Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-10-10
| r,,, Eve Assassin to Die on Gallows.

tis+ and necromancer, convicted Oh
poisoning Mrs. Mary Vrzal ana
charged with causing the death OF
four other members of the Vrza'
family, will pay the penalty OF MS
crimes on the >gallows tomorrow.
The "evil eve" which Billek was
said to lave exerted while at liberty
and which brought him a Hood OF
money, enabling him to live in lux
ury without working, has had no
effect in turning aside the stern
mandates of the law. While there
Is a possibility that a stay may be
granted to prevent the execution to-
morrow, the evidence against Billek
Is so clear and convincing that his
execution. sooner or later, is con-
sidered certain.
"There is not | 'ft 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 attor-
nev AT bar, have / been called upon
TO hear case so replete in horrible
details" So declares Judges Barnes,
who presided at the trial of Billek.
Even the attorneys for the accused
man admit that sufficient ground
could not be offered for a successful
appeal to a higher court.
II the arch-poisoner and hypnotist
should, by chance, escape the gal
low. II will not be because of the
"evil eye." He has admitted that
his professions of uncanny powers
were but the cheap shams OF char
latan, playing sordidly upon the
ignorance, 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 merclless slayer of wom-
en-; and neither of these performed
their deeds in as grisly a setting as
did the Bohemian magician.
Billek was born In Bohemia about
40 years ago, the son of a wander
Ing fortune teller. He came to Chi
cago several years ago and estab-
lished himself in the profession that
had been followed by his mother.
Shortly after his arrival here he be-
came acquainted with the Vrzals.
Martin Vrzal was the proprietor OF
a small dairy and by hard work had
accumulated a few thousand dollars.
Mrs. Vrzal helped him in the busi-
ness, as did the seven children, and
the family was considered the most
prosperous and happy in Chicago'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
Vrzals, and coveted them for his
own. Mrs. Vrzal soon came under
the spell of Billek and Vrzal for a
time looked upon him with favor.
He loaned Billek much money.
Then. when he refused longer TO
comply with the fortune teller's ex-
actions, Martin Vrzal died, sudden
ly and inexplicably. The $4,000 In
surance on his life. It is alleged. was
secured by Billek from the widow.
Deaths followed in the Vrzal fam
lily I'm quick succession. Following 7
the fathers death on March 27.
1905, Mary Vrzal. aged 22, died
July 2S and Tillie, 20. on December
22 of the same year. Rose, the IS
year old daughter. died August %.
1906, and Ella, -, on November
80.
During all this time. IL is alleged,
Billek so worked on the superstiti-
Gus fears OF Mrs. Vrzal that she gave
TO him every cent she could collect
from the life insurance OF the vic
Tins, the milk business and the sale
OF the family home. living herself in
the direst poverty that the magician
might enjoy every luxury. Then,
when she had nothing left TO give.
Mrs. Vrzal died under mysterious
and suspicious circumstances on De-
cember last.
Billek, at the trial and since, has
steadfastly maintained his inno-
cence. despite the apparently perfect
web OF eircnmstanIial evidence that