Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-21
The Lord Instructed Him to
Commit Murder.
He Began by Killing His Old
MOther-in-Law.
Then He Shot His Wife and Her
Aged Father.
The Police Prevented Him from Com.
mitting Further Execution and
Wounded Him Before He
Was Overpowered.
By the Associated Press.

| By the Associated Press
CHICAGO, Nov. 20.-The criminal an
nails of this city record no more horrible
crime, nor one accompanied by more
sensational details, than that which
brought death into home this morn
ing. Herman Siegler, German, living
with his wife and three children at the
residence of his wife's parents, Henry
and Caroline Silas, 723 North Paulina
street, shot his father-in-law and moth
er-in-law, instantly killing each. The
next victim was the wife, but she was
only slightly wounded. Before the po-
lice were able to disarm and arrest the
murderer, he was wounded in the right
side by a bullet from a policeman's g
revolver, and was removed to the county
hospital.
This morning Siegler told his wife he
intended going hunting, and went to his
brothers. residence to borrow a gun,
which he secured, together with fifteen
cartridges, and returned to his own resi-
dence. He first placed the gun in a
small closet in the kitchen, but removed
it almost Immediately and went into the
parlor with the weapon.
The weapon terrified Siegler's little
son, and his screams brought Mrs. Silas,
and as she entered the room Segler at
tempted to elevate the gun as though to
shoot her. She rushed up to him. threw
her arms about his neck and tried to
take the gun from him.
keep away! God is with mel"
shouted siegler, as he pushed the aged
woman violently aside. Then, pointing
the gun against her left breast, he fred,
and she sank to the floor dead. Mrs.
Siegler, hearing the shot, ran out, call
ing for assistance, taking the children
with her. Putting them in the care of
friends, she returned to the house, and
ss she entered her husband fired again.
Some of the bullets struck her; one en-
tered her right ear, another her left
arm, and another her right breast, none
of the wounds being fatal.
The commotion aroused Mr.. Silas and
as he descended the stairs Siegler met
him, and raising the gun, which he had
| reloaded, fired. Silas raised his arm to
protect his face and it received the full
charge. The flesh was torn from the
| bone and number of shot entered his
| right eide. It is believed Siegler dis.
charged the other barrel of the weapon
in his father-in-law's face, az portion
of the latter's neck and right cheek were
torn away.
The shooting occurred while large
congregation was leaving church close
by, and soon large crowd surrounded
| the house and a call was sent for the
police. The officers soon arrived and
entered the front door of the house,
finding the dead body of Mr.. Silas.
| Siegler WAS standing in the dinipg-room,
and as he saw the officers, rsised the
gun, but did not fire, for they hurriedly
backed out.
Siegler followed closely, and when he
reached the door threw it open wide.
The people who were collected fell back,
and as Officer Simonson drew revolver
he ordered Siegler to surrender. The
reply was shot from his gun, which
fortunately went high, injuring no one.
| Simcnson returned the fire, and Siegler
staggered back with bullet in his right
eide.
| Other officers 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 q
| discharge from his gun. Officer Dona-
nnuo received q s!igst wound in the face.
| All was then quiet for few moments,
when Siegler opened the door and came
out, still holding the gun, and started
up Paulina street, apparently in dazed
| condition.
| The officers Immediately seized him
and had difficulty in placing him in the
patrol wagon near by, as the crowd was
thoroughly infuriated and one man made
a vicious attempt to strike the prisoner.
| Threats of violence were heard on every
hand, and number of revolvers were
drawn by citizens whose actions indi-
| Gated that they were anxious to punish
the murderer without awaiting the
course OF law. Repeatedly Siegler was
struck, but at last he was placed in the
wagon and the horses were whipped into
gallop. He was driven to the West
| Chicago avenue station and was at once
taken into Captain Ripley's private
office. There he made a statement
which was brief, incoherent and indi-
cative 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. The Lord said to
me: To-day is the day of Judgment,
and you have got to be there l brought
the gun home. and my mother-in-law,
who is witch, said to me: you have
got to die,' and said: 'I'll not go
where you want to send me- I shot
her. and the old man cane down stairs
and was confused. fred at the old
man and then went out on the steps and
the patrol wagon came up. Then l was
confused altogether. have been sick
and have had trouble"
Siegler's wound did not eeem to pain
him, but it bled profusely and it was
thought best to send him to the county
hospital, where the doctors announced
that his wound was not fatal.
The tragedy took place while services
were being held in an adjoining church,
and the shots created such excitement
that it seemed as though for moment
there would be frightful panic among
the congregation.
This evening Siegler again talked of
the shooting, saying:
"Why did I kill them? Why, be-
csuee was told to do it. A message
came from above, and could not refuse
| to obey. | came from GERMANY. and