The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-06

CHICAGO, Feb. 5,-An entire family
OF six, father, mother, vito and three
children were murdered last night by
Richard Klneke, u Lake View carpen-
tor. who then completed his work by
killing himself. The dead are:
Richard Klaeke. carpenter. IS years
of age.
Kate Rlaeke, his wife.
John Klaeke, his father. aged az
Wilhelmine Klaeke. his mother, aged
Nina Klaeke, daughter. aged9
Anna Klaeke, daughter. aged 8.
Emma Klneke, daughter aged Z.
The members OF the Klaeke family
were found dead early this morning IN
their little cottage at s07 Bcrseau ave-
nue.. two blocks from Cuylor station
suburb on the Chicago & Northwestern
railroad. The discovery was made by
Matthew Brown, q saloon keeper. Mr.
BrowVwishing some work done called
at the Klaeke residence TO secure the
services OF the carpenter. He raped
on the door, but there was no response.
Knowing that Klaekes were early ris-
ers he became suspicious, called neigh
bors, and broke In.
In the house he found the seven
corpscS. Each had bullet wound IN
the head. In each case the ball mad
penetrated the brnin. and death had
evidently been instantaneous.
Beside the body OF Richard Klaeke
lay n revolver and empty cartridge
shells were scattered about the rooms:
One peculiar feature was the lack OF
any iudlcation Of q struggle on the part
of any Of the victims and heavy odor'
which appeared TO be that OF chloro-
form, pervaded the house.
From this II was surnised that Rich
ard had first chloroformed the entire
family and had then ut his leisure taken
deliberate aim and had put bullet into
the brain OF each.
Mr.. Brown took n hasty survey only
OF the premises and then FASTENED 10
send word to the police. A detail OF
officers was sent TO the scene In pat
rol wagon and a more careful eXnmina-
ton was made OF the surroundings.
There seemed but little more to COM
piete the tale told by Brown. Every.
thing pointed to deliberately planned
murder by the head OF the family ana
q desire 10 place himself and family be-
yond any further earthly troubles.
Klaeke was respondent; his family
were cold and hungry and since Christ
mas he had been out OF work. ana ne
ended his troubles Just as relief was In
sight
This morning his next door neighhor.
AdoIph Schmidt. called ut the cottage
with the joyful news that he had found
d lob for Klaeke. AT the same time
Matt Brown arrived on the same err
rand. They came too late, Just how
much no one knows. Us the bodies were
cold when discovered.
The police and physicians reached
the conclusion that klaeke was mem
tally unsound and his act was the re-
suit OF broodlng over recent similar
crime In this city. the porpetrator OF
which was Jens Nansen. a Danish fugi-
tive from justice.
showed that one OF the victims alone
mad any warning OF her fate, This was
Mrs, Kate KlateKe. the wife OF the
murderer She, II appeared, had strug-
gled with her husband before the fatal
Ehot was fred. Her hands were
scratched and her clothing torn. She
had evidently been overpowercd and
thrown on the bed beside the dead
body OF her little seven-year-old
daughter, Emma. Both were found in
the rear room OF the three which COM
prise the one story above the base
ment 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.
The spot for the revolver mark was
carefully chosen and was the same in
each OF the victims.
on n chair lny milestone and two
knives. each OF which had been sharp
ened to the keen edge OF q Dzor. II was
evident tina tKlatcke had prepared for
q possible failure Of his revolver and
had arranged n sure substitute, II
needed.
The police theory as to the use OF
cllloroform Is not borne out by DR..
Friend, who was called In by the neigh
borS. The doctor failed on his arrival.
to notice the characteristic Odor OF the
drug. a search was made for bottles,
which might have contained chloro-
form. but none were found, nor any
traces OF cloth which might have been
saturated with II. II sopor fic was
used, 1t was probably administered in
food and It Is considered that morphine
was probably the agent selected.
Neighbors OF the dead family say
TINT Kiateke was driven to desperation
by his mIsfortunes and inability TO Sc
cure work.
On the other hand a quantity Of po-
tatoes and other provisions were dis
covered In the house. and In q bureau
drnwcr was 81. The police and ply
Riclans reached the conclusion that
Klatcke was mentally unsound.