Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-02-06
STARTLING ouIGAeo TRAGEDY.


Father, Mother, wife and Three Children
Shot by Richard Klattke, a LakevIew Car
penter-The Victims Chlnroformod and
Slain at the Flend's Leisure.
Associated Press Dtspatcn pY special Wires
Chicago, ILL.,, Feb. 5.~-An entire
family Of six,-father, mother, wifo
and three children we're murdered last
night by Richard }Klattke. Lal.eyiow
carpenter, who then completed his
work by killing himself. The dead
are:
Richard Klattlse, aged 38 years.
Kate Klattke, his wife.
John Klattke, his father, aged 10
years.
Wilhelmina Klattke, his mother,
aged II years.
Nina klattke, daughter, aged years.
Anna Klattle, daughter, aged years.
Emma Klattke, daughter, aged years.
The members of the family were
found dead early this morning in their
little cottage, No. 207 Derseau avenue,
two blocks from Culyer station, a
suburb on the Chicago & Northwest
ern railroad. The discovery was made
by Matthew Brown, saloon keeper.
Mr.. Brown, wishing some work done,
called at the KIattke residence to se-
cure the services of the carpenter He
rapped on the door but there was no
response. Knowing that the family
were early risers he became suspicious,
called neighbors and broke in door.
In the house he found the seven corpses.
Each had bullet wound in tho head.
In each case the ball had penetrated
the brain and death had evidently been
instantaneous.
Beside the body of Richard Kiattke
lay revolver, and empty cartridges
shells were scattered about the rooms.
One peculiar feature was the lack Of
any indication of struggle on the part
of any of the victims and heavy odor,
apparently that of chloroform, which
psrvaded the house. From this it is
surmised that Richard Klattke had
chloroformed the family and, at his
leisure, had put bullet in the brain
Of each.
Mr. Brown, after taking a hasty sur
vey Of the premises, notified the police.
A detail of officers was sent to the
scene and a more careful examination
of tho surroundings was made. There
seemed but little more to complete the
tale told by Brown. Everything pointed
TO deliberately planned murder by
the head Of the family.
Klattke was despondent. His family
were cold and hungry. Ho had been
out Of work since Christmas He ended
his troubles Just as relief was in sight
This morning his next door neighbor,
Adolph Schmidt, called at the cottage
with the joyful news that he had
found job for Klattke. At the same
time Mr.. Brown arrived on the same
errand. They came too late, just how
much no ono knows, for the bodies
were cold when discovered.
A close examination Of the remains
showed that one of the victims alone
had any warning of her fate. This was
Mrs. Kate Klattbe, the wife of the
murderer. She, it appears, had strug-
gled with her husband. Her hands were
scratched and her clothing torn. She
had evidently been overpowered and
thrown on the bed beside the dead
body of her 7-years-old daughter
Emma. Both were found in the rear
room of the three which comprise the
one story above the basement of the
little frame cottage where they lived.
The pillow and bed clothing were sat
urated with blood, which had flowed
from the wound in the right cheek
just below the eye of each. The bullets
had been fred at close range and the
faces Of the victims were burned and
torn by the force of the powder.