Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-10-10
EVIL EYE ASSASSIN
TG DIE ON GALLONS
HERMAN BlLLEK CHARGED
WITH MUREDR OF ENTIRE
NZItAL FAMILY. TO BE
HANGED TOMORROW.

Chicago. oct. 10.-Herman Billek.
Bohemian fortune teller. hynotist
ana necromancer. convicted OF pois-
oning Mrs. Mary Vzral and charged
with causing the death OF four other
members of the -Vrzal family. will
pay the penalty of his crimes on the
gallows tomorrow The evil eve"
which Billek was said to have ex-
erted while at liberty and which
brought him a food of money. enabl-
ing him to live in luxury without
woi king. has had no effect I'm turn
ing aside the stern mandates of the
law. While there Is possibility
that a stay may be granted to pre-
vent the execution tomorrow. the
evidence against Bnlek is so clear
and convincing that his execution.
sooner or later IS considered Ger
tain
There is not left in my mind the
slightest reasonable doubt of the
guilt OF this defendant. The verdict
was amply warranted by the evi-
dence. Never, as Judge or attorney
at bar. have / been called upon to
hear case so replete in horrible
details. SO declares Judge Barnes.
who presided at the trial of BIlek.
Even the attorneys for the accused
man admit that sufficient ground
could not be offered for successful
appeal to a higher court.
III the arch-polsoner and hypnotist
should, by any chance. escape the
galIows, IL will not be because OF the
evil eye He has admitted that
his professions OF uncanny powers
were but the cheap shams of charl-
atan, playing sordidly upon the ig-
norance, fear and superstition OF his
victims, and stopping at nothing to
accomplish his ends His trail OF
death IS as grisly as that OF Holmes.
the multi-murderer. and "Bluebeard'
Hoch, the merciless slayer OF wo-
men; and neither OF these performed
their deeds i'm as grisly a setting as
did the Bohemian magician.
Billek was born in Bohemia about
forty years ago. the son Of a wan
derng fortune teller. He came TO
Chicago several years ago and es-
tabli he'd himself in the profession
that had been followed by his moth
or. Shortly after his arrival here he
became acquainted with the Vrzals
Martin Vrzal was the proprietor OF
small dairy and by hard work had
accumulated a few thousand dol
lars Mrs. Vrzal helped him i'm the
business. as did the seven children.
and the family was considered the
most prosperous and happy in Chi
cago's Bohemia.
Then came the serpent. in the
form OF the dark, mysterious. mag
netic Billek II is supposed that
Billek heard OF the savings Of the
Nrzals and coveted them for his
own. Mrs. Vrzal soon came under
the spell Of Billek. and Vrzal for
. '''''' iN'hfl uIbu MN WIN FAVOR
He loaned Bllek much money. Then.
when he refused longer 10 comply
with the fortune teller's exactlons.
Martin Vrzal died. suddenly and in
cxplicably. The $4,000 insurance on
his life. If IS alleged. was secured
by Billek from the widow.
Deaths followed I'm the Vrzal fam
ily in quick succession. Following
the fathers death on March 81.
1905 Mary vrzal aged %. died July
% and Title. 20, on December % of
the same year Rose. the is year
old daughter died August 90. 1906.
and Ella. ~. ON November 80.
During an This time 81 is alleged
BiIlek so worked on the supersti-
tious fears Of Mrs vrzaI that She
gave TO him every cent She could
collect from the life insurance of the
victims The milk business and the
sale of Tho family home. living her-
self in tho direst poverty that the
magician might enjoy evory luxury
Then when eho had nothing left 10
".vn Mrs Vrzal died under mvs-
FERROUS and suspicious circumstances
ON December & last