The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-07-15
The Wilhelm Homicide.


The coroner returned Saturday night
from holding the inquest oyer the remains
of E. w. Wilhelm on Ten Mile creek, and
from the testimony before the jury the facts
appear different from those published
Those who witnessed the tragedy were II.
J. Wilhelm, Mrs. Lydia Wilhelm and Miss
Emma Dace, and their testimony was ex-
plicit regarding the affray. There were
others sworn, among whom were Mrs. Jo-
sephlne Wilhelm, the wife of the deceased,
two of his sons and some of the nelghbors
From the testimony it appears that Mr.. q.
j. Wilhelm had been managing his fathers
farm for the past two years, and his wife,
wife's sister and his two children lived on
the ranch. Friday evening, about o'clock,
Mrs. Lydia Wilhelm went out and called
her father-in.law, husband and sister to
supper. Mr.. E. w. Wilhelm walked into
the front room and was looking out the
window when the others came through the
garden gate, Miss Emma Dace, girl about
2years of age, being the last and closing the
gate after her. As she came on the porch
the old gentleman began to curse her and
told her to look out for her life. At this
the son requested him to keep still and stop
quarrelling, and he then abused Mrs. Lydia
Wilhelm-the sons wife-and grabbed her
by the arm tearing her dress in different
places. The young man then pushed him
back, at the same time asking him to keep
still and stop wrangling. A scufle and
fight then ensued, in which blows passed
between father and son, the parties during
the melee passing through the hall, into the
front room and on the porch. By this time
the father was in a violent passion, and
made threats to kill the entire family. He
Immediately went into the bed room,
grabbed the double-barrelled shotgun,
raised both hammers, and came out with it
pointed towards Hermann. Realizing that
his life was In danger FL. j. Wilhelm
picked up stick Of fir wood lying IN the
hall, and, pushing the muzzle of the gun
from him struck his father two or three
blows. asking him at the same time to quit.
At which the old man again cursed him and
his family and said he would kill them all.
The son then struck him heavy blow over
the head, and he began to stagger and fall.
Herman then took the gun, which was fall
ing from his fathers hand, handed it to his
wife, and supported the old man with his
arm. He procured a quilt, wrapped 1t
around his head, leaving his face exposed,
and death ensued in few moments.
Thinking his mother-who was at the barn
during the fight-would be shocked at the
sight Of her dead husband, he took
the body down stairs to the cellar, and I'M
mediately went and told her all the circum.
stances. As soon as she became somewhat
pacitied, he removed his father to the front
room IN the position In which he was found
when the coroner arrived. The two other
sons of the deceased were sent for and also
several of the neighbors. The testimony of
the widow was to the effect that her hus.
band was very much worried because of
having so much property, and was liable to,
have ''spells" of bad temper. During such |
times she left him alone, as he was difficult |
to control. One Of the sons testified that |
three years ago the father had threatened to |
kill him with pitchfork because be had
not placed the grain level on the threshing
1oor, and also that he had beat his wife at |
mother time. This was an unmarried SON,
Who had lived away from home for some
ime. It was also in evidence that E. W.