Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-13
CHAPTER OF BLOOD
Nebraska Farmer Stays His Wife and Then
Commits Suicide,
THE CRIME IS COMMITTED NEAR STANTON
Frank Lepley, Bohemian, Aged so, is the
Chief Actor.
KILLS HIS BETTER HALF WITH A HAMMER
Beats Out Der Brains and Mutilstes Her
Body Frightfully.
ILLS HIS BETTER HALF WITH A HAMMER
ENDS HIS OWN EXISTENCE WITH POISON
Leaves Letter In witch He Ask.
Hi. Friends to Give Him
Fine Funeral aud Erect
Monument.

STANTON, Neb.. July 12.-tspecial Tele-
gram Word reached here today Of a hor-
rible murder coupled with suicide In Rams
horn precinct. The crime was committed
last evening, the principal actor in the
tragedy being Frank Lepley, Bohemian
farmer so years of age.
1t transpires that early in the evening
Lepley took hammer and attacked HE
wife fercely, beating out her brains and
leaving the body In feartully mutiiated
condition. The head was beaten almost TO
Jelly and the floor and walls OF the room
were covered with the unfortunate woman's
blood showing that a dreadful struggle for
life had occurred. The woman must have
furniture OF the room was strewn all about.
The skull was crushed in several places and
the face so badly dishgured that II was
nearly impossible to recognize the victim.
A small boy, the son OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Lepley, aged about years was in the room
when the attack was made upon his mother.
At first the lad pleaded with his father to
spare his mothers life, but when the man
turned on him and threatened to kill him
boy rushed in terror from the house. He
| ran as fast as his limbs could carry him
to the nearest neighbor, four miles away.
and gave the alarm
Search of the Premises.
| AS soon as possible a party was organized
and went to the rescue, but arrived too late
o-bes of any sssistance,- for both the woman
and her brutal husband were dead. The
| body of the murderer was found about 300
face downward. The features were dis
torted, but no sign of violence found
on the body. The conclusion is that after
Lepley killed his wife he ended his own
miserable existence by taking poison When
discovered the body was arrayed in its best
clothes, as though the suicide was a de-
liberate affair. He had evidently killed his
wife and then dressed himself for the de-
parture into the other world The body
made to resuscitate the man, but It was
too late to be OF any effect.
On entering the house horrible sight
met the eyes OF the party. In the kitchen
in a great pool of her own blood lay the
corpse of the victim Of her husbands fury
mutilated almost beyond recognition, while
everything in the room spattered with
the life fluid. She must have made
hard struggle for life and IL the truth could
be known it would make tale that would
cause the blood to run cold with horror.
Wants Monument.
vealed a sum of money amounting to $3.50
hidden away in a bureau drawer, while
on a table in the sitting room was found
a note from Lepley In which he requested
his friends to give him a 6ne funeral and
erect monument over his grave He also
wrote that he wanted some ons to h1ve his
property but did not designate anyone as
beneficiary. The writer continued that
he was tited OF living and had decided to
put an end to his existence and that OF the
rest of his family. This indicates that he
intended to kill the boy after he had An
| ;.1nol h ,,,iFo Ia
to blame.
No cause. unless it was sudden mental
alteration, is known for the crime,
Lepley and his wife are reputed to have
lived happily together
The coroner held an inquest today and re-
turned a verdict TO the effect that Lepey
killed his wife with hammer and COM
mittad suicide by taking poison.
The Lepleys leave a married daughter and
son grown to manhood The latter was
away from home at the time OF the tragedy.
Miser Perishes In Burning House.
RICHMOND Mo, July 12.-The residence
OF Thomas Graves, eight miles southwest
OF Richmond, was burned during the night,
and Mr.. Graves and his sister Miss Lucy,
perished in the flames 1t was not known
that the building had been burned until
late In the afternoon, when a neghbor Wis