The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1864-08-10
Star iling Revela tiOns--A ysur
der Concealed Nearly Three
KeArs.

The Laporte (lnd.) Democrat contains
long account OF the arrest oi ~ man named
Steliz in that county. foe a murder c0mmis-
ted in August 1861, nearly three years ago.
The facts In brief sre these.
steliz was building n saw mill lew miles
north of Laporte. and had in hi- employ
man named Won Jesseda. beth being Ger
mans. These men had frequent quarrss
about money. which Won Jesseda alleged
that S,eliz owed him ior work done, and
refused 10 pay. rhe two men during the
warm weather. were ia the habit OF sleeping
in hay nov, Stellx being bachelor. and
his sisier keeping house for him.
On the morning of the 18th of August
the old quarrel was renewed, and the men
go 10 scufiiing IN the NOV, and finally
both fell through the barn floor, Won ,Ies-
seda not being yet dressed. Won j. ran
10 the house his hand bleeding. Steitz fol-
lowed him, and as soon as he came In
reach struck. him n severe blow on the head
with an iron bar which he had picked up,
knocking him down senseless. Being
near the cellar way when he fell, Stfltz
kicked him down into the cellar and fear
ing that his work was not fully accom-
plished, he followed down and pounded
The whole transaction was witnessed by
Mary Steltz, who was aroused from sleep
by the noise at the door. She cndeavored
TO disuade her brother from his purpose,
but he rudely thrust her back into anoth-
er part of the room. After he had beat
en- the body some time, he came on. Of the
cellar leaving the body whore it tell. He
then left the place, and did not return uD-
til the next day. As soon as Mary could
dress herself and get ready, she left the
house, and went TO n house where Jacob
Franzeniwas working, TO whom she was en-
gagged 20 De married. She told him all
that had happened, and that she was
afraid 10 remain there any longer unless
he was there. They agreed TO get mar
ried soon, possibly the next day. The day
after the occurrence they went back 10 the
house and remained there Steltz also re-
turned that day or the next, and tho night
after his return Franzen and Mary
heard him working down in the eel.
lar, and at one time heard dead. heavy
noise like the falliag Of heavy body
which they snppo~ed 20 be made by Stelt.
| throwing the corpse into the grave whicl
he dug for il, During ths time be Wa
occupied at the burial he came up Stair
four or Ave times and drank whisky, IL
order to nerve himself for the work.
The Franzens for a time were sileni
about the msfter on accountof the disgraci
il would bring upon the family. But later
Mary wrote TO sister a Mrs. Brown, if
Germany, stating what had occurred
After time the Browns immigrated q
Indiana. and 81 old partnership quarre
between them and St~ltz Wa renewed
when Brown bsSoming exHperated
threatened - expose the murder. Stella
dared him TO dc -. The frsnzens
hearing what had occurred, thoaght
wAs time 10 unveil the whole matter I
the sufhoriiies, and upon their iEfornaa
lioN Steltz was ARRESTED. On Digging 20
the body IN the cellar oaly small portio
| Of the remains we're found On bein
asked 20 make acleaFa breas. OF the matts
Steltz did 90. stating that be had subs
Qaenily taken UP the BODY and burned
X seems however. that the body -N !
much decompo-ed that he lid Lot get .
Off The murderer vas fally Commits
for trial
1h.s is certainly very curious case, Ar
IA ordinary tines would create - nu<
excitement in community - big bait
dose nov.