The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-06-15
On BRINK OF GRAVE
Herman Billek's Execution Pest
poned for Fourth Time
JUDGE Lands TAKES ACTION
Hour Set for Execution Had Passed
When the Courts Decision Was
Rendered, but the Sheriff Had
Agreed to Await Jurist's Decree.

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Chicago, June HERMAN Billek,
the Bohemian fortune teller con-
demned to death for the murder of
five members of the Vzral family, has
been granted stay Of execution until
he has been afforded an opportunity
to appeal his case to the supreme
court Of the United States.
Judge Lands of the United States
district court, who declined to grant
writ of habeas corpus in favor of
Billek, decided that the prisoner had
the right to appeal from his decision
denying the writ The case will now
be carried to the highest tribunal and
Billek will be given a respite until
that body has passed upon the con-
stitutional questions involved. The
hour set for Billek's execution had
passed when the decision was rem
dered, but the sheriff had agreed to
await the courts action.
Billek was tried and convicted of
poisoning to death Mary Vzral, TWEEN
ty-two years old, and was accused of
similarly causing the death of four
other members of the Vzral family.
Mrs. Rose Vzral, the mother of Mary
Vzral, committed suicide when she
was arrested as an accomplice Of Bill
lex. The deaths In the VZral family
all occurred within period Of two
years.
The testimony at the trial showed
that Billek went to the Vzral resi-
dence with his alleged charms and
that the remarkable series of deaths
followed. The alleged motive was
life insurance money in each case,
the amount varying from $500 to 1925.
AS a result of the trial Billek's pun
ishment was fixed at death. Since
then he has been within
The Shadow of the Gailows
four times, the first date for the
hanging having been fixed as Oct. II,
1907, and the other dates Nov. s,
1907, and April 20, 1908. The post
ponements in each case were to per-
nit further inves tigation, it having
been charged that Billek's conviction
was the result of perjured testimony
due to suggestion and intimidation on
the part of the prosecuting attorneys
and police. This charge was made
through the pulpit Of st. Mary's
church by Rev. P. J. O'Callaghan, SUI
perior of the Paulist Fathers in this
city. Principally through the efforts
of Father O'Callaghan an affidavit was
recently made by one of the principal
witnesses against Billek, Jerry Vzral,
eighteen years old, survivor Of the
Vzral family, that testimony against
Blllek by the affiant was wholly un-
true. Six Of the twelve jurors who
tried Billek have since gone on record
to the effect that they would not have
found Billek guilty but for the testi-
mony Of Jerry Vzral. Refusal Of re-
hearing by the supreme court and re-
fusal of the state board of pardons
to interfere, and refusal of writ Of
habeas corpus by Federal Judge Ian
dis were among the last phases Of the
struggle to save Billek's life. A Sc.
ries Of remarkable mass meetings
were held Thursday, addressed by
Father O'Callaghan, Jerry vzral and
Edna Billek, the fortune teller's little
daughter, who has been a pathetic
figure In the case. The mass meet
ings resulted in a midnight appeal to
Governor Deneen by volunteer dele
cation who paid their own fares to
Springfield In the hope that personal
talk with the governor might prove
effective In at least obtaining a com.
mutation for Billek to life imprison-