The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-25
NOT THRU WITH ER1z'
Government Followed Him for Two
Years and Secured His In
dictment at Last.
Strange Story Of Vile Letters, At
tempts to Poison and Syste-
matte Persecution. 1s4
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Carroll, Iowa, Sept. 25.-Probably no stranger
story was ever told in Iowa than that brought to
light by the Indictment of Henry Ertz Of this
county In the federal court ut Council BUNS,
nesses went from here to Council Bluffs to tes-
tify before the grand jury, and the trial will be
held at the next term of court there. s
In November, 1901, Henry Erzt was arrested
for the alleged poisoning of Joe Naberhouse. He
was bound over to the grand jury, which failed
TO act, and the case was dropped by the local
and previous to the poisoning, the federal au-
thorities have been searching for the writer of
obscene letters most of them being written to
Hrs. Naberhouse. They have, by Implication,
charged Mrs Naherhouse with unfaithfulness to
her husband. and this was reason why she
shrank from giving the matter publicity. Other
lar letters o. the nave received sum-
All the letters sought to Islander or injure the
reputation OF Joe Naberhouse and his family.
Occasionally one would be designed to create
favorable impression of Henry Ertz These
came after the expose of the poisoning case,
one OF them being sent to Father Anler. This
letter contained 500, which was to be given to
Henry Ertz, to compensate him for the anguish
and suffering caused him by the arrest the
presumption being that 1t written by the
guilty person, who did not want another prose
cuted for his crimes. These letters were mailed
at many different points, in Wisconsin, at rail
way postoffces on rural mail routes and at yari-
towns. But the inspectors finally unwound
the tangled skein and located their man on
farm In Roselle township. And Henry Ertz was
arrested.
Loved His Wifes Sister.
Several years ago the wife of Henry Ertz, who
then lived near the Naberhouses, became sick
and finally died. To assist In caring for the
sick woman, her sister, who is now Mrs. Naber-
house went to the Ertz home. She was then
engaged to be married to Naberhouse but 1t Is
alleged that Ertz became infatuated with her
and wanted her to marry him when his wife
should have passed away. *.
Then followed the strange persecution of
Faherhouse and for year or more life with him
and his family was a continual round of petty
annoyances and dreadful outraSes Cattle were
poisoned, horses tails cut off and their tongues
torn out. Vehicles were broken and buggy tops
cut into shreds, drinking water poisoned, name
eliminating In the wholesale poisoning of about
all the food in the Naberhouse residence one
Sunday morning while the family was at church,
which, but for the fact that there was eX-
cessve amount of poison, would probably have
resulted in the death of the whole family
Suspicion pointed to Ertz, and his arrest now
on the charge of sending obscene letters revives
the talk of the poisoning, but whether he is the
guilty man OF could be convicted is matter
for the courts.
Maison Pleads Guilty.
On the advice Of his attorney, F: A. Marson,
alias +. A. Maison late yesterday pleaded guilty
to the charges of obtaining money and goods by
false pretense. He will be sentenced next Tues
day, and 1t Is believed will be given the full
limit, which Is seven years. He Is probably
one Of the nerviest confidence men in the west
Farmers are not feeding many cattle as
heretofore. Most Of them look for good market
crop, and feel that there Will be only small
margin of profit for the feeder. prominent
farmer Of this county gives 1t as his belief that
corn Will go to 30 cents this winter.