Harry Kruse 0890-1917

KRUSE, JONES, TEHAN, BAILEY

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:29

1 May 1917 - The Clinton Advertiser page 1

YOUNG FARMER IS KILLED BY BROTHER
HARRY KRUSE, LIVING NORTH OF LYONS, IS VICTIM
STRUCK ON HEAD BY ROCK
Young Men Quarrel With Fatal Consequences--Sheriff Arrests Charles Kruse
Harry Kruse, son of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Kruse of Spring Valley township, north of Lyons, is dead and his brother, Charles Kruse, is being sought this morning by Sheriff Ramsey as his slayer.

The death of young Kruse was the consequence of a quarrel with his brother, at Bulger's Hollow, near the Kruse farm home Monday afternoon. According to the story of the affair which has reached the authorities, Charles picked up a heavy stone and threw it as his brother, striking him on the head.

Harry, painfully injured was brought to Lyons, and was taken care of by Dr. Martin. The young man was told by the physician to lie down a while before returning home in his buggy. It is said this advice was not followed, the young man spending some time around the city before starting home. When near the Joe Cosman place he collapsed, and was taken into the house. He died shortly after 3 o'clock this morning.

Coroner M. E. Anderson, Sheriff C. L. Ramsey and County Attorney George C. Claussen were notified this morning. The coroner hurried to the scene in his automobile and prepared for an immediate investigation and inquest. The county attorney and sheriff also went up to the farm home, the latter to place the alleged slayer under arrest.

A charge of murder first was sworn out in Justice of the Peace Mathews' court against Charles Kruse.

The remains of the unfortunate young man were conveyed to his parents home today. The funeral arrangements were not announced.

The deceased was born in Spring Valley township on July 28, 1890, and spent his entire life there. He had been working on the farm of late years. Surviving him are his parents, three brothers, Fred, William and Charles, and four sisters, Mrs. Emma Jones, Mrs. Martin Tehan, Mrs. Emma Bailey and Miss Dora Kruse.

Sheriff C. L. Ramsey arrested Chas. Kruse at 11 o'clock this morning, and brought him to the county jail.

When the sheriff reached the Kruse place he found the young man repairing a fence. He told him to get into the automobile. Kruse, apparently, did not know about his brother's death.

The sheriff alluded to some trouble Harry had had in town "Yes," young Kruse said, "And we had it hot and heavy here yesterday". He then told the sheriff that Harry had "struck him with a pitch-fork" and that he had "hit him over the side of the head with a rock."

The sheriff heard that the two brothers had quarreled over a harness. Their father got a new harness some time ago and gave it to Harry, who gave another set of harness he had to Charles. According to the story received by the sheriff Harry wished to use this same old harness during the recent rainy weather, which started the row.

An autopsy is to be held to ascertain the cause of the boy's death.

Coroner M. E. Anderson announces that he will hold an inquest at 5 o'clock this afternoon at the Shadduck undertaking rooms in Lyons.

The coroner called on Charles Kruse at the jail today and informed him of his brother's death. He did not exhibit any signs of emotion. He repeated the story he had told the sheriff that Harry had attacked him with a pitchfork before he threw the rock. A sister of the boys is said to have witnessed the affair.

Dr. Miller and Dr. Martin are conducting the autopsy.

2 May 1917 - The Clinton Advertiser page 10

Dr. H. E. Martin, A. T, Miller, Geo. Hofstetter of this city and Housenveld conducted a post-mortom examination over the body of the late Harry Kruse, who died Tuesday morning after an in jury sustained on Monday when he was struck with a rock thrown by his brother, Charles or Carl, as he is known to some of his friends.

The result of the examination showed that the unfortunate young man's death resulted from the rock which caused a fracture of his skull on the left side of his head. The skull was fractured and the fracture caused a puncture of a blood vessel producing a low leak in it and resulting in the formation of a blood clot on the left side of the brain which caused his death on Tuesday morning after the injury had been sustained on Monday morning.

Tuesday afternoon an inquest was held with the coroner's jury, composed of F. D. Goff, Fred Rohwer and Henry Hart. Drs. Miller and Martin were first on the witness stand and explained the nature of the young man's injury and the cause of his death. Joseph Cosman was next to appear, as it was in Mr. Cosman's house that the young man was taken and where he died. Mr. Cosman testified to seeing the young man going into town on Monday noon to see a doctor and also testified to seeing him come back in the afternoon and very near collapse in front of Mr. Cosman's home. He was taken into the house and a physician summoned and after treatment the young man became apparently himself and desired to go home over night with the request that his injury be kept from his parents. During the night be slept well until about 1:30 when Mr. Cosman was awakened by a noise in the room the young man was sleeping in and upon investigation found that he was merely dreaming and was going through a part of the argument that he had with his brother in the morning of Monday and which resulted in the throwing of the rock. Mr. Cosman quieted him and he slept again. At 9 o'clock in the morning he was found dead. His parents were notified at once and the sheriff and county attorney went out to seek the young man who had thrown the rock. Finding him they returned to this city and placed the young man in jail, where he is now being held. His hearing will come some time today in the justice court.

Dora Kruse, a sister of the young men, and their housekeeper, was on the stand next and testified to the argument the men had had during the day and was a witness to the throwing of the rock.

Charles Kruse, the young man who threw the rock, was examined next and also told the argument which first started in the morning when his brother, Harry, wished to sell a cow belonging to Charles. This Charles would not let him do and the young man argued a short time over the matter. However, later in the morning Harry was going to come to Lyons and was to use a harness belonging to Charles, and it was over the harness that the fatal accident was cause. Both Miss Kruse and her brother, Charles, testified that Harry made the first start of the fight when he picked up a stick to hit his brother, but did not succeed on account of the fact that Charles took the stick away from him. When he picked up the stick for the second time and was going to throw it his brother threw the rock which caused the death of Harry Kruse.

Conrad Kruse, father of both young men, was next on the stand and stated that to his knowledge that the young man had not fought previously, except when he had given a harness to Harry some time ago and latter when Harry bought a new harness he returned the first one to his father, who in turn gave the harness to Charles. This harness was the one in question between the young men Monday.

Mrs. Kruse, mother of the young men, was the last to be examined, and after giving her testimony the coroner's jury concluded that Harry Kruse had met his death as a result of the flat rock about 3 inches in diameter which was thrown at him by his brother, Charles, after they had quarreled in regard to the harness owned by Charles Kruse. In the meantime, Charles Kruse is being held and will be granted a hearing today.

The remains of the deceased young man will be taken to the home of his parents on West Exchange street today and the funeral will be held from there on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock, with burial in Oakland cemetery.

5 May 1917 - The Clinton Advertiser page 6

Funeral services for the late Harry Kruse were held on Friday afternoon from the home on West Exchange street in charge of the Rev. Schlesselman. Burial was made in Oakland cemetery and during the services Misses Shadduck and Kate Lundy sang several hymns.

The pallbearers were Eldred Tucking, Vernon Tucking, Rudolph Asmussen, Charles Burke, Will Schraver and George Creveling.