The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-13
STRANGLED.
Prominent Chicago Woman
Choked to Death With Wire
And Her Body Thrown Into a
Stable Yard.
MURDERER CONFESSES.
The Killing Followed an Attempt
to Assault Her.
Son Of Man in Whose Yard Body
Was Found.
MURDERER CONFESSES.

Chicago, Jan. 13.-Mrs. Bessie Hol-
lister, 80 years of age, the wife of
Franklin c. HOLSTER of the printing
firm of HOLSTER Brothers. one of the
largest concerns of its kind in the city,
was murdered last night by Richard
Wins, "a years of age. who had at
tempted to assault her. The body of
Mrs. HOLSTER was found this morning
lying on a pile of stable refuse in the
rear of the WINS residence at 36S
Belden avenue. Around the neck was
twisted a fine copper wire and death
had been caused by strangulation.
WINS, who pretended to find the
body and reported the fact of the
murder to the police confessed to the
crime a short time after he had been
taken into custody. His statement to
the police in effect was that he was
at work in his carpenter shop which
stands but short distance from the
place where the body was found this
morning, and that when Mrs. HOLSTER
passed by he attacked her and when
she resisted he dragged her into the
carpenter shop and killed her by
twisting the wire around her neck. He
then went home and remained all
night.
This morning he went to the barn
ostensibly to perform some work and
pretending to find the body, rushed
into the house and reported to his
father and later to the police that the
body of q woman was lying in the
heap Of refuse near the barn.
Ivins in his confession claimed that
he was drunk at the time of the crime,
but this is denied by his own mother,
who says that ne came into the house
and ate his supper while perfectly
sober. WINS had previously borne a
good reputation.
day afternoon to attend the funeral Of
a friend Mrs. Emma Semple at 1l2
Seminary avenue, not far from the
HOLSTER residence
When she left the house she carried
with her a small clock which she said
she intended to leave at q jewelers. for
repairs and she also intended to stop
at florists and order some flowers to
be sent to the funeral. That was the
last seen of her by any of her friends.
The flowers she ordered arrived at the
funeral. but Mrs. HOLSTER did not.
After waiting until o'clock Mr.. Hol-
lister informed the police of his Wife's
disappearance. and an all-night
search was instituted which resulted
in nothing.
Body Is Identified.
AS soon as the patrol wagon had
arrived at the spot where the body
was found a crowd gathered, among
its members being George G. Congdon,
choir master at the Wesleyan Meth
odist Episcopal church, where Mrs.
Hollister sang in the choir. He at
once identified the body as that of
Mrs. Hollister, and it was removed to
an underta king establishment and her
husband notified.
Judging from the appearance of heI
clothing Mrs. HOllister had made a
/ desperate fight before she was killed
| Her long hair was torn loose anC
tangled as if it had been pulled viO-
lently down; the front of her silk
waist had been torn open and the
glove of her right hand was missing
/ Three rings which she usually wore
on this hand were gone. Other small
articles of jewelry which she had
/ had been taken. It was evident thai
robbery had been perpetrated as vel
as murder.
The pile of refuse on which the
body lay was in plain view from the
windows of several houses in the
neighborhOod and had it been there
in daylight it must have been discov-
cred within a short time. The en-
closure in which it was found is sur
rounded by a high board fence the
gate of which is tightly locked.
Mrs. HOllister was 80 years old, a
woman of great personal charm
handsome, and had for years been
prominent because of her beautiful
voice, which was considered to be OF
extraordinary quality. She frequently
appeared at musical entertainments in
different parts of the city.