The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-11-10
MURDER AT MISHICOpT.

Mr.. and Mrs. John Bahls, an aged
couple we're murdered at MIshicoUt on
Saturday night. They occupied d cot,
taae in the village, Mr.. BabIs was rs
years old, b wife 10 years younger.
hey operated farm IN the DeIghbor-
hood, which they sold eight years ago,
taking up their residences In the village
The body of Mrs. Bahls was found Ia
bed room CT the cottage 10 a terrib-
ly mu;ilated shape, She had been beat
en- to death With a stone which was found
Gear the body. A further search re, called
the body Of Mr.. Bahis In a little barn
about 300 feet from the house, he had
been killed with an axe which was found
near. His head was hacked and his
skull crushed.
From the appearance OF the house 1t
WAS evident that robbery was the cause
of the murder as the building had been
ransacked and papers we're scattered
about the floor. II was known that the
old couple we're we'll to-do and kept con
siderable money 10 the house
The crime WAS not discovered until ar
ter O'Clock Sunday morning. Albert
MundU called at the home of Mr.. Bahls
to borrow something and entering by the
back door as the front door was locked,
found The rooms 10 disorder. On max
ing search he fonnd the body of Mrs.
Bahls IL the bed room covered with
feather bed, He spread the news OF his
discovery and crowd soon collected.
The stone used TO kill Mrs Bahls was an
ordinary cobblestone weighing about six
pounds. The blows crushed her head
and one ear was torn off by the force of
the blow. Some of her ribs were also
broken. The edge of the AKA had been
| used on MIR. Bahls face. The jaw was
almost chopped off and a deep cut ex-
| tended backward from one eye. The
skull was also broken. The axe, as well
| as the stone was covered With blood.
Sheriff Muth was notified by tele-
| phone and he and District Attorney
| Schenian proceeded at once TO the sceLe
of the tragedy, Suspicion at once rested
| on Ernst Messman, man WHO has done
work as a farm laborer but is not partlc-
ularly industrious. IL was known he
| mad slept the night preceding al Bdhls,
and some say IN the barn where the ola
man was killed. Messman frequently
spent night at Bahls' rs be worked for
| him while Bahls was running his farm
| The FACE that Messman had disappeared
shari ened suspicion, A posse consisting
of Sheriff Muth. August Dcews, Fred
| QQlstorf and Ira Boyer Set out for the
residence OF John Messnan in Two
Greeks, brother of Ernsts, and here he
was found and arrested, he protested
his innocence but did not resist arrest
He was brought to Jail Sunday night
the sheriff avoiding the village of Mlsni
colt as he excitement there was such ne
feared Messman would be lynched.
| Messman occupies q Cell on the upper
= ha IL
strict that no ooe be allowed to see him
He has strained the rule on behalf of tn,
reporters. When The Pilot representa-
tive saw Messmap, he was at first dis
posed to be uncommuuicative, ouo late
came to The door and answered question
readily, He Is d strong looklng mar
and is % years old, though he does no
look 1t. He was born in Germany ant
came to this cou-try ID 1865. He speak
English lmperfectly. He said IN sub
stance:
II slept at Bahls' on Friday night Bo
left there about half past two on Satur
day afternoon and went to my brother
place in Two Creeks. L did not stop o.
the way but went straight on. l was nc
: sleeping when the sheriff got me. BAIL
and L were always good friends. Nj
father had farm near bis and Bahls an
] his wife used to visit us My father
! dead. L worked for Bahls before he sol
. bis farm and We always got along well t.
[ ge her, Iwcrk around everywhere, mos
r ly on farms. | did not xiii Bahls or Il
S wife and didn't know they were dead u,
S til the sheriff told me-
d Messman was quite cool while talkiu,
= he has had previous acquain; auce VII
& jail cells, having been committed be
|. once for stabblng a man with 4 pltC
q fork and another time on complaint
l. his wife. He WAS also suspected at oil
s. time with havIn, Esd Paris green to
3 neighbours stock. He is said to be pan
violent temper at times and is dlstrust,