Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-05-04
Further Particulars of the Murder M
Watert0WB, Wis.
HenrfIessnsss OF the Murdered Mans
Family.
From the watertovn Democrat

In the town of Waterfowl, about 81
miles from this city, parricidal an,
savage murder was committed, which
in heartlessness and brutal atrocity, ex
ceeds any crime ever before known il
Jefferson county, if any reliance can b
placed on the combination of fact
and the train of circumstances tina
lead to the certain conclusion that sucl
an unnatural and revolving deed hal
been done.
Mr.. Charles Schnepf was farmer re
siding in the southwestern portion o.
the town of WATERFOWL, with wife
two sons, and two daughters. On the
morning mentioned above, the father
and the oldest son, Joseph Schnepf,
left their house and went into some
clearings, about eighty rods distant, 10
chop wood. This is the last that has
been seen of ''thesold man." as the boys
speak of him. Near noon one of the
girls called to them, and after a second
call, Joseph came back alone. When
asked by his mother where his father
was, he replied that his father chad
taken sudden notion to go to town to
see about some seed wheat, plaster lime
she expressed establishment that he
should go to town without his coat, the
son assured her that he could borrow a
coat on the way if he wanted one. This
did not seem to excite any apprehen-
sion, as he had been In the habit of oc.
casionally starting off in that negligent
manner, though he usually spoke OF it
before going, and once In while stay
ing away from home all night.
AS soon as dinner was over, that af-
ternoon, Joseph harnessed up the
horses, and with his little brother and
youngest sister "A girl about fourteen
years OF age-wentto the ground where
the two had previously been at work,
and spent two or three hours la col
Letting scattered brush and gathering
decayed wood into a heap. A very
large and high pile was made, consist
ing OF limbs and chunks of timber.
About 4 O'Clock Joseph returned to the
house taking with HIM load OF stove
wood, and also his fathers vest aud
neck-tie, which were left together on a
log or stump near by, Though it rain
ed slightly, he insisted on setting fire
to the brush heap Immediately, as it
would not be SO apt to spread. When
his mother demonstrated, he persisted,
saying his father told him to do so. and
If he did not, there would be a fuss
He kindled so great and hot a fire, and
kept 1t burning SO long, that it attract
ed the attention OF few of the nearest
neighbors, who happened to be up later
than customary, and who now distinct
ly remember to have seen the form of
a man walking around it in the shadowy
aud Pickering light of the blaze, APP
parently attending it and throwing on
more fuel.
Nothing having been seen or heard
of Charles Schnepf, who was well known
during the next four days, and the
members of the family taking no steps
to find out where he was or what had
become of him, his singular disappear
ance and continued absence began to
awaken curiosity and alarm In the vi
entity. The neighboTs made inquiries,
talked the matter over among them
selves and visited his house, but moth
ing could be learned concerning him.
Neither has wife nor his children seem
ed to care much about 1T, while Joseph
far more anxious to dispose
of team and reaper belonging to
his father, than to look for his lost pa
rent, which was something unaccount
ably singular, under the circumstances,
After several consultations among the
neighbors, it was arranged to make a
general and thorough search, and three
days were passed iii examining where
he was. at ali likely to be found, but no
trace of him could be discovered. 1t
was observed that Joseph took particu-
lar care to keep all away from the To-
cality where he and his father had been
at work together suggesting remote,
out of the way and least probable places
for exploration, and went along with
parties very reluctantly. One of the
witnesses who accompanied Joseph,
testified that the son said to him, that
eff the old maa was such q cussed fool
as to go off in the woods and hang him
self, he might stay there and be damned
for ali of him."
After repeated efforts to find the
missing man had failed, the strange
and visible want of interest and solici.
tude displayed by the family began to
arouse In the minds of the heighboTs
of suspicious of foul play, and it was
whispered around that all was not right
there must be something wrong-and
they determined TO inspect the ground
where the elder Schnepf was last known
to have been, though the son insisted
it was of no use. This was according
ly done. A huge pile of ashes was the
first object that attracted notice, and
on one side of it, as the party APP
preached, was found bone, which had
all the appearance of being human
1t was closely serutinized, and those
present resolved to leave everything
Just as it was, while two of their num-
Der should hasten to the city and pro-
cure the assistance of officers. This
was on Wednesday the 10th inst, one
week after the bloody event occurred.
Sheriff Giles, Marshal Off and DIR. w.
@. Spalding Immediately started for the
scene of the supposed murder. They
arrived at the spot and found the ash
heap undisturbed. The examination
was commenced, and soon the ashes
were ascertained to be full of burnt
and charred pieces of bone, which were
Enthusiastically human, and believed to
be those of the elder Schnepf, and il
so, the whole mystery was revealed. Al
one end of the ash bed were found
portions of the skull and part of the
lower jaw, with one tooth still in. and
ten or twelve teeth lying around loose
further on, near the middle of the pile,
were picked up fragments of the back.
bone and ribs, several buttons and
buckles, evidently belonging to the