The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-03-07
TRIAL OF FRANK KO11WITz
A South Dakota Murder Case Of
Peculiar Interest.
Accused Of Killing His Wife : sus-
pected of the Murder of Her
First Husband and Two
ofHis Own Children.

Chamberlain, S. D., March THE
trial Of Frank kottwitz. a prominent
German farmer for the murder of his
wife and unborn child, during q term
OF court which %convenes in Grant coun-
ty today, will attract widespread at
tention throughout the northwest by
reason of the unusually sensational
and peculiar features of the case, and
the proba bility-if not certa!nty-that
the accused will be sent to the gallows
for his cold hiooded crime.
kottWitz WAS born in Germany 20
years ago. n settled in Dakota in 1879.
coming from Fairfield, MINI. His wife.
whose maiden name was Rinke. re-
moved with her parents from Wabasha,
Mimi, to Grant county, S. D., in the fall
OF 1880. At that time she was about 18
years of age. She and Kottwitz became
acquainted shortly after her arrival in
the territory, and the acquaintance
soon ripeied into love. The story Of
their conrtship and ultimate marriage
is a romantic one. Kottwitz and the
girl We're engaged and expected to be
married at an early date, when a we'll
to do young farmer named Raisener,
living just across the Dakota line in
Lac pui Parle county. Mimi. with the
assistance of a neighbor named Her.
man schwegel, succeeded In prevailing
upon the girl to marry him. The nature
of the influence employed is not known.
1t was understood hat Schwegel re-
ceived $50 for his assistance In bring
ing about the wedding.
kottMitz, Notwithstanding his having
been Tilted in this summary manner,
attended the wedding. Those present
noticed that the bride gave every indi-
cation of being more devoted to him
than to her newly welded husband, and
the fact was commented upon by the
guests of this wedding. When the we'd
ding party broke up the girls parents
compelled her to occupy one room,
while her husband occupied another.
both being locked in their apartments.
IN the morning Raisener returned
home without his bride. They, in fact,
never lived with each other. Some two
on three months later Raisener was
found dead on h prairie near his home.
a revolver was lying by his side, and
the gained circulation that he
had committed suicide. But from re-
cent information it would appear that
kottWitz. at least-and probably one
other ,perSon--knoWs hat he did not
commit suicide, and could explain the
real cause of his death. The young
widow then married Kottwltz. Neigh
bors say KottWitZ toe possession OF
Raisener's farm and other property,
and subsequently mortgaged the farm.
Other stories, the truth of which may
be developed by the testimony pro-
duced at the impending trial. are told
of his probable connection with the
death of two of his children who died
under curious circumstances. The
couple We're blessed with eight children.
The eldest of the six now living is about
II years Of age. The husband is of an
irritable and quarrelsome disposition,
and when under the influence of liquor,
as was frequently the case, was very
abusive to his wife. kicking her bru-
tally whenever matters did not go TO
suit him.
On the 18th of last October a thresh-
ing crew was at Kottwitz' place, but
having suffered a breakdown, the men
We're idle for the time being. Kottwitz
went to a nearby town to have the bro
ken portion of h machinery repaired,
End returned home very drunk. TAXI
ing offense at something connected with
the midday meal, he violently kicked
his wife, who ran from the house and
lay down on the ground in the yard.
He followed her and again kicked her
PROSTATE form several times. To es-
cape him she hanback, into the house
and sank down on q bed. August Kott-
WITT. a cousin of the husband, was in
the house, ard she called to him that
sac was dying, expiring before he
reached her. In reply to the question
iii, of officers who arrived sometime la
ter, Kottwitz said he did not know what
caused his wife's death. as she had al
ways been a healthy The Off
Gals could elicit nothing of Importance
n left the premises. The following
the day h husband of the murdered
woman's sister informed the authors
ties OF the true circumstances connect
ed with the woman's death, and inquiry
among the threshing hands justified
the arrest of Kottwitz. He made no re-
sistancc, and did not show any partic-
ular concern at the turn affairs had ia
ken.
The brutal affair created intense ex-
element when the particulars became
known, and the sentiment was freely
expressed that Judge Lynch should
mete out punishment to the perpetra-
tor, but the counsel of cooler heads pre-
vailed, and the law will be permitted
to take its course.
Fire at Smithland.