Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-11-09
WERE SLAIN FOR MONEY.
A Shocking Tragedy in the Vii
lage of Mischicott.
ROBBERS BLOODY DEED
Ernest Messmer in Jail Charged with
the Double C~riIne-People In
tenseIy Excited.

Two Rivers, Wis, Nov. T.-[Special. j
A most shocking tragedy has set the little
village of Mishicott, seven miles north
west of here, into a state of feverish ex-
element. Mr.. and Mrs. John Balls, an
aged couple residing in the village, were
murdered at their home in a horrible man.
ner.
Early yesterday morning Albert Mundt,
a farmer, called at the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. John Bahls, but, receiving no re-
Spouse ct the front door, tried the rear
door, which opened readily, and there a
CHASTITY sight met his eyes. Stretched
across the floor with the bed clothing
wrapped about her lay the dead body of
Mrs. Balls in a pool OF blood. Hastily
giving the alarm a careful search resulted
in the discovery of the dead body of Mr..
BahlS in a barn near the dwelling. His
face was battered to a pulp, d bloody axe
near at hand mutely teStifying as to the
manner in which his life had been taken.
An examination of the premises revealed
the fact that the house had been ransacked
proving that the motive for the double
murder had been robbery.
Suspicion as TO the murderer Immediate
~ fell upon Ernest Messmer, who had re-
ceived lodging for several nights previous
at the hands Of the murdered couple,
sleeping in the barn on each occasion.
Searching parties were Immediately or
ganized and sent in all directions with the
result that at 5 O'Clock yesterday after
noon soIne of the searching parties found
the alleged murderer abed at the home OF
a cousin at Two Greeks. Bloodstains
were found on his clothing. He was i'm
mediately arrested and taken TO the coun-
~ jail at Manlt0WOc to await trial.
The house in which the Bahls lived
was a little frame building Of one story,
30x20 feet in size, with a summer kitch-
Gn in the rear. The barn was small
or and contained only a little hay. 1t
was about 200 feet from the house. The
nearest house to that of Mr.. and Mrs.
Bahls was that of Bruno Mueller, about
forty feet away. Mr.. Mueller and his
wife heard 10 noise in the night, and it
is probable that the murderer struck
down both his victims without warning
and without an opportunity to make even
\ feeble defense. Had the murder been
committed at II or y o'clock, as is sus-
pected, Messmer might still have had
ESue to get to the house of his cousin at
Two Creeks, which is about eight miles
from Mishicott.
The village Of Mishicott went wild with
excitement when the news Of the bloody
crime became known and there is no
doubt but what Messmer would have
been lynched Or murdered in some man
ner by the enraged villagers. A barrel,
lined with spike points, had been pre-
pared in which to put the murderer of
The Bahls, and barrel and victim were to
be rolled down hill. If the prisoner had
Remained at Mishicott the authorities
would have been helpless against mob
violence.
The murdered couple were old and re-
spected residents Of Mishicott, where they
had resided since their removal from a
Farm in ~SaXonburg. Bahls was Il years
aid and his wife sc years. They were
known to possess 4 considerable amount
Of money.
The bodies Of the two murdered Bahls
were taken care OF yesterday, but no ar
engagements will be made for a day or
two for a funeral because of the general
excitement. \ cor0ner's jury will be i'm
paneled today or tomorrow.