The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-11-17
MURDERED FOR REVENGE.

MURDERED FOR REVENGE.
Charles Burkhart Murders Banker How
and his Wife and Commits Suicide
at WenOns.
A deed that, for ferocity and brutality
has no counterpart In the criminal histor,
of central Illinois has turned the usual!
quiet. sedste and conventional village o.
Wenona and tranquil Marshall county int
chaotic excitement. Banker Howe, the
old patriarch pioneer Of Wenona, and one
of the first settlers OF Marshall county
and his aged wife we're murdered In q
most brutal and cold blooded manner be-
tween ten O'Clock on Saturday night, and
five O'Clock on Monday morning.
Banker Howe and his wife, one OF
them quite beyond three score and ten
lived alone In small twO-stOried house
near the fair grounds for many, many years
He had been the mainstay and paternal ad'
wiser Of his little city from Its infancy,
when from log cabins Of the prairie to
Chicago or St. Louis was journey of
great consequence, requiring couple Of
weeks 10 going and returning. As soon as
the town became somewhat Of q cOmmer-
cial center he established the WsnonH
Bank, In the business of which he became
q familiar figure 10 the history Of Marshall
county, and warmly identified with the
best elements Of society. He was plain,
ssgacious man, with none Of the vices of
many Of bis fellows, and although In his
latter years possessed Of nearly a half
million dollars, preferred to end his days as
he had begun them, In Industry and
frugality. Mingling little with the purely
social circles OF his little town. his love
for the fireside and his sons, caused
him to select a habitation removed
from others, and though cosy and filed
with every comfort, big home was nearly
mile from his nearest neighbor; but the
pretty, well.kept home has ever been the
admiration Of passers BY
Thus living simply and homeIy, the
household duties until few weeks ago,
being Of a simple nature, were performed
by Mrs. Howe, but her age, she being well
along In the sixth decade, caused her TO
employ young girl named Sarah Rich
ardson TO do the general homework
Sarah was industrious and expended fut
little of her earnings. Her stepfather,.
low, worthless fellow, knowing her dispo-
position and suspecting that she might
possess few dollars, went to the bankers
Homestead on Saturday afternoon 10 DE-
mand It. He was Intoxicated and abusive.
Banker Howe and LIS wife, who were sit
ting In the parlor, hearing high words and
the noise of struggle In the kitchen,
hurried out and finding Burkhsrt attempt
Ing 70 injure the girl, assisted her to put
s1,..m out and bar the door Rendered fran.
tic at being bafiied, he raved about the
place for al hour or more, threatening the
lives OF the inmates, and at about dark
went away. After the evening meal the
Usual scriptural passages were read, and
the old couple retired. Instead of going to
Wenona Immediately after supper as was
her custom, the girl, fearing trouble from
Burkhart, remained AT the house until ten
O'Clock, and after searching the premises
10 see that he was not lurking about, re-
tired.
ha ne Gyn Inu
morning to begin tine usual preparations
for doing the weeks washing, and while
passing the door of the bankers bedroom
saw blood on the mat. The door was ajar
and fearing TO investigate, she left the
house. As was usual with him, one of the
bankers sons called In at about eight
o'clock and finding everything still, wen
to his fathers roem, Ind, getting no re
spouse to his call stepped inside, anc
almost tainted at the sight which confront
ed him. On the bed, the banker and hi
wife, with heads crushed and bodies mutt
lated, we're surrounded with blood soaked
and blood despatched clothing and furni
ture. Blood covered the walls; II had con
gested upon the ceiling; 10 was presen
upon the nice mat carpet In great blotches
and the door and window sill bore the i'm
print of CORY fingers. A coupling pin
covered with blood and hair, lay on thu
floor. The banker and his wife had bee
murdered In their night clothes, fairl
slaughtered In tLeif sleep. The posltio
OF the bodies seemed TO place Banke
Howe o. the first victim. He lay squared
upon his back, and, while sleeping, hi
brains had been beaten out with the In
strument which lay upon the floor. Hi
wife, who had apparently been awakene'