The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-06-16
APPALLING CRIME.


0CAAe
Domestic difficulties in poor German fani-
ily of Chicago eliminated in blood -curdling
tragedy. Mary Syeboldt, aged 35 years, wife of
Casper Seyboldt, a baker, and residing at 81
FinneIl street, murdered her four children and
then committed suicide. The story of the
crime is one of the most remarkable In the
police annals Of Chicago, and ranks with any Of
the Borgia sensations. at o'clock in the
morning, Casper Seybold arrived home after
working all night at bakery, and was met at
the door by his wife. She was dressed in a
new chemise trimmed with lace and blue
ribbon, purchased especially for the awful oc-
casion. She acted strangely, and could scarcely
stand.
"Come in, Casper, come in, she said, wav-
ing her hand, "and see our little children.
They are all dead-alI our four little children
are dead, gone to heaven, Casper. See how
pretty they are. Every one got nice flowers for
the angels"
For moment the husband was stunned, and
thought his wife crazy. He hurried to the bed
room, and there strange sight met bis horri-
fed eyes. Laid out, as for BURIAL we're the four
children-Matilda, aged Il; Anton, aged Z;
Annie. aged years and 6 months and the
baby, Agnes, aged less than months. They
were dressed in white, trimmed with blue rib
bons, hair nicely smoothed and tied with blue
ribbons and in theirihands bouquets of fresh
flowers. All were stone dead except Matilda,
| and she was just breathing. Mrs. Syeboldt fol-
lowed her husband into the room so full of
death, and said: "Yes, / sent them all to
heaven, because God wanted them"
Casper Syeboldt was stupe6ed. His lips
moved but no sound came He at last recov-
cred sufficiently to realize the awful deed, and
then fastened across the street and summoned
MIR. Martin, grocer. That gentleman hastily
procured the services IF a physician, but he
could do nothing for the dying girl Matilda.
Attention was then turnedto Mrs. Syeboldt
who was in commissions. She managed to tell
the physician that she gave the poison to her
children first, laid them out, and then prepared
herself for death, taking the remnant of a
large dose of strychnine. She died IN great
agony shortly after 7 O'Clock, and was laid out
beside her children.
The motives of the woman in this SILENT
bloodless destruction of her children and sell
may be partly CLEANED from the following notes
and bits of writing found among the effects of
the family. They are by the oldest daughter
of H. The resignation shown by the writer is
remarkable:
II wish to all my playmates better and
| happier time than had, SO good-by to you all.
for you all are welcome to the place where
have gone. Remember me-
Among the papers was one containing two
verses OF the hymn beginning
There is happy land" etc.
Another note is addressed to playmate:
"Md,y Murphy: Please tell Lizzie Martin
| [probably the daughter of the landlord of the
house. 81 FInnell. Minnie Often and Lizzie
Reymould that have forgotten their dispute
and forgive them guess they will feel sorry
for it. May they think of me as their friend.
CHILLY SYEBoLDT."
Other notes read as follows
Dear Papa: Forgive ma, we have to leave
you. Mamma thought it WAS the best we could
do. am now in the better land where we all
live in freedom Your daughter, MATILDA"
!" Dear Papa: Please bury US decent at Wun-
ders cemetery, that we may ali be buried to-
gether That's all request Of you. My knife
and money in for your pre1ent, and is in the
collar-box. Buy for Antcn, annie and self
| flowers from the money which lave saved. It
| is mine. The knife is yours
I" For Mag Murphy will tell you the story
of our trouble. My mother was always sick,
| you know, and thought of dying often, and
treated, and so thought best for all Of us to die
at once, and bought something to kill us. The
baby first Annie second, Tony third, and aft
or. We did not suffer much, and now we are
| all out of trouble"
"Rosey Norris: Take the book that I've
brought home from school. It is not mine. 1t
is the History of the United States. Take it to
| room 5, to George Caproni. It is on the lower
shelf of the closet"
"This is for Mary and Nell Murphy, my two
dear playmates. wish you happier and bet
ter time than had. Good-by. You are all
| welcome"
| Two or three of the slips containing por-
tons of the above were written in German
characters, the remainder in English.