Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-05-01
A MOST ATROCIOUS MURDERl
Gustave Keuger of Forenceville. Killed and the Body
Hidden in the Iowa River.
THE CRIME FIXED UPON HIS AGED WIFE
She Now Confined in the CFesco JAIL Sick and Communicative
Details Of the Most Cold Blooded Crime Ever Committed
in Howard County.

Ill NVW0lV
On the east bank of the Iowa river,
in the village Of Florenceville; Howard
Go. Iowa, in what was known to early
settlers as the Warren d. Beebe house
on Thursday night, April 23rd. was
committed most foul and brutal
murder.
There resided Gustave Kreuger, who
was one of the early settlers Of the
county, resident of Albion township,
upon farm about one mile west OF
the cemetery, near the old John Mich
OILS farm, now owned and occupied by
John A. Fox.
Mr.. Kreuger had lost his first wife
by death, and nearly two years ago he
married woman from near Eau
Claire, Wisconsin.
In the mean time he had sold the
old homestead to two of his sors and
with his new wife was living in Flor
enceville.
The murdered man had not been
seen since Thursday by any Of the
neighbors and Mrs Kreuger reported
that he had put -on his best suit Of
clothes, taken his grip and his money,
and had gone, probably, to visit son
In the state Of Washington.
Shs11so reported that she had got
q horse and buggy and started on Fri
day night to go to Cresco for him, go
ing as far as the John Nichols hill,
But thinking perhaps he had gone to.
Harmony she returned and drove in.
that direction, but got lost and got In
to the river.
She had procured horse and buggy,
1t is reported, from Frank Crowell,
which was hitched up for her about
70'clock, and it is reported that it
stood at her door until about 10 O'Clock
and at q later hour she called upon,
Mr.. Serfiing to aid her In getting the
horse and buggy out OF the river.
The bloody deed seems to have been
committed with q pick or some other
blunt instrument. with which eight
wounds had been inflicted upon the
face and head, any one Of which would
have been fatal. One was at the base
OF the brain, one at each corner OF his
eye, one on the temple and the other
near the mouth.
The body had been dlvested Of It's
usual apparel, and was clothed in worn
out and dilapidated clothing, q pair OF
old stockings and no under clothing.
It's thought from buttons, suspender
buckles, found in the ashes Of the
stove that his other apparel had been
committed to the flames.
On Monday morning. the 9th, a
son-in.law Of the murdered man called
at the home and was met by Mrs
Kreuger, who extended her hand and
repeated the tale Of the strange dis
appearance Of the deceased.
Her stories were largely discounted,
and searching parties commenced
dragging the river and searching else
where, believing him to have been
put out OF the way by Mrs. Kreuger,
whose different stories to different
persons looked suspicious.
On Tuesday morning the search be-
gan on the river below the dam, the
two boats Of A. B. YanDee being In
requisition. George and Andrew
Michel, the latter q son.in-law OF the
deceased. Carefully exploring the
river and the banks upon both sides
OF the stream 1t was found where a
buggy had been driven down the
bang and body of some kind thrown
out upon the sand and dragged into
the food of the stream. "A little far.
ther on rope attached to q large
piece Of rock was discovered and pull
led out OF the water and about 20 rods
farther down the stream, and q few
rods above the ford that leads to the
farm residence Of Hon. L. 8. st. John,
the body was found, about one foot
beneath the surface Of the stream,
immediately rising TO the surface
when grappled, . large stone falling
out from rope which was fastened
about the body.
AZ the body was found in Mime.
sotA the coroner Of Fillmore county
came to bold an inquest, meeting cor
pner CARPENTER OF Howard county
there for 3 Ike purpose. AS the muir
der. evidently, had been committed
In Howard county the case was turned
over to corner Carpenter, who empan-
neled coroner jury.
The murder evidently was commit
ted In the kitchen Of the home OF the
family, and, presumably, by Mrs.
KFeuger; traces and spatters Of blood
being on the window near which he
usually sat to read and enjoy his pipe,
and also on the door and floor OF the
closet In which the body is supposed
to have been.concealed, awaiting Its
silent Friday nights Journey to the
turbulent waters to which 1t was con-
B signed.
In the buggy which Nj. Seriing
was called upon to get out Of the river
for Mrs. Kreuger was blood and on
the lap robe, and it had dripped
through and was plainly shown upon
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