Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-10-16
THE KREUGER MURDER TRIAL.
The Jury, the Indictment, and the
Testimony Given.

ICSlIlllUlly UlfClls
The case of the State of Iowa VS.
Sophia Kruger, under indictment for
murder, began in the district court
Wednesday morning, County Attor.
ney Upton assisted by A. j. Barker
for the State and P. F. McHugh for
the defendant.
The following jury was empaneled
and sworn: John Fitzgerald, Philip
Hero.d Jr., John Mari, Geo. Fare,
Martin Jordan, E. A. Fields, Richard
McGrane, Albert Jrona, A. L. Hal
Yer, Martin ITCHY, James Dushek and
L. L. Crittenden.
The indictment charges the defend
ant, on or about the 23d of April, 1903,
with having willrully, feloniously and
with malice aforethought, deliberate
ly and premeditatedly made an as
sault upon one Gustave Kruger in
Howard County then and there being,
with pick-axe or other deadly weap-
on, with the intent to kill aud muir
der him. inflicting upon him a num-
Der of mortal wounds from the effect
Of which the said Gustave Kreugel
did then and there die, and charging
that the defendant did then and there
deliberately and premeditatedly kill
and murder said Gustave Kruger.
knew Geo. Kreuger in his lifetime.
Have known him for number of
years, my wife is his daughter; know
Sophia Kreuger; saw him last on
Palm Sunday, or 10 days before he
disappeared.
First knew he was missing April
26, Sunday; saw him in the river dead;
next had a rope around his
body and stone tied to it. Tied him
to tie shore aud left him till the
Sheriff came; the rope was tight about
his body, observed wounds about his
eye; the wounds on the back of his
head we're smaller than in front; took
the body to his'home; coroner came
about half an hour thereafter.
Cross Examination: Could not tell
how long since Mr.. Kreuger came
from Michigan; think itwas 20 years
ago. Think I saw him last alive on
Palm Sunday. Richard kreuger and
Charley Kreuger were in boats with
me when the body was found. The
water was three to four feet where
the body was found. The wounds
we're on the side near his blind eye.
Redirect: 'Mr. Kreuger lived in
Florenceville, Howard Co. Was in the
house most of the time of the inquest;
saw blood on the window curtains, on
the walls, in the corner on the floor,
and in the closets. 1t appeared to
have been washed; the blood was
mostly in small spots, except in the
closets, and quite fresh. On Sunday
night saw Mrs. Kreuger; she told me
she started for Cresco for Mr.. K, but
thinking he had gone to Harmony she
turned around and went towards Har-
mony; think she said it was Friday
night; she said she saw Mr.. X. writing
letter which he slipped behind him
and read tue note which she had writ
ten to his son in Washington and
thought he was going there; she did
let any of us know as she did not wish
to make a disturbance. On Monday
saw her; she said She thought he had
gone to Washington; she told me
while she Was milking, Friday morn
ing he left; had taken his satchel,
best clothes and shoes; she told me
not to go near the buggy; we examin-
ed 1T and found the botcm stained, the
side and the reach had the appearance
OF being bloodstained; she told me
Mr.. K. had brought home piece of
bloody meat-must have been piece
of the neck; she washed out the blank
ct the bloody meat laid on, hung it
out and it had been stolen; the stone
with rope attached, supposed to have
been attached to the body was identi.
fed by the witness; stone when found
was stained red on one side.
ALFRED KREUGER-
Exhibits 2 and 3, the reaches from
his fathers buggy which was alleged
to have been used in carrying the
body of defendant put in evidence.
The sides of the buggy showed signs
of having been washed. Was present
when the body was in the water. Saw
the body after it was in the house and
it was my father. Did not see the
wounds until after they we're closed
by the undertaken. The body when
In the river was about mile from his
home. Mads an examination Of the
river for ten or fifteen rods .above
where the body was found. Saw bug
gy tracks which came from the south
west. Saw foot tracks and the appear.
ance Of som ething having been dragg.
ed in the soil. There had been but
one buggy track there. Don't think
could see any horse tracks. Was
present at the coroner's inquest Tues
day night. The next day was there
could see no change in the position Of
the furniture 1t is in the same po
sition still. The house has been un
occupied since, j. I. Drummond hav
ing the key. brought the box To-
the casket on Wednesday.
Cross.examination: Defendant ant