Joseph Hekle – Died 1896

HEKLE, HOOVER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/2/2021 at 18:49:09

Source: Decorah Republican Apr. 23, 1896 P 3 C 2

Was a Cold Blooded Murder.
Independence, April 17.—The murder of Joseph Hekle, which occured Tuesday night in Newton township, is one of the most cold blooded type. Sylvester Hoover, accused of the crime, is a boy sixteen years old, overgrown, with a frank open countenance and a straight forward way of speaking. Heckle had been married but one month and jealousy was the supposed cause. Hoover had gone to school to Hekle's wife during the winter taking the higher branches and reciting over hours. Hoover admired his teacher who is a very pretty woman. Three nights before the wedding the prospective home of the couple was fired, and two shots were fired into the girls home, passing over her head. Circumstantial evidence is strong against the boy. He has fire arms that carry both the bullets fired a month ago and the recent murder. His home was five miles away from the Hekle house and one of his horses was hard ridden the night before. It is said he had threatened the life of Mrs. Hekle. It is evident that the shot was fired at Mrs. Hekle, as it just grazed her head und hit her husband opposite. The shot was fired through the window of an adjoining room, as Mrs. Hekle was sitting in the door of the room. Hoover denies all knowlege of the crime and claimed that he was at home on the night of the murder. He was admitted to $2,600 bail, but as the feeling is bitter against him he will not return to his home.