The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-05-24
MURDER.

one mile norm or heIlnef q 0OnS dnC
about one-half mile east lies the garder
OF Manitowoc county,-a beautiful valley
which in the summer viii challenge the
attention of the traveller In that section
-Four towns join there,-Franklin, Glib
son, Kossuth and Cooperstown. This
beautiful spot is the property of Bo,
hemians who have not done much in the
way of architecture, but the r farms give
evidence OF cultivation. The valley
stretches out to the east aud the traveller
OF the town line road" invariably pays
tribute to its beauty by feasting his eyes
on the landscape. Here is where a MUIR
der, strikingly similar to that which took
place in Newton two years ago, occurred
with the exception that in this case 10
blemish is on the girls reputation. She
Is Bohemian girl, 10 years of age and
came to this county little over two
years ago. She went to live with her
aunt, Mrs. Decker, and did household
and farm work for the family. A neigh
| Dor named Senefeldt owns fine farm
| and there has been some trouble between
| Senefeldt and Decker about line fence
| and the trespass of cattle. On Sunday
| last, the girl who was shot, whose name
is Mary Wachel, drove some of Senefeldt's
| cattle out of Decker's farm and proceed
| ed to repair the fence She was dressed
quite lightly, the upper portion of her
body being protected by knit loose
| jacket over her chemise. While placing
| the last rail on the fence she heard the
report of a gun and suddenly became
unconscious. She did not realize she
was injured until after consciousness re-
| turned, when she found she was serious
~ hurt. She managed to walk home
and local physician was sent for. So
close was the person who fired the shot
that the powder stains are found on her
| chemise which was exposed by the effort
of raising the rails. The bullet passed
through her abdomen and lodged in the
backbone.
A thick growth of cedars near the fence
which the girl was repairing enabled the
person who fred the shot to conceal
himself. From the character of the
wound the weapon used was one of small
caliber, evidently revolver. The deed
was committed about II o'clock on Sun
day while all of Decker's family, with the
exception of the girl and Mrs. Decker,
was at church. The girl is not yet dead
but her recovery is considered hopeless.
Dr. Luhman, Sheriff Bolen, Under
Sheriff Kruger and District Attorney
Schmitz were called out there. While
the doctor gave his attention to the
wounded girl, the others proceeded to
make an investigation which resulted in
the arrest of Wenzel Senefeldt, son Of
the man whose farm adjoins Decker's.
The evidence against him is wholly OF a
circumstantial nature, but the officers
are in possession OF something more Grim
mating than what is made public. Steps
leading from Senefeldt's house to the
cedar swamp on the edge of which the
shot was fired, were found and these are
such as would be made by the shoes of
the person arrested, though he claims his
brother wore his shoes on that Sunday.
A revolver was found in Senefeldt's house
having one barrel discharged, but the
young man arrested claims he discharged
that barrel on the Thursday preceding.
4 warrant for the arrest OF Wenzel was
issued by Justice White and Oh Monday
Sheriff Bolen made the arrest. On the
request of the district attorney the ex-
animation was postponed until the 25th
instant, to await the result of the injury
to the girl. Bail was fixed at $4,000,
which not being furnished, the prisoner
was committed to jail. Senefeldt
is about % years Of age, tall and
slender with a face not wholly prepos-
sessing. The family of which he is a
member, do not bear bad name, though
some collateral branches have had con-
siderable experience with the criminal
courts of Manitowoc. The officers feel
quite certain they are on the right track
and are carefully working up the case.
One theory of the shooting is the ieal-
ousy of Wenzel. The girl was rather
good-looking and the boys of the neigh
borhood say Wenzel was desperately in
love with her. She did not look on him
with favor and once at ball, it is said.
he threatened her unless she would
agree to become his wife. 1t is said
that on other occasions he made like
threats. His habits are none OF the best
though heretofore nothing of a very
serious nature was laid to his charge.