Iowa
Old Press
Boyden Reporter
Boyden, Iowa
Friday, March 3, 1905
A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY
Wm. Vander Wilt, a rich farmer living two miles north of Middleburg, was reading his Bible at the dinner table on Tuesday noon, as was his custom, when he became violently insane, threw the bible at his wife and then jumped up and beat her to death with a chair. The girl who was working for them caught up the baby and with the children ran to the neighbors and the hired man skipped also. After completing his awful job he got on a horse and started away but was captured by the neighbors some six miles away from home.
The Sheriff was notified and Deputy Walraven went at once and arrested him and the Coroner was notified.
It is thought that his insanity was caused by worrying over his wife’s illness—she had consumption. Mrs. Vander Wilt, was a VerHoef, daughter of Mrs. VerHoef here, and all our people are terribly shocked over the horrible tragedy and unite in their sympathies for the mother, and brother and sister.
Mrs. Vander Wilt leaves four little children. Mr. Vander Wilt was 42 years of age and his wife, 35. The eldest child was 13 years of age and the baby one year old.
Alton Democrat (Alton, Iowa)
Saturday, March 4, 1905
WAYSIDE GLEANINGS:
Mrs. Crow of Merrill, died recently of complication of diseases. She was an old resident of Plymouth county.
A Shocking Tragedy.
William Vander Wilt residing two and a half miles northwest of Middleburg went violently insane Tuesday noon and beat out his wife’s brains with chairs—several of which he broke over her head and body. Vander Wilt had shown signs of derangement and religious mania for a few days but no thought of such an outcome was entertained by his relatives or friends. Tuesday he was about his farm work as usual up to noon. At the dinner table he talked as usual with his wife and four children and the hired girl and boy. As usual after dinner was over he called to his little girl and told her to being the good book. The little girl brought him the Bible. He opened it and seemed to be reading. Suddenly he closed the Bible and laid it on the table. Then he threw up his hands and cried: “Peace be unto my soul.” Seizing the Bible he threw it at his wife at the same time calling her a vile name. He then seized a chair and began to strike right and left shouting at the top of his voice. The hired girl grabbed the little girl and ran out and across to a neighbors. The hired boy followed and in doing so saved their lives.
Vander Wilt says he struck his wife with a chair and knocked her down. She begged for mercy but the devil had possession of him and he could not stop. After he beat her to death—her head and face being pounded to jelly—he quietly walked to the barn, got on a horse and started east at a rapid rate. He dashed up to the John Hubers home and to the Arie Bomgaars home—and shouted that he had killed his wife and challenged hearers for a race—and dashed away again like the veritable madman that he was. The neighbors thus being aroused started on his trail and after a chase of two miles captured him. He was a wild sight with burning eyes and face and clothes splashed with mud.
The first thing he said was: “You know what I have done? I killed my wife. You can go see.” The neighbors loaded him into a buggy and took him to Middleburg and phone for the sheriff who was at Rock Valley. Deputy Walraven started at once but met them on the road coming to Orange City with him. He was kept in the cell at the county jail with two men to care for him.
Tuesday evening information was filed by G. A. Vander Wilt charging the deranged man with insanity. The Insanity Commission after examining sixteen witnesses confirmed the charge. Vander Wilt was kept at the jail till Thursday and prayed incessatantly. At times he appeared rational and regretted his deed. He was taken to Cherokee Thursday afternoon. So much for the murderer.
Coroner Huizenga was notified and drove to the scene of the tragedy. He found a terrible sight with broken furniture and pools of blood surrounding the battered corpse. After examining the body and surroundings he saw no necessity of calling a jury. The funeral of the unfortunate woman was held Thursday.
William Vander Wilt was forty-two years old and has been known as a peaceful and good natured hard working farmer. He was the owner of over 400 acres of Sioux county land in Welcome and Capel townships. He resided on his 200 acre farm in Welcome township two and a half miles northeast of Middleburg—which farm is covered with all kinds of stock. He was a great cattle man and shipped all his own stock to Chicago.
His wife was a VerHoef. Her father is dead and her widowed mother lives at Boyden. She was a lady of refinement, beloved by all who knew her. She was a devoted wife and loving mother and a true friend. Her health was somewhat impaired, yet she looked after her household affairs by the assistance of a girl, although she had not been strong for the past year.
Mr. and Mrs. Vander Wilt were held in high esteem by all their neighbors who say they always lived happily and were never known to have any trouble in any way at their home or with their neighbors.
Four children are left to the care of others. The oldest is a boy of fourteen and they youngest, a girl of three. Vander Wilt has a brother Gerrit at Pella and a brother Dick in California. The VerHoefs formerly lived on the Dick Ruisch farm west of Alton.
Sioux County Iowa--
Unknown newspaper source—likely from Sioux Center, Iowa
[The date of this tragedy was February 28, 1905]
TRAGEDY IN SIOUX COUNTY – Dutch Farmer Goes Insane and Kills his Wife.
William Van der Wilt, a well-to-do Sioux County farmer, living four miles east of Sioux Center, who killed his wife while in an insane frenzy Tuesday afternoon, will not be tried for murder, but will be confined in the hospital for insane at Cherokee. The Sioux County insanity commissioners took action on the case Wednesday afternoon. Coroner Huizinga decided an inquest was not necessary. The shocking tragedy occurred on the Van der Wilt farm. After dinner Van der Wilt took down the Bible to read it, a Holland custom. He complained of his religious condition and need of conversion. His wife said: “I would not worry about it." He yelled, "you would not, would you?", threw the book at his wife, started for her with a chair and struck her with it as she was leaving the room. He then beat her head into an unrecognizable mass. After killing his wife the man jumped a horse and escaped, but was caught by neighbors two miles from his home.
The Sioux County Herald, March 8, 1905.
Van der Wilt Dead?
Parties here from Middleburg yesterday told the story that Wm. Van der Wilt was dead at Cherokee, his relatives at Middleburg having received a telephone message yesterday.
Nothing has been heard however by the county authorities except that the insane patient was very ill and there is some doubt as to the truth of the story.
The Alton Democrat, March 11, 1905
WAYSIDE GLEANINGS:
Mrs. Jennie Vander Cook, an old and respected citizen of Cherokee, is dead. Charles Beultner, a prominent resident of LeMars, also died this week after a lingering illness.
[all above transcribed by LZ, Jan 2020]