St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-15
MURDER AS AN ART.
How Jackson Petit Killed
Tom Venable and Dropped
Out Of Sight.
Three Months of Preparation
Was Had Before the Deed
Was Done.
The Murderer Killed His Vie
tim With a Hammer, and
Then Retired
To a Retreat Which He Had
Previously Provisioned
Literally.

L
81 sometimes think that almost any
! cool. resourceful man. with ready
money, might commit murder in the
heart of city AMI escape scot free"
Thus spoke Capt. Linden, long one of
the bravest as we'll as trustlest com
manders in the Pinkerton service, and
who is now chief of the police depart
ment of Philadelphia, who made fly
ing visit to the metropolis few days
ago to bestow upon an old-time friend
a curio collector-the diary of a muir
| derer.
| His exhibition of this curious book led
| him to make the above statement.
| While refreshing his memory from the
unique diary from time to time, Capt.
Linden SAID, in support of his theory:
"Early in the 70's knew in Chicago
the chap that wrote this book, and,
| after killing man in cold blood, he
might have enjoyed freedom for the
remainder of his life if he hadn't fooled
with a pen. Jackson Petit was his
name. He killed Tom Venable, and
disappeared as swiftly as though the
tagging at VeHable'S door had gaped
and swallowed him.
"Venable was lawyer of good family
and fair repute, as lawyers CO." the
captain continued, but as sharp as a
lancet and greedy to boot. Among his
clients was wealthy widow, whose
ward he loved. Petit was the widows
only son. and though he was up to his
ears in love with his foster sister she
did not care for him. Widow Petit
died. and her will gave Venable charge
OF her estate. which was 10 be equally
divided between her son and her foster
child, who was then minor.
''SOOn after the lawyer married the
girl, and between them they so juggled
the securities forming the bulk of Mrs.
Pettit's estate that, instead of the quar-
ter of million Jack had good reason to
believe would come to him on settle
ment day, he got less than half that
sum. Petit showed neither chagrin
nor resentment. He was too proud to
go to law. but he had even then begun
planning to kill the lawyer.
when he was caught" the narrator
went on, Petit told me that even after
he was safe and Venable was as dead as
dried cod his hate was so helliSh that
he wished he had to dO it all over again.
Petit lived IN bachelor quarters on the
outskirts of Chicago. Venable's offices,
on the ground floor, we're in the bust
ness part of town. One evening he was
found stretched face down on the floor
OF his front office, his head battered out
of shape. A bloOd-smeared hammer,
such as PAYERS use. lay near him.
Petit" said the captain. had bought
the hammer. After tine crime not a
trace of him could be found. Rich re-
wards for his capture were offered
Drli of holt fafn nj
| in vain. Then it became common belief
| that he had taken his own life to avoid
capture, and on that presumption search
for him was stopped. Yet all the while
he was living like lord in the very
heart OF Chicago.
Just over the way from Venable's
place was building some ten stories
high, filled with Offices. Months before
the murder Petit, under false name,
hired three rooms on the top floor. pay
| ing years rent In advance. He told
| the agent that he was a chemist from an
| Eastern city, and explained that while
he might not occupy the apartments a
| month all told. he wanted them as a
storage place for lot of fragile appa-
ratus of great value. Petit had inserted
| i'll the lease clause prohibiting any
| one but himself from entering the
| costly paraphernalia. New locks were
| put on, Petit getting the keys.
LAS soon as Oscar Volckmar, Chem
ist,' was gilded Oh the outer door," said
the captain, Jack began fitting the
| rooms for six, and if need be twelve,
| months SoJourn therein. After carpets,
| rugs, easy chairs, sofa bed, linen, 300
| books, clothing and other necessities
| were In place, he began laying in his
| stores. They consisted Of"
At this point in his narrative the cap
| tain read from a dog-eared memoran-
| dun book
1.-TWO hundred pounds of ship bis
cult, so pounds of Graham crackers,
cases of preserved beef, in tins; cases
of soups, condensed; dozen cans of
fowl. roasted and stewed; 1 dozen
crooks of potted game; 2 chunks of
smoked beef; dozen moIds of pate de
| foie graS. 2 dozen cans of oysters,
| picked; dozen jars of lambs tongues,
| picked: pineapple cheeses, 10 pots of
| honey, dozen cans of French peas, II
! glasses of jams and jelIies. IL jars of pre-
| served peaches, dozen Jars of cherries,
| dozen bottles of assorted pickles, II
| quarts of olive oil, to be used in lieu Of
| butter; 10 pounds OF tea, 2 dozen cans
| of condensed milk, $500 Havana cigars,
| cases of sparkling Wine.l case of Bur-
| gundy, IL dozen pints OF elaret, 2 gal
| Ions of brandy, 6 cases OF mineral
water, gross of matches, 2 boxes of
wax candies, medicine chest, 10 gal
| Ions of coal oil, all oil stove, chating
dishes, linen and tableware.
These goods were delivered" he
| said, 'at house Jack had rented in
| distant part of the town, where he had
4 l. IT., I'd TO-
| the purpose. 1t took him over three
months, working at intervals. to stock
| his retreat. When every detail bad been
attended to he removed his money from
| bank, so as to have it by him when he
| decided it was safe to flee.
| while making these preparations he
! kept up show of friendship for his in
| tended victim, visiting his Office every
| few days. AS soon as everything was
| ripe he murdered Venable, closed the
| door behind him, crossed the street and
| was lifted to his eyrie, where he lived
in self-imposed solitary confinement for
fortv-fve weeks.
Petit told me that he lived comfort
ably, eating, drinking, smoking, read
ing and sleeping when he pleased.
| Months before he came out search for
| him had been abandoned. His Seden-
fat as porpoise. He was so hairy that
his most intimate acquaintance could
| not have recognized him. He went to
Europe for year. AS Volckmar he
| for two years sent the office rent 10 the
| agent at Chicago.
| His love for Mrs. Venable, his foster
| sister, who had Tilted him, increased
| with time.
after she had been a widow about
| three years Mrs. VenabIe began getting
| letters making inquiries about Petit.
They were signed with the name of a