Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-01-11
BELEK HELD FOR
THREE MURDERS,
Chicago Fortune Teller Must Answer for
the Deaths in the Vzral
Family.

CHICAGO, ILL.,. Jan. 5.-Herman Be
lex. the fortune teller, was held to the
grand jury without bail yesterday by
cOroner's jury for the deaths of Ella.
Rose and Mary Nzral.
The verdict declared that the three
members of the Nzral family had died
of arsenical poisoning and that the poi
son had been administered, directly or in
directly. by Belek. AS the accused man
was taken back to the county Jail he
Kept denying that he was guilty.
Tries to Choke Belek.
just previous to the rendering of the
verdict in the new city police station.
where the inquest was held, a scene was
created when Joseph Lingle. teamSter
with whom Belek formerly boarded.
sprang upon the fortune teller and at
tempted TO choke him. Inspector Shippy
and several policemen went to the assist
ance of Belek, but not before Lingle had
struck him 4 severe blow in the face.
The room in which the inquest was
held was crowded almost to sitting, and
several times Deputy Coroner Barrett
noticed Lingle edging toward the prison
er. He finally stopped the examination
of witnesses and asked Lingle what his
business was at the inquest.
L just want to see that man hanged"
he answered, pointing his finger at Belek.
He swindled my wife out of several
hundred dollars when he boarded with
us. and l want to see him get what's
coming to him."
The deputy coroner ordered him from
the room. He went out, but returned in
a few moments. He was again ordered
out, and again he returned to the room
unnOticed. He got as close as possible
and then leaped on Belek.
Belek Near Breakdown.
When the verdict was read Belelz
seemed on the verge of a breakdown.
1T is true that | was a swindler of
women" he said, and that | conspired
to beat the NZral family out of money.
but as for committing the crime they
say | did, it is absolutely ridiculous. If
| was shrewd enough to Swindle Mrs.
NZral. it seems to me | would have
enough sense not TO commit murder.
Can they hang an innocent man? AS
there is a God, l am innocent of this
crime"
The most important witness at the
inquest yesterday was Jersolabot Vzral.
the 1l-year-old lad whose father, mother
and four sisters are said to have been
murdered by Belek. The boy said he
never was sick before Belek became ac-
Quainted with his family He said since
then he had suffered greatly from burn
ing pains in the stomach, and is now
subject to heart disease and fainting
spells.
Young Vzral testified that Bolcll came
to his home about three weeks before
the death of his father with a bottle of
medicine which he gave to the elder
NZral. A week later, he said, Belel
gave his father some more medicine. and
a week after the fathers death Belck
went tC the NzraI home to live.
Tells of One Death.
Mrs Kate Engenthaler, 1886 West
Fiftieth street, at whose home Mrs.
EZral was living when she died was the
first witness called in the morning.
Mrs. Vzral was in the kitchen bed
ROOM" said the witness, when Belell
came to the house just before her death.
He seemed very affectionate and kissed
her several times. | was suspicious and
did not like him. He noticed me looking
at him and told me l did not have to
stay home if [ did not wish to. l went
over to the west side to pay some bills,
and when | returned Mrs. Nzral was in
great pain.