The Detroit times., 1908-11-03
MURDER VICTIM 5
WIFE TELLS HER
SHARE IN CRIME
BREAKS DOWN COMPLETELY
WHEN KuRKA INFORMS HER he
HAS cONFESSED-ILLIc LOVE
rA.,or ar rnANEnN
CAUSE OF TRAGEDY.

y Illicit love furnished the motive TOT
the murder of Anthony Schultz. The
whole CHASTITY story came out. Monday
afternoon. just as tie police expected
II would. when Grs. Schultz. the muir
dered mans. widow. and john kurka.
schultzs slayer and purloiner Of the
wife's affections. came face to face for
the first time since their arrest
well, Annie, I've told them all
about It," said Kurka. In German. TO
Mrs. Schultz.
The woman started. looked Axedly
at Kurka's face for an instant. and
then sank into q chair with . stihed
cry of despair, giving way to unre-
strained sobs. II was several minutes
before she recovered her composure
sufnciently to answer questions. Then
she announced her willingness TO tell
what she knew Of the murder, and the
police theory that the crime was done
In cold blood to get Schultz out OF
the way was finally confirmed.
Murdered In sleep.
Schultz was murdered as he lay
asleep. wholly unconscious Of his I'm
pending fate. by a man who had
already robbed him OF his wife's love
and despoiled the woman's honor. With
an Ak. borrowed from neighbor, as he
later confessed, Kurka stole into the
house at o'clock In the morning. He
sought out the wife, sleeping
in a room near that in which
the husband lay. They had planned
for weeks to get rid Of him. but when
the hour was at hand the wife hest
tated. She suggested that they go
away and leave him, but Kurka was
bent on murder.
II told her was going to do 1t and
left the ROOM" Kurka related. and the
wife, sitting near confirmed the story.
Then went into Tony.s room. Tony
was asleep. raised the AK and
struck him on the head. He gave a
little cry and fell out of bed. My eyes
grew dim and l struck at him again
and again. cutting his neck. Pretty
soon | saw he was dead"
Wife Hears sound Of Ak.
And while this was going on. the
wife, by her own admissions, stayed
In her own room, making no effort to
interfere. She heard the sound Of the
AK as it fell ON her husbands head,
inficting death blow. She heard
his faint cries, but did not heed them.
Presently Kurka emerged from the
death chamber, still carrying the AK
from the blade OF which dripped his
victims warm blood.
well, I've done st." he said. "Wha.
! will we do with the body?"
With all their planning In the weeks
that had gone by, the disposal of the
body had not entered their minds
Now the deed was done and the evi
dences must be covered up.
In the silence OF the night the pair
in nervous whispers. discussed the
question:
What will we do with the body?'
One plan after another was suggest
ed. only to be discarded. Finally II
was decided to take the body to the
lonely Sprirgwells field near which
Kurka had been hauling crushed stone
ond together they carried II to the
barn, wrapped It In tarpaulin and
placed II In the dump wagon.
The ak they washed under the
pump. but even then failed to remove
all the blood-stains for when the AZ
was found by Deputy Sheriff William
Martz, late Monday afternoon. some o!
them were still in evidence. The az
belongs to Mrs. Steker, living next
door to the Schultz home IL Ham
tramck.
While Kurka was carting the body
to the lonely field. his accomplish
busted herself in the home. trying to
remove other evidences Of the crime
But when she had finished the blood
stains remained on the walls. an In
delible imprint that was to stand Is
damning testimony against both OF
them.
This was the story that came from
the lips of the accused pair, Monday
Afternoon, and when the ordeal was
lover, Kurka exclaimed. turning to the
woman for whose love he had forfeited
his liberty:
Elm hummer Kopf und elm verlie
bendes Herr haben mich In diesem
Schmier eingebracht. "a dumb head
and a loving heart have brought me
Into this FIX
Plead Guilty to Murder.
Following the confessions, taken II
the presence of Capt. Mcdonnell
Sheriff Burns, a stenographer and sew
leral detectives, Kurka and the woman
were taken In an automobile to the
courtroom Of Justice Gerhard In Ham
tramck. where both were arraigned or