The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-05
YOUTHFUL DEGENERATES
HERMAN HUNDHAUSEN AND RICHARD
HOENECK MAKE CONFESSIONS.
Say They Killed Richard KOeller for
Revenge-POlice Find Their Vaiise
Full of Novels and Weapons.

CHICAGO, Sept. Ain the presence OF
Chief of Police Ripley and Inspector Shea,
and before a notary public, Herman Humid
hansen, who, with Richard Hoeneck, was
arrested late Saturday night, charged with
the murder of Richard Koeller, their former
schoolmate. made a full confession of the
crime to-day. Revenge, and not jealousy Of
a woman, according to Hundhausen, Was
the motive, and the stabbing was done by
Hoeneck with the knife found by the police
in his grip. The motive for the crime dates
back to the time when the three were COM
panions in the town of Hermann, Mo-, sew
eral years ago. A series of incendiary flies
had occurred in Herman and other neigh
boring towns, and Hundhausen and Hoe
neck were arrested and put on trial. Koel-
Ter, it is said, testified at the time to the
effect that the two were implicated, and
largely on his testimony convictions were
secured They swore to get even, and ever
since, until the present, awaited the time
when they could have revenge on Koeller.
The murder was planned some time ago.
Every detail, including the way to escape,
was carefully discussed and agreed upon. 1t
was the idea of the two to make their way
to Baltimore via Cincinnati after the COM
mission of the crime, and from thence take
passage to Europe on a cattle steamer.
To Detective Brazos. who served on the
battleship Oregon during the Spanish-Amer-
lean war, and who took the famous journey
around the Horn on that war vessel, is due
the credit for securing the confession from
Hundhausen. All day yesterday Hundhau-
sen and Hoeneck persisted in their inno-
cence of the crime under a severe examina-
ton. Last night the two were locked up in
separate cells and some time after Brazos.
cstensibly under arrest for highway rob-
berry, was put In the cell with Hundhausen.
Brazos soon engaged in conversation with
Hundhausen, and this morning the latter
finally admitted the murder.
Confronted by the confession given by his
companion, HOeneck broke down and ad-
mitted the truth of Hundhausen's statement
under the interrogations of Chief Ripley and
tended to avenge my brother. who was as
sassinated in Hermann Mo-" said Hoeneck.
Il had been told that the father Of George
and Walter Koeller had been concerned in
it. / came to Chicago intending to kill both
the boys. We found that George was at
work, and went over the tracks and saw
him through a window, but did not
speak to him. We went back to
the house and told the landlady that George
had told US We could see Waiter. even If he
was sick. She let us in. 1t was dark, and
when / spoke to Walter he was on the bed.
He recognized my voice and spoke to me,
at the same time drawing on his trousers.
the gas. He succeeded. but just as he did
I put an arm around him under his uplifted
arms and stabbed him.
How many times?" asked the chief Of
police
Three or four-I do not remember just
how many. He cried murder-not very loud,
because the knife had gone deep. and We
hurried out and took a street car. We had
rooms at the hotel. but did not go back 10
them, intending TO catch train and get
East as fast as possible. The policeman an
rested us at Grand Crossing. l am sorry
now that / killed him..
After the confessions of both--Hoeneck,
who is twenty, and Hundhausen, who is
eighteen years of age-Inspector Shea de-
clared that the boys were degenerates of
pronounced type. That story about aveng-
ing his brothers death is bosh," declared
the inspector. The boys are degenerates."
Both prisoners admit their ideas of adven-
ture were inspired by the reading of dime
novels. and several of these, together with
revolvers, bowie knives and one or two
obscene pictures, were found in their valise.
The police believe that dne-novel reading
had more to do with the crime than the de-
sire for revenge.
An inquest on Koeller's body will be held
Sept. IA and both boys will be held without
bail. Koeller's body will be shipped to his
former home, in Hermann, Mo-, for burial.