The morning call., 1892-11-21
A MANAGES CRIME.
flurder Done by Order of
the Spirits.
STORY OF A SUNDAYTRAdEDY
People i'm Church Were Shocked, and
People Out of Church Tried to
Get Up a Lynching.
Special to THE MoRHESe CALL

CHICAGO. Nov 2o.-The criminal annals
| OF this city record no more horrible crime,
nor one accompanied by more sensational
details. than that which brought death into
a Chicago house this morning. Herman
Siegler. German, living with his wife ana
three children at the residence OF his wile's
parents, Henry and Caroline Silas, 723 North
Paulina street, shot his father-in-law and
| his mether-ir-law, instantly killing each.
and next tried to murder his wife, but she
| is only slightly wounded. Before the police
were able to arrest and disarm Siegler he
was wounded in the right side by a bullet
from policeman's revolver, and was e.
moved to the county hospital, where he DOW
lies.
This morning Siegler told b is wife that 9
intended going hunting. and went to his
brothers residence to borrow q gun, which
he secured, together with fifteen cartridges,
and returned to his own residepce. He first
placed the gun in small closet In the
kitchen, but removed 1t almost Immediately
and went into the parlor with the weapon.
The sight OF the gun terrified Siegler's
little son, and his screams brought Mrs.
Silas to the scene. AS she entered the
room Siegler attempted to elevate the gun
as though TO shoot her, and she rushed up
tried to take the gun from him.
Keep away. God is with me-" shouted
Siegier, as he pushed the aged woman
violently aside Then, pointing the gun
against her left breasr, he fred, and she
sank to the floor dead.
Mrs. Siegier, hearing the shot, ran out
calling for assistance, taking the children
with her as she passed through the hall.
Pu tting them in the care of friends she re-
turned TO the house, and as she entered her
husband fired again. Some of the shot struck
her, one entering her right ear, another her
left arm. and another her right breast, but
none Of the wounds were fatal.
Tue commotion aroused Mr. Sias, and as
he descended tie stairs Siegler met him
and, raising the gun, which lie had reloaded,
fired. Silas raised his arm 10 protect his
face and il received the full charge. The
flesh was torn from the bone and number
OF shot entered the old mans right side. Ii
is believed that Siegler discharged the other
barrel of the weapon in his fsther-in-law's
face. as a portion OF the latter's neck and
right cheek was torn away.
The shooting occurred while large con-
gregstion was leaving q church close by,
and soon a crowd had surrounded tie
house, and call was sent for the police
The officers soon arrived and entered the
front door of the house, finding the dead
body Of Mr.. Sllas. Siegler was standing in
the dning-room, and as he saw the officers
he again raised the gun. but did not FIRE for
they burIiedly backed out Siegler fol-
lowed closely, and when he reached the
door threw it, open wide. The people who
had collected naturally fell back. and as
Officer Simonson drew arevolver he ordered
Siegler to surrender. The reply was shot
from the gun. which fortunately went high,
the charge injuring no one. Simonsor re-
turned the fire and Siegler staggered back
with a bullet in his right side.
Other oificers had arrived by this time,
and an advance was made on the house
They tried to force open the door, which
Siegler had locked when he staggered back,
and were greeted with a second discharge
from the maniac's gun. Officer Donohue
received a slight woundi in the face this
time.
All was then quiet for O few moments,
when Siegler opened the front door and
came ou:. still holding the gun, and started
up Pauline street apparently In dazed
condition. The officers Immediately seized
him and had some little difficulty In placing
him in the patrol wagon standing nearby,
as the crowd was thoroughly infuriated,
and one man made vicious attempt 10
strike the prisoner. Threats of violence
were heard on every hand, and a number OF
reyolvers we're drawn by citizens, whose
actions indicated that they were anxious to
punish the murderer without waiting for
the course Of the law.
Siegler was struck repeatedly, but at last
he was placed in the patrol wagon and the
horses were whipped into a gaIiop. He
was driven TO the West Chcago-ayenue
e%~sf
Ripley's private Office.
After his arrest he made a statement
which was brief. incoherent and indicative
Of insanity. He said: This morning |
went TO my brothers house to get gun. as
was told by our Lord to go and get it,
TIE Lord said to me. To-day Is the day of
judgment and you've got to be there /
brought the gun home and my mother-in-
law, who is witch, said to me. You've got
to die, and l said. Pll not 60 where you
want 10 send me- / shot her, and the old
man came downstairs and / got confused
i fired at the old man and then went out on
the steps and the patrol wagons came up
Then l was confused altogether. / have
been sick and have had trouble"
| Siegler's wound did not seem to pain him,
| but it bled profusely, and 1t was thought
best TO send him to the county hospital,
where the doctors pronounced the wound
not fatal. The tragedy took place while
service was being held in the adjoining
church, and the shots created such excite
ment that II seemed for moment as though
there would be ffightful panic among the
congregation.
This evening Siegler again talked OF the
shooting. saying: "Why did / kill them?
Why, because 1 was told to DO 1t. The
message came from above. and could not
refuse TO obey II. came from Germany,
| and there the spirits used to tell me what
| to do / only did what the spirits told me,
and when get out of here there's going to
| be another great big fight"
BEATEN AND HANGED.