The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-21
A Religious Maniac Kills His
Wife'S Parents.
CAPTURED AFTER A HARD FIGHT.
The Reports of the Murderer's Gun
Interrupted Services in a Church.
The Homestead Strike Declared on
After Great Loss OF Life and Money
and the Ruin Of Workmen and Mer-
chauts-Holmes' Now Comet.

CHIcAeo, Nov. 20.--The criminal annals
OF this city record no more horrible crime
nor one accompanied by more sensational
details than that which brought death into
the home this morning of Herman Siegler,a
German, living with his wife and three
children at the residence of his wife's
parents, Henry and Caroline Siias, at No.
123 North Paulina street. Sieger shot his
father-in-law and mother-in-law, instantly
killing each. The next victim was his
wife, but she was only slightly wounded.
Before the police were able to disarm and
arrest Siegler he was wounded in the right
side by bullet from a policeman's re-
volver and removed to the county hospital.
This morning Siegler told his wife that
he intended to so hunting and went to his
brothers residence to borrow gun, which
he secured, together with fifteen cart
ridges, and returned 10 his own residence.
He first placed the gun in small closet in
the kitchen, but removed it almost imme-
diately 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 Siegler attempted
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 me, 4"
shouted Slegler, as he pushed the aged
woman violently aside. Then, pointing
the gun against her left breast, he fired
and she sank to the floor dead. Mrs. Sieg-
Ter, hearing the shot. ran out calling for
assistance and taking her children with
her as she passed through the hall, to
leave them in the care of friends. Then
she returned to the house, and as she en-
tered the husband fired again. Some of
the bullets struck her, one entered her
right ear, another her left arm and an
other her right breast. None of the
wounds are fatal. The commotion
aroused Mr.. Silas, and as he descended
the stairs SiegIer, met him and
raising the gun, which he had reloaded,
fired. Silas raised his arm to protect his
face and received the full charge. The
flesh was torn from the bone and num-
Der Of shot entered his right side. 1t is
believed that Siegler discharged the other
barrel of the weapon in his father-in-law's
face, as portion of his neck and right
cheek were torn away. The shooting oc-
Cured while large congregation was
leaving church close by, and soon
large crowd surrounded the house and
call was sent for the police.
Officers soon arrived and entered the
front door of the house, finding the dead
body of Silas. Siegler was standing in the
dining room, and as he saw the officers he
raised his gun, but did not fire, for they
hurriedly backed out. Siegler followed
closely, and when he reached the door he
threw it wide open. The people who had
collected fell back, and as Officer Simmon-
son drew his revolver. he ordered Siegler to
surrender. The reply was shot from the
gun which fortunately went high, injur-
ing no one. Simmonson returned the fire.
and Siegler staggered back with a bullet
in his right side. Other officers 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 they were greeted
with a discharge from the gun. Officer
Donohue received a slight wound in the
face. All was then quiet for a few mo-
ments, when Siegler opened the door and
cane out. still holding the gun, and
started up Paulina street. apparently in a
dazed condition. The officers immediately
seized him, and had difficulty in placing
him in a patrol wagon near by, as the
crowd was thoroughly infuriated, and one
man made vicious attempt to strike
the prisoner.
Threats of violence were heard on everv
hand, and a number of revolvers were
drawn by citizens, whose actions indicated
that they were anxious to punish the muir
derer without awaiting the course of the
law. Repeatedly Siegler was struck, but
at last he was placed in the wagon and
the horses whipped into a gallop. He
was driven to the West Chicago avenue sta
ton, and at once taken INTO Capt. Riply's
private Office. There he made a statement.
which was brief, incoherent and indica-
tive of insanity. He said:
This morning went to my brothers house to
get gun, as l was told by our Lord to go and
get It The 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-,aw,
who is q witch, said 70 me: you've 60. to
die" And said: '.Ill not go where you want
to send me-" then shot her, and the old man
came down the stairs. was confused, and
fred at the old man and then went out on the
steps. aud the patrol wagon came up and then
I was confused altogether. l have been sick
and have had trouble.
Siegiers Wou0u uiu not seem 10 pain
him, but it bled profusely and it was
thought best to send him to the county
hospital, where the doctors pronounced
his wound not fatal. The tragedy took
place while services were being held in an
adjoining church and the shots created
such an excitement that it seemed for
moment as though there would be a
frightful panic among the congregation.
This evening Siegler again talked of the
shooting saying:
Why did kill them-why? Because 1 was
told to do it, message came from above, and
| could not refuse 10 obey it, / came from
Germany aud there are spirits that used 10 tell
me what 10 DO only did what the spirits told
me- and when get out OF here there's going to