Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-02-24
The Borchardt Murder.
Defendants Caroline Borchnrdt and
Wflhelmina Kruger, found guilty
of Nj urder in the first Degree.

| oeen occupying our circuit Court tor tn
past week, being prosecution agans
Caroline Borchardt and Wilhelmina Krue
ger, OF the town of Watertown, for tht
murder Of John Borchardt, the husband oil
Caroline Borchardt and step-father O
Wilhelmina Kruger The facts as claim.
ed by the prosecution are briefly these
"On the evening of the 30th Of November
last, the deceased was at his own house
in the town of Waterfowl, together with
his wife and Lis two step daughters. At
about o'clock that evening the two daugh-
ters went over to one of the neigh bors Mr.
Hauf, and informed him that their father
had just been badly wounded, an request
I'd him to come over there Immediately
Mr.. Hauf testified that be started with them
towards John Borchardts house, and that
on the way the defendant Wilhemina Krue-
ger related to him that while she and her
sister were out at the barn. an unknown
man rushed into the house, put out the
| light, and attacked her father in the room,
aud then ran off into the darkness Mr..
| Hauf further testifes that before be got TO
Borchardt's house with the girls, they met
the defendant Caroline Borchardt, who at
| first informed him that the horses had kick
ed her husband, but finally related that he
had been killed by en- unknown assassin ia
| the manner that Wilhelmina Kruger b ad
| just described. The witness Hauf swears
that at this time he began to feel very I'M
comfortable and terribly scared, so that he
did not dare to enter the house where the
deceased lay, but went off after a neighbour
He returned with another neighbor soon
after but both Of them could not muster
enough courage to 90 in; and it was not
until they got together a brigade of eight
able bodied men that they finally went in.
They then found John Borchardt stretched
dead upon his bed, with a number Of mortal
wounds upon his head. His wife and her
two girls were lying in another bed to-
gether, and IN answer to their inquiries
stated that the deceased had come to his
death as Wilbelmne had related. The
witnesses for the state also testify that
Wilhemine then told them, that Just be-
fore the unfortunate man breathed bis last
he used her that she had probably kill
ed him.
There was considerable blood found upon
the floor of the room where he was MUIR
dered, and some spots on the wall A
search of the premises also brought to light
hammer which was found under shelf,
and some garments of the accused. Upon
the hammer and upon some of the clothes
were certain discolorations or spots. DIR.
Henry Palmer, of GAINESVILLE, testified that
he made careful mcroscropical examina-
tlon of the spots, and gave it as his opinion
that they were human blood. He did not
swear positively that they were human blood
as distinguished from animal blood, as the
difference in the size of the corpusclcs of
those two kinds of blood was very minute
The corpuscles composing the human
blood were of the size OF one thirty five
hundredth part of an inch, and those of the
animal blood the one four thousandth part
of an inch The microscope with which
the doctor made his examination magnifed
six hundred and forty thousand times
DR.. Spalding, of Watertown, the surgeon
who made the post norton examination in
| this ease, swore that the wounds upon the
| head of the deceased were the cause OF his
death. He described the appearance of the
| wounds and stated that they had been made
| by some blunt instrument. These are the
| points relied upon by the prosecution, the
| evidence upon which they seek conviction
being wholly circumstantial.
The defendants entirely deny, as they
have done from the very Outset, that they
/ NtIS III any CUuueCleu VIII GduS-
ing the death of Borchardt. They took the
witness stand aud detailed the circumstances
surrounding his death, and that he was
| killed by an unknown assassin as was stated
by them Immediately after the occurrence
The younger daughter, Johanna Kruger,
who was at home that evening, was called
| by them as witness, and corrobor ated the
| testimony given by the defendants. Sew
eral witnesses were also sworn who testified
| to the previous good character of the accused.
the trial has been a very laborious one,
being more particularly trying Tor the jury,
who have been compelled to stay together
| like so many Samese twins during the
whole week. This is required by the law
in prosecutions for murder, though there
seems to be little reason for it. Under the
present rule the number of decks and cards
| worn out IN such long trial is almost i'm
possible to estimate.
The evidence in the case was closed up
on both sides on Tuesday evening" and the
counsel commenced summing up on We'd
nesdsy morning. Harlow Pease Esq. de-
livered the opening address upon the part
OF the prosecution, and presented the case
of the State IN concise and logical man
ner His argument was model of clear
ness and good reasoning, being confined
strictly to the facts as detailed by the wit
nesses. Charles II. Gardner Esq, opened
on behalf Of the defence, and was followed
by his associate Daniel Hall Esq. They
argued at length to show the innocence of
the accused, and their respective efforts were
characterized by much feeling and eloquence.
The effort of Mr.. Gardner bespoke most
careful preparation, and received universal
commentator. The closing argument for
the State was made by W. H. Rogers Esq =,
this being his maiden speech as prosecuting
attorney of this county. He proved more
than equal to the important responsibility
imposed upon him, and displayed high
degree of ability not only in his summing
up to the jury, but in the previous exami-
nation and preparation OF the case. The
courtroom was filed with an attentive au-
dience during the discussion Of council,
numerous lady visitors being present, who
seemed deeply interested in the proceedings.
At nine clock P. NJ. the jury received
full instructions from the judge on the law.
| His honor charged the Jury that, under the