River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-03-02


tired to the yard. The innkeeper's at.
tention was called away, and he did not
observe their movements. They d,sap-
peared, and he presumed they bad
quilted The inn. A very imperfect des-
cription Of these men could be obtained.
They were both clean shaved and wore
SLOUGH hats. That was about all the in.
formation that could be secured respect
ing them. The theory Of the murder was
that one man had entered by the parlor
window on the right side of the main en-
trance, and that the other had entered a
moment or two afterward by the window
of the study. Probably the latter win.
dow was open, and Immediately as the
first man entered the study from the hall
way, the other sprang in at the study
window. Then, as Mr.. Askern faced the
first man, he was assailed and probably
clutched from behind by the other. The
revolver which Mr.. Askern had doubt.
less grasped as the trstm entered, had
been wrenched from his hand, for his
fingers were torn and bloody. The
victim had then been probably garroted,
and in the struggle he had clutched at
he had been overpowered, thrown down,
and dispatched with knife. No weapon
was found in the room. A small clock
which stood on the bureau was upset, and
the hands pointed to ten minutes past
twelye-the hour which the murder had
been doubtlesssly perpetrated. This cir.
emstances, so trivial in itself. turned
out to be Of singular importance. The
murderers, evidently quilted the premi-
ses by the front garden, for their foot.
steps were discernble close TO the iron
ratings, and on the white stonework
which supported them there was the
mark of bloody left hand, the fingers,
thumb and ball Of the hand being very
distinctly marked. As the inurderers
had evidently wiped their hands on the
curtains before quitting the room, it Was
believed that one Of them had wounded
his left hand when in tho act Of cutting
the throat Of his victim, and hence the
bloody imprint on the stone.
Measures we're taken with all speed to
track the perpetrators Of the dreadful
crime, but IL was some time before any
clew could be obtained. As to the mo.
tive Of the crime, nothing could be ar
ri-ed at. Robbery had been committed
ia conjunction with the crime, but it was
not known that Mr.. Askern kept any
money or valuables in his study.
1t was found that Mr.. Askern had an
insurance on his life, in favor of his wife,
for Gl0,000, and in connection with that,
important Information il was procured.
Tho insurance agent stated that about a
week or ten days before the murder, a
gentleman called on him and said that he
had been recommended by MIR. Askern
to apply to him for policy on his life,
adding that lac had life policy for
large amount IN favor of his wife. The
agent said that was the case, and there
upon the stranger observed that he CON
sIdered II rather remarkable that Mr.,
Askesn had not cancled the policy since
his wife S misconduct. The agent replied
that Mr.. ASkern intended TO take out a
new policy IN favor Of his children, and
TO cancel the other very shortly. The
stranger then made some further inquir
les respecting the policy for himself, and
promised to call again. The day before
the murder, the stranger again visited
the insurance agent, guu IIHvu Cime Tor
medical examination. HeiIiquired casu.
ally whether Mr.. Askern had arranged his
wife S policy, and was informed that he
had not. lie said he was surprised at
that, and departed.
In the meantime diIgent search had
been made after the murdererS, but with
out result, and there was no doubt but
that they had Quilted the neighborhood.
A celebrated detective was employed on
the case, and all the facts were laid before
him. He considered the statement of the
insurance agent of very grave importance,
as suggesting motive for the crime, and
the theory on which he began to work
was based theron. After some little diff
iiculty he discovered where Mrs. Askern
was living with her paramour, and placed
them under suryeillsnce. The man Pow.
ell was living profigate life, and sup.
ported himself and the woman who pass.
ed as his wife, by gambling and other
disreputablc acts. They were residing
IN Chapel street, lsiington, and the de-
tcctlve secured room in the house di.
rectly opposite, SO as TO observe their
movements. Within week Of the muir.
der the mans habits were fully ascertain
ed. His favorite place Of resort was in
Lambeth, near the river, whore seaiaring
men OF all nstlonalities were accustomed
TO meet for an evening, and gamble away
their hard.oarned money. From the men
who kept this hell the detective learned
that Powell was absent on the night
. L.. IA ~ . - a "a.
Of the 5th he appeared there at an UNI
usual hour in company with a man who
was a stranger. For tins man the officer
was anxiously looking.
On the evening Of August 18th Powell
and Mrs. Askern went together to Sad.
dler's Wells Theater, and the officer fol.
lowed them. At . o clock Powell quilted
the thcater aud retired TO a public house
near by. There he was joined by a man
Of medium height, who looked like one
who had followed the sea. The two sat
together at table and conyersed in low
tones. After an hour spent thus, they
left tho place, Powell returning toward
the theater, and the other. man going
toward City Road, tracked by the detec.
tive. Once the man stopped and lighted
his pipe And the detective had a sudden
fit OF coughing which checked his pro.
gress. The two men moved on again
almost simultaneously. Az the corner Of
the next street the man turned abruptly
and faced the officer. do you know
where Sloane street is ?" he asked.
Its about half mile ahead the off.
Ger replied. 81 can see the red lamp at
the druggist on the corner"
"That's all right the man said, and
walked on.
At Sloane street the man entered a
urinal, and the officer stepped aside into
doorway and watched. Ten minutes