Murder of Wessel

WESSEL

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/4/2009 at 07:57:51

Daily Herald, Clinton, Iowa, January 3, 1891

THE TEEDS GROVE MURDER

A thick veil of mystery hangs over the Village of Teeds Grove on account of the cold blooded murder of Mr. C. H. Wessel, an old resident of that place. Coroner Meyers, Attorney J. H. Flint, Deputy Sheriff Adams and Captain of Police Moran went to the scene of the murder last evening for the purpose of taking testimony and working on the case. A coroner’s jury was impaneled and the investigation was begun. An investigation of the dead man showed three bullets in his head, one above the ear and two in the temple, all on the right side of the head. A bruise on the shoulder indicates a heavy blow from some blunt instrument.

A large number of witnesses were examined, but the verdict returned by the jury has not yet been made public on account of circumstantial evidence which the officers wish to follow up. The whole affair has much the same nature of the terrible Nurre murder which occurred a few miles of Teeds Grove less than a year ago. What looks the most suspicious is the fact is the utmost stolidity and indifference to the fate of the old man is expressed by those most closely interested.

The testimony shows that the deceased had spent Wednesday evening in a saloon and started for home about midnight. Soon after that hour his son, August Wessel, and wife, heard pistol shot near their house, but thought it was somebody celebrating the new year. The murder was not discovered until between 6 and 7 o’clock the next morning when the victim was found lying beside the road. He was supposed to be drunk and was taken inton a house. The wounds were supposed to have been made by falling against the hedge, and not until a doctor arrived and made examination was it discovered that the old man had been shot and was dying. He expired shortly after, without gaining consciousness. The theory that seems most probable is that while walking home he was met by his enemy who struck him on his shoulder with a club, knocking him down, after which the assassin held his revolver to his victim’s head and fired three bullets into it, making his work sure. The weapon used was a 32 caliber revolver, and was held so close to its mark that the skin was burned.

Another strange fact is that while the men at the saloon were firing off guns, there is no knowledge that any of them had a revolver. Several of the officers are yet at Teeds Grove, and some startling developments may be made soon.