News: Murder Suicide in West Amana 1888

STRATTNER, CORBET

Posted By: Melissa Mayhew Grandt (email)
Date: 3/26/2014 at 00:07:37

[Transcriber's note: This article was transcribed exactly as it appeared in the original, including any misspellings or grammatical errors. Transcriber is not related to any persons mentioned and article is transcribed purely for genealogical research purposes.]

Williamsburgh Journal, Williamsburgh (Iowa Co), Iowa, 4 May 1888, p3.

A Frightful Tragedy!
Murder and Suicide in Lenox Township!!
Paul Strattner and Daniel Corbet, two industrious Bavarians lived on on a ten acre farm two miles northwest of West Amana. It appears that on Sunday morning they got into an altercation over the sale of the land or some other matters. Corbet shot Strattner, killing him instantly, after which he shot himself.

The Coroner empannelled a jury, after which the following evidence was elicited, which contains all the facts that are known about the affair:--

Albert Kubicek being duly sworn, says that he was at the house of deceased, Paul Strattner, on April 30, 1888, at about half past 5 p.m., and found the said Paul Strattner lying dead in the front yard; lying on his left side, face down, and covered with blood. He then notified the neighbors.

John Schlueter, being duly sworn, says that he was at the house of Paul Strattner April 30, 1888, about 10 p.m. When I came there I found Paul Strattner lying dead on the ground about six feet from the door; and after opening the door I found Daniel Corbet lying dead on the bed which was on the floor, and a single barrel breech loader shot-gun lying on the bed beside him. Both bodies were covered with blood, and there was written on the door on the inside with chalk, the following words, viz: "People have made to be a murderer-God may forgive me, I had no rest; the people would not help me out, I must die. God may forgive me and Paul."

Anton Horsky, says that he corroborates the above testimony.

The following is the verdict of the Coroner's jury:
STATE OF IOWA, IOWA COUNTY, SS.
An Inquisition holden at Lenox township, in Iowa County, State of Iowa, on the first day of May, A.D. 1888, before I.M. Lyon, Coroner of the said county, upon the body of Paul Strattner, there lying dead, by the jurors whose names are hereto subscribed, the said jurors upon their oath do say, that he came to his death by a gun-shot in the left breast, by the hand of Daniel Corbet.

We further certify, that at the same time and place mentioned above, we found the body of Daniel Corbet, dead by gun-shot in right breast, caused by his own hand, after murdering the said Paul Strattner.

J.C. BISHOP, ] JURORS
GUSTAVE MILLER; ]
JACOB SCHNITZLER, JR. ]
Attest: I.M. LYON, Coroner