The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-05
FOR TIE MURDER d FIVE
THEODORE WAILERT IS PLACED
ON TRIAL AT RENDER-
son, MINI.
INSANITY TO BE HIS DEFENSE
The Accused Is Charged With Hav-
ing Butchered His Wife and
Four Step-ChfIdren Last
Summer.

HENDERSON, Mimi, Dec. 4.-Theo-
dore Wallert, who is charged with the
bUtcheTy of his wife and four step-chil,
dren near Arlington, this state. last
summer, is to be tried for his life at the
present term of the district court. TINS
grand Jury has indicted him in regular
form Tor murder in the first degree and
his trial viii be commenced on Monday.
The task of impanelirg q jury will be
taken Up, however on Saturday.
When brought into court this morning
Wallert wanted more time in which to
plead, and was given until tomorrow, on
motion of his attorneys. He Will plead
not guilty. The only witness to the
series Of murders is Otto Young, son OF
Mrs. Wallert, who recovered from
wounds which the bloody assassin no
doubt expected would prove fatal. A
mass Of corroborative evidence, including
a confession of guilt made by the pris-
omar at Arlington, shortly after he was
captured. is at tie disposal of the state
and viii be submitted.
Nallcrt will play the insanity dodge
as the last desperate chance of saving
his neck from the hangman's moose. This
was indicated when he was first incar-
cerated in the county Jail and has been
apparent from time TO time ever since.
Last week he was noisy and raved d
great deal When brought into court to-
day he was composed and made an eX-
celIent appearance. He viii have good
council and no effort will be omitted to
give him Justice Few, however, believe
that he is insane.
On Monday. Aug. 90 1900 the little VII
lage Of Arlington was shocked by the
discovery that Mrs. Theodore Wallert
and four children-two sons and two
Gaughters-had been stabbed to death
during the night. The murderer had first
To l,1 Ic-,, I,,41s1
contents. and then entered The house and
aroused the sleeping inmates. The
mother and one daughter were sleeping
down stairs, and the other daUghter, a
grandchild and three sons, were up
stairs. Those below fell first under the
assassin's knife. The others, awakened
by the fire and the cries of those below.
descended and were killed by the butcher
who lay in waiting. GustaVe Steinborn,
AGED twenty: Helena Steinborn. aged
sixteen: Annie Steinborn, aged thirteen,
ana Reynolds SteinbOrn. aged twelve,
were the names Of the children who were
slaughtered with their mother, Mrs,
Wallert.
Otto Steinborn. a third son. aged about
eleven, the states principal witness, had
a miraculous escape from this carnival
of Death He was stabbed in the side
and fell to the floor Later, half rising,
he was seen by the murderer, who ap-
preached him and struck MN blows In
the back which inflicted flesh wounds
The grand-chld was not aroused by the
cries of the victims and slept until awak-
ened by neighbcrs in the morning.
Susnicion at cnce fastened upon Wallert
from the fact that he had had disagree,
ment with his wife over the farm, which
had belonged to her prior to her second
marriage, and to the fact that he had
made threats ard had left home. Tee
search was prosecuted With great Vigor
ard he was found the following day
under a manger in the barn of a rela-
tive His discarded clothes, covered with
blood. were also found. He was taken
TO Arlington, where he made a confession
to a committee of citizens headed By =.
F. Mansfield, cashier Of the First State
bank