Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-09
PASSION TURNS TO MURDER
Claus Dettefsen Tries to Kill the Girl He
Processes to Love.
BLOODY WORK OF A DESPERATE BRUTE
Dicdrich GIcsinG Instantly Killed
while Defending His sister from
the Attack of u Mnd-
dcncd Suitor.

/
crime was committed during terrible fight,
the outcome of an attempt by the murderer
to saoot Christina Closing, Il 2Oyear-old
girl, who had rejected the advances of tho
murderer. His actions show he had dclber-
| atey planned to kill the girl, and subSe-
quently any of the family who undertook to
thwart him in his designs.
Marx Closing lives eight miles northwest
of the city. In the neighborhood and on one
OF the many farms of Richard Henry, lived
Claus Dettefson, who came into the neigh
borhood from Dodge county last spring and
rented the farm mentioned. Not long after
his arrival he met Christina Closing. the 20
ycar-old daughter of Marx Closing, and be-
came enamored OF her Mr.. Closing having
stated in the telling the story of the crime
that he wanted to marry her the first time
he went to see her. The character of tho
young man being somewhat unsavory, the
attentions offered were much opposed by tho
father and but cooly received by the daugh-
ter. The first thing to turn young Dettefsen's
mind was his failure to get to dance
with Christina at dance that was given at
the home of a Mr., Zigler during the sum-
mer. But a short time later young Dettefsen
and Christina happened to meet at a Catholic
church across the line in Dodge county, and
during his conversation with her he told her
that II she would not marry him he would
kill her father; that he was the one that was
was man he hated.
CAME PREPARED TO MURDER
Last night about 73O Dettefsen appeared
at the Closing home, having driven over in
two-horse buggy, as was learned this morn
ing when search was instituted for him,
walked into the house without knocking at
the door to warn them of his approach and
took seat in the kitchen where all of tho
FAMILY were sitting at that time, excepting
Mr.. Closing, who was suffering from head
ache and had gone into his bedroom and
laid down to sleep. There seemed nothing
out of the way in his demcanor and he
conversed with the family in good spirits,
laughing, joking and entering heartily into
the general good time that was being en-
joyCd by the large family In their pleasant,
congenial home. There being musicians in
the family a dulcimer and violin being the
instruments played upon, the party later
adjourned to the sitting room and added
music to the former enjoyment Soon after
arriving in the sitting room, Dettefsen took
a bottle OF whisky, a half-pint bottle, and
drank about half of it's contents after which
he removed a second bottle from his pocket,
found afterward to have contained strych-
nine poured its contents into what re-
mained OF the whisky and threw
the empty strychnine bottle into the
lap OF one Of the women. Immediately after
doing that he arose, drew 32-caliber revol-
yer from his pocket and fired at Christina,
who etood across the room from him and
Immediately before the door leading into the
room in which her father wap sleeping.
Christina fortunately having been watching
him, quickly stopped and the ball passed
overhead and entered the door at q point to
her about shoulder high. Two more shots
were fired at Eer, but without effect Died.
rich Closing, her 2l-year-old brother, sprang
at the man and threw his arms about him, but
In such a way that his left arm was held
while his right, containing the piStol, was
left free whereupun the pistol was swung
over Dettefsen's left shoulder and fired the
ball striking Diedrich almost in the center
OF the. forehead and killing him instantly.
While this was going on Bernhard younger
brother, had escaped from the room to run
and warn the neighbors and Christina by her
cries to her father that Claus shooting
had awakened him from his sleep; but during
this short time Dettefsen had attacked Mrs.
Closing and knocked her to the floor having
fired at her the remaining shot in the revol-
yer as she lay there. but without effect, and
wound up his assault upon her by striking
her with the butt of the revolver on the cap
of her right knee, where a most painful and
serious wound wa5 inflicted.
FATHERS TERRIBLE STRUGGLE
Mr.. Closing, as he came from his bed
room, was met at the door by the desperate
villain, who struck him a fearful blow over
the left eye with the butt of the revolver,
the blow and others administered after
wards by the barrels of the shotgun Mr..
Closing carried with him from the bedroom
freely from the wounds and his ears and
nose as well. Dettefsen pointed the revolver
at Gleslng's abdomen and pulled the trigger,
expecting thus to kill him; but the last ball
vas gone, and blow from Mr.. Glesing's
left hand sent the pistol to the ceiling and
gave Closing a chance to get his double
barreled shotgun to bear upon Dettefsen
and pull; the cartridge failed to explode
and Dettefsen started toward the kitchen
door whereupon the second cartridge in
tlnn ~ ri. hui NtrftI fl,a
result as before
Dettefsen seemed now intent upon making
his escape, but was assaulted by Closing,
who tried TO brain him with the shotgun.
Dettefsen caught the gun by its barrels and
in the struggling that ensucd the lever was
unlocked and the gun came in two. Dettefsen
holding the barrels, Closing the stock and
the barrels at once began to descend with
rapicty and violence upon the head and
shoulders OF Closing, but not with sufficient
effect to down him. as his opponent seemed
TO be wearied with his maHiaCal struggle
against SO many. He still seemed to desire
TO retreat and in passing TO the Kitchen again,
where bernhard, the younger brother, and
a younger sister were, he assaulted the girl
and beat and bruised her badly with tho
gun barrels and then started for Bernhard.
who passed out of the room and into the
darkness. closely pursued by Dettefsen and
sought refuge In a corntield near by. Dettof-
sen did not follow him far, evidently going
at once to his buggy and continuing his re-
treat
ESCAPE OF THE MURDERER.
strange part Of the affair was that none
Of them were aware that Diedrick had been
killed until after the murderer had gone.
The neighbors were warned and the sheriff
and his deputy sent for appearing as soon
as possible upon the scene aud starting in
pursuit. Dettefsens buggy was found
mile and one-half east OF the scene OF his
crime, II having got broken so that It could
not be used. few miles further on, ono
1f the horses he had been driving was found
running loose. which indicated that he had
aiken tho other, bay horse. and continued
ais flight.
Word brought in by the coroner this after
loon was that the last known
II Dettefsen was that he was at
he home of brother-in-law In
Dodge county at II o'clock last night.
lis direction OF flight from there is not
snown. II was thought he might be found
o have drank the whisky into which strych-
line was put, but the bottle was found in
he room where most OF the lighting occurred,
.aying been dropped.
The coroner examined Dedrlch's body and
ound that apother shot than the fatal one
lad entered his body. Dettefsen left a noto
o his mother. who kept house for him, stat
ng that he Intended killing the girl and then
himself; that he was not to blame for II and
Ould NOT helm n thnuph ha knew she waa