The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-08
Brutal Murder Of His Divorced
Wife, by ]. Fred Will, Tues
day Morning.
The Murderer Surprises His Victim
and Disembowels Her With
q Hunting Knife.
He Then Ends His Worthless Life by Hhoot-
ing Himself in the Head.
fhs Causes That Led 70 the Double rrs gedy-
One OF the Most Fearful Grimes
That Ever Disgraced the
city's History.


One of <ehe most cold. blooded and afro
cious murders, AMONG the many that In
dianapolis has furnished, was the killing Of
Mrs. Will by her fiendish, though divorced,
husband, J. Fred Will. Tuesday morning.
The scene Of the tragedy was No. 191 North
Liberty street, where Mrs. Will resided with
her children. About o'clock Tuesday
morning, while Mrs. Will was preparing
breakfast for her children, her former hus-
band entered the kitchen. and without word
of warning plunged hunting knife into her
abdomen, infiicting a terrible cash. from
which her intestines protruded.
The alarm was Immediately given. of
course. and in a few moments a number of
neighbors arrived ON the scene. After
stabbing his divorced wife, Will shot him
self in the head with No. IS Colts revolt
yer, and died INSIDE of three hours.
THE CAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY.
Mrs. Will, who was SIS years of age at the
time of her tragic death, was married to her
murderer about five years ago. Originally
her name was Siemmelich, and by her hus-
band by that name she had three children
John, who is married, Frank, aged 10. and
Harry, aged Ii. The latter clerks for Leo
Daniels, of the Circle House cigar store.
After the marriage of Mrs. Siemmelich to
Mr.. Will he became very dissipated, and
was generally known as a bad character. He
relinquished all employment. and became q
worthless and ouarrelsome vagabond. He
was in the habit of going home drunk and
| abusing his wife and children. His
! uutf
were divorced. Since then he has made
frequent threats against the life of herself
and her children. Tuesday morning he
| was under the influence of liquor; he had
probably nerved himself up to the tragedy
| he was about to commit, and he called on
his wife. His call was the call of death. He
let out her hearts blood, and she died. He
hanged, but blew out his worthless brains.
The crime was q horrible one. An inoffens.
I've woman was slain by a brute. and it is .
wonder that he had sense enough to kill
himself.
His wife did not leave him until his con-
duct was more than any human being could
bear, yet those who knew him say he loved
her-he must have loved her as the beast
loves his meat The unfortunate woman
was engaged in kneading bread. in an out
house, used as o summer kitchen, when the
| slayer appeared That she surmised his
intent, is manifest from the fact that
she screamed for help as soon as she saw
him. Her cries were quickly hushed, how
ever, by the plunging of the wicked knife
| into her body. The wretch who committed
this deed died too soon. He died before be
had suffered enough. but he died as he
] should have died-a victim to that remorse
which follows the greatest crime which can
be committed.
STATEMENT OF THE VICTIMS SON.
|
the following account of the tragedy:
Twas In bed yet this morning, In the mid
die room, when heard mother scream out IN
the kitchen Brother Harry was In the irons
as possible and ran out TO see what was the
matter. When got In the yard the door was
heard the pistol fired. 1 ran around to the
| window and looked IN, when saw mother
were dead. sent Harry after DR.. Wright. !
am carver at spiegel q Thoms. Harry works
John Is bookseeper at Fishinger's saloon on
> East Washington street. Our fathers name
I, | was Siemmelich.
: From relatives Of both parties to this ter
> rible tragedy, it is learned that Will has al
wavs cherished an animosity towara ths
children of his wife, and they hays generally
considered it good policy 90 Keep out of hi
way, Hig daughter Essss her father loved
Mrs. Will passionately. and grieved over tns
p separation. On Tuesday night he took sup
q per with his daughter and son in-iaw, snt
y appeared to be in good spirits. When the,
!. retired they supposed he also did thu
same, and were inexpressibly shocked
}, when they heard the nature of the crime be
!. had committed. Coroner Wishard viewe(
: both bodies, and will return q verdict IL
accordance with the facts.
i THE PHYSICIANS STATEMENT.
4 The following is the statement of DR.
Charles E. Wright who was called to attend
| upOn the murd0red
Q was called to see Mrs. siemmelich. 10
North Liberty street, at $40 a. m; arrived
y soon after, and In q smoke house, used as I
| summer kitchen, found Mrs. Siemmelich dead
with q knife wound In the abdomen two inche.
: long and about two inches above the umbili
s.was lying upon her back with her left cheei
against the stove leg in the east side Of the
d room, leaning against the wall Of the house, j
Fred VIII was sitting on the floor vita q bull
a blackened and bruised. In forehead about one
and q half inches above left eye was another
IN az ~ bOoS sns
matter was by the door Ean1,ingf W., Win stu stu
2 and found a large knife Il inches in length be
meath him, and scabbard and belt beueath
his yes navy rev1 h o wltn smo s
Nv opinion is that Mrs. siemmelich came Il
her death BY means OF me knife wound I'm hel
; abdomen. which, from the direction and posi-
ton must have severed The aoTts; and i further
r nom the bullet wound In head. inflicted By
= | himself.
The bullet which killed this foul murderer
> passed clear through his head and lodged II
Q q rafter in the roof Of the kitchen.
+ The body Of the murdered man VA
q taken charge Of by Undertsker RUSSELL
2 This crime surpasses in atrociousness thu
{ Chuck murder; In fact 1t is almost as bad y
, the Merrick murder; it could not exceed 4
a in fendishness.
]. Fred wnl the perpetrator of this horri
BILE crime was . bad man. It was only 10
Gently that he was on trial IN the criminal
court on > charge of assault and batter,
" with intent 10 kill. Physically, he va
:, "strong ~ . bull" and he had as little 10
|. fnament n ona Ha cnfarad To hla gruna]