Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-11-08
THIEF'S AWFUL CRIME.
A Desperate Burglar Shot Dead After Com
hitting a Cruel Murder.

hitting Cruel Murder.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Nov. AIS the result
of three burglars entering the house of
Frank B. Wheeler at Wilmette, near
this city, this morning, one Of the in
truders was killed, the house was fred
and Mrs. Cron, the mother-in-iaw of
the householder, after having been
beaten by the robbers, was burned to
death
Mr.. Wheeler was awakened by noise
in the house and securing two revolvers,
began an investigation. Upon entering
the upper hall he saw a light in Mrs.
Cron's room and pile of plumber before
her door, Starting towards the door he
saw his mother-in-law lying on the floor,
her face and head covered with blood
Before he could enter man rushed from
the room and past him down the stairs
Mr.. Wheeler opened fire. AT the first
shot the burglar stumbled and as five
more bullets followed in rapid success
sion he fell unconscious in the lower
hallway. At that moment another
man, alarmed by his comrades fate,
broke from the hall and started across
the adjacent prairie, with Wheeler in
hot pursuit.
After emptying his remaining revolt
yer and losing sight of his man, Mr..
Wheeler returned to find his house
ablaze, probably fired by the burglars to
cover the evidence Of their crime.
save Mrs. CrOn, who was dead when
taken from the house, her head and
limbs having been burned away. The
fire was eXtinguished before the build
ING was consumed.
The raid had been well planned.
The burglars were familiar with the
habits of the Wheeler household. Mrs.
Cron was known to be wealthy. Dur
ing the recent panic in Denver she
drew $4,000 from a bank in that city
and kept it for some time in a trunk
ut the house in Wilmette. 1t was
deposited in a Chicago vault,
however, and had the raid been
successful the burglars would have been
disappointed in their plumber. Mr..
Wheeler's statement is that three burg
lars instead of two as first reported
entered the house. When he saw the
intruders two were carrying trunk
down stairs having left Mrs. Cron's
room. While shots were being fired
third ran from cover and joined his
comrade in flight
Mrs. Cron was % years old and a ma
tive of Canada. She had made her
home with Mr.. and Mrs. Wheeler for
some months. She was quite wealthy
and wore costly jeWelry Last night it
lay in her room. On the body of the
dead burglar were found several rings
ana pins taken from the dead woman's
room.
The injured burglar with six bullets
in his body, was removed to Evanston
but died on the way. He was well
dressed, about % years of age, and had
the appearance of having been clerk or
professional man. In a pocket was
found an eNpensively bound testament
upon the tlyleaf of which was
written Paul +. Logan, $50 Ere
mont Street, Louisville, KY" and
From Mother to Pa" Nothing else
to indicate the dead burglars identity
could be found and description of his
comrade is lacking. The body will be
held at the Evanston morgue until the
coroner disposes of the case. A depu-
ty coroner reached Evanston this morn
ing and made arrangements to hold an
inquest. Mrs. Crons' body was taken
to the same mOrgue and an inquest on
both will be held at once.