Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-11-17
Bardenheier Murder Mystery
Solved by Con-
fesSion.
'Murderess, Now Confined in
Insane Asylum, Con-
firms Story.
Revolving Tale of Unnatural
Crime Told in
Detail.
Madison, Nov. ]


Joseph Bordenheier, who disap
peared from his home in this city on
July %, 1906, and whose body was
found with two bullet holes, in Gay
woods in Blooming Grove on July 81
of the same year. was killed by his
wife, according to sworn statement
by Clara Bardenheier, daughter of the
murdered man, in the presence OF
Sheriff Halbach, District Attorney
Mason, Assistant Chief of Police
Schuettler and other members of the
Chicago police department at Chicago.
Miss Bardenheier was outside the
slaughter house when her mother fired
the fatal shots, according to her state
ments
The girls story revealed that the
murder was one of the most atrocious
crimes committed in this section OF
the state and that Mrs. Bardenheier
shot her husband in cold blood in the
slaughter house in Gays woods.
Sheriff Halbach is entitled to a
great deal of credit in clearing up
the mystery which for long time
after its happening caused unusual
excitement and reStlessneSs in the
community. Mr.. Halbach was then
serving his first term as sheriff and
as the crime was committed outside
the city limits he Immediately began
TO work on the case. Even after he
went out of office he followed up clues
and made frequent trips at his own
expense to Chicago where he consult
ed the police He had always been
posted as to the movements or Mrs.
Bardenheier and her daughter and the
woman was a frequent visitor at po-
lice Headquarters. To Mr.. Halbach
belongs the credit of having solved,
with the assistance of the Chicago
officers. one of the most mysterious
and outrageous crimes in the history
of Wisconsin. He kept in close touch
with Assistant Chief Schuettler and
Detective Charles O'Donnell who had
charge of the case at the Chicago
end
About six weeks ago Mrs. Barden-
beier was committed to an asylum at
Dunning. suburb of Chicago.
Clara Bardenheier has been repeat
edlv questioned by the Chicago po'
lice and although she did not give
them much satisfaction, she would
each time give them a little informa
ton about the murder. On February
/. 1908. Mrs. Bardenheier shipped her
furniture to Chicago and left for the
windy city with her daughter Mr..
Halbach. then out of office, had the car
with the furniture traced to Chlcago
and learned the address OF the Wo-
man. Since that time she and ner
daughter were constantly watched py
the Chicago police.
Mrs. Bardenheier was a frequent
caller at the police headquarters IN
the city hall and frequently inter-
viewed the assistant chief on some
pretext about &he case. Two months
ago she assaulted member oil the
police department and upon belng
arrested it developed that she was IN
sane. She was committed to the asy-
lum at Dunning.
During the past few months District
Attorney Mason received number
of letters from the woman the con-
tents of which bore distinct evidence
of a distracted mind. She insisted IN
some of the letters that her husband
was not dead and in one Letter IN
particular wrote that the man whose
body was found in Gays woods was
not that of Bardenheier.
Two weeks ago Clara Bardenheler
promised Detective O'Connell that II
she could get away for rest and re-
for some time she would
return to Chicago and tell the whole !
story of her fathers death. Her wish