The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-05
NOVELS LED THEM TO KILL.
THE MYSTERY OF YOUNG KOELLERS
MURDER CLEARED UP.

uop.L Copfe,,e. hat He wRTnted to
AyenEe the Murder of Brother Thir-
teen Years Ago and That Hundhhuseh'
who Had No Motive to XIII, Helped HIM.
CHICAGO. Sept. 4.-There Is no longer any
mystery about the assassination last eaturuW
night OF Walter f. Koeller in his room az Soo'a
Fulton street The prompt arrest OF the Two
young men. Richard Honek and Herman
Hundhausen. two hours and hall aiter they
committed the crime, was followed to-day oy
conn lete con fcssions OF the murder by both OF
them. desire to avenRe past wrongs was
tho alleged motive for the crime and there
seems no doubt that the prisoners were inspired
to commit the crime by constant reading OF
sensational and trashy novels OF the Jesse
James variety.
Honek admitted that he seized Koellcr from
behind and reaching around him plunged
bowie knife into his heart. koeler Tell to the
floor and Hon"k saws he once more stabbed
him in the breast. All this time llundhnusen
was standing atthe door OF the bedroom with a
knife unsheathed. ready to kill any person who
might attempt to Interfere Following Is the
statement made by II mex:
Thirteen years ago my brother Henry was
assassinated at Herman. Mo They said
man Of the name Of schlander killed him, but
the murderer escaped. When was a boy 10
years old. q man told me that Walter
Koeller's father had something to do
with tho assassination and made
up my mind then that ! would get even
with him. | was in Cincinnati last week. and
on Thursday | went to Dixon to meet Humid
hansen my chum, who was going to schoo
there, lie got the address Of koeller for me
and we started for the city. arriving here FRI
day morning.
I'VE walked down to tho lake front on Sat
a ,I, "A 10 Va
ing to do them both il we could
Waiter and his brother George. We
called at the house at night and the
woman told us George was at work and
Walter was sick in bed. We went away and
came hack in few minutes and told tho
woman that George said it was all right for us
to nee Walter.
I'VE went up stairs. Hundhausen went into
tho room where Waiter was lying on the bed
He said. Hello Waiter and he got up. He
put on his pants and lit match. He did not
see me, because in the dark | had
gone behind him | let him light the
gas then ! threw my left arm around
him and reached around with my right, I
stabbed him in the breast. He fell down, cry
ing MURDER and as he lay on his back l
stabbed him again. Hundhausen ran away then
and followed him. l am sorry did it. but
the memory Of the wrong done my brother
made me blind
Hundhausen corroborated this story. l1e
said he knew Walter Koeler was to be MUIR
dered by Honek. He explained that he was
willing to become an accessory to the murder
because he did not like the actions of the
Koocr boys"
Chief Kipley congratulated Capt. Campbell
and Inspector Shea OF the readiness with
which the mysterious features Of the case
have been disposed OF. Hundhausen was
trapped into making n confession by a
we-known trick. Last night. Oflcer
Dennis Brasor was ken to the
cell occupied by Hundhausena and thrust inside
as prisoner He was in citizens clothes AS
Lieut.. Elliott locked him in. he struck Brasor
on the head and Brasor returned the blow.
Hundhausen naturally thought hardened
criminal had been arrested and nut in the cell
with him.
The disguised detective lamented his fate
ard cursed the police so vehemently that
Hundhausens sympathy was aroused. A con-
versation was begun which did not end until
Detective Brasor was in full possession Of all
tho facts in the Boeler murder. The men
were then told they had been trapped and
both said they were prepared to make signed
statements Of the facts in the case. Roth de-
carei that there never had been any trouble
between them and Koeller over any love affair."
and said that they did not have the idea OF
robbery in view when they killed their victim
Revenge. they asserted. was their sole motive.