Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-04-25
The Murder Of a Whole Family.

A correspondent describing the muir
der of whole family in st. Clair Co.,
ILL.,, says:
The house in which the murder took
place is an ordinary one-story frame,
containing two rooms and a kitchen,
with porch in front. The building
stands back about seventy-fve feet
from the main road and is somewhat
isolated, there being no other house
nearer than half a mile-a circumstance
which made it exceedingly safe for
the preparation of the heinous crime.
The scenes which met the gaze of the
Sheriff and his associates on entering
the house almost beggar description.
Stretched out on the floor near the front
door lay the PROSTATE form of Friede-
rich, ir., with his skull mashed to a
jelly and his throat cut from ear to ear,
and on the bed lay his young wife with
her head horribly mangled and her
throat cut also, while in her arms and
closely grasped to her bosom was her
innocent babe, only eight months old,
with an ugly cash in its head little
further removed on the same pallet lay
the other child, killed by a blow on the
left temple, cold and lifeless. In the
adjoining room the body of Friedrich
Stelzenriede, ST., seventy-fve years of
age, was found with his face toward the
door, his head horribly mutilated and
nearly severed from the body.
Everything in the room seemed to be
in perfect order, though it was clearly
apparent that a fierce and violent con-
flict had taken place between the assas-
sin and the victims, as marks of vio-
lence were found on the arms and hands
of Mrs. Stelzenriede, while her husband
had one of his fingers almost cut off.
The children and the old man seemed
to have been butchered with move ease,
since only the heads of the former and
the head and throat of the latter ex-
hibited the marks of the murderous in
struments used.
It appeared from the evidence of the
neighbors and friends of the unfortu.
nate family that bitter feud has ex.
listed for some time past, on account OF
money matters, between the Stelzen-
rieder familya and one Frederick Boeltz,
whose wife is a sister of the murdered
woman. Boeltz, it is said, borrowed
money at different times from the Stel
zenriedes, and gave chattel mortgage
on his property to secure the amount
1t is further stated that for severa
months past he has been exceedingly
embarrassed in his business affairs, and
being pressed by his relatives for the
debt, became quite offended, refused
to speak to them and 9lso forbade his
wife to visit or have any communication
with her sister.
ALI these circumstances having beer
developed during the investigation, the
coroner concluded to send for Boelt2
and let him tell his story to the jury
Boeltz, on being notified, refused to ap
pear, urging want of time as an excuse
but when subpoena was served on hin
by the sheriff and he was brought b,
force to the house, he appeared quit,
agltated and even refused to look at tn
dead bodies before him. On being
questioned in regard to the murder b.
was exceedingly guarded and Caution
in his answers and very artfully avoided
eliminating himself.
The evidence would seem to indicat
that Boeltz had some knowledge of tn
horrible crime, though it is possibl
that when the investigation takes plac
in the court he may be able to clear him
Golf Of anu cI1cpioiCn
At meeting of the Board of Com
missioners of st. Clair county rewar
of 81, ZOO was offered for the arrest an
conviction of the murderers.