The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-19
KILLs HIS OWN CHILD.


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KILLS HIS OWN CHILD.
\ FATHER MURDERS HIS TEN-YEAR OLD CHILD
IN A MOST BRUTAL MANNER-THE TERRIBLE
DETAILS.
The Clarinda Iowa. Democrat contains q
narration OF one of the most brutal exhibit
tions of civilized terocity on record: One OF
the most horrible murders ever done was
perpetrated in Page county, Iowa, on De-
eember 81; indeed the word horrible falls far
short of describing it ia all its enor
nifty and diabOlism. In truth, it scarcely
enters into the comprehension of the human
mind how such terrible deed was commit !
ted, or even that il was committed. We
have not space or time to give the full
particulars, nor do we wish to; the
general details are enough TO give. !
lives German family named Krughe (pro
nOunced Kruga). The family consists of
Krugbe, his wife and five or six children.
They have been living in this county some
three or four years on an eighty acre tract
of land purchased from the B. & NJ Rail-
road Company. They were in reduced cir
cumstances, and lived poorly enough, it is
true, but they would have Jared far bstter
had it not besn for the extreme brutality of
the murderer Krughe. This brute, or devil,
or whatever he Is, treated his family and all
over whom he had any control with ex-
treme cruelty, frequently beating and abu-
sing them ia the most shocking manner.
/ About year since one of his sons was
forced to leave home on account of
his father, who in IA angry fit one
day chopped of one OF the boys fingers
with hoe. By intimidation Krughe in
duced the little fellow to say that his MAIN
| ing was the result of an accident. Prior to
this, and before the family came to this
country, we are told that Mrs. Krughe saws
] her husband
KILLED HIS LIrTLK CHILD,
sged only about three years; but by threats
20 kill his wife and other children if they
ever informed on him he had succeeded in
concealng the crime and in escaping pun
ishment therefor. Last summer be killed enc
of his horses. which had been purchased for
him by subscription on account Ct his alleged
/ destitRtiOn at the time. Krughe's family
lived In constant fear that their lives would
oe taken by their inbuman head, and bore
his abuse with but little complaint. Mrs.
KrGghe worked hard to provide fer her
family, and her only reward from her hus.
band was his abuse. A few DAYS
since Krughe started three of his chill
dren TO school. Among them was g
daughter aged about ten years and six
! months. This ckild, it seems, never had
attended school. Monday evening KrughC
called the child &c him and began to question
2 it. to see what progress il had made, he says
The little thing had not yet learned the
y alphabet. Its parent tried to make it repea
the alphabet, however, but of course i
? could rot. At this Krugbe became enrageC
and sent one of the other children for stick
; with which he began to beat his child mos
f shockingly. dts inability, through terro
: and pain, to even prouunce the name of
: single letter only enraged the monster TIT
@ more, and flying at the child with tn
t ferocity of tiger he tore off itsclothes AM
began savagely beating and kicking II
a Their he caught up q stOve-lid and strucl
: the child dreadful blow. Then he seize
. an iron stove-lifser and with il pounds
! his victim. All the while he warned hi
It wife and children that it they interfere
o with him, or attempted 10 give an alarm
o he would kill them. At length he procure
a stick OF stove-wOod,
q HEAVY KNoTTED CLUB,
and again assaulted the little one, who no
/, llay-crouched, bleeding and broken. under
table. Driving it from thence, after msn
is blows, he pursued it upder tbe'bed, whel
, he struck it eFeatedly with all his strength
is One ofthe blows delivered at this time,
= is believed, crushed the child's tend'
b. skull, just above the eye. making depre
If sion large enough to admit egg. Not y
N sstisting his fefocity, he dragged 1t fro
. under the bed now already dying, TO II
" middle of the room, and stamped it, kicst
ID it, boat it again and again. At last, fro
a exhaustion, he ceased his devilisi VOL
I'd and went to bed. cursing and swesriI
10 most frightful oaths at his little erusht
10 and mangled victim and the 9th
covering, trembling members
no his Family. Fer three long hou
40 had he beaten the little murdered innocs
el and what terrible hours they werefo
I'd aud to its mother and sisters and brother
C, And out of doors tho snow was silently IA
ing, pure and white as the pinions OF al
se gels. and softly beating against the wi
I'd dows, II 1t fair would enter and cev
u with a spotless mantle what was
X black within. AS SOON as she dared, M
Id Krugbe lifced her little dying daughter {
a the bed and bound mp her crushed brow.
few minutes the ehilG died, aud
ID spirit went up through the beautiful suo'
n. flakes, pure as any of them, to far kind
~ Parent than it had ever known on cart
Tuesday morning Krughe, finding that u
child was indeed dead, like tue crave
black-hearted wretch that he is, fastened
Clarinda and placed himself under the pr
lection of the sheriff, who confined him
the calabOose.
prise as his church relations, due-the Las
10 at least-to bis coming from the North
u Ireland.