The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-09-28

He is quite mild, good looking fellow,
with fair hair and light moustache.
Nothing in his appearance to indicate
ferocity or brutality. He has been post
ed by the city authorities often but has
always managed to get liquor. Some of
the saloon keepers disregarded the order
of the council. His mother used to pro-
cure him liquor and even his wife was
compelled to. He has been arrested for
beating her and confined in the Jail. She
often plead for his release, only to be
beaten by him when she succeeded
When he chose TO work he was good
laborer, On one occasion he worked for
farmer, who, knowing his habits, re-
fused to pay him in full, reserving part
for his wife. He went home and short
while after his wife came and begged the
farmer to pay her husband as he would
go home and beat her, thinking she was
instrumental in lettering the farmer
from giving him the money.
We visited Rathsack in his cell Tues
day morning. He pretended at first to
in a semi unconscious state and feigned
great feebleness, speaking low and indis-
tinct. He evidently fears lynching and
acts feebly so as to disarm hostility for
the time. When the manner of the Wis
itor treasured him he grew more animat-
ed and became more communicative.
"Where did you conceal yourself, latter
killing your wife ?" was asked him.
GIN the woods, near the grave yard. -
"Were you there all the time? How
did you get anything to eat ~
''I was in the woods all the time. I
went as far as the railroad track and got
some apples in the orchard on Fuessnich s
farm. Then came back"
sis it true that you had for some time
been planning to kill your wife2"
"No."
"Then, why did you have your clothes
packed up?'
II didn't have them packed up. When
I killed her threw the clothes into a bag
and ran away"
"Why did you kill your wife? How
had she offended you?''
He said something about digging po-
tatoes and added "then she scolded me
and that made me mad and I struck her
with the axe"
els it true that you tried to kill your
baby"
"No,' he replied, with apparent indig-
nation, 81 wouldn't kill my child"
at is said your mother and you had
planned the killing of your wife ?"
"That isn't SO. Ny mother didn't
know anything about it,"
cit is said that you were hiding in
Cooperstown. Is that true :"
'No, I always staid around home.
''Who saw you first?'
''That Norwegian shoemaker"
"Micheison ?"
"Yes."
Ibid you run away after he went for
help?
81 only went little ways and climbed
that tree. 1 was just going to go home.
1 didn't care what they did with me. I
wanted to be caught" Here his voice
became somewhat husky.
"Whydi you attemptto kill YOURSELF
81 wanted to kill myself because I had
killed my WIFE" Here he broke down
completely and wept bitterly.
"Do you know that your wife is buried
to day ?"
''Yes, and again he sobbed.
''You feel sorry then for what you have
done p
eyes, my God, very sorry" and it GER
tainIy seemed that only remorse could
produce such grief.
From all we could gather it was his in
tention to give himself up, if he could
reach the Jail, but feared the indignation
of the people. He was often within ten
rods of the house and people in search
of him passed close by him.
His wife had frequently been advised
| to leave him but would become indignant
at being advised to abandon her children.
When told that charitable people would
care for her children, she would insist
that it would be dangerous. He would
burn the property of any one who gave
her asylum. She often stated that she
would be killed by her husband, and she
spoke truly.