The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1903-12-05
ALICE HENN|NGER'S
SLAYER ARRESTED
Fred Strube the Alleged Murderer
Captured at Macon, Mo.
ADMITS CHARGES AGAINST HIM
Says He struck Her with n Monkey
Wrench Because She Laughed
when lie Requested Her
10 Marry Him.

Macon, Mo. Dec. "A young man
who declares that he is Frederick
Strube, wanted at Havana, H., on the
charge of having killed Alice Hennin-
ger, was arrested here Tuesday. Strube
had been working for a Macon county
farmer and came to town, met Chief
of Police Woods near the Wabash rail-
road station and gave himself up.
Later in the day he was examined by
City Attorney N. NJ. Lacy and admitted
the charges against him. He said he
struck Miss Henninger with monkey
wrench because she laughed at him
when he pressed her to marry him.
They were in a buggy and, he said, fell
out of the vehicle during the struggle,
and on the ground he again struck her
and killed her, and afterward buried
her body.
Broke Down During Confession.
Strube said he went to Quincy, H.,
and while there passed a number OF
policemen on the street. During his
story he broke down and cried many
times. He said he is perfectly willing
to go back to Illinois "and take his
chances"
Strube declares he was driven to
desperation by the refusal of the girl
to marry him, and that he was prac,
tically insane when he killed her.
The police authorities of Havana, H.,
have been notified, and Sheriff BROKER
is expected to arrive to-day for Strube,
A reward of 81 400 is outstanding for
his arrest and conviction. The pris-
oner is 90 years of age. Miss Henninger
was IS years old,
History of the Murder.
Alice Henninger, who was murdered
on November IA, and whose dead body
was found in a cornfeld, was the
daughter Of Newton Henninger, Il we'll
TODD farmer living near Topeka, Ill.
Miss Henninger is known to have had
several suitors at Topeka and Havana
and is said to have become engaged
to a young man whose name has not
been disclosed.
Strube was familiar with these riv-
ais, so it is said, and during the past
few weeks had pressed his claims for
her hand, and had been given little en-
| couragement,
Strube accompanied the Henninger
girls to a box social at a church neal
Bishop, Saturday night, November IA
and then took them in his buggy to-
ward their home. When they drove NJ
to the house he told Ella Henninger &c
go into the house and asked Alice tC
remain in the buggy, as ne had some
thing important to tell her. Ella told
her mother Of this statement, and moth
ing was thought of It, her mother be-
! leving Alice would return in a hall
hour. Strube was seen to whip the
horse, and the vehicle and its occupants
disappeared in the darkness
Girl Fought For Her Life.
The accepted theory of the tragedy
| Is that after leaving the Henningel
| homestead Strube began to upbrait
Alice for rejecting his suit and begged
her to agree to marry him. 1t is sup
posed that he proposed an elopement
that they drive to some near city anc
there be married.
Nearing the spot where the girls
body was afterward found, she sprang
out of the buggy with the idea of es'
Gaping his opportunities and return
ing to ner home alone, Strube, en-
ragged by her action, followed the girl
and the struggle which ended in hel
| death ensued.
Having choked her into insenslbility
| Strube went to his buggy, got the
wrench which was found near the body
and with q blow on the head completed
| his work