The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-02-21
BLooDY DEEDS.

sLoopY DEEDS.
1 Mother and Her Two Daughters Slain
lative, Who Afterwards Ends His Own
Life "A Michigan Man Murders His
Wife and Two Girls, and Fatally Shoots
Himself. 49,.
CHENILLE, Mimi. Feb. 1S-Joseph Chem
sleek Friday night killed three persons and
then committed suicide by shooting himself
through the head. The motive for the
triple murder Is involved In doubt About
5o'clock Friday evening Chemeleck went to
the residence of M L. Chemeleck, his half
brother, to spend the evening. About IL
o'clock he picked up his hat and went
out of doors. It was expected that he
was going to return, but instead of coming
back he went to his fathers home and pro-
cured double barreled shotgun. He went
back to NJ L. Chemelecks and secreted him.
self in q grove near the house. About mid
night Mary Chemeleck, aged6 and her sister
Rose, aged II, stepped out of doors, and q
few minutes later two reports were
heard The father rushed to the door and
and as he opened it Mary and Rose stood on
the steps, the blood tr1ckling down their
faces. 1--WE have been shot by Joe Cheme-
leck," exclaimed Rose, as she fell fainting
to the floor. A half-witted boy was sent
for help, and, not returning, the father
went in search of aid AS soon as he had
left the house Joe Chemeleck entered
and going upstairs shot down the
mother OF the girls Mary, who
was half dead from loss of blood managed
to get out of the door, and, barefooted and
half-clad, made her way a half mile through
the snow to a neighbours, where she fell to
the floor dead The murderer, after COM
plotting his bloody work, rushed out of the
house into the yard where voices from the
road caused him to halt Seeing that es-
cape was impossible, he placed a revolver
to his temple and sent bullet through his
brain.
The girl Rose died shortly after midnight,
and the bodies OF the two girls and their
mother were taken to an upper room to
await the action of the coroner The muir
derer's body lay all day where he had killed
himself, and until Saturday evening, when
it was picked up and taken to his fathers
house.
AWFUL CRIME IN MICHIGAN.
TECUMsEH, Mich, Feb. 1&-One OF the
most terrible crimes ever enacted in Michi-
gan took place Saturday night at this place.
Frank L. Silvers, prominent horse breeder
and well-knOwn citizen, shot his wife, his
two daughters, aged and II years, respect
lively, and ended the awful deed by shoot
ing himself
The crime was not discovered until Sum-
day morning. About 10 o'clock some of the
neighbors noticed that the curtains of the
Silvers house were closely drawn and that
there was no sign of life about the place.
Their curiosity was excited, and after watt
ing for an hour it was decided to investi-
gate. An axe was procured and the rear
door was folced open.
The kitchen was deserted The dining
room door stood ajar, however, and, push
ing it open, the party entered the parlor,
where horrible sight met their gaze.
There upon the floor near the stove,
full-dressed and with her CLASSY eyes
staring at the ceiling, lay the body
OF Mrs. Silvers in q pool of blood But if
this was not calculated to terrify, a more
terrible one was in store for the Investigate
ors. After searching the lower part of the
house they wendell their way upstairs En-
tering small bedroom, directly above the
parlor, they found the bodies of the two
little girls only few feet apart, while at
the foot Of the bed lay the form of Mr. Sill
vers weltering in blood, and with life al
most extinct. The victims had all been shot
through the temple, and, with the exception
of Mr. Silvers, all had died instantly.
The murder was carefully planned and
coolly and systematically executed Early
Saturday evening Mr.. Silvers entered hard
ware store and bought 322-caliber revolver
of the Smith & Wesson pattern and a box of
cartridges. He betrayed no agitation, and it
was supposed that he intended to use the
weapon in shooting rats. He walked around
town awhile after making his purchase and
spoke with several of his friends in his Gus
tomary free hearted easy manner. He re-
turned home about O'clock and as the
bodies OF his victims were cold when found it
is supposed that he shot them before retir-
ing and did not take his own life until sew
eral hours later. This theory is strength
ened by the fact that the neighbors were
stirring very early in the morning and
would undoubtedly have heard the shots
had they been fired at that time
Frank Silvers came Eere about ten wears
ago. He belonged to highly respected
family, and was raised on a farm about four
miles north of here He married Miss
Sheppard in Lynn, N. Y, and had been liv-
ing in the house where the tragedy occurred
for nearly ten years.
Those who have known the family say
that Mr. and Mrs Silvers were seemingly
happy and atfectionate pair. They went
out together frequently and their
home seemed bright and cheerful al
ways The little girls were I'M
commonly pretty and attractive, and,
taken all in all, the family seemed to be
one Of the happiest that could be found
any where. This being the case, no
cause can be ascribed for the crime. A
note was found in Mr.; Silvers' pocket
requesting his friends to break open
the safe and find directions for the disposal
of his property and keepsakes. The note is
written in bold, steady hand and in it the
writer declares that the reason for the
dreadful crime will never be known. The
coroner is at work Oh the case, but no clew
to the cause Of the tragedy has been OBJ
tanned, and the crime bids fair to prove one
of the most mysterious as it is one of the
most ltEOCiQllS Iiol;a