Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-02-22
SLAIN BY HER LOVER.
Shocking Murder and Suicide at Berlin
TWO Souls Hurried Into Eternity.

Shocking Murder and Suicide at Berlin
Two Souls Hurried Into Eternity.
BERLIN, Wis, Feb. IA bloody trag-
edy was enacted in this city last evening,
j. w. Hacker, of Danville, III, shooting
and killing Mabel Steike, of Belle Plaine,
Ia, and blowing out his own brains.
Hacker was 10 years old and his victim
a year younger.
1t seems that young Hacker and Miss
Steke met some time ago and fell in
love with one another. The marriage
was opposed by the girls parents, and
to separate the young people she was
sent to this city to visit at the home of
her grandfather, a Mr.. Fensky. In some
manner Hacker learned of the girls
whereabouts and followed her here, ar
irving in the city on January 81. Hacker
took a room at a hotel and remained
there until taken sick with measles,
when it appears Miss Steike prevailed
on her grandfather to invite the young
man to make their house his home dur
ing his illness, and on Friday of last
week the invitation was accepted, since
which time Hacker has been at the
Fensky residence.
About $50 last evening Hacker was
in his room on the second floor, the
family being as 'embled in the sitting
room down stairs. Hacker opened his
door and called to Mabel, saying he
wished to speak with her. In few
minutes the family heard noise on the
floor above, followed by call from the
up She appeared excited and the
old gentleman fastened to comply
with her request. He had reached the
stairs and was about half way up the
flight when two pistol shots were fired
in Hackers room in quick succession
Fensky FASTENED to the door of the
room, but found it locked. AS the old
gentleman shook the door Hacker from
within enquired: ''What do you want?"
There was minutes silence, followed
by third pistol shot and a heavy fall
on the floor and silence.
The authorities were at once notified
of the occurrence and the officers forced
an entrance to the room. The girl was
found lying on the floor, her head
against the door, with blood oozing from
a wound in either temple, a bullet nav
ing passed through her head. Hackers
body lay on the floor a few feet distant
from that of the young woman. He
had apparently been in bed.
as he wore only his under
clothes. A bullet had entered his head
at the base OF the brain and passed for
ward and upward, making an exit
through the forehead. The girl lived
few minutes but Gid not regain con-
sciousness. The revolver with which
the shooting was done was found on the
floor, near where lay the body of the
young man.
The cause of the tragedy and the cir
cumsta noes connected with the murder
and suicide are not known. The i'm
| preston prevails. however, that Hack
| er's love for the girl was not reciprocal
ed so strongly as the young man desired,
and that he had determined to kill her.
That the murder was premeditated is
shown by the fact that within a
lew days Hacker bought two re-
volvers : the second, that with
which the killing was done, having been
purchased yesterday. After calling the
Hacker asked her to marry him, and n
| her refusal, he told her of his intention
| to kill her. She cried out and he at
once shot her. ending his own life a
| minute later. 1t seems that but two of
! the shots fired took effect, however, one
| bullet having been found lodged in the
| ceiling of the room.
/ Mabel Steike was a girl of average
! good looks, respectable and respected.
| She formerly resided in Berlin, her
! father dying here. Her mother married
again and the family removed to Iowa,
where they have since resided, the STEP
father being employed as a locomotive
: engineer on a southern railway. But
| little is known of Hacker. His parents
are known to reside in Danville and it
is said are fairly well-to-do. The young
man dressed well and had plenty of
| money. An impression prevails here
/ that he was gambler.
/ A coroner's jury was summoned and
an inquest is in progress to-day, the cir
cumstances Of the affair being testified
/ to substantially as here given,