Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-10-27

the vest, but larger. (ofrered vest in evidence
Objected to: overruled) That coat had but.
tons.
Gross -Ex. Got the buttons at my fathers
late home last night. identifies vest as that of
his father. Don't know when he got it; had it
number of years. Deft bjected to the intro
duction of the buttons objection overruled,
Defendant rests,
MRS. SOPHIA KRUGER. The Defendant
w. F. Scholz sworn as interpreter.
Name, Sophia Kreuger; 60 years old. Did not
know Gustave Kreuger until married to him.
Was married to him Sept. 8, 1901 at Ludding-
ton, Wis. Came to Cresoo the 2lst or 22nd of
Sept: came to the X. farm In Howard Co; lived
there something over a year, then moved to
Florenceville last Nov. the 8th. Remember
Alfred X. bringing meat and think oats in the
spring. There was talk about mortgage be
tween Alfred and his father. Alfred said he
could not get along with Otto and they would
have to do away with the mortgage, Afterward
my husband gave me the mortgage; about
weeks after. He said what belonged to him be-
longed to me and could look after it. Went to
Leitsch along in the evening to get a horse to
go % Cresco to see about the mortgage. [Shown
pocket book.) 1t is mine; knew what was in it
when gave 1t to Leitsch 1t had in 1t a $40
bill, silver dollars and 50 cents. The bill was
given to me the first week in January by my
husband. Mrs. Walter gave me one dollar and
Mrs. Eckmeir one for cloth In dress. Had con-
yersatton with Leisch about the mortgage.
Leitsch advised me to go to Mr. serfling with 1t
Cresco ortener. 1 asked L. for the loan OF
horse, He did not like to let me have the horse
for X. might not like 1t. Borrowed ST. of Mrs.
Leitsch that night; got ST more of Mrs. Leitsch.
From there went home. Went to Settings
on Sunday. MT. and Mrs. Crowell passed me
when was going. Went along the edge of the
road as the center was muddy. met a farmer
who came across the river. Asked him where
Mr.. Serfling lived and he went with me. Talked
with him about the mortgage and showed it to
him. He told me the mortgage was all rght
and there was note inside; had better keep
1t and go to Cresco myself and see about it.
Rode to Florenceville with the man whe went
to Settings with me. Had no fire Friday or
Saturday south Of the house. Remember going
to Eckmelr's toward evening Saturday, not
quite dark. Had small mark on forehead
nothing was said about it. Did not tell Mrs.
L that my husband had struck me and had
given 1t back to hsm with club. Did not tell
anyone got my clothes bloody from piece of
meat. Remember seeing Mr. Drummond; spoke
to him about the tin box. Told him about the
blood on blanket; told him husband came home
from fishing and had bloody piece of meat in
blanket in the buggy. Was down the river
after my husband who was fishing there one
afternoon during the week. Saw witness, John
keune on the stand 1t Is the first time l ever
saw him; don't know John Keune; never spoke
to him; he never had talk with mo at my
house, man chopping wood boarded with me;
never saw Keune with him. Chas kreuger
spoke to me about searching the house Monday
morning; did not object to it.; did not care. Ed
X. John Ludwig and Drummond were there,
Remember Drummond trying to open the tin
box; told them didn't have the key; remember
getting key from the bureau for them. One
of them asked me about money being in the
box; don.t remainder which Of them; told them
he kept his money there that he did not want
to use. Spoke to Serfling when there about
coming to Cresco with him.. Saw Eckmer Sat
urday near evening. Alfred X. came on Sunday
evening for the meat; wanting to smoke it.
had smoked 1t in a barrel two days and should
smoke it all night and refused to let him take it
away. offered Eckmeir the meat to pay for
his work about the house. Did not say anything
to Mrs. L. about washing skirt to get blood
out Of it; did not say anything to Mrs. Ahrens
about It, She was there with Mr.. L. got the
key in a box In the bureau drawer an1 gave 1t
to Drummond, did not know the key would
open the box. Got it because it resembled the
key D, was trying to open it with. Remember
the Thurs day before X. Disappeared; got home
just about dark; saw him before he came into
the house; he went from the barn to the buggy
shed. took piece of meat and pail Of fish
from the buggy and came to the house. The
lamp was lit. He handed me the piece of meat
and told me to cookit. Washed the meat Off .
or three times before putting 1t to boil; 1t was
very bloody; washed II on the table near the
window. Got the German prayer book belong
ing to KS first wife and read till nearly 10. I
went to bed and told him he should go too. He
stepped out the door and came to bed. l got
up. dressed myself, put on some slippers and q
skirt, took the lantern and went out the door.
met man coming from towards the barn, who |
asked me where my husband was; told him in
bed sleeping and he said he would fix him.
called my husband the man tied something ov-
er my mouth, tied my hands and pulled me to
tie barn and tied ME to a post right up at the
crib, He went to the house; heard the door
open and close. After long time he came to
the barn, took me to the house and showed me
into the bedroom. In the morning this man
c"HAO IL aAu nChc WV up. WAC uu tuc lOoT III
front OF the bed. Went into the kitchen after
dressing; asked him Where is my husband?"
and he said HE Is gone." Asked him again |
and he swore at me. Made him some coffee and |
gave him some of the meat boiled the night |
berOre. Asked him again where my husband |
was. He told me to tell that my husband had
bre. .kfast with me; told him could not do it
The man said my husband had gone to Cresco;
told me he would kill me If went to get out;
took gun from his pocket and said he would |
watch me. He came from the sitting room. |
There is door on the liver side OF the house. |
He wanted to know II had horse; told him |
didn't He asked If could get horse 1 told |
him could from Crowell, two blocks away In |
plain sight; showed him the house; told me to |
get the horse but not to tell that he was there
II did he would kill me and burn up the house;
said he would watch me. Went to another place
the horse to drive on the road. Told me to tell |
Crowell I wanted the horse to get my husband
home srom Cresco. Told me to get the horse |
for the Cresco road; told me to have the horse |
brought about dark. Crowell said could have |
tho horse and brought iJ before dark. That |
man was In The house at the time. Got supper |
after Crowell was there; this man told me to
get it. Asked where my husband was; he told |
me to find out. 1t was already dark vixen the
buggy left the house; was afraid OF the man and |
wanted to STARE at once and he told mo had
plenty of time. The man told me to get the
horse and wagon and bring 1t around to ths
porch. / got the horse, brought it around and
tied 1t to post at the porch and saw my hus-
band lying ON the porch called to nv hus.