Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-06-15
WILMINGTON, TUESDAY. JUNE Is. 1869.
Tragedy in Idaho.

From the Boise City tIlalol Democrat, May 2i
On Saturday afternoon John Konopeck, a
general house servant and hand at Theodore
Burmester's place, six miles below town,
returned from the field TO the house to do
his general word. Mrs. Burmester aud her
child, two years old, were at home. Kono-
peck told Mrs. d. that he had cut his finger,
and desired TO have il tied up. Mrs. b.
went to the bureau in her bedroom TO pro.
cure some linen to lie up the cut finger
While she was in a STOPPING position, IN the
act OF getting 1t from one Of the lower
drawer of the bureau, the wretch, who had
followed her, SAID something to her, and
immediatsly sprang upon her with the fero.
city OF wild beast, and beat her violently.
She being pure and noble woman, whose
virtue was dearer to her than her lile resist
ed with heroic and Spartan courage, until
the inhuman wretch being convinced he
could not accomplish his hellish design with.
out killing her, left the room and went up
stars. AS soon as he left, she, although
terribly beaten and almost exhausted, with
great presence OF mind, closed and fastener
the door, and took down double.barrellel
shotgun that WAS hanging on rack in the
room, and prepared to defend her honor and
kill the wretch, should he again appear. In
short time he returned from up stairs, and
finding the door fastened, fired two shots
from revolver through the door at her.
He then appeared at the front window, and
Immediately Mrs. BleVelled the gun at him,
and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not
go oil. Her cowardly assalent then fired
three shots through the window at her. one
OF which struck her in the right side just
above the hip joint, entering and lodging in
the abdominal cavity, producing painful
and dangerous wound. Mrs B. lell on the
Of ,,,t.,
dead. Upon seeing this he returned to the
house, and set fire to it.
Alter setting fire to the house, it appears
this incarnate devil did the only thing left
for him to do-shot himselfa as Mrs. B. heard
two shots about this time, and a heavy fall
on the floor of the kitchen or rear room.
Mrs, B. fortunately had strength enough 10
open the door and crawl out OF the burning
house. II seems that Konopeck had placed
| the child on the top of some brush In a
wagon near the house. The flames borne
that way by the wind would, in few mo.
ments more, have set fire to the wagon, and
the child would have perished, but for the
timely arrival OF Mr.. Bevans, who had hast.
ened from the field on seeing the flames
MI Beyans Immediately started to draw the
wagon away and save the child, and while
doing this the fiend, Konopeck, who had by
this time got out on the back porch, firet
two shots at him, but fortunately did not hi
him.
MIR. Bevans, as soon as he had rescued
little Willie, rushed to the front door of the
house 10 seek for Mis-. B., and, as he wal
driven back by the fire, lie discovered he
lying in the road just out of the reach of tn,
flames By this time neighbors had arrived
and Mrs. Burmester was carried to MIR
Bixby 5 and a messenger despatched to tow
ior medical aid. Within ten minutes from
tue discovery Of the flames, the house ant
all its contents were entirely consumed, ani
what was once pleasant, happy and hos
pilable home, was now, by the murderer ant
suicides torch, mad masI of smoudering
uusightly ruins. Konopeck seems to hav
made no effort TO escape from the building
and his charred remains were aiterward
discovered in the Outhouse.
When news OF the affair reached tow
| every conveyance that could be got was In
medintely brought into rennisitinn To COZ
vry pnvsleiahs and sympathizlng irieAds
the assistance of Mrs. Burmesler. Mr. Bul
mester was absent on business, but messeI
gers were despatched for him, and by te
O'Clock Saturday night he was beside b
wife. The whole community sympathil
with him deeply, but no human aid coul
save Mrs Burmester's life. She was burie
on Wednesday, the Goth. John KonopeC
was native OF Bohemia, and supposed
be gypsy.