Iowa Old Press

Maquoketa Excelsior
Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa
July 21, 1896

THE KEIL MURDER!
The Preliminary Examination
Large Crowd at Bellevue—All Saloons Closed—The Mob Makes a Demonstration—Prisoner is Removed to Anamosa

Friday will long be remembered in Bellevue as the day when a few words from a resolute leader would have caused the death of some of its citizens and probably resulted in the lynching of Chris Eckerlebe for the diabolical murder of Mina Keil. Fortunately, that leader was not in the crowd and the law was allowed to take its course without incident, save for one exception.

Never in the history of Jackson County, the state, was a more foul murder committed and while it was at first shrouded in mystery, the officers are now in the possession of evidence which apparently weaves a hempen noose about the neck of Chris Eckerlebe, evidence which can scarcely be successfully controverted by his attorneys. The motive for the commission of so dastardly a crime is now the great mystery, although the victim’s contempt for the prisoner, her failure to requite his love, and the development of an insane jealousy which culminated in her slaughter, constitute the generally accepted one.

The town of Bellevue was crowded Friday, the country people having abandoned their pursuits for the day to hear the evidence which would be offered at the preliminary examination of the accused. Many came from Sabula, LaMotte, Dubuque, Preston and there were present at least forty from this city. All the saloons were closed early in the day, by order of Mayor Bittner, and a posse of about twenty-five special deputies was sworn in as a safeguard against any violence and as a result of these precautions the crowd was held well in hand. Sheriff Mitchell took the prisoner in from Andrew early in the day, and from the time he arrived until he left in the evening Eckerlebe never left Justice Campbell’s office.

The hearing was held before Justice J. C. Campbell, the state being represented by County Attorney Keck and D. A. Wynkoop and Longville and McCarthy of Dubuque looking after the prisoner’s interests. The defense demanded the exclusion of all but those interested in the case and the members of the press, much to the disgust of the crowd, and at 1 o’clock the examination of the witnesses began.

The first two witnesses were the little brothers of Eckerlebe by whom it was shown that he possessef a self-cocking nickel plated revolver and that he had left home on the morning of the Fourth at 9 o’clock with the avowed intention of going to Bellevue to attend the dance at Harmony Park.

Sophia Keil, mother of Mina, told of the relative position of the Eckerlebe homes, of a mysterious man seen dodging in the trees near her house, of Eckerlebe striking at her daughter for refusing to dance with him at Hamarand’s in May, of Mina finding the poison on the gate, of Mina’s complaint that Eckerlebe had insulted her, etc.

Henry Keil, brother of the deceased, told of her failure to come to the party at Guenther’s and the dance at Hoff’s on the afternoon of the Fourth, of the search for her on the 5th, the finding of the body, of the finding of the flint rock (identified the stone) and the removal of the body.

Wm. Hennegar, deputy sheriff told of finding the several parts of the revolver, box of cartridges and the box of salve (which proves to be rat poison) in accordance with the directions furnished by a certain communication received. (Identified revolver)

At 5:30 o’clock the case was adjourned to Wednesday and the prisoner was hustled back to Andrew. The prisoner sat smiling all the afternoon, save when a mob of three or four hundred insisted on gaining an entrance to the court room about 3 o’clock. Somebody yelled “Hang him!” and but for the presence of the deputies and a nervy address by Justice Campbell, the trick would have been attempted, undoubtedly. He merely looked out of the window and resumed his seat with a smile. When the pistol was produced for identification by Hennegar, Eckerlebe flinched and his attornies turned pale. The communication alluded to by the last witness is but one of several written by the tramp Murphy, who carved a fellow tramp with a razor at Bellevue early in the Spring. He is also an inmate of the steel cage in the Andrew jail and pumped the whole story out of Eckerlebe. He would write what he learned on pieces of common wrapping paper and smuggle it to the jailer wrapped up in a dirty “sheet,” etc. and there is enough of it to show that the murder of Catherine Ging, Pearl Bryan and the Sa Francisco girls were refined affairs in comparison.

It was the intention of the people who live in the vicinity of the scene of the murder to take Eckerlebe Friday to that place and hang him. Failing in this, some thirty or more assembled at the county jail about one o’clock Saturday morning, but again they lacked a leader and Jailer Tubbs retained his prisoner. That day, however, he received reliable information that the jail would be visited by a determined mob Saturday night, so he brought the prisoner to town in the afternoon and Deputy Sheriff Gurius and Fred Fischer conveyed him to the Anamosa Penitentiary that evening. Should he be taken back to Bellevue tomorrow trouble should surely ensue. It is believed now that he will waive further examination.

Eckerlebe told Murphy that he intended to commit suicide after killing the girl, but he hammered her head with the revolver until it was utterly destroyed for shooting purposes the more is the pity. He is a conundrum. When the girl’s body was found he helped load it into the wagon and drove the team that drew it home., her feet lying between his. At the trial he was the calmest person in the room. He has either a wonderful nerve or else a total lack of realization of the terrible crime of which he is accused.

Much sympathy is felt for the prisoner’s father and the dead girl’s mother. Both broke down and wepy piteously in the courtroom. The father is an honest, hardworking, respected farmer, who says that his boy has ever been an industrious, dutiful son and he feels it is his duty to defend him; that if he is guilty he should be punished. The poor old man is almost heart broken.

Later-This morning’s mail brought to County Attorney Keck notice from Eckerlebe’s attorneys that they had cocluded to waive further examination of evidence and that one of them will appear in Justice Campbell’s court tomorrow morning to enter a formal waiver. Therefore the prisoner will not be seen again in Bellevue before his trial occurs, and in all probability he will never be seen there again.

[transcribed by K.W., August 2009]

-----

Maquoketa Excelsior
Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa
July 24, 1896

Fatal Accident At The Circus
Although the visit of a circus is usually accompanied by a chapter of accidents, the one which was here yesterday almost proved an exception to the general rule. We say almost for one particularly sad accident occurred, one which snapped the thread of life for a respected citizen without a moment’s warning.

Mr. Sanford DeMoss, a aged gentlemen whose home is in the Second Ward, walked down to the circus yesterday afternoon in company with three of his grandchildren, and when in the act of stepping across the ditch opposite the entrance to the fairgrounds his feet slipped in the slimy mud and he fell on his back. A few hack drivers saw the affair and ran to his assistance. Thinking he was stunned they placed him in a hack, conveyed him to his home and summoned Dr. Bowen, who pronounced him dead, his neck having been broken by the fall.

Mr. DeMoss was born in Lincoln County, Ohio, 77 years ago. He was married to Sarah Ann Gibbs, Sept. 8, 1839, and to whom were born eight children, of whom seven are living, three daughters and two sons in this city and vicinity, a dauighter in Oklahoma and a son at Manchester, this state. In the early 1850’s Mr. and Mrs. DeMoss came west to Lee County, Illinois, where they resided for seven years, and then they came to Iowa, settling in Brandon Township, this county, where Mrs. DeMoss died in 1890. In 1892, Mr. DeMoss came to Maquoketa, to live and was well liked by his neighbors, all who knew him, his kindly face and genial ways winning him friends wherever he went. The funeral services will be held tomorrow at 1 p.m., in the Emeline Curch, Rev. H. Clark, of the Baptist Church, officiating.

Obituary - Redmond Summers
Mr. Redmond Summers, for many years a resident of Nashville and vicinity, died at the home of Mr. Ezra Dutton, near Iron Hill, this morning. Mr. Summers was an old and highly respected citizen of this county. He was the father of Mrs. Henry Littell of Nashville and Mrs. Ezra Dutton of Iron Hill. About six months ago he went to Iron Hill to visit the latter. Soon afterwards he was taken ill and continued in a precarious condition until the angel of death relieved his sufferings.

GENERAL GEORGE W. JONES
General George W. Jones died at his home in Dubuque Wednesday night. He was Iowa’s first senator, and previous to his election to that position he represented the then Territory of Wisconsin, of which Iowa was a part in the congress of the United States as a territorial delegate. While in Congress in this capacity, he introduced and secured the enactment of a law making Iowa a separate and distinct Territory. He was ninety-two years old.

[Transcribers note: Jones County, Iowa was named after General Jones. Transcribed by K.W., May 2009]

-----

Maquoketa Excelsior
Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa
July 28, 1896

Morphine Poisoning
Drs. J. A. Carson and L. B. Carson were summoned to the home of Arthur Burt, who lives in the First Ward this morning to attend to a case of attempted suicide, accidental poisoning, or something even more serious. Mr. Burt was found in an unconscious state and was evidently suffering the effects of morphine poisoning. The doctors decided that the poison had been taken some time in the night and that the time for using a stomach pump or administering the usual antidote had passed. However, they gave him a strong coffee and an emetic, but as the poison had been so long in his system they had but slight hopes of saving the patient’s life. The evidence goes to show that he had taken about fifty grains of the deadly drug, but whether by accident or design is not known. Mr. Burt is a man about fifty years of age. His wife is a morphine user, so that when Mr. Burt purchased a quantity of the drug yesterday at L. B. Carson & Co.’s store, nothing was thought of the matter, as they were regular customers.

Later- Arthur Burt, the man who took a large dose of morphine Monday night, as reported in the last issue of the Beacon, died about 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. It was evidently a case of suicide. Dr. Miller of Preston, came up at the request of the oldest son of the dead man and made an examination, but decided it was not necessary to hold an inquest.

Rev. Henry Clark conducted the funeral services in front of the residence on Eliza Street, after which the A. W. Drips Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of which deceased was a member, conducted the body to the Esgate Cemetery, and the services with the ritual of their order. Mr. Burt was born in the State of New York in 1845. At the age of seven his parents removed to Jackson County, Iowa. In 1863 he enlisted in Company G, 8th Iowa Cavalry, serving until the close of the war. He was first married in 1868, his wife dying in 1894. In April of this year he married Mrs. Maud Stall, of this city. Deceased leaves six children and a sister-the wife of Peter Bailey of the 4th Ward.

OBITUARY - Anna H. Penrose Reynolds
Anna H. Penrose was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1856, and came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Penrose to Clinton county, Iowa in 1868. She was happily married to Mr. David Reynolds December 25, 1877. In June, 1894, Mrs. Reynolds was taken sick, and although the best medical aid and skill was procured together with the best of care and nursing, the disease baffled all attempts of a cure, so that after more than two years of confinement to her bed, and constant intense suffering, she was released from her frail, mortal body, falling peacefully asleep at 3 a.m., Saturday, July 25, 1896. A devoted and affectionate husband, two sons and two daughters, aged parents, five sisters and three brothers, survive to mourn the loss of a faithful wife, a loving mother and a dutiful daughter. Mrs. Reynolds made a public profession of religion and became a regular member of the Reformed church, November 26, 1895, by rite of baptism and confirmation. The funeral services at the home, Sunday at 2 p.m., were attended by a large concourse of people to pay their tribute of respect to the departed. The remains were interred in the Union cemetery, Rev. D. F. Boomershine, officiating.

[transcribed by K.W., May 2009]

Iowa Old Press Home
Jackson County