The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-09
FRICHTFUL CRUELTY
Practiced Upon an Aged Couple
by Robbers.
SUPPOSED GUESTS WERE BANDITS

Old Man and His wife Awakened at Mid
night and Tortured In "a Terrible Man
ner Because They Claimed Tney Had
No Money--Their + ct BADLY Frozen by
Being Placed in "A Tub of Snow AMI salt
May Result Fatally.
Chicago, Jan. 9.-Two men bound,
gagged and brutally ill-treated Chris
TOPPER Wartenburg and his wife Thurs
day night. The old couple live on their
farm south of Lace, near the big
| Woods" in the vicinity of Hinsdale.
Many persons in the neighborhood
have long believed them to have a
large sum of money concealed about the
house. The two men who introduced
themselves as Clark and Heinke of
Chicago, stopped at the Wartenburg
homestead and requested the old gen.
tleman and his wife to keep them over
night that they might go rabbit shoot
ing in the morning. Wartenburg, on
being offered a liberal sum, consented
to receive the strangers. Both were
shown to a bedroom adjoining the sit
ting room Immediately after supper.
having first participated in Scripture
reading with their host and hostess.
Shortly after midnight Wartenburg
was awakened by the pressure Of the
muzzle of a revolver against his fore
head, and looking up saw the elder of
his two guests, who had given his
name as Heinke. standing over him
with lamp and revolver.
ThraatanaI Will, n.atl.
Tell us where you keep your money
and you will not be harmed" said
Heinke
I'VE have no money in the house."
replied Wartenburg.
I'VE know better than that, and we |
are going to have it. Tell us where 1t |
Is, or We will kill you
The old man denied having any
money. and with an oath the robber
called to his companion to bring in the
tub. The other man, Clark, dragged q
large tub, which he had filled with
snow and salt. into the room, and seiz-
Ing Mrs. Wartenburg bound her with
a sheet and plunged her bare feet into
the freezing mixture. Heinke kept
Wartenburg covered with his revolver,
and repeated his demands tor money.
Mrs. Wartenburg is nearly 70 years old
She suffered intense pain, but steaily
denied that there was any money about
the place, and begged piteously to be
The torture was continued
until she screamed in agony
Finding that this failed to bring the
desired information, the aged host was
treated in similar manner, in spite Of
his assurances that a pocketbook in the
upper bureau drawer containing "a was
LII the money in the house.
Left In Their Agony.
The robbers ripped open all the mat
resses in the house and emptied ev-
Try drawer Every carpet was torn
rom the floors and the kitchen floor
tipped up. After a second application
# the chilling foot bath had failed to
licit any information the robbers
'ound and gagged Mr.. and Mrs. War;
enburg securely to the two lounge
hairs, with their feet in the brine. and
eft them.
The Wartenburg house stands quite
distance back from the road, and no
ne visited the house until late Fri
ay. when neighbor knocked, and,
caring only groan in response, broke
ne door from its hinges, and, entering.
ound Wartenburg and his wife as the
obbers had left them. Mrs. Warten-
urg was unconscious and her husband
early so. The feet Of both were badly
'ozen. 1t is feared the shock and ex-
OSllrp NAV raSnlt 70 toIlxy