The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-02-24
AssAiLANT RoBs CASH DRAWER
AND RIFLES THE POCKETS
OF HIS VICTIM.
CLEAvER is FlEND's WEAPON
BUTCHERS HEAD ALMOST SEW.
Erred FROM BoDY-PoLlCE ON
TRAIL Of MURDERER.

st. Paul, Feb. 21.-NOt IN the annals
Of the whole state of Minnesota is
there recorded more brutality con-
ceived and fiendish deed than the
murder of Charles Schindeldecker, the
Paul. who. alone in his little shop at
523 West Seventh street, was ruthless
ly cut down by the hand of an assas-
sin shortly after noon Saturday
Left at noon by his sole employee,
Walter Gerentz. the delivery boy, he
was found few minutes before 1
o'clock upon the lads return, cold in
death, frightfully hacked, and with
his head almost cut from his body by
a cleaver. The blood-stained blade ~
ing at his side plainly told how the I'M
fortunate man had met his death.
Deliberately Planned.
The murderer evidently had planned
the deed with deliberation, as he en-
tered the front door of the meat mar
ket at about 1890 o'clock, one of the
dullest hours of the day. He began
conversation with his intended victim
as soon as he had crossed the thresh-
hold of the door. The footprints in
the newly sprinkled sawdust showed
that Schindeldecker advanced from be-
hind the counter and approached the
man who had entered the door. 1t
was, perhaps, heated conversation,
and possibly anger. on the part of the
proprietor Of the little establishment
which made him leave his accustomed
place behind the counter and advance
toward his visitor.
Struggles With Murderer.
When Schindeldeclier had reached
murder him struggle took place.
Several eggs which had been in a near
by basket were crushed and one was
broken on the floor. The eggs appar-
emily were crushed in the clutch of
the victim as he reached for the bas-
ket, perhaps to support himself under
the weight of some terrific blow.
There was very little if any blood
shed at this place in the little shop,
but the track in the sawdust on the
floor shows plainly that Schindeldeck-
er, dead or perhaps dying, was
dragged from the front Of the shop,
back of the counter and into a little
shed in the rear. The shed was lit
tered with pieces of old wrapping pa
per, bpDes and refuse.
1t was at this shed that the lust for
blood and the brutality of the murder
er showed itself. While dragging his
victim from the shop where he had
felled him he caught up the butchers
cleaver which had been on the block
behind the counter. With this weapon
the murderer dealt seven terrific
blows upon his victims head, hands
and legs.
Head Nearly Severed.
So terrific were the blows that the
skull was cleft in four places, leaving
openings through which the brains Of
the victim oozed One blow, dealt just
below the base Of the skull. was so
terrific as to cleave the spine and al
most sever the head from the body.
The fingers Of both. hands were sew
cred.
NC HUI uCl pduSCA al lilS W0Ai'
laid plans, and then went to the mon
ey drawer, withdrew the cash, re-
turned to his victim, and, with hands
begrimed with the life blood of the
PROSTATE man, he fingered all the
pockets and secured the money of the
dead man. He then hurried to COM
plete his last act in the awful tragedy.
TrampIes on Victim.
He went to the front door, nailed it
securely, then fled; in his fight
trampling the form of his victim.
The murderer left through the rear
entrance to the little market, made his
way through nearby alleys and pass
ages and hurried down Seventh street.
Mr.. Schindeldeckes had always been
known to carry large amounts of mon
ey in his pockets and to keep large
amounts in the money drawer of his
little shop. His business was unusual
~ good Saturday morning and he un-
doubtedly had large sum of money
when the murderer raided his clothing
and fed with the contents Of his peck
cts and the money drawer after the
murder. @ .
Questions Little Girl.
1t is not known who did the decd,
but facts discovered indicate that he
was a tall man. with a red mustache
land blue eyes. wearing q black coat, q
faded pair Of trousers and cap.
Such man had been seen closely
watching the meat market at night.
A man Of that exact description fled
down West Seventh street shortly at.
ter the murder. passed Ii his flight
two blocks from the scene Of the crime
and addressed fourtsen-year-old
Blanche Starkey, who was chatting
With On slderly lady. The mans hands