Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-05-16
fRoM HEDaASkA

Hsrribas Cetsstrorhe.

4 Msrsibas Cstsstrepha
A large barn ON the farm Of Nj. Freese,
about = mile Or two from Arlington,
burned last week and the dead
bodies Of Mrs. Treese, Fred Grateluschen.
his wife and three children and his brother
Louis were found among the ruins. SO
far Is known there was no person present
other than these seven who lost their lives.
shortly after 8 o'clock smoke was seen is-
suing from the Freese farm and 4 party
armed with buckets, axes and ladders, pro.
curing teams and started for the scene.
When they arrived the south end Of the
building, which was a large two story
structure, had already fallen in and the
rest Of it fell shortly after. When they
reached the fire neither Fred GIateluschen,
Mrs. Freese, the son. in law, and hired
man nor any Of the family were in sight.
Two men went to the house. They found
all the doors open and everything in dis
order. as il the occupants had left in a very
great hurry. Search was Immediately CON-
meneed for the missing persons which re-
suited in the discovery Of the dead body Of
q man. All the clothing was burned of
and only q shred of blackened tiesh chung
to the skeleton here and there. From the
size Of the remains, however. they were
recognized as those Of Fred Grateluschen
After the discovery Of Fred Grateluschen
all the men got rakes, hoes, poles and
whatever else they could find and continued
the search. They were soon rewarded by
discovering the bodies OF Mrs. Crate
luschen, her three children. Louis Crate
luschen ard the old lady Freess. Both
women seemed TO have been only
partially dressed. Nearly all the flesh
was burned oil the bodies Of all Of them.
Many theories have been advanced as TO
the probable cause Of or motive for the de-
struction Of this family, and at first gem
orally believed that the burning was an ac-
cident, but the belief is now gaining
ground that they were murdered and burn
ed in the barn by some fiend. A most
thorough examination of everything con-
nected with the mysterious affair has been
made, and all parties connected with the
examination are now firm in their belief
that the deaths we're not accidental. REM
nants of clothing worn by the victims were
fonnd among the ruins of the barn. Among
these was a stiff collar fastened to the dress
worn by Mrs. Fred Grateluschen. This
was saturated with blood. and near the
dress there was found about three ounces
Of clotted blood, as ii some had come from
the victim s throat. The remains of Mrs.
Grateluschen showed plainly that the
throat had been cnt. 1t appears that Louis
Crateluschen was madly in love with
Emma Freese, whom he had cause to believe
loved another. and getting no encourage
ment from her parents. had repeatedly
made remarks to the effect that there would
yet be a day of reckoning. Taking the
facts. us they can he got from Emma
Freese. who was away on a visit at the
time of the disaster, il is quite reasonab e
to suppose that Louis enticed the family
to the barn. murdered them. set the place
ON fire. and in his eagerness to make sure
Of his work and conceal the crime, fell a
victim to his own wrath.