Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-12-02
An Atr0Ci0us Crime.

Tuesday morning of this week, the LIST
inst. our community was startled with the
terrible report that a cruel murder had
been committed the night previous in the
town of Watertown. A crime Of such an
atroclous character could not fail to arouse
intense excitement in our midst. and
! our officers were at once on the alert to
trace out the cause for the runor. AS
to the truth of the intelligence all curiosi-
ty was soon set at rest when it became
known that John Borchard, residing on
his farm about s miles from this CITY, in
the town OF Watertown, had been found
foully murdered in his own house, about
o clock Monday night. The story con-
nected with his death as told by his fa1ni-
ly is to the effect that Borchard returned
from the city about 7 o'clock in the eve
ming somewhat intoxicated When he ar
rived at his home, he called for his two
step daughters, aged about Is and 20 years,
to unhitch the horses and put them in the
stable, which command the girls proceed
ed to obey, Borchard going into the house
where his wife was alone at the time.
When the girls reached the house, as
they claim, after attending to the team,
they found their stepfather lying on the
floor nearly dead with his head smashed
IN. The mother and daughters laid the
murdered man on a lounge which was in
the room and the girls then started to give
the alarm to some of the neighbors.
hen the neighbors got to the house
Borchard was dead and presented sick
~ and terrible sight. Mrs. Borchard's
account of the transaction was very vague
and unsatisfactory, endeavoring to make
it appear that during the absence of the
girls at the stable some man unknown to
her entered the house and blowing out
the light proceeded to murder her hus-
band.
Doctors Spalding & Eyer, accompanied
by the proper officers, visited the scene of
the body Of the murdered man. Three
or four deep wounds were found on the
back of the head, another deep cut over
the right temple and the bridge Of the
nose was broken. Ali the wounds appear
ed to have been inflicted by blunt in
strument Of some kind. A hammer was
found on the premises with blood uponit
which it was not thought improbable
might have done part Of the bloody work.
The following Coroner's Jury was empan-
elled on the case: J Malloy, A. Tanck, NJ.
j. Gallagher, G. Werlich, c. Mayer aud r.
Koenig.
The wife and daughters were placed IN.
der arrest by Deputy Sheriff Giles TO an
swer the charge Of murder and an examina-
ton of the prisoners was commenced before
Justice Ducasse o'clock Tuesday after
ternoon. AS we 60 10 press the examina-
ton still continues, and is not likely to
close before this "wednesday evening. The
testimony of the mother end daughters is
somewhat conflicting thus far, but nothing
positive has 1een produced against the pris-
oners as yet.
The entire community is awaiting the re-
suit of the examination with considerable
anxiety. That horrid murder has been
committed admits OF no doubt, and for the
welfare of society it is hoped that the guilty
ones will be discovered and punished as
they deserve.
Choice New York and Michigan
Apples by the Br. or in any quantity de-
sired for sale by BROOK i co.