 , oe ms ¥
‘ers to the complete text of the story

hed ad in the tral


rug king n’s execution delayed

Drug kingpin D: vid Chandler, scheduled to be the fi
federal prisoner  xecuted since 1963, got a stay of h
March 30 execution date. A Birmingham, Ala., feder:
judge said more tine is needed to consider challenges by
Chandler, 42, He was convicted in Alabama of paying the
killer in a 1990 po.ice informant slaying.

> Illinois planned a rare double
execution early today. Scheduled
to die by injection: James Free, 4!,
for the 1978 murder of DuPage
County office worker Bonnie Ser-
pico, and Hernando Williams, 40,
for the 1978 abduction, rape and
murder of Chicago childbirth
teacher Linda Goldstone.

> Robert Williams, scheduled to
| .| die in Nebraska’s electric chair
| ne ‘ | early today, got an automatic stay
| AP until after his clemency petition is
FREE: Tobe execut- considered by the pardons board
ed with Williams later today. Williams, convicted of
a three-day rape-and-murder ram-
page that left three women dead in 1977, could be put to
death later today if the board denies him a hearing.

» A Texas Senate committee approved a measure to let
families of murder victims view executions. Florida and
California aliow victims’ relatives to watch.

Written by Paul !eavitt. Contributing: Steve Timko and
Gary Fields

i DOUBLE EXECUTION: JOLIET. Il. —
Two killers awaited lethal injection early Wednesday
in Illinois’ first double execution in more than 42
years.

James Free and Hernando Williams were i
hour apart at Stateville Correctional Center. one
to g0 first, shortly after midnight.

ree, 41, was convicted of murdering an
worker. Williams, 40, pleaded guilty to Diduiting ae
ing and shooting to death a childbirth instructor he
had held prisoner in the trunk of his car for 36 hours

Both killings were in 1978. The dual execution was

a matter of coincidence; the state S
the execution dates. upreme Court set

ite “TTINATON __


My

= Death-case -
tules ripped,
in Illinois ¥

es pre | | Associated Press

CHICAGO ~ A federal judge has ‘
struck down the jury instructions | |
used in Illinois death-penalty | |
cases as too confusing for many |
jurors to understand. |
|
|
|
|
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27, 1992

U.S. District Judge Marvin As-
pen on Friday overturned the
1979 death sentence of James P.
Free Jr. for murder and attempt-
ed rape.

_ He said Free had shown a rea- .
sonable likelihood that the jury | |
for his trial during the late 1970s
was confused about which side
had the burden of proof. He gave
the state 120 days to resentence | |
Free. |

The instructions to Free’s jury. | |
were based on a standard form ap-
proved by the Illinois Supreme
Court for use in death-penalty
cases. Nig Mia teem

Free’s lawyer, Kimball Ander-
son, said as many as 80 other in-

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rors misunderstood their task and
the rules governing them.
“The magnitude of these results
ig staggering,” Aspen wrote. —
“The survey was conducted in
1990 and earlier this year by the
late Hans Zeisel, a professor at
» the University of Chicago. .
__&..Ernie Slottag, a spokesman for
_~° .* «lhe Illinois attorney general’s of-

aes We fie, said the state was expected to

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“Aspen had asked U.S. Magis-

~ trate Bernard Weisberg to rule on
“the merits of Zeisel’s survey.

The magistrate found that the
study established that the in-
structions failed to provide “even
a majority of jurors hearing them
with a clear understanding of how
they are to go about deciding
whether a defendant lives or
dies.” '

While some death-row inmates
in Illinois were sentenced by judg-
es, Anderson said “the vast major- | |
ity” were sentenced by juries. |

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The NATIONAL EXECUTION ALERT NETWORK is a project
of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
For more information, contact: Ricardo Villalobos (Ricardo227@ aol.com), NCADP
918 F St. NW Suite 601, Washington DC 20004 (202) 347-2411 e-mail: abolition@igc.apc.org

95-2 March 7, 1995
“* EXECUTION ALERT ** EXECUTION ALERT ** EXECUTION ALERT ** EXECUTION ALERT **

TEXAS 12:01 AM LETHAL INJECTION
MARCH 9, 1995--MAURICE ANDREWS (African American), age 33, has been on death row since October 1982. He was
convicted of the murder of two Latino males that occurred during the robbery of a jewelry store In 1982. One of his co-
defendants, Elliot Johnson, was executed on June 24th, 1987. Two other co-defendants are In prison serving a life
sentence and a 30 year sentence.

APRIL 11, 1995--CALVIN BURDINE (White), age 41, has been on death row since February 1984. An openly gay man,
Burdine, was convicted of murdering a lover (W/M). Three Issues have been ralsed by this case, Inadequacy of legal
representation, torture, and homophobia. The quality of Joe Cannon's (Burdine’s original trial attorney) representation of
capital defendants at trial has been widely criticized. In September of 1984, the Wall Street Journal published an article
discussing many allegations of Cannon's ineffectiveness -- including a total lack of preparation for trial, an open
willingness to try cases “as fast as greased lightning,” and generally miserable performances at trial. The leading
allegation of ineffectiveness in Burdine’s case concerns Cannon's repeated pattern of sleeping during trial. This
allegation is supported by an affidavit from the foreman of Burdine’s Jury that "Mr Cannon‘s eyes were shut and his head
would bob up and down when his head started to fall...berhaps as many as five different times."

Regarding how homophobia has affected Burdine’s case, the prosecutor, his legal counsel and the several jurors
expressed homophobic attitudes. During the punishment phase, the prosecutor argued that, "Sending a homosexual to
the penitentiary certainly isn't a very bad punishment for a homosexual, and that’s what he’s asking you to do." The
prosecutor also argued to the jurors that they should consider Burdine’s 1971 homosexual sodomy conviction as evidence
that Burdine would be a “future danger to society” and, thus, should be executed. Joe Cannon, his attorney also showed
his homophobic views by using slurs such as “queer’ and “fairy” on court affidavits. One of his most adverse actions was
allowing self-admitted homophobic persons on the jury when Burdine is openly homosexual and this was stated to the jury
several times.

Burdine was subjected to a "mock execution’ in 1987. Even though he had been granted a stay in July of ‘87 for his
August execution date, he was put through the entire process, including being placed in the “death watch" cell next to
the execution chamber, writing his will, taking his “final” shower and ordering his "last meal." A few hours before he
thought he would die prison officials claim that they “found” the Judge's order which had been "accidentally" misplaced.

The address for Joe Frank Cannon's office is 5424 Katy Frwy, Houston TX 77007 and the name of the Judge that
appointed Mr. Cannon was Joe Guarino, a visiting judge that Is now retired but may do some work for Drug Court.

TO TAKE ACTION CONTACT:

Gov. George W. Bush, P.O, Box 12428, Austin TX 78711, phone 512/463-2000, or FAX 512/463-1849,

Texas Board of Pardons & Parole, Jack Kyle, Director, PO Box 1776 2503 Lake Rd. Ste 9, Huntsville TX 77340 or phone
409/291-2161 or FAX 409/291-6852.

DELAWARE 12:01 PM LETHAL INJECTION
MARCH 17, 1995--NELSON SHELTON - consensual (White), age 27, was convicted in 1993 of killing a man (W/M). He had
two codefendants that also sit on death row. One of those is his brother, Both he and his brother were convicted on a 8-
4 jury tally. Although Nelson admits to not remembering having committed the crime, he has consented to being
executed on religious grounds and because of the fact that he says life imprisonment would be worse than being
executed.

TO TAKE ACTION CONTACT: Lt. Governor, Ruth Ann Minner, Chair of the Delaware Board of Pardons. at
Legislative Hall, Dover, DE 19901; Phone: (302) 739-4151 OR Fax: (302) 739-6965,
or write to Nelson Shelton (No. 00165919) at Delaware Correctional Center,
Smyrna, DE 19977, ,

OKLAHOMA 12:01 PM LETHAL INJECTION
MARCH 20, 1995--THOMAS GRASSO - consensual (White), age 32, demanded and received the death penalty In
Oklahoma for the 1990 murder of Hilda Johnson (AA/F). ' At the time of his trial in Oklahoma, Grasso was also under a life
sentence in New York for the murder of an elderly man. Since his death sentence was imposed, he has been the subject
of a tug-of-war between states, with former NY Governor Mario Cuomo insisting that Grasso serve his life sentence in New
York, and both Grasso and the governors (first David Walters, now Frank Keating) of Oklahoma insisting that he be
returned to Oklahoma for execution. Grasso was returned to Oklahoma immediately by newly elected NY Governor
George Pataki.

Of the 266 executions which have been carried out In the U.S. since reinstatement, 32 have been consensual. Of
those, 27 have been white males. Virtually all of them have had histories of suicide attempts before being sentenced to
death
TO TAKE ACTION CONTACT: Office of the Legal Counsel to the Governor, Office of the Governor,

State Capitol, Okiahoma.City, OK'73105 or the Oklahoma Board of
Pardons at 4040 N, Lincoln St., Oklahoma City, OK 73105.

’

ILLINOIS 12:01 AM LETHAL INJECTION
MARCH 22,1995--HERNANDO WILLIAMS (African American), age 40, has been on death row since 1978 for the murder of
Linda Goldstone (W/W). He was convicted by an all White jury in Cook County (Chicago) after the prosecution
systematically struck 26 potential African American jurors from the 130 person venire. Nearly a year after Wiliams’ direct
appeal! was rejected, the Supreme Court held that this practice of jury selection was unconstitutional. However, the
Court's ruling was not retroactive to Williams’ case. ae

MARCH 22, 1995--JAMES FREE (White), has been on death row since November 1979 for murder of Bonnie Serico (W/W).
Key points in his case 1) He had an excellent military record and had no prior serious, violent offenses; 2) He was on PCP
when he committed the offense and the judge did not Instruct the Jury on toxic psychosis; and 3) He was convicted by a
jury that received incomprehensible instructions on the question of weighing aggravating and mitigating factors.
TO TAKE ACTION, CONTACT: Gov. Jim Edgar, State Capitol, Room 207 Springfield IL 62706; fax to (217) 782-3560; or
phone at (217) 782-6830,
and James K. Williams, Chairperson of the Prisoner Review Board, 319 E. Madison, Suite A,
Springfield, IL 62701: phone at (217) 782-7273; or fax to (217) 524-0012.


Long believed a suicide, Robert

Kehrli, first husband of the girl in

this strange true story, was found
dead in a wooded tract.

of the dead man gave him the only
further information he could find at the
time.

He was working on the road, he said,
shortly before the murder. Eldo Wernle
had driven by in a Ford coupe. John
Nungessor had followed later in his
wagon—going to his death.

It was a frail thread on which to hang
an investigation, but the sheriff followed
it. Inquiry near the farm where Nun-
gessor had been working revealed an-
other young man, a farm hand, who had
seen the man in the Ford coupe. The
car had driven past the place just be-
fore Nungessor started home, he said.
He did not know who drove the car.

There seemed to be little more to
learn. Few of the neighbors were in-
clined to talk. There was a whisper that
the killing was the climax of an old
grudge but nobody would say what it
might be.

An undercurrent of anger in the com-
munity grew. Deimling knew that as
sheriff he must do something. He could
think of nothing but to question Landert
and Wernle. But if they were guilty or
possessed of guilty knowledge, he must
proceed boldly. He decided to strike at
once,

He would arrest the two men, keep
them separated, and try to learn from
one or the other what lay behind the
whispers and the suspicion that had been
aroused.

At the same time, he determined, he
would question Fricker. But Fricker
was a power in the community. He was
a ‘very rich man and his farm was
stocked with the finest of pure bred cattle
and the best of machinery. His in-
fluence would be difficult to overcome if
he chose to fight for his son-in-law and
his employe.

Keeping his own counsel, Sheriff
Deimling decided upon a still more dar-
ing course. Fricker had had trouble
with Nungessor’s wife. He would bring
in the dairy baron as well and question

26

Dark murder plots were hatched in this house, the home of Jake
Landert, on the Fricker farm. Arrow points to the woods in which
Robert Kehrli’s body was discovered.

all three men separately. From one or
another, if there was anything back of
the whispers of suspicion in his mind,
he would get the truth.

Fricker’s farm was not in Sheriff
Deimling’s county but he was determined
to act.

With Chief Winters and Deputy
Dooner, the sheriff moved down on
Eldo Wernle. He seized the shoe re-
pairer at his home in Highland and
locked him in the county jail. The 21-
year-old kinsman of Fricker showed lit-
tle concern as he found himself in a cell.

The officers moved fast now. They
rushed for the county seat of Clinton
county at Carlyle and sought out Sheriff
William Ragen. Under his leadership
they raced for Fricker’s farm, On the
way a plan of campaign was laid.

“There have been reports of a still on
Fricker’s place,” Sheriff Ragen said.
“Fricker might kick up a fuss if he
thought he was being implicated in the
murder but he wouldn’t think much of
a liquor charge. Let’s take him on that.”

Deimling agreed and the four men
pulled up in front of Fricker’s house.

A tall, gaunt man dressed in over-
alls stood on the porch as they ap-
proached. ;

“That’s Emil,” whispered the Clinton
county sheriff.

Ragen strode forward as they reached
the porch.

“Hello, Ragen,” boomed the voice of
the dairy baron.

“You're under arrest, Emil. Liquor
charge. Are you ready to go?”

Fricker laughed shortly. ‘I’m ready,”
he said.

‘Sheriff Deimling glanced into a room
of the house and saw there two shotguns
and a repeating rifle hanging on the
wall, Fricker, he thought, was clear at

least of the murder charge or he would
have made some resistance when he saw
the sheriff of his county approach.

Ragen played his string out, however.
He handcuffed the dairy baron and
whisked him away in his car.

At a small farmhouse nearby, the men
routed Jake Landert out of bed and took
him away.

The machines roared back to Carlyle.
There the Clinton sheriff took leave of
the others.

Fricker looked up curiously. ‘Aren't
you fellows dropping me here?” he de-
manded.

“Fricker,” Deimling answered
shortly. ‘You're my prisoner. I’m
the sheriff of Madison county and you're
under arrest charged with complicity in
the murder of John Nungessor.”

Fricker’s eyes narrowed but he made
no reply.

By 4 a. m., September 16, the three
suspects were safely lodged in separate
sections of the Madison County jail at
Edwardsville.

“Have you anything to say, Fricker ?”
Deimling asked as he locked up the big
man.

“No, damm you,” the man snarled, but
it was clear that the ruse used to arrest
him annoyed him more than the charge
against him. That he faced a possible
death sentence seemed not to enter his
mind.

The Sheriff Gets A Break

ITH hardly a shred of evidence

on which to hold his three pris-

oners, the sheriff, with the chief and the

deputy turned frantically to the task of
‘completing their investigations.

All forenoon the next day, the three

men sought for some clue that would

STARTLING DETECTIVE

- In this
his fert
up-to-d:

bar.

enable ther
but it appe
Shortly
young mar
Was a you
neighborhe:
“Is it tru
officer, “th
Fricker an
gessor killi:
The sher!
“Well,”

“Emil Fric!

drivé Jake |

place. He ~

Nunyessor

“Did you
quickly,
“No, sir.

I was suspic:

like Nungess:

I did make »
to get the Io
tore I becanx

The sherit

last he had o:
leading to
serve,

— That) nigh:
Dooner, the s
to his office ;
hours the sus;
Whatever with
in the field all
sheriff's temp:

“Jake,” he 1
Didn't Fricke:
sor a pair of bh

Landert slov

“But you w
Eldo Wernle j-

“No, sir.”

rubbed nervou
saw Wernle th:
with him?"

ADVENTURE:

*
|
| os
er
|
|
|
| |
horses, plunging
wy farm hifp 87) As Sheriff Deimling (white-haired man at left) grasps the
na country road. release lever, other officers adjust the hood and hangman’s 8
orting with fear, knot. There is a moment of silence ... then the fallen trap
ed to the vehicle and taut rope mutely tell the story of a killer’s doom.
ng at halter ropes ‘ |
ma horror beside I John N a
It was John ungessor’s team, he tol¢ : battered, it appeared that the well-to-do
they raced blindly officials there, and they set about at once By JESSE R. BROWN young farmer had been thrown from the
‘tion of southwest- to notify the owner. Former Circuit Judge and State’s Attorney wagon when his teams ran away and
ted in the harness, But the owner had already been found. Madison County, III. had ‘died of a broken neck.
the small town of Two other farmers had come upon his as told to IRA IRVING POZNANSKI. - Deputy Coroner Fverett Tibbetts of
coming upon them, hody lying in the road, Bloody and Madison County, summoned by phone |
~ and led the four ADVENTURES 23 |
the town. 4 .
ING DETECTIVE


Sheriff Edward R. Deimling, of Madison County, IIl.,

(left) as he questioned Emil Fricker in the amazing death

mystery in which one of Fricker’s neighbors was the victim.

from Highland, hurried to the scene. He
bent over the still form as nearby farm-
ers looked on. ‘Then he straightened
grimly.

“This is murder,’ he said quickly.
“There are twelve bullet wounds. Nun-
gessor has been killed.”

Tony Winters, Highland Chief of
Police, had to be called then, He was a
deputy sheriff as well and brought with
him Sheriff Edward R. Deimling of
Madison county . and Chief Deputy
Thomas Dooner.

It was some miles to the Nungessor
home. The young farmer had been
working a new place to which he planned
to move soon and was driving home after
a hard day’s work when the sudden hail
of bullets had knocked him out of the
wagon sending the frightened team rac-
ing from the scene,

Kindly neighbors bore the news to
Minnie Nungessor, the young widow.

She took the word calmly. Almost
stolidly she prepared to go to her dead
husband’s side. Tragedy was nothing
new to her.

Those who stood pityingly before her
on that sorrowful Monday night of
September 15, 1924, suddenly remem-
bered that her first husband also had
died a violent death. But that had been
suicide as they recalled.

She had been Minnie Kehrli then,
married to young Bob Kehrli for less
than a month in 1920.

Both worked for Emil Fricker,
wealthy Clinton county farmer and milk
shipper, a powerful man who rated as a

24

feudal lord in the Illinois dairy country.

It was April 13 that year when the
proud young farm hand stood before the
Holy Book and pledged a lifetime of
devotion to this strong young dairy maid
whose eyes fell before his own.

The girl had apparently had few ad-
mirers. Love had come, it seemed, to
lift her out of the drab routine of farm
work which she had known all her life.
Beauty in the artistic sense was not
hers, perhaps, and yet there was beauty
in the sturdy body and in the proud set
of her head upon the white column of
her neck as she lifted her eyes at last
and turned to go home with her husband.

Bob and Minnie Kehrli were to go on
at the Fricker home. They were to con-
tinue their tasks in the household of the
dairy country baron, And there were
those who envied the evident happiness
of the pair. e

But Minnie Kehrli’s dream lasted only
27 days. On May 10, the body of Bob
Kehrli was found in a wooded section
of the Fricker farm. He had died of a
bullet wound. A revolver lay beside the
corpse.

There were those who suspected mur-
der even in his death. It had come in
the final days of their honeymoon month
when the happiness of the two had
seemed supreme. Not one in all the
countryside could give a single reason
why Bob Kehrli should have taken his
own life. But if murder had been done,
it was surely the perfect crime, for hunt
as they might the authorities could find
no slightest evidence to establish a theory

of murder. The youth had not an enemy
in all the land so far as could be learned.
The coroner’s jury pronounced his
death suicide.

It was two years later that the sad-
dened young widow married John Nun-
gessor. She had gone on with her work
at the Fricker home. Fate, it seemed,
had bound her to the milk pails and the
cream separator of the great dairy farm.
But John Nungessor had been drawn to
the hungry heart of the strong young
woman and had taken her away.

New happiness had dawned for Min-
nie Nungessor then. She had a small
farm home of her own. Her husband
was a kindly man and she delighted to
toil for him as she had done for the
dairy baron.

Not quite two years had gone by and
now tragedy had struck again at the
woman’s heart. Neighbors shook their
heads mournfully before her grief. But
it was that silent grief which the stolid
must endure.

There was no doubt about the agency
of death in the Nungessor case. Mur-
der was written clearly upon the corpse
in the twelve bullet wounds it bore.
There could be no easy verdict here of
suicide.

Sheriff Deimling bent to his work at
once for the countryside was aroused.
The killing was one of the most brutal
in the history of the county. Fiendish
slayers had done their work with all the
bloody thoroughness of the gangsters
that had not long since terrorized near-
by St. Louis.

STARTLING DETECTIVF.

Gree
the mo
of the
the ide

But
fasten
comfor
profit |
discou:
hardly
advanc
Reven:
the hu
sor Wa
case 0!

Que
bers 0
brains
der cz
able te
Nungte
over t
in his

The
had c¢!
sum b
and tt
had ar
decline
He w

he sai

ADVE

nazing death

1 had not an enemy
is could be learned.
pronounced his

later that the sad-
narried John Nun-
~ on with her work
Fate, it seemed,
milk pails and the
e great dairy farm.
had been drawn to
the stronf young
n her away.
| dawned for Min-
She had a small
wn. Her husband
id she delighted to
had done for the

s had gone by and
ruck again at the
ighbors shook their
fore her grief. But
ief which the stolid

bt about the agency
igessor case. Mur-
tly upon the corpse
‘++ wounds it bore.
sasy verdict here of

bent to his work at
ryside was aroused.
- of the most brutal
‘e county. Fiendish
dr work with all the
ss of the gangsters
ince terrorized near-

LING DETECTIVE.

Greed, jealousy, revenge! These were
the motives that stood out in the mind
of the sheriff as he sought some clue to
the identity of the killers.

But there was little here for greed to
fasten itself upon. Nungessor had been
comfortably well-off but no one stood to
profit by his death. Jealousy might be
discounted, it seemed, for his wife was
hardly the type to inspire the amorous
advances of the few men she knew.
Revenge must be the motive. And yet
the hunt for an enemy of John Nunges-
sor was as fruitless as it had been in the
case of Bob Kehrli.

Questioned on these points, the mem-
bers of Nungessor’s family racked their
brains for some possible hint of a mur-
der cause. The only thing they were
able to put forth was a difficulty Minnie
Nungessor had had with Emil Fricker
over the payment for her long service
in his employ.

The dairy baron owed her $1,500, she
had claimed. It seemed an astonishing
sum but the matter had gone into court
and the dairy maid had won. Fricker
had arranged to pay the money but had
declined to turn it over in a lump sum,
He would pay a small amount monthly,
he said, if the woman would come to

ADVENTURES

Judge Brown, who prosecuted
the love baron, indicates spot
along a lonely country road
near Highland, IIL, where the
bullet-riddled body of John
Nungessor was found.

Ignorant of the cruel fate that was to bring tragedy
into their lives, Mr. and Mrs. John Nungessor
posed for this photo during the happy days of

their marriage.

Jesse R. Brown, former circuit judge

and state’s attorney of Madison County,

IlL, and co-author of this story, won the

verdict which sent a scheming criminal
to death,

him for it. The first payment had been
made, the family asserted, but when
Minnie went the second time she had
not returned and her young husband and
his sister had found her apparently held
against her will in the Fricker home.

There had been trouble about that,
but the claim had since been settled in
full, the sheriff was told.

The trail ended there. Nothing could
be found that would lead, by any stretch
of the imagination, to a murderous con
clusion,

The dead man’s mother did insist,
however, that her son believed his life
threatened. That, she said, was the rea
son he planned to move to another farmi.

Questioned, she said she knew little,
but she mentioned an occasion when
John had refused to help dynamite fish
in a pond on a neighboring farm. He
seemed to be afraid something would
happen, she said.

Deimling followed this lead. It was
all he had. The men who had ap-
proached Nungessor on this errand were
Jake Landert and Eldo Wernle, he
found,

Landert was a hired man on the
Fricker farm, Wernle was Fricker’:
son-in-law and worked as a shoe re-
pairer in Highland.

The sheriff questioned other members
of the family about the relations of thes«
men with John Nungessor. A brother

at
Ga


Once the arch plotter was behind bars, tongues loosened and officers
a strange “score” the man at right wanted to settle with Nungessor.

learned of
After being

fingered by his accomplice, the younger dupe (left) filled in missing details of the plot.

Nungessor marked the second time in four years that death by violence had
stripped her of a husband.

Originally from adjoining Clinton County, she had worked from her
early teens as a dairy maid for Emil Fricker, wealthy farmer and milk
contractor, whose vast holdings and high-handed treatment of his employes
had earned him a hard-boiled reputation reminiscent of an ancient feudal
baron.

Until her 20th birthday, Minnie had failed to attract a single admirer,
and so had remained aloof from the community's social activities. In fact
her few appearances in town were limited to occasional shopping trips in
the company of her austere employer, his wife and the pair’s attractive
daughter, Emily.

And then out of a clear blue sky had appeared one Robert Kehrli, who
had gone to work for Fricker on April 1, 1920. A World War I veteran,
handsome, and extremely well-liked by everyone, Kehrli had been smitten
at first sight with Minnie and the feeling apparently had been mutual.

At any rate, before anyone even suspected a romance, they eloped, on
April 13 to Chicago and were married. Three days later they returned
to take up wedded life together in their employer’s home, referred to by
neighbors as “the castle,” with Minnie continuing with her dairy duties
as before; at least for the time being.

From that day on, Minnie was a transformed woman, her co-workers
reported, and Kehrli gave every appearance of a man who was crazy in
love with his new wife.

And then, without warning, disaster struck. Exactly twenty-seven days
after the couple’s marriage, on the morning of May 10, Kehrli was found
dead, in a stretch of woodland bordering on Fricker’s property, and some
distance in back of a farmhouse occupied by Jacob Landert. There was
a bullet hole in his right temple and a_revolver with one empty chamber
lying just beyond his outstretched right hand.

It was clearly evident that the bridegroom had died by his own hand.
But as the news spread through town, it brought in its wake a growing
swell of stunned disbelief on the part of friends and neighbors of the popular
war veteran.

However, while nobody in the community could advance a single plausible
reason why Kehrli should have taken his own life, inquiry by the authorities
failed to turn up the slightest evidence of foul play nor a reason for anyone
wanting to kill him. As a result, the coroner’s jury brought in a verdict
of suicide. j

As for Minnie, stoically accepting her fate, she had resumed her former
lonely mode of existence. In the two years that followed she was scarcely
seen in public until John Nungessor, whose property adjoined the baronial
Fricker estate, surprised everyone by marrying her.

In John Nungessor, ten years her senior, Minnie [Continued on page 65]

The death of Robert Kehrli, above, was
ruled a suicide. But that of John Nun-
gessor was definitely a case of murder.


~ ay ome ta

Through no fault of her own, Minnie (left) brought sudden death to both her husbands. To solve the two trag-
edies, Illinois officials had to dig into her past and uncover the fantastic story of lust and plotting behind the
walls of “the castle’ from which the man (right) ruled with an almost medieval ruthless power.

Sheriff Edward Deimling collaborated with
a colleague in a ruse to circumvent the
expected wiles of the principal suspect.

A quick look at the body lying spread-eagled on its back
in the tall grass and Tibbetts rose to his feet frown-
ing.

“This isn’t any accident,” he told the farmer gravely.
"This is nurder ! See those bullet wounds in the chest. You
hurry to a phone and notify the sheriff’s office.”

Sheriff Edward Deimling and his chief deputy, Thomas
Dooner, arrived shortly in response to the call. Accompany-
ing them was Highland Police Chief Anthony Winters,
who some time before had been notified of the discovery
of Nungessor’s team of horses entangled in their harness
a mile outside of town, Winters had been trying to locate
the owner for the better part of an hour when Deimling
informed hin of the murder.

By this time, the coroner had completed his preliminary
examination and at a nod from the sheriff he reported his
findings, The victim, he said, had sustained at least eight
bullet wounds. He had been dead for approximately two
hours, which would make it around 5 o’clock. On the corpse
were a gold watch and a wallet containing some $40, so
apparently the motive hadn’t been robbery.

As the coroner headed for town with the body, Noonan
and Winters searched the immediate area for clues. Deim-
ling walked over to Porter to obtain his account of the
discovery of the body. . .

Porter explained that he had been en route home in his
wagon after haying at a neighbor’s farm up the road when
his horse shied, drawing his attention to the corpse half
hidden in the tall grass. Reining up, he had climbed down
to investigate and after inspecting the corpse only long
enough to ascertain who it-was, he had made for the nearby
Barton farmstead and telephoned the coroner,

A few additional questions eliciting no information of
value from Porter, Deimling sent Porter on his way. Then,
the hunt for clues having proved fruitless, the investigators
headed for the Nungessor éarm.

It was a good two and a half miles to the Nungessor
place, and the officers made the trip in thoughtful silence,
their minds turning over the chore confronting them.

Breaking the news to the victim’s widow, a painful busi-
ness at best, wasn’t going to be easy. For one thing buxom,
voluptuous, 24-year-old Minnie had been the bride of the
hard-working and popular John Nungessor for a bare
twenty months. But even more important, the murder of


FRICKER, Emil, white, hanged Bdwardsville, Ill., on April 16, 1926.

love siave’s

owry of death

BY JOHN FRANCHEY

*

STARTLING DETECTIVE, JANUARY, 1955.

ae iG eee i?

aa

‘

Nia

Despite stiff drinks of smuggled bourbon, the sex tyrant trembled as he faced the crowd from the gallows. First his.
legs were bound at knees, then his usual fedora was replaced with the black hood. After the trap was sprung, the

officials, including the clergyman. who had given final s

M saison County, in southern Illinois, where the Missouri
River adds its muddy waters to those of the Mississippi,
can be oppressively hot in mid-September. In addition to
sweating through the third day of a hot spell that Sep-
tember 15, Deputy Coroner Everett Tibbetts had worked

‘late in his office in Edwardsville clearing up accumulated

routine reports,

So it was with relief that he pushed back from his desk
at shortly before 7 p.m. But the ringing of the phone
stopped him before he could reach the door. Wearily re-
tracing his steps, he picked up the receiver to find an ex-
cited male voice on the wire.

ad

olace to the condemned man, filed down the wooden steps.

“I’m Hal Porter and I've just found the body of a dead
man on the old Newton Road a couple of miles north of
Highland,” the caller announced.

“Any idea who the man is?” Tibbetts inquired.

“Yeah, a farmer from around here by the name of

‘John Nungessor, and it looks as though he was thrown

from his wagon when the horses bolted on him. There jis
no sign of the team, but there are fresh hoofprints in the
grass pointing toward town so chances are that is the way
they were headed.”

Less than half an hour later Tibbetts braked his car at
the roadside where a tall figure in overalls was standing,

tesla ttctnen!

MA iin aa

_The almost feudal baron.

_. sowed a crop of lust

- but got for his harvest.

“only a length of rope

a

_with a hangman's noose —

= Ys oy He ne

pete
unite.


disclosed that Kamuf was dying of heart
disease, Deimling arranged to have him
brought to the courthouse at Edwardsville
in an ambulance. There, in the presence of
stenographers and official witnesses,
Kamuf proceeded to make a voluntary
statement, reading in part as follows:

“I worked for Emil Fricker for better
than thirty years,” Kamuf began. “I knew
Robert Kehrli and Minnie well. When
Minnie married Bob in April, 1920,
Fricker wanted me to kill Kehrli. When
I refused, Emil said that he wished to
God he had a rifle, that if he did, he'd
shoot Kehrli like a rabbit.

“‘That good-for-nothing sneaked away
the girl that has belonged to me for eight
years,’ he stormed. ‘And sooner or later
I’m. going to kill him.’

“On May 7, 1920, Kehrli and I went with
Fricker to work on a lonely part of the
farm back of Jacob, Landert’s home.

Fricker set me to repairing a fence while
he took Kehrli into a nearby grove to
chop wood. Fricker had wine and whisky
with him and when he came back later
in the day, he said to me: ‘Well, I’ve got
him where I want him now. He’s just
about asleep.’ He said Kehrli was dead
drunk.

“I said I was going home. Fricker said:
‘No, you won’t. You're going to stay right
here.’ I was afraid to leave. Emil went
back into the woods. Shortly afterward,
I heard a shot. Fricker came back alone.

“They found Kehrli a day or so later
with the gun only a foot from one hand.
I didn’t say anything at the time because
it would have been only my word against
Fricker’s, and besides I was afraid of
him.”

Found guilty of murder by the trial
jury, Fricker received the sentence of
death with sneering bravado, but on the

morning of his execution, he showed him-
self for the coward he was.

When the sheriff and hangman, Philip
Hanna, came to fetch him from his cell to
the gallows, they discovered he had for-
tified himself with a quart of bourbon he
had somehow obtained. As a consequence,
he was carried to the gibbet on rubber
legs, quaking with fear.

The black cap was slipped over his head
in place of his customary fedora he had
worn even on that last walk, his legs
bound at the knees and the hangman’s
noose placed around his neck. An instant
later, the trap was sprung from under
him, and his body plummeted down like
a dead weight.

Jake Landert and Eldo Wernle: also
were found guilty in the slaying of John
Nungessor, and each was sentenced toa
life term in prison, where Landert died

in May, 1935.

Death Walked On Crutches

[Continued from page 37]

“Oh. Okay, I can do that.”” The motor-
ist also must have known the drive was
closed at its northern end, for the car
moved down to where the body lay, made
a U-turn, stopped momentarily while the
driver craned his neck to see and then
rumbled past toward the overhead.

But ten minutes later there was no sign
of help. “Go find a cop yourself,” the
young man instructed the girl. “That guy
must have gone right on.”

She had just reached the north-south
expressway when a siren began to growl
in the distance, and soon a squad car
came into view.

A few words from her and one of the
two park policeman in the squad car
‘radioed a report to headquarters. Then
the police car followed Miss Bauwerss
back to the body. One officer shone a
flashlight into the face of the corpse for
a moment. Then he turned to Cross.

“Touch anything?” he asked. “No?—
That’s good. This man appears to be dead
already.”

As he spoke, more sirens sounded, and
the drive began to fill with police cars.
Among those arriving were Sgt. Howard
Pierson and Patrolman Joe Mahoney
from the Homicide Bureau, and a com-
panion team of detectives, Thomas Talty
and John Holmes, who had been cruising
a few blocks farther north.

An interne from a nearby hospital was
at their heels in an ambulance and at
once pronounced the man dead. A crime
lab squad took over then—technicians
who bemoaned the presence of so many
new, confusing footprints.

Finally, Deputy Coroner Joseph Tiger-
man gave the official word, and with the
sun climbing in the sky, the body was
removed to the county morgue.

As it left, the Homicide Bureau men
compared notes in a tiny huddle. “I’ve
got the names and addresses of the couple
who‘found him,” Holmes reported. “They
went on home.”

“Make any headway on who he is?”
Talty asked.

Sergeant Pierson shook his_ head.
“Nothing—no identification, no billfold.
no money. Just a nickel in one pants
pocket and a book of matches in the
other.”

The body had been found in Police
Capt. Marty Mullen's District on the
North Side, but under department regu-
lations Capt. John Golden’s Homicide

68 >

Bureau takes over all murder cases, no
matter where. So the dead man’s effects
were brought to the Central Police Bu-
reau on State Street.

The effects were pitifully few—the
clothes he had been wearing, a pair of
brown shell-rimmed glasses, a white
handkerchief and pocket comb, the nickel
and the book of matches. That was all.

Death appeared to have come just
shortly before the body had been found,
hut apparently not in the park. The cloth-
ing and shoes showed a surprising lack
of crushed stone smudges, indicating the
victim had been shot elsewhere, then
dumped there,

The sports shirt, of a good grade of
material, bore the trade name Harper, but
the trousers were marked only with a
cleaning designation, 461-3842.

The book of matches, advertising
Skycoach air travel, seemed valueless as a
clue. The glasses, undamaged and with
no trade name, turned up negative when
they were dusted for fingerprints.

The autopsy report added little to the
scant information about the unidentified
corpse. The man was in his early 30s.
stood about five feet, nine inches tall, and
weighed 185 pounds. He was. well
groomed, even to neatly combed hair.

In addition to the bullet hole in his
back, there was another in his head, which
had caused his death. The slugs taken
from his body were .38s.

No one had been reported missing who
even faintly matched his description and
his fingerprints could not be found in the
department's files.

-- “Send his prints to Washington,” Cap-

tain Golden directed, “and keep a check
on the Bureau of Missing Persons.”
--Detectives did both and followed up
a dozen unfruitful leads, but the mur-
dered man’s identity was not learned un-
til Washington replied almost a week
later.

The fingerprints matched those of I’red
Gates, a 32-year-old Navy veteran, the
fingerprint bureau's report stated.

The trail led quickly to 1966 Howe
Street, where tax, vote registration and
postal records showed a I*red Gates to
he a resident.

“That's Fred,” the detectives were told
when they displayed a picture of the dead
man to a neighbor. “I haven't seen him
for a week now.” The neighbor, a woman
of. about 50, who had a_ pronounced
German accent, added, “Poor Fred—and
just when he was about to get the car he
always wanted.”

The detectives Iet the woman talk in

the hope that she might drop a clue.

Gates, a bachelor, finally had saved
enough as a beer truck helper to buy an
acquaintance’s car, she related. The last
night she had seen Gates—the night, as

it turned out, of lis murder—he had :

showed her and her husband the $200 for
the down payment—$50 in cash and two
salary checks amounting to $150.

“I know he had the money when he
left home that evening,” she insisted, and
indicated her belief that Gates was the
victim of a holdup man.

“Maybe he went right over and paid it
to the fellow who owned the car,” one of
the detectives suggested, leading her on.

“No, he never did. The fellow who was
going to sell him the car was here last
night inquiring for Fred, and asking
whether Fred had changed his mind about
buying it, since he hadn't brought the
money.”

At the detective’s request, the woman
supplied enough information for the of-
ficer to locate the car owner. A visit to
him confirmed all Gates’ neighbor had
said—and provided an added lead.

“Fred liked to make the rounds of the
taverns at night,” the man reported. “I
suppose he told the wrong fellow about
his savings—and that was it.”

After another day’s checking, the
Homicide Bureau was ready to go along
with that theory. The money had not
been on Gates’ body when the corpse was
found, and there was no trace of it any-
where else.

“Now that we’ve got a motive, let’s get
busy,” Capt. Golden told his men. But
actually, he held out only the slimmest
chance of solving the case. A week's
work had uncovered not the slightest clue.

The long-range task of finding a solu-
tion fell ultimately to a team of two
veteran detectives who only recently had
begun to work together.

George Lundt, in his late 40s, had been
in the Homicide Bureau for a good many
of his twenty years with the police de-
partment. He was capable and thorough,
affable and alert, definitely an extrovert
— being informative unless he chose
to be.

Edward Woodrich, who matched
Lundt's years both in age and point of
service, had spent much of his time at-
tached to West Side statio::s as a detec-
tive, and only a short time ago had been
transferred to the bureau. He was smaller
and stockier than Lundt, and perhaps a
shade more deliberate.

“About all you have to go on is the
fact that there was a murder,” Capt.
Golden, himself a longtime detective. told

sist,

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conscious when they kicked him off the
stringpiece into the river and watched
him drown.

The police began’ to grapple in the
murky water for the body. In his jail
cell, Koslow ranted and fumed and beat
his chest in pride over having become a
celebrity. “What's the news from the
river?” he called to detectives.

“You'll know,” they told him. “You'll
be the first one to know.”

Three barges were moved from the foot
of South Fifth Street, and while police
launch No. 7 towed the tined hooks, the
river gave up the dead man—34-year-old
William Menter, a part-time employe of

a burlap bag manufacturing concern in
New York. .

The boys were brought to view the
body of the man they had killed. They
all identified the swollen, water-logged
victim as the man they had kicked off the

ier. They were pale now, and pasty-
aced, and in their eyes was great fear.

Lieberman, the troubadour, was mute.
Trachtenberg, the vestal virgin, was
blubbermouthed. Mittman, the bully,
wept. Jack Koslow, the super-boy said:
“Don’t make me look at this. Take me
away. I’m going to be sick.”

On August 26, all four youths were
indicted and promptly arraigned on first
degree murder charges.

Ss iatntteiiamiinliinebibaemiaes

Love Slave’s Dowry
of Death

[Continued from page 7]

seemed to have found everything she
wanted in a husband, and now, after only
twenty months, violent death had sud-

. denly claimed her second husband. Real-

izing all this, the investigators were
hopeful as they mounted the freshly-
painted stoop of the neat white farm-
house that the luckless widow might be
able to provide a clue to the mystery.

A single knock at the door and Minnie,
in a gay-colored apron, flung it open ex-
pectantly. At sight of her visitors she
paled. ;

“Tt’s about John,” she exclaimed, rak-
ing the men’s faces with her glance.
“Something terrible has happened to him,
hasn’t it? That’s why he isn’t home for
dinner yet.”

When the sheriff informed her of the
murder, Minnie broke into sobs. When
she regained her composure and the offi-
cers asked whether she could shed any
light on the mystery, she responded with
an emphatic shake of her head.

Regarding the victim’s movements
earlier in the day, Minnie said that her
husband had been working a new place
he had bought recently in another town-

ship.

Forced to be content with this scant
information, the sheriff and Dooner
headed back to Edwardsville after drop-
ping off Chief Winters at Highland. It
was well on to 10 o’clock when they ar-
rived and since the bulk of the early-
rising farm population of the area was
abed by that hour, they put off further

‘interviews until the next day.

At 8 o'clock the following morning
they were back on the job to find the
coroner’s report awaiting them. But a
glance at it only served to deepen the
mystery surrounding Nungessor’s slay-
ing. An even dozen bullets had been
pumped into the victim, the report dis-
closed, some at close range and others
from a greater distance. The slugs had
been fired from three different guns, how-
ever—a .25, a .32, and a .32 automatic.

From this last, it was clearly evident
that more than one person had been in-
volved in -the slaying. Undoubtedly ac-
quainted with their victim’s schedule,
they had lain in wait for him on the
lonely country road.

But what had inspired the brutal slay-
ing? Robbery already had been ruled
out and there seemed to be no other
avenue of financial gain, such as insur-
ance, stemming from the death of Nun-

‘time he ha

gessor. And in view of Minnie’s lonel
background, no one could have been jeal-
ous of the popular farmer.

As Deimling and Dooner reviewed the
situation, the sheriff concluded that the
only motive left was revenge. Accord-
ingly, motioning for his deputy to come
along, he headed for his car to see what
could be turned up along this line from
the dead man’s family and relatives.

At their first two stops the officers
drew a blank. But at the third, an aunt
of Nungessor suggested that a _ legal
wrangle Minnie had figured in with her
former employer, Emil Fricker, might be
the root of a revenge motive.

In June of the year before, the investi-
gators learned, Minnie had sued the
wealthy dairyman for $1,500 she claimed
was due her in back wages. Fricker had
vigorously contested the action, and
when a jury had found in Minnie’s favor,
he had refused to pay the money over in
a lump sum but ha satisfied the judg-
ment in ten monthly installments, mak-
ing her come to “the castle” each time
to collect.

The besting of the powerful Fricker at
law by his former dairymaid, having
taken place in neighboring Clinton
County where Fricker resided, was news
to the investigators. But they doubted if
a lawsuit settled in full months ago by
a man who could pay out $1,500 and never
miss it could add up to a plausible reason
for murder. Accordingly, they filed the
report for further reference and con-
tinued on to the home of the victim’s
mother.

From her they elicited some informa-
tion which instantly seized their atten-
tion. Her son, the elderly woman re-
vealed, had been preparing to move to
a farm in another township—the one
where he had been working on the day
of‘ his murder. He had been reluctantly
driven to move, she said, in the belief
that his life might be in danger.

Pressed for further information along
this line, the mother said she did not
know the name of the person her son
feared. She did add, however, that a few
days before he had refused an invitation
from two men, Eldo Wernle and Jake
Landert, to go fishing one night. At the

¢ explained that he “didn’t
want to risk going out at night with those
men.”

Questioning of other relatives brought
out that Wernle, who had a shoe repair
shop in Highland, had recently married
Emil Fricker’s daughter and that Landert
had been one of the dairyman’s farm
hands for some ten years.

In following up this wispy lead, sheriff
Deimling learned from Nungessor’s elder
brother that, while working on the New-
ton Road on the afternoon of the murder,
he had seen Wernle drive by alone in a

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Ford coupe, and shortly afterward John
Nurgessor had followed in his wagon—
and gone to his death.

Other neighbors of the slain man, how-
ever, could supply no information. In fact
in a few instances, it seemed to Deimling,
that they were reluctant to be drawn into
the affair.

The only course left, the sheriff de-
cided, was to pick up Wernle and Land-
ert, and question them individually on
the bare chance of getting a damaging
admission from one or the other. At the
same time, Deimling decided, he would
bring in Emil Fricker.

Early the following morning Deputy

Dooner picked up Wernle at his com-,

fortable Highland home and Landert at
his small farm dwelling. Neither of the
pair showed any disposition for pertinent
conversation, so Deimling lodged them,
without comment, in separate cells.

Then Deimling accompanied by
Dooner, headed for Carlyle to confer with
Sheriff William Ragen of Clinton County,
in which Fricker’s “castle” was located.

When he had been acquainted with the
situation, Ragen was quick to offer his
complete support. But before leaving with
the Madison County officers on their er-
rand, he made a suggestion.

Fricker being the hot-tempered, self-
important personage that he was, Ragen
said, he doubtless would resist any at-
tempt to bring him in on any charge
linked with the murder. But reports had
been received of a liquor still being oper-
ated on the Fricker place, and if Deim-
ling was agreeable to the idea, they could
let Fricker think he was to be questioned
on that minor charge.

Deimling readily concurred with the
plan and the officers were soon heading
at full throttle for the dairyman’s semi-
feudal domain. A half hour later they
were pulling up before a dark, square,
brick house screened by towering elms.

At the first touch of the bell by , emai
the massive oaken front door was flung
open and the baron himself stood con-
fronting them.

“Morning, Ragen,” he said curtly, mak-
ing no move to invite them in. “Here on
official business, are you?”

“I’m afraid so, Emil,” Ragen replied.
“I’m here to place you under arrest.”

The farmer’s big rawboned frame stiff-
ened. “What for?” he demanded.

“In regard to a liquor still on your prop-
erty in violation of the law. How soon
will you be ready to go?”

- A thin smile flitted across the wealthy
farmer’s ruddy features. Turning on his
heel he disappeared into the house, re-
appearing in a minute or two sporting his
customary black fedora and a jacket
matching his trousers. “Okay, Ragen,” he
said icily, “I’m ready to go.”

Ensconced in the front seat of the car
beside Ragen, Fricker was silent through-
out the entire trip back to Carlyle. But
on their arrival at the courthouse, his
bushy eyebrows knitted quizzically as
Ragen abruptly took leave of the others
and headed alone for his office.

“Hey, wait a minute!” Fricker ex-

' claimed. “Don’t I get out here too?”

“No, you’re coming along with us to
Edwardsville,” Deimling replied,
ping a pair of handcuffs on the prisoner’s
wrists. “I’m the sheriff of Madison
County and I’m placing you under arrest
on suspicion of possible complicity in the
murder of John Nungessor.”

The dairyman’s deep-set eyes tightened
visibly at the corners, but he made no
retort.

It was exactly noon when the lawmen
arrived at the sheriff’s office with their

66 >

snap- |

prisoner. Before clanging the cell door
shut on him, Deimling turned to inquire
for the first time whether he had any-
thing to say.

At that, Fricker’s smouldering rage at
the ruse employed in arresting him flared
into flame. “No, confound you!” he bel-
lowed. “I’ve got nothing to say, and if
you're entertaining any notion to the con-
trary, you’ve got another thought com-
ing.”

Downstairs in the office Deimling and
his deputy took stock of the situation.
They now had three men on ice, but
with none of them in a talking mood they
were definitely on the spot. Unless they
could produce some concrete evidence
or induce one of them to talk, they would
have to release the trio at the end of
forty-eight hours or risk suit for false
arrest.

In the hope that the arrest of the feared
Fricker might loosen hitherto reluctant
tongues, Deimling and Dooner set out to
re-question friends of the slain Nunges-
sor. And this time they got results. Ted
Stoddard, a Clinton County farmhand,
told Deimling that he had remembered
something since the first interview.

“What is it that you can tell us?” asked
Deimling without bothering to question
the sudden refreshing of the man’s mem-
ory.

“A week ago,” Stoddard said, “Fricker
asked me to drive Jake Landert over to
Nungessor’s new farm. He said that Jake
was anxious to settle some score with
Nungessor.”

The sheriff tensed. “And did you oblige
him in this matter?”

Stoddard shook his head. “No, I didn’t,”
he said. “It sounded sort of fishy’to me
and I told Fricker that he would have
to get someone else to chauffeur Land-
ert.”

“What kind of a score was it that
Landert had to settle with Nungessor?”’

“Fricker didn’t say and I didn’t ask,”
Stoddard replied.

This revelation concerning Landert put
a new light on things and Deimling lost
no time ordering Landert brought to the
office. There, he and Dooner questioned
him in vain for over two hours as to his
movements the day Nungessor was shot.

“T was busy working in the field all
day,” Landert insisted, “and I can prove
it. Besides, I had no earthly reason for
harming Nungessor. He and I got along
fine together.”

The sheriff’s patience was at an end.

“Who do you think you’re fooling, Land-
ert?” he exploded. “You mean you
weren’t planning only last week to give
him a good going-over? Or was that
somebody else’s score you were settling
and not yours?”
““Landert flushed and his gaze dropped
momentarily to his shoes as he shook his
head. On a sudden impulse, the sheriff
decided to chance a shot in the dark.

“You were busy working all day, you
say, and yet you found time to go riding
in Wernle’s coupe with him,” he growled,
riveting Landert with a sharp stare.

“That’s not true; I never saw Wernle
that day,” Landert came back. “And if
you doubt my word, you can ask Eldo
and he’ll back me up.”

Having made his pitch, Deimling de-
cided to go the whole way.

“We don’t have to,” he said quietly. “It
so happens that you were seen by no less
than two witnesses riding in Wernle’s
car with him along Newton Road just
before Nungessor was murdered. Fur-
thermore... .”

He paused significantly, as though to
let the words sink in. But before he could
resume, Landert’s shoulders slumped for-

ward in complete and utter resignation.

“Okay, Sheriff,” he muttered thickly,
“you win. Wernle and I pulled off the
Nungessor job, all right. But is wasn't

our idea. It was Fricker’s.” And without és
further ado, he proceeded to unfold the »
entire story. i,

In January of the year before, Landert
said, Fricker had approached him with
the proposal that he and Wernle get rid
of John Nungessor. He had promptly
turned thumbs down on the idea, but
Fricker had continued to pressure him, We
alternately plying him with liquor and
threatening him with dire consequences
unless he agreed to do as Fricker wished.

For two months, Landert said, he had *
fended the dairyman off and finally had a
quit his job with the dairyman and had a
left town. And he had remained away ue
until the past July when Fricker had in-

duced him to return with the promise of ia
better treatment and the payment in full a
of the sizeable back wages due him. ay
Fricker’s pledges proved short-lived, a
Landert went on, and before long he had .
made it plain that his sole interest was
to see Nungessor done in without delay,
prdmising to pay him $250 as soon as the

victim, was to induce Nungessor to ac-
company him and Landert to a nearby
pond for some night fishing. Then, after
Nungessor had been plied with liquor,
he was to be shoved into the pond so that
his death would be ruled an accident.
However, Nungessor had refused to take
the bait.

job was completed. |

The first plan had called for the murder wt
to take place September 10 by drowning. ;
Wernle, who was closest to the proposed a4

when they told him of their failure. “I’ll

give you birds one more chance,” he

warned. “I want Nungessor out of the at

way by next Monday night—or else. You et |

can take your choice—him or you.” |

The following Saturday, Fricker had 4
|
,

Fricker had been livid with anger i
a

met Wernle and Landert in the latter's 2
home. There he had produced three “ay
loaded guns, handing Wernle a .25 and a |
.32 and Landert a .32 automatic. Then he
outlined the new plan.

It was virtually foolproof, Fricker had
assured them. They were to waylay
Nungessor on his way home along the
little used Newton Road, traveling to the
ambush in Wernle’s Ford coupe. Landert
was to crouch on the floor of the back
seat out of sight. All the guns were to
be used in the rub-out to make it appear
that three men had been involved, thus
automatically removing from suspicion a
car seemingly containing only Wernle.

“The rest,” Landert concluded wearily, off
“IT guess you fellows know.”

Sena oe

“Not quite,” the sheriff retorted. “You
haven’t told us why Fricker was so de-
termined to get Nungessor out of the
way.”

Landert shrugged his shoulders. He
didn’t know himself, he said.

The sheriff now had a complete con-
fession by one of two hired killers, but
he wasn’t buying it in a hurry. Landert’ s
recital involving Fricker as the instigator
of the murder without advancing a mo-
tive raised some serious questions in his
mind. In quest of the answer he ordered
Landert returned to his cell and Wernle
brought to his office.

Accused point-blank of participating in
Nungessor’s murder, Wernle made a
show of brazening it out. But on being
informed that Landert had already fin- |
gered him as being in on the job, he abai:-: >
doned his denials and admitted his guilt,
complete with details.

About two years back, Wernle said,


resignation, =
ed thickly,.: "ai
ed off the:

is wasn’t

nd without
Ne

fun‘ ‘

re, rt

him with
nle get rid
| promptly
- idea, but
ssure him,
liquor and
asequences
cer wished.
iid, he had
finally had
n and had
ined away

er had in- ©.

promise of
ent in full
¢ him.

hort-lived,
ymng.he had
terest was
out delay,
oon as the

he murder
drowning.
: proposed
sor to ac-
a nearby
hen, after
th liquor,
nd so that
accident.
-d to take

ith anger
ur: l
anc »
ut of the
else. You
rou.”

icker had
e latter's
ed three
ps .25 and
Then he

icker had
» waylay
long the
ng to the
. Landert
the back

were to
it ¢ppear
ved, thus
spicion a
Wernle.
| wearily,

ed. “You
is so de-
t of the
ders. He
lete con-
lers, but
-andert’s
istigator
ga mo-
ns in his

ordered
Wwe

pati _

made a
yn being
ady fin-
he aba::-
lis guilt,

nle said,

he had begun courting Fricker’s daugh-
ter, Emily. The idea that a shoemaker
should deign to court his daughter hadn't
set at all well with the proud dairyman
and before long he was showing unmis-
takably how he felt about it.

But then a couple of months later,
Fricker had braced Wernle one avaainy
after he had escorted Emily home an
had demanded whether he owned a gun.
On receiving a negative answer, Fricker
had come out with a fantastic proposi-
tion.

"You're stuck on my pre gare is that
right, Eldo?” he had asked. “All right,
you can have her, if you'll kill John Nun-
gessor for me. I want his wife back.” -

He had put Fricker off, Wernle said,
and at his next rendezvous with Emily he
told her how matters stood, and the fol-
lowing week they ran away and were
married. ;

Their elopement had thrown Fricker
into such a rage that for a year he re-
fused to let either of them set foot on
his property. But he had softened even-
tually and had offered them lodgings at
his “castle.” However, Fricker had lost
no time advising him what was what,
Wernle went on.

“You got the girl you wanted,” he had

stormed at his son-in-law after collaring
Wernle behind the barn. “Now I’m look-
ing to you to get rid of Nungessor so |
can haye Minnie back here. And I’m not
taking no.” :
In ae of his life, Wernle said he finally
had agreed to f° through with the plan.
By week's end, Fricker had summoned
him and Landert to a conference to out-
line his plans. And a fortnight later, John
Nungessor was dead.

While Wernle’s account tallied in the
essentials with Landert’s version, it by
no means resolved all the doubts in the
sheriff’s mind. Consequently, as soon as
Wernle had signed a written statement,
Deimling had him taken back to. his cell
and ordered Fricker brought in. And
without further ado he began reading the
confessions aloud to him. :

But before he could finish the recital
the florid-faced farmer stopped him short
with a burst of profanity.

“It's a pack of lies, every last word
of it!” he shouted. “Those birds are try-
ing to frame me.”

“Why would they want to frame you?”

“Because I’ve had run-ins with both
of them and they’re out to get even with
me. 1 was bitterly opposed to Wernle
marrying my daughter and told him so,
and I refused to pay Jake for the times
he came to work drunk. On the other
hand, I always got along first-rate with
Nungessor and u won't find anyone
who'll tell you different.”

“We already have,” the sheriff retorted.
“A man named Stoddard tells us you
recently tried to promote a ride over to
Nungessor’s for Jake Landert so he could
pay off an old score.

The dairyman snorted. “In case you
don’t know it, Stoddard has always hated
me and I wouldn't put it past him to tell
you anything.”

“And you didn’t give Landert and
Wernle the three guns, either?” the
sheriff demanded.

“I didn’t own any three guns,” Fricker
shot back. “I did own a .32, but I gave it
to Landert last August in a trade for a
shotgun.”

A final period of interrogation proving
futile, Deimling wearily waved Fricker
away and leaned back in his swivel chair
to mull over the situation.

Granted that Wernle and Landert
might have wanted to revenge themselves

on Fricker, it didn’t seem reasonable that
the would have gone to such lengths as
killing an innocent man in the hopes of
framing Fricker for the crime. On the
other hand, lustful men had not hesitated
at murder to gain possession of a woman
ever since the time David had cast eyes
on Bathsheba and decided her husband
was in the way.

Convinced he was on the right track,
Deimling went into action. In a matter
of minutes, he and Dooner were headed
for the Nungessor farm.

“Minnie, I’ve come here to find out the
truth about your relationship with Emil
Fricker,” Deimling launched right in. “I’ve
got him in jail where he can do you no
harm, and I want the whole story. It may
clear Sm the murder of your husband.”

Caught off balance by the sheriff’s ap-
proach, the bosomy brunette burst into
tears.

“All right, Sheriff,” she quavered. “You
might as well know the truth now as
later. I'll tell you the whole story from
the beginning.”

A minute later, after taking herself in
hand, she was unfolding one of the most
shocking tales of lust, human exploitation
and cold, scheming murder ever recorded
in county crime annals.

An orphan at 14, she had been hired
by Fricker as a dalryaa’t working four-
teen hours a day for a gg lh a
month, which was eventually raised to

One night after she had been slaving
for him a couple of months, Fricker had
suddenly appeared in her bedroom and
ignoring her pleas, had brutally force
his attentions on her’

“T tried to fight him off,” Minnie
sobbed, “but it was no use. He was too
strong for me. ‘What I want, I always
get,’ he told me that night and on other
nights.

“But what about Fricker’s wife and
daughter?” Deimling interposed incredu-
lously. “Surely you could have gone to
them with your troubles.”

“It would have been useless,” Minnie
explained in a dead voice. “They were
so thoroughly dominated ‘by him that
they wouldn’t dare do anything.

“Fricker didn’t say much when I mar-
ried Bob Kehrli, but after Bob’s death
and I planned to marry John he went wild
with rage. He told me that he would kill
any man I married. And it wasn long
before his threats forced us to decide
to move. That’s when John bought the
new place.” :

The investigators lost no time in get-
ting back to headquarters and confront-
ing Fricker with his ex-dairymaid’s story.
But if they were expecting the florid
farmer to make atiy damaging admis-
sions, they were disappointed.

“There’s not a grain of truth in it,” he
growled indignantly. “I never took a
single liberty of any kind with Minnie
as long as I’ve known her, and if she hap-

ened to stay with me for years, it was

ecause she wanted to and not because
anyone was keeping her a prisoner.”

The sheriff didn’t bother trying to
break Fricker down this time, however.
He felt sure that he now had sufficient
evidence to convince any sensible grand
jury. But still a further startling revela-
tion was to come.

The following day, as the area papers
blazed forth with front-page stories of
the arrest of Fricker and his two hench-
men for Nungessor’s murder, Deimling
was informed by phone that a Rudolph
Kamuf, 67-year-old resident of the Clin-
ton County Home, wanted to see him
about the Fricker case.

When a check with officials of the home

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HE SEX SLAVE’S —

: re

3 3

7 SA
DOWRY OF DEATH E

: =.

eee by KEN CARPENTER a

to those of the Mississippi, can be oppressively hot in mid-September. In addition

: to sweating through the third day of a hot spell that September 15, Deputy Coroner

‘ Everett Tibbetts had worked late in his office in Edwardsville clearing up accumulated
” routine reports.

Ni adison County, in southern Illinois, where the Missouri River adds its muddy waters

So it was with relief that he pushed

_back from his desk at shortly before 7

p.m. But the ringing of the phone

“ stopped him before he could reach the

_ door. Wearily retracing his steps, he

‘ picked up the receiver to find an
_excited male voice on the wire.

“‘l’m Hal Porter and I’ve just found
‘the body of a dead man on the old
“Newton Road a couple of miles north

of Highland,’’ the caller announced.
t. **Any idea who the man is?”’
«Tibbets inquired.
~ Yeah, a farmer from around here
“by the name of John Nungessor, and
it looks as though he was thrown from
his wagon when the horses bolted on
him. There is no sign of the team, but
‘there are fresh hoofprints in the grass
pointing toward town so chances are
that is the way they were headed.”’
» Less than half an hour later Tibbetts
braked his car at the roadside where a

© “tall figure in overalls was standing. A

_quick look at the body lying spread-
eagled on its back in the tall grass and

Tibbetts rose to his feet frowning.

‘‘This isn’t any accident,’’ he told
the farmer gravely. ‘‘This is murder!
See those bullet wounds in the chest.
You hurry to a phone and notify the
sheriff’s office.”

Sheriff Edward Deimling and his
chief deputy, Thomas Dooner, arrived
shortly in response to the call.
Accompanying them was Highland
Police Chief Anthony Winters, who
some time before had been notified
of the discovery of Nungessor’s team
of horses entangled in their harness a
mile outside of town. Winters had

Voluptuous dairy maid Minnie
Nungessor was thought to be
the key to murder mysteries.

Sudden death of John Nungessor, left, cast doubt on real
reasons for veteran soldier Robert Kehrli’s ‘suicide.’

| A CRIME

ihiitn.

CLASSIC

been trying to locate the owner for the
better part of an hour when Deimling
informed him of murder.

By this time, the coroner had
completed his preliminary examination
and at a nod from the sheriff he
reported his findings. The victim, he

‘said, had sustained at least eight bullet

wounds. He had been dead for
approximately two hours, which would

make it around 5 o’clock. On the

corpse were a gold watch and a wallet
containing some $40, so apparently the

The last moments of the condemned killer: First his legs are
bound at the knees; next his hat is replaced by a black cowl;
finally the trap is sprung, plunging him into eternity. .

Through no fault of her —
_ own, the pretty woman

_ brought sudden death to |
_ both her husbands. To _
_. solve the tragedies,
_lawmen dug deep into her
past and found a story of
strange lust in ‘the castle.’

motive hadn’t been robbery.

As the coroner headed for town with
the body, Dooner and Winters
searched the immediate area for clues.
Deimling walked over to Porter to
obtain his account of the discovery of
the body.

Porter explained that he had been
en route home in his wagon after
haying a neighor’s farm up the road
when his horse shied, drawing his
attention to the corpse half hidden in

The killer in prison garb after
being arrested at his ‘castle’
where he ruled ruthlessly.

the tall grass. Reining up, he had
climbed down to investigate and after
inspecting the corpse only long enough
to ascertain who it was, he had made
for the nearby Barton farmstead and
telephoned the coroner.

A few additional questions eliciting
no information of value from Porter,
Deimling sent Porter on his way.
Then, the hunt for clues having proved
fruitless, the investigators headed for
the Nungessor farm.

It was a good two and a half miles
to the Nungessor place, and the
officers made the trip in thoughtful
silence, their minds turning over the
chore confronting them.

Breaking the news to the victim’s
widow, a painful business at best,
wasn’t going to be easy. For one thing
buxom, voluptuous, 24-year-old
Minnie had been the bride of the hard-

-working and popular John Nungessor

for a bare twenty months. But even
more important, the murder of
Nungessor marked the second time in
four years that death by violence had
stripped her of a husband.

(continued on page 53)
11

6 *STOUTTTI ‘eTITaspaempy pesuey £04

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"926 *9T Tr4

TRUE POLICE CASES MAGAZINE, December, 198),


a

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if strangulation had occurred. How-
‘ ever, these bones were missing. So
“there was no corroboration of any kind
of Brophy’s described manner of death
for Christina. There was, however,
evidence of some trauma to the bones
in the front. of the chest, as several
ribs were broken. This formed the
basis of the medical opinion that she
had been killed.

Some other evidence was highly
curious: Tied around her armbone and
wrapped around her two legbones
were separate lengths of shoestring.
Though Brophy had made no mention
of binding her, here was some evidence
of something along those lines.
Pathologists also tested some of the
evidence for signs of a sexual assault
but failed to come up with anything.
‘It could have been an agonizing

murder, but we don’t know,’’ com-:

mented Deputy Attorney General
Stephen Walther, who was responsi-
ble for the legal aspects of the case.
‘*AJl we know is what he told us.’’
Robert Brophy’s defense attorneys
requested that he be examined for his

competence to stand trial and for his"

mental responsibility at the time of the
offense, and after several months the
virtually unanimous decision rendered
in his case was that he was indeed sane
and responsible for his actions.
However, there was some indication
on their part that he may have
displayed what has been called
tendencies of the ‘‘homosexual rage
syndrome.”’
‘‘My-impression of him is that. he
could easily be portrayed in a court-
room as a victim of older men,’’

commented Mr. Walther after the case

had been decided.

Consequently, because of the lack
of corroborative evidence from the
crime scene, plus the anticipated
defense by Brophy’s public defenders,
the state offered to reduce the charge
of first-degree murder to second-de-
gree murder in exchange for a guilty
plea. The defense accepted.

In early June, 1984, Robert Brophy
pleaded guilty. Under Delaware law
the penalty for second-degree murder
is 45 years. Under the same code of
laws, a convicted felon may be paroled
after serving one-fourth of his
sentence.

(Editor’s note: Lester Walters is not the true
name of the person mentioned in the
foregoing story. Use of the real name would
serve no public interest.)

The Sex Slave’s Dowry Of Death

(continued from page 11)

: Originally from adjoining Clinton

County, she had worked from her

early teens as a dairy maid for Emil

_ Fricker, wealthy farmer and milk

a st eRe whose vast holdings and

igh-handed treatment of his employes

had earned him a hard-boiled reputa-

tion reminiscent of an ancient feudal
baron.

Until her 20th birthday, Minnie had
failed to attract a single admirer, and
so had remained aloof from the
community’s social activities. In fact
her few appearances in town were
limited to occasional shopping trips in
the company of her austere employer,
his wife and the pair’s attractive
daughter, Emily.

And then out of a clear blue sky had
appeared one Robert Kehrli, who had
gone to work for Fricker on April 1,
1920. A World War I veteran, hand-
some and extremely well-liked by
everyone, Kehrli had been smitten at
first sight with Minnie and the feeling
apparently had been mutual.

At any rate, before anyone even
suspected a romance, they eloped on
April 13 to Chicago and were married.
Three days later they returned to take
up a wedded life together in their
employer’s home, referred to by
neighbors as ‘‘the castle,’’ with Minnie
continuing with her dairy duties, as

@ : wep tor: at least for the time being.
From that day on, Minnie was a

transformed woman, her co-workers
reported, and Kehrli gave every
appearance of a man who was crazy
in love with his new wife.

And then, without warning, disaster
struck. Exactly twenty-seven days after
the couple’s marriage, on the morning
of May 10, Kehrli was found dead, in
a stretch of woodland bordering on
Fricker’s property, and some distance
in back of a farmhouse occupied by

Jacob Landert. There was a bullet hole -

in his right temple and a revolver with
one empty chamber lying just beyond
his outstretched right hand. .

It was clearly evident that the
bridgeroom had died by his own
hand. But as the news spread through
town, it brought in its wake a growing
swell of stunned disbelief on the part
of friends and neighbors of the
popular war veteran.

However, while nobody in the
community could advance a single
plausible reason why Kehrli should
have taken his own life, inquiry by the
authorities failed to turn up the
slightest evidence of foul play nor a
reason for anyone wanting to kill him.
As a result, the coroner’s jury brought
in a verdict of suicide. ;

As for Minnie, stoically accepting
her fate, she had resumed her former
lonely mode of existence. In the two
years that followed she was scarcely
seen in public until John Nungessor,
whose property adjoined the baronial
Fricker estate, surprised everyone by
marrying her.

In John Nungessor, ten years her
senior, Minnie seemed to have found
everything she wanted in a husband,
and now, only after twenty months,
violent death had suddenly claimed her

second husband.

A single knock at the door and
Minnie, in a gay-colored apron, flung
it open expectantly. At sight of her
visitors she paled.

‘It’s about John,’’ she exclaimed
raking the men’s faces with her glance.

When the sheriff informed her of
the murder, Minnie broke into sobs.
When she regained her composure and
the officers asked whether she could
shed any light on the mystery, she
responded with an emphatic shake of
her head.

Regarding the victim’s movements
earlier in the day, Minnie said that her
husband had been working a new place
he had bought in another township.

Forced to be content with this scant
information, the sheriff and Dooner
headed back to Edwardsville after
dropping off Chief Winters at High-
land.

At 8 o’clock the following morning
they were back on the job to find the
coroner’s report awaiting them. But a
glance at it only served to deepen the
mystery surrounding Nungessor’s
slaying. An even dozen bullets had
been pumped into the victim from
three different guns, however — a .25,
a .32 and a .32 automatic.

From this last, it was clearly evident
that more than one person had been
involved in the slaying.

But what had inspired the brutal
slaying? Robbery already had been
ruled out and there seemed to be no
other avenue of financial gain, such
as insurance, stemming from the death
of Nungessor.

As Deimling and Dooner reviewed

(continued on next page)
53

| the sauatlon. the sheriff concluded

that the only motive left was revenge.

Accordingly, motioning for his deputy
to come along, he headed for his car
to see what could be turned along this
line from the dead man’s family and
relatives.

At their first two stops the officers
drew a blank. But at the third, an aunt
of Nungessor suggested that a legal
wrangle Minnie had figured in with her
former employer, Emil Fricker, might
be the root of a revenge motive.

In June of the year before, the
investigators learned, Minnie had sued
the wealthy dairyman for $1,500 she
claimed was due her in back wages.
Fricker had vigorously contested the
action, and when a jury had found in
Minnie’s favor, he had refused to pay
the money over in a lump sum but had
satisfied the judgment in ten monthly
installments, making her come to ‘“‘the
castlé’’ each time.

The besting of the powerful Fricker
at law by his former dairymaid, having
taken place in neighboring Clinton
County where Fricker resided, was
news to the investigators. But they
doubted if a lawsuit settled in full
months ago by a man who could pay

~- out $1,500 and never miss it could add

sop to a plausible reason for murder.
Accordingly, they filed the report for
further reference and continued on to
the home of the victim’s mother.

From her they elicited some infor-
mation which instantly seized their
attention. Her son, the elderly woman
revealed, had been preparing to move
on the day of his murder. He had been
reluctantly driven to move, she said,
in the belief that his life might be in
danger.

Pressed for further information
along this line, the mother said she did
not know the name of the person her
son feared. She did add, however, that
a few days before he had refused an
invitation from two men, Eldo Wernle
and Jake Landert, to go fishing one
night. At the time he had explained
that he ‘‘didn’t want to risk going out
at night with those men.”’

Questioning of other relatives
brought out that Wernle, who had a
shoe repair shop in Highland, had
recently married Emil Fricker’s daugh-
ter and that Landert had been one of
the dairyman’s farmhands for some
ten years.

following up this wispy lead, she

Deimling learned from Nunges-
sor’s elder brother that, while working
on the Norton Road on the afternoon
of the murder he had seen Wernle
drive by alone in a Ford coupe, and

54

shortly afterward John Nungessor had
followed in his wagon — and gone to
his death.
Other neighbors of the slain man,
however, could supply no information.
The only course left, the sheriff

decided, was to pick up Wernle and —

Landert, and question them individu-
ally. At the same time, Deimling
decided, he would bring in Emil
Fricker.

Early the following morning Deputy
Dooner picked up Wernle at his
comfortable Highland home and
Landert at his small farm dwelling.
Neither of the pair showed any
disposition for pertinent conversation,
so Deimling lodged them, without
comment, in separate cells.

Then Deimling accompanied by
Dooner headed for Carlyle to confer
with Sheriff William Ragen of Clinton
County, in which iia ““castle’’
was located.

When he had been sccuiaited with
the situation, Ragen was quick to offer
his complete support. But before
leaving with the Madison County
officers on their bow he made a
suggestion.

Fricker being the hot tempered, self-
important personage that he was,
Ragen said, he doubtless would-resist
any attempt to bring him in on any
charge linked with the murder. But
reports had been received of a liquor
still being operated on the Fricker
place, and if Deimling was agreeable
to the idea, they could let Fricker think
he was to be questioned on that minor
change.

Deimling readily concurred with the
plan and the officers were soon
heading at full throttle for the
dairyman’s semifeudal domain. A half
hour later they were pulling up before
a dark, square, brick house screened
by towering elms.

At the first touch of the bell by
Ragen, the massive oaken front door
was flung open and the baron himself
stood confronting them.

“‘Morning, Ragen,’’ he said curtly,
making no move to invite them in.
“‘Here on official business, are you?’

**1’m afraid so, Emil,” Ragen
replied. ‘‘I’m here to place you under
arrest.’’

The farmer’s big rawboned frame
stiffened. ‘‘What for?’’ he demanded.

“In regard to a liquor still on your
property in violation of the law. How
soon will you be ready to go?”’

A thin smile flitted across the
wealthy farmer’s ruddy features.
Turning on his heel he disappeared
into the house, reappearing in a minute

or two sporting his customary black
fedora and a jacket matching his
trousers.

Ensconced in the front seat of the
car beside Ragen, Fricker was silent
throughout the entire trip back to
Carlyle. But on their arrival at the
courthouse, his bushy eyebrows
knitted quizzically as Ragen abruptly
took leave of the others. _

“‘Hey! Wait a minute!’’ Fricker ex-
claimed. “Ron’ tI get out here too?”’

*“No, you’re coming along with us
to Edwardsville,”” Deimling replied,
snapping a pair of handcuffs on the
prisoner’s wrists. ‘‘I’m the sheriff of
Madison County and I’m placing you
under arrest on suspicion of possible
complicity in the murder of John
Nungessor.”’

The dairyman’s deep-set eyes
tightened visibly at the corners, but he
made no retort.

It was exactly noon when the
lawmen arrived at the sheriff’s office
with their prisoner.

In the hope that the arrest of the
feared Fricker might loosen hitherto
reluctant tongues, Deimling and
Dooner set out to re-question friends
of the slain Nungessor. And this time
they got results. Ted Stoddard, a
Clinton County farmhand, told
Deimling that he had remembered
something since the first interview.

‘fA week ago,’’ Stoddard said,
*‘Fricker asked me to drive Jake
Landert over to Nungessor’s new
farm. He said that Jake was anxious
to settle some score with Nungessor.’’

The sheriff tensed. ‘‘And did you
oblige him in this matter?’

Stoddard shook his head. ‘‘No, I
didn’t,’’ he said. ‘‘It sounded sort of
fishy to me.”’

This revelation concerning Landert
put a new light on things and Deimling
lost no time ordering Landert brought
to the office. There, he and Dooner
questioned him in vain for over two
hours as to his movements the day
Nungessor was shot.

“*I was busy working in the field all
day,’’ Landert insisted, ‘‘and I can
prove it. Besides, I had no earthly
reason for harming Nungessor. He and
I got along fine together.’’

The sheriff’s patience was at an end.
“‘Who do you think you’re fooling,
Landert?’’ he exploded. ‘‘You mean
you weren’t planning only last week
to give him a good going-over? Or was
that somebody else’s score you were
settling and not yours?’’

Landert flushed and his gaze

(continued on page 56)


2 Sex Slave’s Dowry Of Death

(continued from page 54)

dropped momentarily to his shoes as
he shook his head. On a sudden
impulse, the sheriff decided to chance
a shot in the dark.

**You were busy working all day,
you say, and you found time to go
riding in Wernle’s coupe with him,”’

‘he growled, riveting Landert with a

sharp stare.

‘*That’s not true; I never saw
Wernle that day,’’ Landert came back.
‘And if you doubt my word, you can
ask Eldo and he’ll back me up.”’

Having made his pitch, Deimling

* decided to go the whole way.

**We don’t have to,”’ he said quietly.
“Tt so happens that you were seen by
no less than two witnesses riding in,
Wernle’s car with him along Newton
Road just before Nungessor was
murdered. Furthermore...’’

He paused significantly, as though
to let the words sink in. But before he
could resume, Landert’s shoulders
slumped forward in complete and utter
resignation.

‘*Okay, sheriff,’’ he muttered
thickly, ‘“‘you win. Wernle and I pulled
off the Nungessor job, all right. But
it wasn’t our idea. It was Fricker’s.’’
And without further ado, he proceed-
ed to unfold the entire story.

In January of the year before,
Landert said, Fricker had approached

. him with the proposal that he and

Wernle get rid of John Nungessor. He
had promptly turned thumbs down on
the idea, but Fricker had continued to
pressure him.

For two months, Landert said, he
had fended the dairyman off and fin-
ally had quit his job with the dairyman

‘and had left town. And he had remain-

ed away until the past July when Fric-
ker had induced him to return with the
promise of better treatment and the

payment in full of the sizeable back -

wages due to him.

Fricker’s pledges proved short-lived,
Landert went on, and before long he
made it plain that his sole interest was
to see Nungessor done in without
delay, promising to pay him $250 as
soon as the job was completed.

The first plan had called for the

- murder to take place September 10 by

drowning.

The following Saturday, Fricker had
met Wernle and Landert in the latter’s
home. There he had produced three
loaded guns, handing Wernle a .25 and
.32 and Landert a .32 automatic. Then
he outlined the new plan.

56

It was virtually foolproof, Fricker
had assured them. They were to
waylay Nungessor on his way home
along the little used Newton Road,
traveling to,the ambush in Wernle’s
Ford coupe. Landert was to crouch on
the floor of the back seat out of sight.
All the guns were to be used in the
rub-out to make it appear that three
men had been involved, thus automa-
tically removing from suspicion a car
seemingly containing only Wernle.

The sheriff now had a complete
confession by one of two hired killers,

~ but he wasn’t buying it in a hurry.

Landert’s recital involving Fricker as
the instigator of the murder without
advancing a motive raised some serious
questions in his mind. In quest of the
answer he ordered Landert returned
to his cell and Wernle brought to his
office.

Accused point-blank of participating
in Nungessor’s murder, Wernle made
a show of brazening it out. But on
being informed that Landert had
already fingered him as being in on
the job, he abandoned his denials and
admitted his guilt, complete with
details.

About two years back, Wernle said,
he had begun courting Fricker’s
daughter, Emily. The idea that a
shoemaker should deign to court his
daughter hadn’t set well with the
proud dairyman and before long he
was showing unmistakably how he felt
about it.

But then a couple of months later,
Fricker had braced Wernle one
evening after he had escorted Emily
home and had come out with a
fantastic proposition.

**You’re stuck on my daughter, is

that right, Eldo?’’ he had asked, ‘‘All-

right you can have her, if you’ll kill
John Nungessor for me. I want his
wife back.”’

He had put Fricker off, Wernle said,
and at his next rendezvous with Emily
he told her how matters stood, and
the following week they ran away and
were married.

Their elopement had thrown Fricker
into such a rage that for a year he
refused to let either of them set foot
on his property. But he had softened
eventually and had offered them
lodgings at his ‘‘castle.’? However,
Fricker had lost no time advising him
what was what, Wernle went on.

“You got the girl you wanted,”’ he
had stormed at his son-in-law after

collaring Wernle behind the barn.
“Now I’m looking to you to get rid of
Nungessor so I can have Minnié back
here. And I’m not taking no.’’

In fear of his life, Wernle said he
finally had agreed to go through with

“the plan. By week’s end, Fricker had
summoned him and Landert to a .

conference to outline his plans. Anda
fortnight later, John Nungessor was
dead.

While Wernle’s account tallied in
the essentials with Landert’s version,
it by no means resolved all the doubts
in the sheriff’s mind. Consequently,
as soon as Wernle has signed a written
statement, Deimling had him taken
back to his cell and ordered Fricker.
brought in. And in deliberate tones
he began reading the confessions aloud
to him.

But before he could finish the recital
the florid-faced farmer stopped him
short with a burst of profanity.

‘*It’s a pack of lies, every last word
of it!’’ he shouted. ‘‘Those birds are
trying to frame me.”’

“‘Why would they want to frame
you?”’

‘*Because I’ve had runs-ins with
both of them and they’re out to get
even with me. On the other hand, I
always got along first-rate with
Nungessor and you won’t find anyone
who’ll tell you different.’’

‘*We already have,’’ the sheriff
retorted.

‘*A man named Stoddard tells us
you recently tried to promote a ride
over to Nungessor’s for Jake Landert

- so he could pay off an old score.’’

The dairyman snorted. ‘‘In case you
don’t know it, Stoddard has always
hated me and I wouldn’t put it past
him to tell you anything.”

“And you didn’t give Landert and
Wernle the three guns, either?’’ the
sheriff demanded.

‘1 didn’t own any three guns,’’
Fricker shot back. ‘‘I did own a .32,
but I gave it to Landert last August in
a trade for a shotgun.’’

A final period of interrogation
proving futile, Deimling wearily waved
Fricker away and leaned back in his
swivel chair to mull over the situation.

Granted that Wernle and Landert
might have wanted to revenge them-
selves on Fricker, it didn’t seem
reasonable that they would have gone
to such lengths as killing an innocent
man in the hopes of framing Fricker
for the crime, On the other hand,
lustful men had not hesitated at
murder to gain possession of a woman

(continued on next page)

ever since the time David had cast eyes
on Bathsheba:and decided her hus-
band was in the way.

Convinced he was on the right track,
Deimling went into action. In a matter
of minutes, he and Dooner were
headed for the Nungessor farm.

‘‘Minnie, I’ve come here to find out
the truth about your relationship with
Emil Fricker,’’ Deimling launched
right in. ‘‘I’ve got him in jail where
he can do you no harm, and I want
the whole story. It may clear up the
murder of your husband.”’

*‘All right, Sheriff,’’ she quavered.
“You might as’ well know the truth
now as later.”

A minute later, after taking herself
in hand, she was unfolding one of the
most shocking tales of lust, human
exploitation and cold, scheming
murder ever recorded in county crime
annals,

An orphan of 14, she had been hired
by Fricker as a dairymaid, working
fourteen hours a day for a niggardly
$8 a month, which was eventually
raised to $30.

One night after she had been slaving
for him a couple of months, Fricker
had suddenly appeared in her bedroom
and, ignoring her pleas, had brutally
forced his attentions on her and often
thereafter.

“I tried to fight him off,’? Minnie
sobbed, ‘‘but it was no use. He was
too strong for me. ‘What I want, I
always get,’ he told me that night and

on other nights.’’

“‘But what about Fricker’s wife and
daughter?’’ Deimling interposed in-
credulously. ‘‘Surely you could have
gone to them with your troubles?”

“It would have been useless,’’
Minnie explained in a dead voice.
“They were so thoroughly dominated
by him that they wouldn’t dare do
anything.

“Fricker didn’t say much when I

' married Bob Kehrli, but after Bob’s

death and I planned to marry John he
went wild with rage. He told me that
he would kill any man I married. And
it wasn’t long before his threats forced
us to decide to move. That’s when
John bought the new place.’’

The investigators lost no time in
getting back to headquarters and
confronting Fricker with his ex-dairy-
maid’s story. But if they were expect-
ing the florid farmer to make any
damaging admissions, they were
disappointed.

“‘There’s not a grain of truth in it,”
he growled indignantly. ‘I never took
a single liberty of any kind with Minnie
as long as I’ve known her.”’

The following day, as the area
papers blazed forth with front-page
stories of the arrest of Fricker and his
two henchmen for Nungessor’s
murder, Deimling was informed by
phone that a resident of Rudolph
Kamuf, 67-year-old resident of the
Clinton County Home, wanted to see
him about the Fricker case.

When a check with officials of the
home disclosed that Kamuf was dying
of heart disease, Deimling arranged to
have him brought to the courthouse
at Edwardsville in an ambulance.
There, in the presence of steno-
graphers and offical witnesses, Kamuf
proceeded to make a voluntary
statement, reading in part as follows:

“I worked for Emil Fricker for
better than thirty years,‘‘ Kamuf
began. ‘‘I knew Robert Kehrli and
Minnie well. When Minnie married
Bob in April, 1920, Fricker wanted me
to kill Kehrli. When I refused, Emil
said that he wished to God he had a
rifle, that if he did, he’d shoot Kehrli
like a rabbit.

“* ‘That good-for-nothing sneaked
away the girl that has belonged to me
for eight years,’ he stormed. ‘And
sooner or later I’m going to kill him.’

“On May 7, 1920, Kehrli and I went .

with Fricker to work on a lonely part
of the.farm back of Jacob Landert’s
home. Fricker set me to repairing a
fence while he took Kehrli into a
nearby grove to chop wood, Fricker
had wine and whisky with him and
when he came back later in the day,
he said to me; ‘Well, I’ve got him

where I want him now. He’s just about
asleep.’ He said Kerhli was dead
drunk.

“Tl said I was going home. Fricker
said: ‘No, you won’t. You’re going to
stay right here.’ I was afraid to leave.
Emil went back into the woods.
Shortly afterward, I heard a shot.
Fricker came back alone.

“They found Kehrli a day or so later
with the gun only a foot from one
hand. I didn’t say anything at the time
because it would have been only my
word against Fricker’s, and besides I
was afraid of him.”’

Found guilty of murder by the trial
jury, Fricker received the sentence of
death with sneering bravado, but on
the morning of his execution, he
showed himself for the coward he was.

When the sheriff and hangman,
Philip Hanna, came to fetch him from
his cell to the gallows, they discovered
he had fortified himself with a quart
of bourbon he had somehow obtained.
As a consequence, he was carried to
the gibbet on rubber legs, quaking with
fear.

Jake Landert and Eldo Wernle also
were found guilty in the slaying of
John Nungessor, and each was
sentenced to a life term in prison,
where Landert died in May, 1935. *

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3 *3\ ‘CHIGAGO 'SUN- TIMES,‘ THURSDAY, : MARCH’ 23,1995

eee ewe

State to Push 3 More Executions

By ALEX RODRIGUEZ
STAFF WRITER :

Andrew Serpico had mixed feel-
ings as he watched James Free’s
execution Wednesday on closed-
circuit television in a roca at
Stateville Correctional Center
near Joliet.

He felt a pang of compassion for
the family of the man who killed
his wife 17 years ago. But more
important, he said, was knowing
“justice was served. I think my
wife can rest better now.”

Free, convicted of the 1978
murder, died by lethal injection at
12:42 ar. Afterward, Hernando
Williams, convicted of the 1978
murder of 29-year-old Linda
Goldstone, was executed.

Williams declined to make a
last statement. Free lashed out at
the media and prosecutors who
tried his case, while asking to be
forgiven for his crimes.

“At this time in death, I’m in-
terested in the Lord. Capital pun-
ishment is not the answer,” Free
said. “The human race needs to
look at who's being executed... . I
ask for forgiveness. Taking my life
will not bring back the victims.”

Serpico and other relatives of
the victims accepted the state’s
invitation to watch the executions
on closed-circuit TV. In past exe-
cutions, victims’ relatives could be
present inside Stateville but were
not allowed to witness the execu-
tions,

Will County Coroner Patrick
O’Neil said the bodies of both
men were turned over to their

families. Funeral arrangements

were not disclosed.

The double execution was the
state’s first in 42 years.

Illinois Attorney General James
Ryan now will turn his attention
to Girvies Davis, a 37-year-old
Death Row inmate who is sched-
uled to be executed May 17 for
the Dec. 22, 1978, murder . of
Charles Biebel. a

Biebel, 89, of Belleville, was in
his mobile home when. Davis
broke in, shot him to death, and
stole two watches, a wallet, some
guns and a television set.

The murder was part of a 10-
month robbery spree that Davis
undertook through St. Clair and
Madison counties. During that

- spree, he also killed Esther Sep-

mever. 83. of Marvville: John Or-

‘

Opponents of capital punishment hold a cand!
as corrections officials prepared to execute

tel, 84, of East St. Louis, and
Frank Cash, 21, of Caseyville.
Davis, imprisoned at Downstate
Menard Correctional Center, has
exhausted all appeals, Ryan

spokeswoman Anna. Kukec said.

Two other Death Row inmates,
George Delvecchio and Charles
Albanese, also could face execu-
tions this year.

.

FRANK POLICH/ASSOCIATED PRESS

elight vigil outside the Stateville prison Tuesday night
James Free and Hernando Williams.

_Ryan may ask that execution
dates be set on both men, since
they have exhausted all appeals in
ied and state courts, Kukec
said.


die:

Continued from Page 1

people who put me here. You are
all vindictive,” Tejeda quoted
' Free as saying.

Capital punishment is wrong,
Free said,because it won’t bring
back the victims and is not a
deterrent. “But it will hurt my
family. Who is ef being exe-
cuted here?” he said.

With the injection of the drugs,
Free licked his lips, swallowed,
and as they began to take effect,
started to snore loudly, then
supes and lay still, Tejeda said.

atching on closed-circuit tele-
vision were three relatives of
Free’s victims.

When Williams’ time came, he
had no last words, Tejeda said.
“He never looked out,” Tejeda
said. “He was very emotionless.”

“He looked up, took a deep
breath and that was it,” said Scott
Koeneman, a reporter for the Jo-
liet Herald-News.

Relatives of Linda Goldstone,
Williams’ victim, watched his exe-
cution on closed-circuit television.
Relatives of Williams were at the
prison, but they were not allowed
to watch, Washington said.

Free’s attorney, Mark Shaw,
said that at 11:40 p.m., Free was
reading the Bible and “at peace
with himself.” At that point, he
decided not to pursue further ap-
peals, Shaw said. Earlier he had
seemed impatient, Illinois Correc-
tions Department spokesman Nic
Howell said. “I don’t know why
we've got to wait,” Howell quoted
Free as saying.

Free and Williams became the
third and fourth inmates to be
executed since Illinois reinstated

the death penalty in 1977.
Charles Walker died by lethal
injection in 1990 after dropping

wg

8 tx CHIC. -TIMES, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1995
emer

Sse ammamme eomens

CAAA W * :
TRANS

CHARLES BENNETT/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nic Howell, Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman, leaves a
news conference Tuesday outside Stateville Prison near Joliet,
where James Free and Hernando Williams were scheduled to be
put to death shortly after midnight this morning.

and instead injected lethal doses
of the drugs pancuronium bro-
mide and potassium chloride di-
rectly into the arms of the two
men. Sodium pentathol was in-
jected first to put each man to
sleep. :

During Gacy’s execution, the in-
travenous line leading to the ma-
chine clogged. The tubing was
changed and the execution re-
sumed.

Free murdered Bonnie Serpico,
34, of Elmhurst and tried to kill
her co-worker, Lori Summer after

breaking into their Glen Ellyn
office building April 24, 1978.

Twenty-five days earlier, Wil-
liams abducted Linda Goldstone
from a North Side Jer lot,
kept her locked in his trunk for 36
hours, rapéd her twice, and then
shot her to death in an empty
South Side garage.

Serpico and Summer were
working alone at the M-2 Service
Center, a data processing compa-
ny in Glen Ellyn, when Free. broke
in about 4 a.m. |

Free, a 24-year-old Army me-

@ Site: A
Center near Joliet.

@ Witnesses: 12 from the media and six official witnesses. For the
first time since the death penalty was reinstated in Illinois, victims’
relatives had the option of viewing via closed-circuit television.

MLast double execution in Illinois: Oct.
convicted killers LeRoy Lindsay and Berenice Davis were execut-
ed together at Cook County Jail.

@ Inmates on Death Row in Illinois: 157

? Killers Die in Double Execution —

EXECUTIONS IN ILLINOIS

@ Method: Lethal injection. The inmate is strapped to a gurney;
intravenous tubes are placed in each arm. With the warden’s
signal, an executioner administers sodium pentathol to put the
inmate to sleep, then pancuronium bromide to stop breathing and
finally potassium chloride to stop the heart.

15-by-15-foot chamber

at Stateville Correctional

17, 1952, when

Bonnie
Serpico

Linda
Goldstone
Both murdered in 1978

chanic at the time, ordered the
women into a back room. While
Free took Serpico into another
room, Summer tried to loosen the
ropes Free used to tie her wrists
and ankles. When Free heard
Summer trying to escape, Serpico
sprinted toward the building’s
front door.

Free chased Serpico and shot
her in the back about 10 feet from
the front door. He then returned
to Summer, stood over her, and
shot her point-blank. Free ran
out, but was arrested the next day
at his parent’s house in Dubuque,
Iowa.

Serpico left behind two daugh-
ters, 10 and 12 at the time, and
husband Andrew Serpico, a tile
setter.

Goldstone was the 29-year-old
wife of a Chicago obstetrician and
mother of a 3-year-old son when
Williams ambushed her March 30,
1978, in the parking lot of Pren-
tice Women’s Medical Center, 333
E. Superior.

Goldstone taught natural child-
birth classes there. Williams
bound her hands and feet and
kept her in the trunk of his car for
36 hours. He took her out twice to
rape her at a motel.

With Goldstone in the trunk,
Williams drove to fast-food res-
taurants, taverns, a girlfriend’s
house, and even a court hearing in
Maywood on a pending 1977 rape
charge.

When Williams released Gold-
stone, he warned her to not go to
police. But she knocked on some-
one’s door for help and Williams,
watching her, pulled up to the
door and dragged her to an aban-
doned garage a block away. There
be shot her once in the head and
chest.

Gov. Edgar denied clemency for
both men last week, saying the
acts of Free and Williams “*were
cases where individuals committed
a very brutal murder. And I think
the death penalty in these two
cases is correct.”


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Death-case
rules ripped
in Illinois

Associated Press

CHICAGO — A federal judge has
struck down the jury instructions
used in Illinois death-penalty
cases as too confusing for many
jurors to understand.

U.S. District Judge Marvin As-
pen on Friday overturned the
1979 death sentence of James P.
Free Jr. for murder and attempt-
ed rape.

He said Free had shown a rea-

sonable likelihood that the jury |

for his trial during the late 1970s
was confused about which side
had the burden of proof. He gave
the state 120 days to resentence
Free.

The instructions to Free’s jury.
were based on a standard form ap-
proved by the Illinois Supreme
Court for use in death-penalty
cases. ee een

Free’s lawyer, Kimball Ander-
son, said as many as 80 other in-
mates on Illinois’ death row might
be able to use the ruling to chal-
lenge their sentences. —

Anderson based his appeal on a
survey of Cook County jurors that

« found that up to 75 percent of ju-
- rors misunderstood their task and

the rules governing them.
"The magnitude of these results
is staggering,” Aspen wrote. °
“The survey was conducted in
1990 and earlier this year by the
late Hans Zeisel, a professor at
» the University of Chicago. .
Ernie Slottag, a spokesman for
e Illinois attorney general’s of-

ez
$

fice, said the state was expected to

appeal.
-“Aspen had asked U.S. Magis-

trate Bernard Weisberg to rule on
‘the merits of Zeisel’s survey.

‘The magistrate found that the
study established that the in-
structions failed to provide “even
a majority of jurors hearing them
with a clear understanding of how
they are to go about deciding
whether a defendant lives or
dies.” re

While some death-row inmates
in Illinois were sentenced by judg-
es, Anderson said “the vast major-
ity” were sentenced by juries.

Tgtetine.

1

Ato The Sacramento Bee e Sunday, September 27, 1992


WARMER Pages 2, 75

Chicago/Suburbs

SO¢ Elsewhere

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1995

Late Sports Final

Hernando Williams

By ALEX RODRIGUEZ and Lou ORTIZ
STAFF WRITERS

Two men who selected young mothers as
their victims, terrorized them, and then
unblinkingly murdered them in cold blood
17 years ago were executed early today.

James Free, 41, and Hernando Williams,
40, died by lethal injection at Stateville
Correctional Center near Joliet in the
state’s first double execution since 1952.
Both men failed in last-ditch efforts
through the courts Tuesday to stave off
execution.

Williams and Free
Get Lethal Injections
For 1978 Crimes

Free went first. He was pronounced dead
at 12:42 a.m., said Illinois corrections chief
Odie Washington, who characterized the
execution as “uneventful.”

iene died at 1:49 a.m., Washington
sai

RRQ

2 KILLERS EXECUTE

He described Free as cooperative “during
the entire process” and quoted him as
saying, “At this time, in death, I am
interested in the Lord” and asking for
forgiveness.

His death came some six minutes after
the lethal drugs were administered, said,
Greg Tejeda of United Press International,
one of the media pool witnesses.

In a final, three-minute speech, Free
criticized capital punishment and what he
called media sensationalism of his life.

“I ask for God’s forgiveness for all the

Turn to Page 8

James Free

ww:

A

she said. “I didn’t mean anything by
them things. I was out of my head.”

Sheriff Deimling strode angrily from
the house.

Back in his office he toyed nervously
with a paper-weight, then threw it
aside. He turned to Tony Winters, sit-
ting in a chair reading the newspaper.

“Tony,” he said, “you ought to know
something about this. These people
are from your neck of the woods. What
about it?”

Winters put the paper down.

“There’s only two things I can think
of,” he said. “And neither of them
make much sense.”

“Well, what are they?”

“Minnie Nungessor was married be-
fore, you know. Three or fours years
ago, I forget which. Anyway, her hus-
band committed suicide. Seemed kind
of funny because it was just after they
got married. I don’t see how it fits in
anyway.”

“We'll look it up,” said the Sheriff.
“What’s the other thing?”

“Well, this is even more preposter-
ous. Minnie used to work for Emil
Fricker. After she married John Nun-
gessor a year or so ago she claimed that
Fricker owed her money and Fricker
said he didn’t. She took it to court and
won. Fricker’s still paying it, I think.”

“Not much motive there,” said the
Sheriff. “Emil Fricker’s hardly the
kind of a man who would kill some-
body over money. But the other thing
sounds good.” '

“How do you mean?” asked Win-
ters, puzzled.

“Suppose,” said Deimling, ‘“some-
body was in love with her. Suppose
that person wouldn’t marry her, or
couldn’t. Or maybe Minnie wouldn’t
marry him. At any rate, when she got
married the first time he up and killed
the first husband and made it look like
suicide. And then she married Nun-
gessor and he killed Nungessor, too.”

Winters shook his head.

“T remember that suicide business,”
he said. ‘“Fellow’s name was Bob
Kehrli. And it was suicide, too. Pretty
obvious, if I remember right. He was
a moody and introspective fellow who
was gassed in the war.”

“Well,” said the Sheriff, “it’s pos-
sible.”

“Then look at Minnie,” said Winters.
“TJ mean, she’s not bad-looking, but
she’s not the kind of a girl anybody’d
go nuts over, nuts enough to kill two
people.”

“It’s possible,” the Sheriff insisted
stubbornly.

“How about the three guns then,
Sheriff?” asked Winters. “Why would
a man use three guns to kill an enemy?
That doesn’t look right.”

“Okay, okay,” said the Sheriff.
“Have it your own way. I’m crazy.
But I’m going to look into it. I’m go-
ing to get all the dope on the Emil
Fricker suit, too.”

URIED in the files of neighboring

Clinton County, Sheriff Deimling
found the records of the suicide of
Robert Kehrli. Kehrli had been a
farmhand on the large Emil Fricker
dairy farm in Clinton County, between
Highland and Saint Rose. He married
Minnie, an orphan girl who was em-
ployed on the same farm. A month
later he was discovered in a patch of
woods he supposedly had been clear-
ing out, a bullet through his head, a
gun near his outstretched hand. A
jug of whisky also was near by.

Kehrli’s finger-prints were on the
gun. At the inquest Emil Fricker and
Jacob Landert, another farmhand on
the Fricker farm, testified that Kehrli
was moody and introspective, that he
often talked of suicide. Testimony also
was introduced to show that he had
suffered from shell-shock while serv-
ing with the oversea forces during the
World War.

And that was the sum total of facts
in the suicide of Bob Kehrli, first hus-
band of Minnie Nungessor to meet a
violent death.

The records in’ Minnie Nungessor’s
suit against Emil Fricker showed little
more. Minnie testified that Fricker
had promised to pay her five dollars a
week when she first went to work for

ID9

him. Of that amount he gave her half
in cash, promised to bank the re-
mainder for her.

When she left him to marry John
Nungessor, after fourteen years in his
service, Fricker should have had some
$1,600 of hers in the bank, she claimed.
But the money was not forthcoming.
So she brought suit.

Her suit was sustained and she won
a judgment for the $1,600. Fricker,
although he was a wealthy man with
large land and stock holdings, claimed
that he could not raise $1,600 in cash
without jeopardizing some of his prop-
erty. Therefore, with the consent of
the court and of Minnie Nungessor, he
promised to pay $100 a month for six-
teenth months, plus interest.

Final judgment in this case had
been passed four months before John
Nungessor met his death. Since then,
the records showed, Fricker had paid
$100 each month, a total of $400.

ND in neither of these two events
could Sheriff Deimling find a mo-
tive for murder.

One thing, though, stood out to him.

“Emil Fricker’s name pops up here
pretty often,’ he said to Winters.
“Maybe we better see him.”

“Now you are crazy, Ed,” said Win-
ters. “Why, you know Emil Fricker
as well as I do. You don’t think he
had anything to do with this killing,
do you?”

“Fricker’s got a lot of money,” said
the Sheriff. ‘““He goes to church every
Sunday. He’s got a wife and a grown
daughter. But how does that prove he
isn’t a murderer?”

Winters laughed.

“You forget something, Sheriff,” he
said. “If Fricker really got sore at you
he could do a lot about putting a new
Sheriff in here at the next election.”

Sheriff Deimling spun around and
stared at his deputy. A red flush crept
slowly from the top of his collar up
his neck.

“Tony,” he said, “if I thought you
meant that I’d fire you. Right now.”

He grabbed his hat.

“Come on,” he said. “We’re going to
talk to Emil Fricker.”

Emil Fricker was a tall, genial man,
a typical farmer who had built up a
comfortable dairy business starting
with practically nothing. He reputedly
was one of the wealthiest farmers in
southern Illinois, a staid church-goer,
head of a respected family, a power in
local politics although he never had
held office himself. His farmhouse and
most of his property were in Clinton
County, just over the Madison County
line, but he was acquainted with Sher-
iff Deimling and the Madison County
deputies.

He greeted the Sheriff warmly and
plunged immediately into a discussion
of the shooting of Nungessor.

“Terrible thing, Ed,”:he said. “I
knew Nungessor. Fine young lad, he
was. And his wife, Minnie—she was
like my own daughter to me. She
worked here for fourteen years, you
know.”

“Fricker,” Sheriff Deimling said
coldly, “you had some trouble with
her, didn’t you? Something about back
wages?”

“Why, I wouldn’t call it trouble, Ed,”
said the farmer. “Just a difference of
opinion, that’s all.”

“Sixteen hundred dollars is a lot of
money, Fricker,” said the Sheriff.
“Murders have been committed for

”

- less than that.”

Emil Fricker drew himself up and
stared at the Sheriff.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

‘You know what I mean,” said Deim-
ling. “Suppose you tell me where you
were when John Nungessor was shot.”

Fricker took a short step) towards
the Sheriff and his fists clenched.

“Look here, Deimling,” he _ said
sharply. “What do you think this is?
You can’t come over here and brow-
beat me. T’1—”

“You'll what?” asked the Sheriff.

“You take that badge off and I’ll
beat you to a pulp,” said Fricker.

Winters stepped in then.

“Take it easy, take it easy,” he said.
“Mr. Fricker, I’m sure the Sheriff
doesn’t mean anything personal. We

just have to ask these questions of
everybody. There’s nothing personal
in it at all.”

Fricker stared at the Sheriff but
neither man said a word.

“We just have to be sure
everybody,” Winters repeated.

“Tf you got to know,” said Fricker,
forcing his words out between clenched
teeth, “I was right here on my farm
that day.”

“Have you any witnesses to prove
it?” the Sheriff asked.

“TJ don’t need no witnesses to back
up my word,” said Fricker.

“Was your family here, Mr. Frick-
er?” asked Winters. “How about your
help?”

“They were all here,” said Fricker.
“Ed Stoker was, too.”

“Thanks, Mr. Fricker,” said Winters.
“That’s all we want to know. C’mon,
Sheriff.”

“T’ll remember this, Deimling,” said
Fricker. “I won’t forget your inso-
lence. Why, you don’t even belong in
this county.”

With difficulty Winters dragged the

about

Ernest Levy: He crooned under
one name, sold jewels under an-
other, and loved a girl under still
a third. Read the story on Page 6

Sheriff to their car. The officers drove
back to Highland without saying a
word.

“Who does that guy think he is?” the
Sheriff spluttered as he entered Win-
ters’ office.

“IT don’t know,” said Winters, “but
he’s got an alibi, and he’s probably
not our murderer.”

“I’m going to check on that alibi,”
said the Sheriff. He reached for the
telephone and in a few moments was
talking to Ed Stoker, a neighbor of
Fricker. Stoker declared emphatically
that he and Fricker had been working
together all the afternoon of the day
on which Nungessor was killed. They
still were together when the news of
the murder reached them.

“Well,” said Winters, “that’s that.
Now where do we go?”

HERIFF DEIMLING shook his head

hopelessly. He had) calmed down
somewhat.

“T still think,” he said, “that Minnie
Nungessor knows more about this than
she will tell us.”

“That’s the theory, isn’t it?” asked
Winters.

“Well,” said the Sheriff, “who're the
people closest to her who might know
about it?”

“Right now,” said Winters,
probably John’s mother.”

The officers returned to the old Nun-
gessor farm and soon were talking to
Mrs. Nungessor.

“Look,” said the Sheriff, “we think
that someone threatened to kill John.
And Minnie probably knew about it. Is
that right?”

“it’s

Mrs. Nungessor shook her head.

“Not as far as I know,” she’ sai
“Nobody wanted to kill my boy.”

“Anybody else who was in love wi
Minnie?” the Sheriff asked.

Mrs. Nungessor shook her head.

“Minnie was married afore,” s!
said. “To Bob Kehrli. But he’s de:
now.”

Deimling nodded. “But Mrs. Nu
gessor,” he said, “was there any stra
about this marriage between Mim
and John? Anything funny that ha
pened, or anyone who got sore whi
John and Minnie married?”

“Nope,” said Mrs. Nungessor. “Leu
ways, not so’s I could sec.”

“Nothing at all?”

“Well,” said) Mrs. Nunsessor, “Jo!
did sort of break up with Eldo Wern
Him and Eldo were great friends |
a long time, you know, till John a
Minnie got their minds set on marryi
But that don’t mean anythin’.”

“What happened between them
asked the Sheriff.

“Nothin’. Like I said, it don’t m:
anythin’, anyhow. But John just ¢
cided he didn’t want no more to
with Eldo. Why, one day a bit aft
they was married Eldo come over a
wanted John to go fishin’ with hi
and John chased him right out of t
farmyard.”

“Did they fight?” asked Winters.

“No, they didn’t come to blow
said Mrs. Nungessor. “John just si
he didn’t want no more truck \
Eldo and he better git.”

HE Sheriff rose and walked tows

the door.

“Thanks, Mrs. Nungessor,” he sa

“Don’t go gettin’ no ideas, mm
Sheriff,” she said. “Eldo Wernle i
John were friends for years.”

“Ideas!” exclaimed the Sheriff wh
he and Winters were in their car aga

“T’ve got more than ideas. I’ve go!
definite suspicion.”

“T can’t believe it,” said Winte
“Why, Eldo and John were alwi

together when they were boys.”

“Look,” said the Sheriff. “Didn't »
say Wernle drove down that road j
before the murder?”

“That’s right,” said Winters.

“He could have stopped,” said Dei
ling. “We're going to talk to this la

Eldo Wernle was a= dark-hai!
youth of 21 with large, dark eyes ¢
a slender face. He smiled nervou
when the men entered his shoe-rep
shop in Highland.

“Eldo,” said Winters,
talk to you about John
murder.”

“TI don’t know nothin’ about it,” s
Wernle.

“You were driving down that :
just before John was killed,” said
Sheriff.

Wernle’s hands shook.

“Sure I was,” he said shakily. “1!
that don’t mean nothin’. I was dri\
over to see my wife who was with |
pa, Emil Fricker. You can ask he

“Look,” said the Sheriff. ‘We dre
out to Fricker’s this morning f:
Highland. But we didn’t go down
road where Nungessor was killed. H
come you did?”

Wernle lighted a cigarette.
was pale.

“I—I dunno,” he said. “I just was
in a hurry, I guess. So I went the i
way.” He paused and wiped his fo
head. “You can ask my wife,” he si

“Were you alone, Eldo?” asked

“we came
Nungessi

His f

Sheriff.
Wernle stood typ stiddently
walked shakily towards the Sheritt
“TJ” He paused and looked wi

ly around him. “T---sure To owas ale
Who says L wasn’t?”

“Nobody has said that you weren
the Sherif! declared miatdty

“You ean ask my wrtle caid Weis
“She'll tell you. She saw me pull
at her pa’s.”

“Where is your wife?”

“She’s—-she’s at her pa’s
Wernle.

“IT reckon we better ask her,”
Sheriff said.

llowever, Winters prevailed upon
Sheriff to stay away from the home
the bellicose and angered Fric!
Deputy Dooner and Winters drove

again,


to Fricker’s farm and talked to the
dairyman’s daughter.

“That’s right,” the girl said reluc-
tantly when Winters questioned her.
“Eldo drove up right before we heard
about John being killed. Him and Jake
Landert was in his car.”

Jake Landert! But Eldo Wernle had
said he was alone!

Winters and Dooner took the long
way back to Highland. They stopped
at every farmhouse they passed.

Between the Fricker farm and the
spot where John Nungessor was shot
to death they found four farmers who
remembered seeing Eldo Wernle and
Jacob Landert, driving recklessly to-
wards the Frickers.

Between the murder spot and High-
land they found half a dozen who re-
membered seeing Eldo Wernle drive
down that lonely road—alone.

py LANDERT was a farmhand
on the Fricker place. Winters re-
membered suddenly that Landert had
testified at the inquest into the death
of Minnie Nungessor’s first husband.

Was Landert, then, the killer? Was
he the man whose burning passion for
Minnie Nungessor would not allow
any man she married to live? Had
Wernle met Landert just after the kill-
ing and taken him to his home?

Landert, the deputies knew, was an
oafish, elderly man with a perpetual
smile on his long, placid face—a smile
that made him look like a simpleton.
He was more than 50, partially bald,
stupid. No wonder that Minnie had
resisted his advances—# he had made
any.

Who Would

definite plans of spending the entire
day there. The more he thought about
the idea, though, the less sure he was
that he was exactly proud of it.

“Finding out who plays with black
widow spiders!” he muttered. “Huh!
Some job for a city marshal!”

Sims took it easy the first part of
the morning, talking genially to most
of the farmers who came in to do their
trading, working the conversation
around as often as possible to the Hop-
per family. It was nearly ten o’clock
before he finally got up the courage to
start discussing black widow spiders,
and even then he acted as self-con-
scious as a boy talking about his first
date. °

The news that Sims was interested in
spiders spread rapidly, however, and
face the Marchal could nrenare him-

Dooner and Winters reported to the
Sheriff, then drove back to Fricker’s
farm immediately and placed Landert
under arrest. The farmhand seemed to
regard it as a huge joke. He grinned
foolishly.

“Jake,” said Winters, ‘we know you
killed John Nungessor. You might as
well admit it.”

“Who, me?” said Landert. “Me kill
John Nungessor? Haw, haw, that’s a
good one.” He guffawed, a raucous,
loud, simple laugh.

“We know,” said Winters, “that you
tried to force your attentions on
Minnie—”

“Who, me?” said Landert. “Me? And
Minnie? Haw, haw. That’s a good
one.”

“Where’s the gun, Jake?” asked
Winters, realizing that his direct ac-
cusations would get nowhere.

“What gun?” asked Landert. =
ain’t got no gun. Fricker’s got one,
though.”

Landert would admit nothing. Sher-
iff Deimling suggested that they pick
up Eldo Wernle.

“That boy’s hiding something,” the
Sheriff said. “Either Landert told him
about the killing or Wernle knows
definitely that Landert did it.”

Pale, nervous, frightened, Eldo
Wernle could not hide his emotions in
a mask of stupidity. Nor could he hide
the truth once the Sheriff questioned
him. He buried his head in his arms
and wept. He was almost in a state
of nervous collapse.

“We did it,’ he said. “Jake and I.

But it was Fricker. He made me do it.

He—”

Astounded, the officers listened to
the story of forbidden love and ruth-
lessness the broken Wernle poured
out. “He wanted Minnie back,” Wernle
said. “He told me I had to kill John.
He said I could marry his daughter
if I did. He made me do it.”

Wernle had driven along the route
he knew Nungessor would follow, he
admitted. Landert was lying down in
the bottom of the car. They hid in the
bushes, and when Nungessor came
along they fired.

“Fricker gave us three guns,” Wernle
said, “and told us to use all three.
That way, he figured you would think
three men did it.”

Confronted with Wernle’s confession,
Landert grinned again.

“Sure, I guess we done it,’ he said.
“The Old Man told us to.”

Then he guffawed.

“Haw, haw,” he said. “You thought
it was me and Minnie. That’s a good
one. Haw, haw.”

But it was not until Emil Fricker,
storming and threatening, was placed
in the Edwardsville jail that the whole
truth came out. Then Minnie Nunges-
sor, pale, still afraid of the power her
former employer held over her, told
the full story to Sheriff Deimling be-
tween fits of sobbing and blowing her
nose.

For fourteen years, she said, she had
worked for Fricker and he had forced
his attentions on her. For fourteen
years he had bullied and threatened
and outraged her, even driving away
suitors at gun point. She had no one
to turn to, she believed Fricker’s boasts
that the law could not touch him.

She married Bob Kehrli, the farm-
hand who had worked beside her. A
month later his dead body was brought
back to the farmhouse. Then, several
years later, she fell in love with John
Nungessor.

“I was afraid,” she said. “Fricker
told me he would kill John, too, if I
married him. But .I didn’t think he
would dare do that. John was such a
strong man.”

With Fricker in jail, indicted for
murder, his prestige and power gone,
Robert Kamuf came out of the Clin-
ton County Old People’s Home and
told Sheriff Deimling another story.
Kamuf had been a farmhand on the
Fricker place at the time of Robert
Kehrli’s supposed suicide. Kamuf
declared flatly that he had seen Fricker
murder Kehrli. He, too, had been
frightened into silence by the swag-
gering farmer’s boasts and threats. :

Wernle and Landert were tried first
for the murder of John Nungessor.
They were found guilty and sentenced
to life imprisonment. Wernle wept.
Landert grinned and guffawed.

HEN Emil Fricker was brought to

trial for .the murder of Robert
Kehrli. Minnie Nungessor and Robert
Kamuf testified against him. He, too,
was found guilty and sentenced to life
in prison.

But he did not serve a day of that
term. Instead he was tried for the
Nungessor murder, and for that crime
he was hanged.

Another picture with this story is
on Page 38.

Trade Black Widows For Love? (Continued from Page 12)

liance somewhere that had not come
to the surface yet?

It was about one o’clock that after-
noon, just after Sims had returned
from lunch, that Sims saw the well-
dressed and attractive Mrs. Hopper
enter the Johns general store. He
watched her as she moved gracefully
about through the building, envied by
the other farm women, who had not
preserved their beauty as the attrac-
tive widow had. —

Thirty minutes later Marshal Sims
saw Finis Anderson step into the store.
Sims rose to his feet to question An-
derson about the black widow spiders.
Then, intuitively, he hesitated a mo-
ment and watched Anderson.

The tall, graciously mannered farm-
er looked over the crowd in the store
until his eyes came to rest on one par-

Sims heard plenty of gossip that

afternoon about the attractive widow

but mostly it concerned her and Wil-
son Carpenter. And it held the widow
blameless. Where, then, did Anderson
and his fascination: for black widow
spiders enter into this strange murder
puzzle? :

The Marshal could not figure it out.
Finis Anderson, Edith Hopper, Wil-

. son Carpenter—was any one of these

connected with the murder of Claude
Hopper? Which one—or rather which
two? Was it possible that the respected
Edith Hopper was involved with two
men besides her husband? Or was
there a connection between the two
men, some weird conspiracy that did
not involve the lovely widow?

Sims rushed to Purcell to acquaint
Ward with the facts. The two officers

Annidad ty vedonhio their attemnts to

would tell her husband. Finally Hop-
per heard rumors that his wife was
having an affair with someone, but he
didn’t know who..

“He asked me about it one day, in
a casual sort of way. I pretended not
to know anything about it because I
didn’t want to get mixed up in any
family quarrel. But Mrs. Hopper and
Anderson got scared I would tell, I
guess, so they framed me and made
it appear that I was trying to have
an affair with the woman.

“Hopper fired me. It made me aw-
fully mad, and I just about decided to
tell him what I knew. But I figured
he wouldn’t believe me anyway so I
just took out.”

“Do you have any proof for what
you have just told me?” Ward asked.

“yeah, some. Another farmer near

here saw them in the woods again. He

Earl’s lips quivered. Tears came :: |
his eyes. “I was afraid,” he said, “the:
Mother and Anderson killed Dad. bu:
it was so horrible even to think abou: |
that I tried to believe that it realy
was a cancer after all.”

“Did vour father know about the_
affair?” Ward asked.

Earl nodded. “He found out about ::
not very long before he took down wit
this last sick spell.” .

“Did he ever realize that he he
made a mistake about Carpenter?”

“I don't know whether he did
not. He never said anything about
to me.”

“Is your mother here now?” |

“No, she’s over visiting a neighb: |
My little sister, Juanita, and I are t |
only ones at home.” |

“That’s good,” Ward said. “I we: |
you two to go back to Purcell wi: |
Marshal Sims and myself and tell t-- |
oe attorney all you know abou: —

is.”

“All right. I guess we might as we
get it over with.”

On the road back to Purcell, Sims
and Ward, in talking with the tex-
year-old Hopper girl, found that s::
too had some valuable informat:

it. She told me to throw it out ri
away. She said to throw the gl
away, too. I thought that was kind 2
queer—her telling me to throw ice
glass away. Then, the milk looked =
funny—sort of pink like.”

NDERSHERIFF WARD said, “Wra
did you do with the glass—throw it
away?” aN
“No, I hid it under the front porch.
“That’s fine,” Ward said. “Weve
already found that glass. It had 3r-
senic of lead in it. You were vers
wise to hide it.” :
When County Attorney. E. Smit
Hester heard the facts he agreed w
Undersheriff Ward and Marshal S:ms
that Mrs. Hopper and Anderson should

“We'll Marry As

free will. Had he remained in Manis-
tique for one day and then boardeG
the same train with Rita? :

The body of Rita was returne= to
Manistique for burial and the North
Woods where she was born and irom
which she had sought escape claimec
her at last forever.

A «limpse into the girl’s life reveale

7


mi

ae cee anne ?

&

Hanging was too good for him whose "heart"

was filled with jealousy and
vengeance enough to cause two diabolical crimes.

tions of a conscience-stricken old man put police on the tra

Death-bed revela-

ck of a cunning executioner

yA


fe
xecutioner

A eo NUNGESSOR was tired. He had worked hard all day on a new
farm near Highland, Illinois, to which he intended to move soon.
“Guess I’ll be getting along home. Minnie’ll be expecting me,” he mut-

tered to himself as he mounted his wagon. He spoke to his team and

the horses started forward at a brisk trot along the dust-covered country

road,

John smiled as he thought of his affec-
tionate young wife, Although they had
been married two years now, they were
still like honeymooners. Each evening
the young farmer looked forward to
Minnie’s cheery greeting.

Nungessor had not driven far before
he noticed two men standing at the side
of the road adjoining a cornfield. Ap-
parently he recognized them, for he drew
up his reins sharply. “Whoa,” he called.

The smile on his face faded when one
of the men approached, suddenly whipped
out a gun and fired point-blank at him,
striking him in the stomach. Nungessor
doubled up in pain. “I thought you were
friends.” His voice was faint and be-
wildered.

Deliberately, the “friends” began firing
simultaneously, riddling the _ wounded
man’s body with bullets, John fell

Too many bullets kept John Nungessor
(above), second Scbond of the dairy-
maid, from reaching his home that day

heavily to the ground. The horses, ter-
rified by the shooting, plunged forward
along the road toward Highland.

For a mile they raced on until fatigue
caused them to slow up. A farmer who

. knew John, came upon them on the out-

skirts of Highland. “That’s young Nun-
gessor’s team!” he exclaimed in alarm,
“I wonder what’s happened? Could they
have thrown him?”

He led the horses, still hitched to the
wagon, to the police station. There he
turned them over to Chief of Police Tony
Winters.

The Chief had just finished a phone
call. He listened to the farmer’s report.
“John’s dead,” he cut in sharply,

“Dead?”

“Yes. Charley Burton just called me,
They found him a piece up the old Indian
trail. He’s been shot, The Coroner’s

State's ih Jesse Brown (above)
was instrumental in bringing the double
murder case to its proper ending

going there with me. He'll be along in
five minutes.”

It was a short ride by auto from High-
land to the scene of the tragedy. Deputy
Coroner Everett Tibbetts’ hurried, but
thorough, examination disclosed a: dozen
bullet wounds in Nungessor’s body. There
were no guns lying about. “It must have
been a gang killing,” he suggested,

Winters shook his head. “Nungessor
was a quiet fellow—always minued his
own business. But I had better call
Deimling at Edwardsville to take charge.”
Edward Deimling was Sheriff of Madi-
son County.

Leaving the body in Tibbetts’ hands
to be removed to Highland for the in-
quest, Winters phoned the Sheriff and
prepared to ride to Nungessor’s home to
perform a task for which he had no
relish—informing the widow of her hus-
band’s murder,

Much to the Chiet’s surprise, Minnie
Nungessor, a comely young woman in
her middle twenties, took the news al-
most calmly. With little visible emotion
she prepared to go to Highland to claim
the body. Winters suddenly recalled that

Minnie Nungessor, the dairymaid, was
unlucky with her two. marriages, each
of which came to a mysterious climax

this was not her first tragic meeting with
an unkind fate, ;

In 1920 her first husband, Bob Kehrii,
a World War I veteran, had ‘died under
mysterious circumstances a month after
their ‘marriage, :

Both had worked -for’ wealthy Emil
Fricker, Clinton County dairyman; a
person’ of substantial influence in the
rich Illinois dairy region. They had sud-
denly . decided to marry and, on April
13th, the knot was tied.

Bob and Minnie Kehrli had planned
to go on living at the Fricker home, con-
tinuing their tasks in the household of
the dairy farmer,

But death shattered the dream of hap-
piness of this girl who apparently had
met love for the first time, Bob Kehrli
was found in a wooded section of the
Fricker farm on May 10th—shot through
the head. A revolver lay beside his body.

No one could imagine why he should
have killed himself when his happiness
and that of his pretty bride seemed so
complete. Tongues wagged, of course, A
vague rumor of murder filled the air, but
there was not the least bit of evidence
pointing toward murder. Everybody
seemed to have liked genial Bob Kehrili,
The Coroner’s jury ended discussion on
the case with a suicide verdict.

Minnie, dazed by the tragedy that had
robbed her of her bridegroom, went on
mechanically with her tasks at the
Fricker home. But she was not destined
to remain a dairymaid for long. Two
years later John Nungessor, a likable
fellow two years her junior, fell in love
with the dimpled country girl and they
were promptly married. .

John was quite well-to-do and ambi-
tious. There was no reason, he said, for
his wife to continue as a dairymaid or
kitchen worker, The couple set up house-
keeping on a small farm. John had been
working on a piece of land he had re-
cently purchased when disaster over-.
took him,

While Minnie Nungessor made funeral

orerenenenereenarormenesn men


FRICKER, nl

ILLINOIS’

Gunfire along a country road sent mad-
dened horses plunging as their driver
fell before the blasting fusillade.

It was a hopeless enigma until a break
opened up the strangest tale of illicit
love, jealousy, feudal power and death
ever told in the Middle West.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS!
With only a few moments to live, the love baron
hears the last words of the church (left) and then
stands on the trap as deputies strap his legs for the
plunge into eternity.

bts (naa

IV ‘atone ah horses, plunging
about a heavy farm wagon,
clattered down a country road.
Nostrils dilating, snorting with fear,
two teams, one hitched to the vehicle
and the other dragging at halter ropes
behind, ran wildly from a horror beside
the highway.

For nearly a mile they raced blindly
through the dairy section of southwest-
ern Illinois till, tangled in the harness,
they were halted near the small town of
Highland. A farmer, coming upon them,
recognized the teams and led the four
winded animals into the town.

STARTLING DETECTIVE

It was
officials t
to notify

But the
Two oth:
hody Ivir

ADVEN

months
ipiro of
ity, was
2, Rose,
Rhoda,
dne hot

finally
brushed
son and
1, draw-
pocket,
nd Rose
"You've
1 year—
it's my
ther and
ven fled.
ater at
e failed
. Photo
stive at
Jules, is
himself
‘ar right.

the anticipated arrival of John Nungessor.

John had driven up in his farm wagon
and, recognizing the two men, had stopped
his horses to talk with them.

“Hello, fellows—” he began.

But that was as far as he got before the
pair drew their guns and fired twelve bul-
lets into him.

John’s lifeless body had pitched from the
seat of the wagon to lie beside the road.
The startled horses had trotted away. The
two murderers climbed into their car, drove
back to Fricker’s farm, returned the weapons
and went their separate ways.

With their confessions typed and signed,
Sheriff Deimling ordered them locked up,
then sent for Fricker. He started reading the
confessions to the glowering prisoner, but
he hadn’t proceeded far before Fricker in-
terrupted. :

“Lies! All lies!” he exploded. “I had noth-
ing to do with that murder. Those fellows
are trying to frame me!”

The diabolic fiend was hopelessly trapped,
however. State’s Attorney Jesse R. Brown
went before the Madison County Grand
Jury and had him and his co-conspirators
indicted for murder.

Except for the trial, the Nungessor mur-
der case was now closed. But what of the
other case, the mysterious death of Minnie’s
first bridegroom, Robert Kehrli?

Convinced that the sex-crazed Fricker had
killed Minnie’s first sweetheart for the same
reason he had ordered the death of her
second, Sheriff Deimling and his deputies
began a thorough, if belated, investigation.
They looked up a man named Rudolph
Kamuf, who had worked for Fricker at the
time Kehrli was found dead, and Kamuf
made this startling statement:

“When Minnie married Bob Kehrili,
Fricker was like a wild man. He kept say-
ing to me, ‘That girl belongs to me. No
other man is going to have her. She is mine,
always has been, and J’ll kill any man who
tries to take her from me.’

“He wanted me to kill Bob, but I wouldn’t
do it. One morning in early May, 1920—
Fricker, Bob and I were working in the

IN TYPICAL “FIRING

Headline Detective

field near Fricker’s wood lot. Fricker called
to Bob and walked with him into the woods.
I saw a gun in Fricker’s hip pocket.

“Pretty soon I heard a shot. Fricker came
back alone.

“‘That so-and-so won’t sleep with my
girl again,’ he said to me.

“I looked at his pocket and saw that the
gun was gone. Next day they found Bob’s
body with the gun in his hand.

“J was afraid to say anything at the time.
I was afraid of Fricker.’ Everybody was
afraid of him. But at last I can tell what I
know.”

On the strength of this statement, Fricker
was indicted for the murder of Bob Kehrli
and was brought to trial on that charge in
the Madison County Circuit Court. The jury
found him guilty of killing Minnie’s first
bridegroom and ,he was given a life sen-
tence in the state penitentiary.

Three months' later he was tried for mur-
dering Minnie’s second husband, John Nun-
gessor. Again he was found guilty, and this
time the penalty was death. Sentence was
pronounced by Circuit Judge Louis Bern-
reuter. ‘

On trial with Fricker for the second mur-
der were his two co-conspirators, Wernli
and Landert. They turned state’s evidence
and each was sentenced to a life term in
the state penitentiary at Chester, Illinois.
Wernli is still in prison; Landert died on
May 13, 1935.

But Emil Fricker, who had swaggered
through’ life, showed his cowardice upon
facing death. When Sheriff Deimling and
Hangman Phillip Hanna came for him on
the day of doom, they found he had for-
tified himself with a quart of whisky.

He was carried to the gallows, and the
noose was adjusted around his neck. The
trap was sprung. His lank body plunged
earthward and swung in mid-air at the
end of.a rope. The doctors stepped forward
and pronounced him dead.

The outrages that Emil Fricker had com-
mitted on Minnie the Milkmaid, and the
heinous murders he had plotted for the men
she loved, had been avenged..

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47


said
oon
ens.

she

ker’s
ired,
voice
if he

stion
they
who

man,
ind I
i, ok
same
that
road.
y was

ificant.
cker’s
‘man’s

“Let’s

n with
dinary
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iss the

ynse to

t ’

Deim-

rdsville
vent in

utskirts
live in
middle
» stead-

le, and,
rted for

in, they
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rubbery
windows
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place.

he front
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the door

omy old
his lank
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fficers by

', opening
at home.”
‘r replied.

Questions,
zgy brows

Deimling.
he sheriff.
I know is

at you can

\NDS?

V] .
(] adi
fl a

r J

“What, for example?” Fricker asked.
_ “The names of the men who shot Nungessor.”’ oe,

The dairyman, exploded. “But how would J know who shot
him? All I know is what I’ve heard. I heard he was shot and
killed. ° That’s all I can tell you.” . eal ae Gr

“T think you’d better come along with us, Emil,” said Deputy
Ragen. “We'll sit down in my office and talk, this thing over.”

Fricker licked his lips and swallowed, his big»Adam’s apple
moving convulsively. f

“You fellows surely don’t think,” he said, looking slowly from
face to face, ‘that J had anything to do with that?”

For all we know, you had,” Sheriff Deimling replied. “Any-
way, we want you to come with us.”

Fricker hesitated, watching them speculatively. They looked
coldly back at him. ;

“All right,” he said finally, “I'll go. with you. Why shouldn’t
I? I’ve got nothing to be afraid of.”

They took him to the. jail in Edwardsville, where Wernli was

\ 7
rut

on ~
ae,

&

ic

Tc

? (ae “is
t/a . f 6X
OC mEe t= US.
Scene of the murderer's execution by hanging.

_ af
:

being held. He was locked up after: repeated questioning had
failed to elicit any response other than his reiterated, “I ‘don’t
kriow anything.” :

Unable to force an admission of guilt from him, or from either
Wernli or Landert, the police chief and the sheriff held a con-
ference. / ; :

“Our next best bet,” Chief Winters decided, “is Minnie. She
may be willing to talk now.” ;

He was right. When Minnie was told that her former em-
ployer was held in jail, she not only was willing to talk, but
poured out the whole dark secret which for years she had kept
locked in her heart.

It was a sordid tale of a defenseless young girl being. ruthlessly
abused and mistreated by a domineering, lustful man old enough
to be her father. ;

nd

2» GIN

_” They were convinced

After hiring her as a milkmaid, Fricker had compelled her to

- work fourteen hours or more a day, milking cows, doing house-

work and farm chores. Then at night, when her toil was done,
he had forced his unwanted attentions on her.

“T tried to fight him off,” she said, sobbing softly, “but it was
no use. He was too strong for me. He would say, ‘What I want
I always get.- I want you, and I’m going to have you.’ And in
the end he always had his way. He has made me a prisoner
for years.”

“What did his wife say about all this?” Sheriff Deimling asked.

“Mrs. Fricker,” explained Minnie, “was afraid to say any-
thing. She could hear me fighting with him in his room, but
she never interfered. She was terribly afraid of him and always
let hinr have his way in everything—even that!” :

“Going back to your marriage with Bob Kehrli,” said Chief
Winters, “what did Fricker do then?”

“Te went insane with jealousy,” she replied. “T never saw a
man so furious. He kept screaming, ‘You belong to me and no
other man is going to’ have you.’”

Minnie: now revealed that she had been held virtually a
prisoner in the milk baron’s gloomy old “castle.” Except when
shé eloped with Bob Kehrli, and later married young Nungessor,
she rarely if ever was allowed beyond its confines,

‘In addition, Fricker not only forced her to work long hours
and took advantage of her, but he also withheld her meager

» wages.

“You got nothing to spend money on,” he would tell her, “so
I'll just hold your wages for you, and some day I’ll pay it all to
you in a lump sum.”

“This continued until Minnie estimated he owed her $1,500.
But when she finally left his home after her marriage to Nun-
gessor, and asked him for the money, he denied that he owed her

yeh

ing.
“When John and I went to live in our own home,” she said,
“Fricker sent word that if I’d call at his house he would pay

me the money he owed me.”

She went to his home alone, expecting to collect her wages.
But Fricker, instead of paying her, forced her into his room
and compelled her to resume their illicit relationship.

“He kept me locked. there,” she told the officers, “all that day
and half the night, until John finally came for me. I was
ashamed to tell him what had happened. And,” she added, “I
never did get my money.”

WHEN Minnie had completed her shocking story, the officers
understood why both her young husbands had been murdered.

-Fricker, infuriated with jealousy when Bob Kehrli deprived
him of his mistress, had deliberately planned to kill her bride-
groom. He did it in such a way that it appeared to be suicide
to the coroner’s jury.. Then, when Minnie married Nungessor,
the old man had plotted the death of her second bridegroom—

-and again he had accomplished his purpose.

On their way back to headquarters, the officers pondered over
this fiendish double crime. All the pieces fitted together now,
but the horrible case was far from being closed. It is one thing
to pin a crime on a man, and quite another to prove it. The
police chief and sheriff realized how difficult it was going to be to
prove that Fricker’ was guilty of the slayings.
that Wernli and Landert were merely
his dupes. In some manner, as yet unknown, Fricker must have
forced the pair to do his bidding. But how could they get an
admission from either of them? ps

The officers decided to concentrate on Fricker. In the sheriff’s
office, they took turns questioning him, confronting him with
what evidence they had, going over the same ground again and
again,
“You violated that girl when she was only a child,” they thun-
dered at him. “For years you forced her to yield to you. Then,
when she married the man she loved, you murdered him. You
murdered him because he had the woman you wanted... .”

“You're crazy!” Fricker wrathfully broke in. “You're crazy

-if you think I did such a thing.”

“After you murdered Minnie’s first bridegroom,” the sheriff
went on, “and planted a gun in his hand to make it seem a
suicide, you again had the girl to yourself. Again you made
her submit to you. This went on until she married a second
time. When she left you to live with Nungessor, you ordered his
death—and your orders were obeyed.” (Continued on page 46)

IF SO, WHY DIDN'T SHE SHARE HER KNOWLEDGE WITH THE LAW’

ey

*

/


fe

——

Headline Detective

MINNIE

(Continued from page 33)

The officers stormed and raged at him.

( g
Law!
Fricker stormed and raged back. Always ac-

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46

customed to having his way, intolerant of
any opposition to his will, the tyrannical
milk baron cursed and threatened his ac-
cusers.

His menacing manner and bullying voice,
which had always made others bow to his
will, did not impress the officers of the law,
but they were unable to trap him into any
admission of guilt.

“Pye told you over and over,” he
blustered, “that I don’t know how those
fellows were killed. I don’t know anything
about this, and there’s no use in your asking
me about it.”

‘At last they sent him back to his cell and
tried their luck with Landert.

The dour farm hand leered at them and
sat in stony silence. Unable to pry a word
from him, they were forced to lock him
up again and turn to Wernli.

That hawk-faced young man was almost,
if not quite, as taciturn.

“} don’t know why you're holding me
here,” he said. “I had nothing to do with
that shooting.”

“But you and Landert,” the sheriff pointed
out, “were seen at the spot shortly before
Nungessor was killed. What about that?”

Wernli wagged his head from side to side.
“All I can say to that,” he replied, smiling
wanly at his feeble joke, “is that it must
have been two other fellows.”

They decided, then, to play one against
the other—an old and often successful
police trick. They went back to Landert.

“Well, Jake,” they said, “your pal, Eldo,
has started to sing. He says you’re the one
who killed Nungessor.”

Jake Landert looked at them in his mor-
ose way and mutteréd through tight lips,
“Tf Eldo said that, he lied. He did it.”

Returning to Eldo Wernli, they told him

what Jake had said. The young man’s face
immediately betrayed his inner turmoil

With sweat beading his brow, he blurted
impulsively, “We're both in this thing,
Sheriff. No use beating around the bush.
But Jake’s the guilty one. He and Emil
Fricker. They’re the ones who got me into
this. Damn them both!”

When the two men were brought. face
to face, each began accusing the other. The
officers let them talk, and from the weltel
of words they gleaned enough to piece to-
together what had happened.

soe Fricker had gone to young Wernli
‘with a proposition.

“You're stuck on my daughter,-aren’t you,
Eldo?” he had asked. “All right you can
have her—if you'll kill Nungessor.”’

“Why do you want me to kill Nungessor ?”
was Wernli’s responsc.

“Because,” said Fricker, “he stole the girl
that belonged to me for ten years. She’s
mine, and | want her back. Get rid of that
squirt she married, and I’ll give you m}
daughter.”

Wernli had taken Fricker’s daughter, but
he had refused to kill Nungessor.

“Why don’t you do as you promised ?”
Fricker blazed at him. “You've got your
girl, haven't you? All right. I want mine.
Get rid of that husband of hers so I can
get her back.”

Wernli had protested that he didn’t want
to commit the murder alone. Fricker had
then called in Jake Landert and made this
proposition to him:

“Help Wernli get rid of Minnie’s hus-
band, and I'll. pay you $250.” .

Landert, for all his slow wit, considered
this sum insufficient pay for murder, and
said so.

“You do as I tell you,” Fricker ordered,
“or PH get rid of you!”

Landert agreed to do as he was told, so
Fricker gave him and Wernli three guns,
telling them how to commit the crime.

Following instructions, the two paid as-
sassins had driven to the lonely spot on the
country road and parked their car to await

NEW YORKER KILLS WIFE AND DAUGHTER

FOR NEARLY twelve months ©
46-year-old Joseph Shapiro of
the Bronx, New York City, was
separated from his wife, Rose,
and his two children, Rhoda,

14, and Jules, 12. One hot

day early in July he finally
pa poe home. My: bru :
impatiently past his son an

the colored maid, and, draw-
ing a revolver from his pocket,
forced Mrs. Shapiro and Rose
against the wall... . "You've
been having fun for a year—
both of you! Now it's m

turn!" ... He shot mother an

daughter to death, then fled.
Police caught him later at
Coney Island after he failed
in a suicide attempt. Photo
at left shows detective at
crime scene. The son, Jules, is
at right, and Shapiro himself
is pictured in bed at far right.


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“When he found out I was going to marry
Jahn, he was furious. He threatened to kill
any man I married. I defied him. I married
John.”

Her eyes blazed.

Continuing she said, “I wasn’t married a
week when he sent for me and said he
wanted: to pay me some of my money. When
I went there he gave me some money and
compelled me to do his will again, He kept
me there all day. A month later he sent for
me again. That time he kept me there
from Thursday until Monday. I walked
the six miles home.

“He tried then to get me to leave John.
But I wouldn’t do it. John came for me and
Emil locked me up and wouldn’t let him
into the house. I thought there was a plot
against my husband and warned him. Jt
was because of Fricker’s threats that he
would get me back at any cost, that we de-
cided to move to another county. That’s
where John was working the day he was
killed. He was getting ready to move.”

M@ CERTAIN HE had the motive for the
murder, Deimling now questioned the

‘dairyman about his relations with Minnie,

Fricker, however, was not whipped yet.

“She stayed at our house because she
wanted to,” he said heatedly. “I never held
her against her will. She hates me now
and is determined to ruin me.”

Amid all these startling disclosures, word
now came from the Clinton County Home
for the Aged at Carlyle that Rudolph
Kamuf, a 67-year-old inmate, had informa-
tion of importance for the officers on the
Fricker case.

The man was near death from heart trou-
ble and asthma, and was taken to the Ed-
wardsville courthouse in an ambulance.

“Knowing that I am soon to die,” he said
wearily, “I want to get this off my mind. I
make this statement to clear my conscience.

“I worked for the Frickers almost thirty
years. I knew Robert Kehrli and Minnie.
When Minnie married Kehrli, Fricker went
up in the air. I never saw a man carry on
so. He wanted me to kill Kehrli. I refused
and Emil said he wished he had a rifle be-
cause he would shoot him like a rabbit.

“*That guy sneaked away the girl who

‘| belonged to me for eight years,’ he stormed.

“I argued with him to let the matter drop;
but it was no use. You couldn’t reason
with him. ‘No, sir, I won’t let it drop,’ he
swore. ‘It will be either now or later.
Kehrli’s got to die!’

“One day Bob and I went with Fricker

| to a lonely part of the farm to work. I was

set to work while Fricker took Kehrli into
a neighboring grove to chop wood. Fricker
had several bottles of wine and whiskey
with him and when he came back later in
the day, he said to me in a satisfied tone,
‘Well, I’ve got him dead to rights. He’s
drunk as can be.’

“I said I was going home. He glared at
me and said, ‘Oh, no you won’t. You’re go-
ing to stay right here.’ I was afraid to leave.
Emil went back into the woods. Shortly
afterward I heard a shot. He came back
alone. ‘Well, he’s done for,’ he said, rub-
bing his hands. ‘I have the satisfaction of
knowing he didn’t get ahead of me.’

“The next morning he took me into the
woods, Kehrli lay dead. A .38-caliber gun
was about a foot from his head. ‘I told you,’
Fricker said, ‘that I could shoot him down
like a rabbit.’ The bullet wound was in his
right temple. t

“They found Bob a day or so later. I didn’t
say anything. Emil promised me a home
for life.”

Sheriff Deimling read Kamuf’s statement
to Minnie. Tears came into her eyes as she
said slowly, “Yes, I was suspicious at the
time because I never could make out why
he should kill himself. We were so happy.
But I was afraid to open my mouth, Fricker

was: so pow¢ ful.’

Exactly one week after the Nungessor
slaying—September 22nd, 1924—Fricker,
Landert and Wernli were indicted by the
Madison County Grand Jury for murder,
An additional indictment was voted against
Emil for the Kehrli killing. All. three
pleaded not guilty at arraignment and were
remanded to jail without bail.

Because the State’s star witness, Kamuf,
was near death, Fricker went on trial first
for the Kehrli slaying. Minnie took the
stand against him. It was soon learned
that the dairy baron was in financial diffi-
culties due to the fact that he had mort-
gaged part of his property in his desire to
expand his operations. ©

On November 19th, a Circuit Court jury
at Edwardsville decided that Fricker was
guilty,of murder and sentenced him to pris-
on for life. Five days later Kamuf died.

State’s Attorney Jesse R. Brown agreed
to recommend life terms for Landert and
Wernli on their promise to testify against
Fricker in the Nungessor case, They were
sentenced by Circuit Judge Gilham on De-
cember “Ist to life imprisonment at the
Southern Illinois Penitentiary.

In February, 1925, Fricker went to trial
for plotting Nungessor’s death. © Landert,
Wernli and Nungessor’s widow were the
State’s chief witnesses. The jury agreed as
to the arch-plotter’s guilt, but could not
agree on the punishment.

On April 3rd, however, at Fricker’s sec-
ond trial for the Nungessor killing, the
jury agreed with State’s Attorney Brown
that the accused should hang.

“What have you to say?” Circuit Judge
Louis Bernreuter asked the defendant.

Fricker answered without emotion, “I
was framed.” He said no more. Judge Bern-
reuter ordered the execution for June 26th,
but an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court
postponed it many months. Finally the
high tribunal set the date of the hanging
for April 16th, approximately a year after
the conviction.

M@ FOR SIXTY days before he died, Fricker

was under a twenty-four-hour death
watch. He spent most of his time playing
Pinochle with his guards. Up until the day
before he swung, he confided to Deputy
Sheriff J. E. Flynn, his day guard, that he
would not hang. “I’m going to prison for ten
or twenty years,” he said confidently. At no
time was he close to making a confession.

The death warrant was signed by Chief
Deputy Clerk Simon Kellerman, Jr., be-
cause Circuit Clerk Mellon had scruples
against capital punishment. ;

Finally, Governor Len Small declined to
save Fricker. On his last day on earth the
doomed man lost his nerve and refused to
eat anything but eggnogs. He had one—
every hour. He received a bottle of whiskey
from Sheriff Deimling to bolster his cour-
age. Although he had scorned religion
most of his life, he was finally persuaded
by his mother, his one friend in his hour
of need, to re-embrace the Catholic faith.

As the condemned man was being es-
corted to the scaffold that cloudy April
morning by Sheriff Deimling and Illinois’
hangman, Phil Hanna, he turned to Chief
of Police Winters with a faint smile and
said, “No hard feelings, Tony; if you hadn’t
pinched me, somebody else would have.”

A large crowd, composed mostly of peace
officers from Missouri and southern Illinois,
stood in the jail yard as the once proud
dairy baron plunged through the gallows
trap. Sheriff Deimling sprung the trap
himself. Minnie Nungessor did not watch
the execution of the man who was respon-
sible for the murders of her two husbands.

Landert was a model prisoner at the
penitentiary and soon became a trusty.
However, he was never destined to walk
free again, for he died in prison on May
13th, 1935. Minnie married again shortly
after Fricker’s hanging.

(Cont
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3277

uis gun.
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ticulars,
a keen,
hat and
len re=

The officers followed him in. They
stood in the hall while the dairyman went
upstairs, Winters noted, a bit appre-
hensively, three revolvers strung along
the wall near the door.

It was fully ten minutes before Fricker
came down. He submitted to being
handcuffed. Deimling rejoined the party
outside and they drove away from the
farm,

At a small farmhouse near by, the men
routed Jake Landert out of bed and took
him away. He made no protest.

At Carlyle, Deputy Ragen took leave

Fricker's son-in-law, Eldo Wernli
(above), was friendly with the’ slain
man and had seen him that afternoon

of the party. The others drove on.

“Isn’t this a liquor pinch?” Fricker in-
quired curiously.

Deimling replied, “Liquor nothing.
This is murder. The murder of John
Nungessor.”

Fricker’s manner changed. “Where are
you taking me?” he demanded arro-
gantly.

“To Edwardsville,’ the Madison
County Sheriff told him.

Fricker lapsed into a sullen silence,
He grumbled a bit, too, when he was
locked up on the second tier of the Ed-
wardsville jail.

Deimling realized the next morning ©

that he would have to obtain some evi-
dence on which to hold the three men.
At any moment he expected a lawyer to
dash into his office with a habeas-corpus
writ,

About noon of that day a young man
named Conrad, who lived in the neigh-

borhood of the Fricker farm, called on

Deimling. “

Without ceremony he inquired if the
Sheriff had jailed Fricker and Landert
for the Nungessor slaying. Deimling re-
plied in the affirmative.

“Well,” Conrad went on hurriedly,
“Emil Fricker asked me repeatedly to
drive Landert to Nungessor’s new place,
He said Jake was going to give John
a good beating.”

“Did you do it?” asked the Sheriff,

“I did not. I felt I would gain nothing
by it. Besides, I was afraid and sus-
picious of Fricker. He had it in for
Nungessor for something or other. I
didn’t want to become involved.”

The Sheriff had a feeling he was on
the right track. He had Landert brought
in,

An hour of intensive grilling failed to
bring an admission from the middle-
aged hired man. He insisted he had
worked in the fields all day. Deimling’s
patience was sorely tried. “Jake,” he:
shapped, “let’s cut out all this nonsense.
You know something -and I know you
know something. Didn’t your boss. tell
you to beat up John Nungessor?”

Landert answered in the negative.

“But you did ride around with Eldo
Wernli in his car yesterday, didn’t you?”

Jake Landert (above), hired man on the
farm, hinted of an earlier plot which
involved the use of dynamite but failed

“No, sir.” The suspect was visibly
nervous. “I never saw Eldo all day. Did
he say I was with him?”

The Sheriff pressed his advantage,
“Yes,” he lied, “and you were seen with
Wernli driving along the road where J ohn
was shot.”

Landert paled. His. hands shook as
Chief Deputy Sheriff Tom Dooner handed
him a glass of water.

“I did it,” he said suddenly, bitterly.
“I killed John Nungessor. But I had to
do it or Fricker-would have killed me,
I’m glad it’s out.”

He now became as eager to talk as
he had been to remain silent a few min-
utes before. According to his story, he
had worked for the dairyman on and
off for fifteen years. In J anuary, Fricker
began to hint to him and Wernli that he
wanted them to kill Nungessor. Wernli
was going with Fricker’s daughter at the
time. Fricker gave them liquor freely
and made dire threats regarding what
would happen to them if they didn’t do
as he said. Landert was to be the trig-
ger man, while Wernli was to sit at the
wheel,

“I was scared stiff and ran away,” the
prisoner continued. “Finally, in July
of the following year, Emil persuaded
me to return. He said he’d pay me what
he owed me.”

But Fricker’s promises didn’t mean
much, Landert ruefully admitted. All
he had on his mind was getting rid of
Nungessor. He kept giving his hired
man cheap liquor and said there was
$250 for him if he would help kill John
Nungessor. ‘

Jake had the courage to ask his boss
why he didn’t do the job himself, “Some
nosy people think I killed Bob Kehrli,”
Fricker replied, according to Landert,
“so it wouldn’t look good for me to be
near when the job is pulled. Nobody’ll
connect you with the murder.”

On September 10th of that year, 1924,
Landert went on, Fricker told him and
Wernli that he thought it would bea good
idea to get Nungessor drunk and throw
him into a near-by pond. ‘“Everybody’ll
think it was an accident,” he said with
a laugh. Wernli’s job was to tell Nun-
gessor they were (Continued on page 109)

Robert Kehrli (above), the first bride-

groom whose life ended too soon. Foul
play was exposed after the second crime


—_— ey.
bree @
' 4
i . P iamas , he ¢ 3
ut to wind- START NOW TOWARD A FUTURE IN i 4
In it she REFRICERATION Gad a |
gg, a (Continued his hired man and his son-in-law, AIR CONDI V1 TONING A i
Paci mite for fish. Eldo was friendly with John. “A frameup,” Fricker said shortly. “J’ye A : * rp af 4
pine Bog 9s .  Wernli reported to his father-in-law that had trouble with Eldo. He’s no good— ing’ ofp anand Als Con ree snag : P|
a with her : he tried to get John to go with them, but _ shiftless and lazy. I didn’t want him to tries of America, Suchindustries { pe |
ered, “You he was suspicious and refused, marry my daughter. Jake and I had dif- need men who know. Many men () 4 4
a erything Fricker blew up. “You numskulls,” he ferences over Some money due him, I re- | servicing and installing equip- ; ag
raged, “if you value your hides you’ll do fused to pay him when he was drunk, I | ment are making large incomes, ey
the alarm the job soon and do it right. Monday, Sep- never had any trouble with John Nungessor. Spare Time Training
aer Carroll tember 15th, is the deadline. Remember I hardly knew the man.” If mechanically inclined, get the train- |
urder that that. I’m sick and tired of your excuses.” “Did Wernli have & grudge against Nun- | ing you need to srvicing ee eerience Rush Cou
a inaih The three conspirators made their plans _ gessor?” the Sheriff asked, and Ai pond servicing Refrigeration hye
cty minutes ; “ : and Air Conditioning in Stores, offices and hom,
; our belief on Saturday, On Sunday afternoon Fricker Yes, he stole some Pigeons from a farm- Then you should h have ne difficulty Fonds penrcedyn these |
make good met them in his field and gave Jake a 32 er and got nabbed. I helped him beat the |. freat in quired; voamay nai pryie wets flow.
the road to — a, ‘er yh Wernli a .25 Colt nag He nets Nungessor ms snitched Pr actical Intere ting Tr ene
aes ; and a 32 revolver, ree weapons were on im and was itter against im,” ;
Baring loaded and all three were to be used so that “Did you Own the guns?” : ‘factical sb weenie Training
ly eloped a it would appear three men had done the Roe Owned a .32 Colt. J lent it to Landert equi eetUdy instruction followed by practice wee ene
he had her killing, Landert was instructed by Fricker in August in return for a shotgun,” equipment under watchful eyes of poet Rettig.
: to lie down in the car while Wernli drove, Deimling sent Deputies Dooner and Tay- get top nd Air Conditioning men inour shops, oa ‘
e met him Pea y get top-rate instructions .., the éasy way,
fe took her so that no Suspicion would fall on one man lor ‘to the place where Landert had told of So GET THE FACTS NOW. ie
ferson, in- when three were being sought, hiding the guns, Sure enough, they were | obligation. Write Today—SURE] i
: “We drove in Wernli’s Ford coupé,” the there. N Ory ani |
: them, but prisoner continued. “We hid in a cornfield Then another man, named Reinhardt, Nt
1asquerade and waited. After a while Nungessor came came forward to tell the Sheriff of Fricker’s S
the guests down the road. Wernli stepped out into the attempt to get him to drive a car so that uTuinies Enaincenina 1 J Sema wes
ee Toad to hail him. Then he shot him once. Landert might kill Nungessor, The in- Please song soe Aves CHICAS TS TUTE, tone
i Bramlett Tran out and we emptied the three guns in- formant was a former suitor of the dairy Hetriseran Cpadiionlng and ht Phot: ans j i
hae been to Nungessor’s body,” baron’s daughter,’ who had been employed - nditioning mene ne met H ied
by Fricker. He was now driving a milk ms td
: arraigned @ RETURNING TO the Fricker farm they route and said he had been forced to change H
: change fed the stock and went to the dairy his route because of Fricker’s threats and H
L a ive the baron’s house. Fricker inquired eagerly, efforts to get him to do the murderous work, H : j
ar cae “How’s everything?” He had kept silent because he feared the ia
ie te on Wernli laughed and replied, “Okay. It’s dairyman’s vengeance, Write for infor. {
a done.” Deimling wondered why Fricker wanted mation on what {
eu. Fricker was gratified. “You fellows are Nungessor killed. What was his reason for steps an inventor e
nt all right. I misjudged you.” He told them wanting Minnie back? anton a Patek a |
ir with to hide the guns at the near-by farmhouse The only logical way to Solve this puzzle Randolph & Beavers, 537 Co! n Bldg., Washington, D.C. {
a in, she where Landert slept. was to send for Minnie., The comely widow : 1
She Was Before sending Jake back to his cell, willingly came to the courthouse and there
potas her Deimling wanted to know why Fricker was told her story in full to
bg anish= SO eager to get rid of the young farmer, but She had worked for
widen Landert could not enlighten him on this She apparently was a
inlet®: was Point, Morning and evening she
dying love “Now we'll see what Wernli has to Say,” dairy herd—a big task in its
pes a blasnie the Sheriff told his chief deputy, to performing innumerable .
found him But the younger man ‘stoutly maintained COST? Full of fire, ex:
serve fifty his innocence, “] wasn’t near the old Indian @ STRONGLY BUILT, she had done the NATIONAL ZIRCON Co,
" trail,” he insisted vehemently, work of two or three other hands and Pert. 2-F, Wheeling, West Virginia
He became nervous when Deimling or- her example led others to greater effort,
dered Landert brought back, Fricker, so it was said, had come to believe AW "
Presently the two suspects Stood face to that Minnie was responsible for his success,
ace, / Without her he really believed he was Pe DE UN
“I guess we might as well spill the beans,” doomed to failure. cor HOME STUDY courses are world famous; are practical,
Landert said with a crestfallen air. Her marriage to Nungessor—an elope- Bid identincatlon Rig Boe Qty ETNunees ere uaboratorieg
Wernli nodded. “Yoy got us,” he ad- ment—had taken Fricker by surprise, He | jpvestiea “tout per Finwernritte diner Chase oa Qual:
mitted sadly, was far from pleased. In fact, he had felt Photormicroieranhys Cowal "Chemie, Any bet SyenOlORY

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The story he told agreed with Landert’s, cheated—just as if a valuable piece of live- Feet AURELE CRIMINOLOGIST scHoo.
i K

He related how he had been “keeping com- stock had been stolen from him.
pany” with Fricker’s daughter. One day At first Minnie’s pay was eight dollars a
E-nil asked him suddenly if he owned a gun. .month, Gradually it was increased to thirty

» Es
}- P. Wunderling, Prin., P.O. Box 343, Seattle, Wash., U.S.A

swered in the negative, ary, for her needs were small. She looked
Then Fricker made him a startling Prop- up to Fricker as a sort of feudal lord and
osition. “Yoy can have my daughter, if served him loyally,

Goa you help me get rid of John Nungessor.. He Then, suddenly, he had Placed their re-
ZY must die. I want i

Minnie back, and Tl have lations on a more intimate footing. Minnie

ZF her back!” * had no choice in the matter,

ll Eldo told Fricker’s daughter, They -fled “Ernil was jealous of my husband,” she

A the house and were married, Fricker wags confided, “because he liked me better than -
SO angry that he refused to allow them to his wife.” ‘

a cr'-s his threshold for more than a year, , “Was he in love with you?” Deimling Is Your Rup ture

7 T* > he relented. He demanded once more, questioned,

oe how :ver, : that the youth slay Nungessor, .' “Love?” she retorted scornfully, “Emil =

iy ou got your woman and I want mine,” Fricker loved no one but himself, I was

(ea = he s ‘id, just a piece of Property. You can’t call that Why base | 2 aye with

; i W rnli stated that he was finally won over love,” ; help you? Rett ca wecan

a 8 U to the commission of the crime through “How did his wife and daughter like his ER or it costs you nothing,

Sibi ferr of his father-in-law, ‘ associating with you?” the Sheriff asked, nd for the facts about m

“Weren’t you and John Nungessor on “We always got on well together. They Bho Brooks Ante dnvention—

_ good terms?” Sheriff Deimling inquired. would hear me trying to keep him away. | al Suton are Botes Rap

| lain we were good eww: but it was They knew it wasn’t my fault, I wasn’t to lently with Nature to givosenecton Thousands bought by
John’s life or mine. If adn’t helped kill blame. : :
him Fricker would have killed me.” “Nobody ever fought him but me. His | Senton ar rt Made; tormeasare, individual oe or

man, woman or child, Low-priced, sanitary, durable, No

obnoxious springs or hard pada; no metal indie to rust. Light

welght, nent and comfortable, Not wold through stores or

&aygonts—boware of imitations, Write today for fall informa. ,
on sent free in plain sealed envelope,

BROOKS APPLIANCE CO3i:2se%.

ht in. The dairyman thing. They feared him like Satan, I fought
lis‘ened without any visible emotion asthe him, J would resist until he would compel
Sheriff related in detail the Confessions of me at a point of a gun to obey,

“ Returning the two to their cells, Deim- relatives all gave him his way in every-
a: had Fricker broug i

“a


Attorney Brown (above) points to the
spot where the body of John Nungessor
was found well hidden by the tall weeds

arrangements for her husband, Sheriff
Deimling, energetic and fearless, took
over the investigation. To reporters at
the time he said it was the most brutal
slaying of his long police experience.

The first thing the Sheriff did was
scout for a motive for the killing. No
outsider stood to profit by Nungessor’s
death, he soon learned. Jealousy hardly
figured, either, he reasoned, for those
who knew the Nungessors said Minnie
had no sweetheart who might have
wanted John out of the way. Revenge?
Apparently Nungessor had never been
involved in scandal or wrongdoing of
any sort.

His relatives in Highland. were eager
to help along the investigation. A
brother of the slain man mentioned a
difficulty Minnie had had with Emil
Fricker, her former employer, over back
payments due her for her services.

Fricker had owed her $1,500, according
to Minnie. When he refused to pay it,
she had sued him and won a court judg-
ment. He had arranged to pay the money,
but had declined to turn it over in a lump
sum. He had said he would pay a
monthly sum if Mrs. Nungessor would
come and get it. According to the family,
the first payment had been made, but
when Minnie went for the second pay-
ment she-had not returned and her hus-
band and his sister had found her ap-
parently held against her will in th
Fricker home. ;

“I don’t like this,” John later told his
folks.

The dead man’s grief-stricken mother
sent the Sheriff off on another angle.
“John’s life had been threatened,” the
woman insisted. “That’s why he planned
to move to another farm.”

Pressed for more particulars, she men-
tioned an occasion when her son had
refused to help dynamite fish in a pond

‘on a neighboring farm. “He was uneasy

and said he was afraid something would
happen to him after that,” she remarked.
“Who were the men who asked your
son to help them dynamite fish?” Deim-
ling wanted to know.
“Jake Landert and Eldo Wernli.”
Landert was Emil Fricker’s hired man.

Wernli was Fricker’s son-in-law and
worked as a shoe repairer in Highland.

The murdered man’s brother gave the
Sheriff another bit of information. He
had been working on the road, shortly
before John was killed, when he saw
Eldo Wernli drive by in a Ford coupé.
John had come along later in his wagon
—unknowingly going to his death.

Deimling was unsuccessful in picking
up more clues. Perhaps questioning of
Wernli, Fricker and Landert would lead
to something.

With Chief Winters and Deputy Paul

uu

Se

Deimling called on Sheriff William Ragen
who was a bit dubious about seizing the
dairyman. “Fricker’s a power in this
community,” he pointed out. “He’s got
ane of the best dairy farms in southern
Illinois. However, my son Joe will go
with you. I think you'll be able to handle
Emil.”

Joseph Ragen, deputy under his
father, who later became Warden of the
State Penitentiary at Joliet, got into the
car with the Madison County officials.

They drove up in front of Fricker’s
house. No one was visible. Deimling de-

Farmhouse (above) where Minnie Nungessor performed duties as dairymaid in the
employ of Emil Fricker, and where her chance for happiness was twice destroyed

Taylor, the Sheriff went to ‘Wernli’s
home.

“What do you want of me?” the shoe
repairer asked.

“J want to talk to you about the killing
of John Nungessor,” Deimling told him.

“T’ve got nothing to say,” Wernli re-
turned.

Deimling did not press him further.
He was taken to Edwardsville and lodged
in the county jail.

“What's our next move?” Deputy Tay-
lor queried.

“We're going to pick up Fricker,” the
Sheriff replied.

At Carlyle, the seat of Clinton County,

cided to proceed with caution. While he
went to the back to do a bit of recon-
noitering, the others stepped on the
porch. Winters knocked on the door.

A tall, stooped man soon appeared,
calmly smoking a pipe. “Hello, Tony!”
he exclaimed. “Bringing visitors?”

The Chief had his hand on his gun,
“No, Emil,” he answered tersely. ‘You're
under arrest. You’ll have to come along
with us.”

Fricker asked no further particulars,
but favored the officers with a keen,
searching glance. “I’ll get my hat and
coat,” he said shortly and then re-
entered the farmhouse. :

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