The record-union., 1891-06-18
WHAT ABOUT zWALD?
Difficulty in Disposing of the Con-
fessed Murderer's Case.
Eastern Authorities Want Further In
Iornatfon-Zwald Makes Another
Statement for Them.
What is to be done with zwald2

Ever since the old man made his
strange confession of double murder, to
justice Of the Peace Henry, he has been
confined in the County Jail-not as muir
derers usually are, but more like an hon.
orary guest. He is perfectly harmless,
however, and only complains of the slow
ness of the Eastern authorities in send
Ing for him.
WILL HE BE LIBERATED?
But, as has been previously stated in
these columns, it does not look as though
the Eastern authorities want him very
bad, and the opinion is freely expressed
here that Zwald will eventually have to
be turned loose.
Both Justice Henry and Sheriff Stanley
have written East concerning the pris-
oner and have forwarded copies Of the
confession to Wayne, Nebraska, and
TO Minnesota, where Zwald says he COM
mItted the murders. Numerous replies
have been received but they have not
been istactory-consisting principally
of all sorts of inquiries regarding Zwald's
demeanor, looks, and manner of describ-
ing the murders.
Justice Henry received another of these
letters yesterday afternoon, this time
from County Attorney w. NJ. Wright,
who is located at Wayne, Nebraska. The
letter Is full of conundrums:
BELIEVES, YET DOUBTS.
Il am inclined to the opinion you ex-
press in regard to Mr.. Zwald's guilt"
writes the County Attorney; ''at the
same time it seems a most remarkable
thing-both the alleged murder and his
confession. There appears to be, how
ever, taking the facts as far as they can
be gathered here, and those stated in his
confession, to be some contradiction,
some things in his confession which can
not be true. The authorities here, of
course, are desirous of bringing him to
punishment, If there is reasonable proba-
bIlity Of his guilt, and of our ability to
convict him. Have the authorities of
your city been in communication with
the authorities in Minnesota, concerning
the alleged murder there? Has Mr..
Zwald consulted any attorney? Has he re-
tanned counsel in the matter? Does he
wish to come back to Nebraska, and will
he consent to be brought back without
requisition? I inclose q list of questions
which l would be pleased if you would
ask him, returning his answers as soon
as possible. Would he probably adhere
to his confession and plead guilty, if in
dicted? Does he express and desire as to
what he would like TO have done with
him-whether he wishes to be hung or
imprisoned for life?"
QUESTIONS FOR ZwALD.
Along with the letter came q tvpe-
written sheet containing a number of
questions which it was desired should be
propounded to Zwald, and the answers
returned to Mr.. Wright.
Determined to do everything in his
power to help the Eastern authorities out
of their dilemma, Judge Henry went over
to the County Jail last evening and read
the questions off to Zwald.
The questions, with the answers given
by Iwald (and which are to be sent East
to-day, were as follows:
Did you have any quarrel with your
wife on the evening before the murder. or
during the night, and was the quarrel
boisterous and loud?"
NO, didn't have any quarrel with
her. She quarreled with me. She swore
at me and didn't want me to sleep III the
bed. She kicked me out. She tried to
Kill me couple of mornings before with
hatchet, and threatened to do it that
night.
How many rooms were in the house
where the deed was committed?'
'One room and a summer kitchen 1t
was a small shanty about l2xlS There
was only one door in the main house, and
one door in the kitchen, but no door from
the room to the kitchen"
state where the house was located in
the village of Wayne
1.-The house was about half block from
Main street, near Mr.. Ley's store; the
biggest store IN town.
.'Were all the children in the room
where the deed was committed ?"
They We're"
Were the children, or any of them
awaken
They We're all asleep except the oldest
boy. think he woke up when he heard
the noise He said. What's the matter ?,
or something like that"
What kind of rope did you use?
Give the size and state whether old or
new"
''It was about the size of small clothes
line. don't remember whether it was
new or old. 1t was one the boys used for
the COWS. l got it in the kitchen or some
where about the house.
After hanging your wife, how did you
get out-by the door or window ?"
Il went out by the door,"
ABOUT THE DOOR.
"Who fastened the door on the inside
near where your wife hung?"
After went out l called to my oldest
boy to lock the door and he did"
Whom did you first inform next
morning after hanging your wife?"
"A neighbor: L think his name was
Andy Hermit"
with whom were you acquainted at
Wayne, and who were your nearest
neighbors ?''
ANDY Hermit, Mr.. Slater, Henry Lev.
Mr.. Hastings, butcher named Benson,
and a druggist on the same block whose
name | do not remember. l worked for
Benson some time making sausage"
Did anyone threaten you with prose
cution while at Wayne, or did you have
any quarrel with anyone in which the
subject was mentioned? ?"
NO. My wife'S sisters husband after
ward came there from Iowa. and wanted
TO know about by wife's property, He
thought she had more than was reported
TO the administrator"
Did your wife struggle any when you
were hanging her, or afterwards, or was
she entirely dead when you hung her
up?"
''She was entirely dead when I hung
her up. After / smothered her lifted
her out of the bed and on TO table.
put the rope around her neck, and
think / stood upon chair to put the
other end of the rope around the rafter.
/ raised one end of the table, and put
something, l don't remember what, un-
der the legs of the table to hold ii in that
position. After / made the rope fast
pulled the table away from under her,
ana she hung with her feet on the floor"
Lld you tell anyone before killing her
that you would kill her, or put her out of
the way, and, If SO, whom? ?"
No, told no one.'
DO You know Mrs. Hayes, and did
you have any conversation with her
about 1t afterwards, and, il so, what was
said?n
''Oh, yes Mrs. Hayes was nv nearest
neighbor. She was a mean woman and
quarreled with Inc. Ny little boy went
TO her house and did some little mischief
about her plants, and she got mad at all
of us. After my wifes death she passed
me one day, and said something about
the death and shrugged her shoulders. T
4 f,sf.t, naAs llAaat. n af.sl,.