The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-01-24

Bohemia to the United states In
1855.
IN the bohemian section OF Chicago
he became known as charm work |
err and fortune teller About five
years ago ne became acquainted with
the Vrzals, who resided at 677 West |
Nineteenth street Martin Vrzal, the
husband and father was a milk
dealer who owned the residence in !
which the family lived and who had
acquired small bank account, his
total savings being about $4,000 All
the members OF the Nrzal family
were insured H. fraternal organiza
tious fo' small amounts The policies
varying from about $3.50 to $4,000.
Il was to secure this money that
Bllek is said 20 have conspircd
with Mrs Nrzal 10 poison her bus.
band and children
Martin Vrzal was the first of the
/ family to die. his death occurring on
/ March -. 1903 The children who
died were Mary. % years old, July
/ 2S. 1905 Tillie. 20 years old Decem-
| ber %. 1905 Rose. lS years old.
| August %. 1906. and Ella II years
oil November 80 1900. The father
was insured for $4,000 and the chill
drcn for smaller amounts The mo.
ncy was collected by Mrs Vrzal
and given to Billek. The series of
deaths aroused suspicious among the
ueighbors of the family, but no com
plants were made to the police. The
attitude of her neighbors caused Mrs
bat and Bertha, TO move to another
section of the city. The police II
nally were made aware of the series
of deaths and questioned Mrs. Nrzal
in her new home. After their depar
ture Billck secretly visited the house
and the suicide of Mrs. Nrzal follow
ed. Mrs. Emma Vrzal Niemann, the
eldest daughter of the family. de-
nounced Bllek as a murderer while
at the bedside of her dead mother,
and his arrest followed
On July rs he was found guilty
and sentenced to death, the eXecu
tion being set for October II. Rev
p. J. O'Callaghan, pastor of st
Mary's Roman Catholic church.
while visiting prisoners in the county
Jail became impressed with the belief
. that Billek was not guilty and took
the lead in the determined struggle
to procure a new trial for the man
:. The priest appealed to the public fol
=, funds to carry the case to the Hi
, nois supreme court, and on Octobe
s. Judge Barnes granted Billek hi'
, first respite, that the case might be
4 taken before the higher tribunal. on
November . he again was reprieve'
q and on November 6 the supreme
., court issued writ OF error whil
il took the case under consideration
>, On February 20 1908. the suprem
A. court refused Bilck a new trial am
a he again was sentenced to hane
April 81 being fixed as the date
# Two weeks before the date Fathe
i. O'Callaghan procured from Jerry
j, Vrzal an affidavit almost completed
10 repudiating the testimony given b
p him at the trial He asserted tina
h Inspector of Police Shippyu VIII
" since has become chief Of police
of ana two ASSISTANTS of the states a
Il. toney. had Induced him to give falls
r. testimony against Pillek The damai
ar ing effect of the young mans test
= mony was indicated by affidavit
from six of the Jurors in the tria
who declared they would not hav
voted to convict Billek save for III
y testimony OF the youth.
. A special session of the stat
board of pardons, with Governor ID
. neen presiding, then was called
Chicago. states Attorney Healy pr
n tested against new trial, declarin
r that the boy had told the truth
the first trial A re-tral was urged /
is former Mayor Dunno and other lay
.h yers. The board of pardons met {
We April IS and on April 20 Billek WI
at granted a respite by Governor ID
ed neen until June 10.
st Mass meetings were held TO url
a. clemency or new trial for Blllt
I'd and one SUNDAY six hundred priso
lc. ers in the county Jail united in pra
'le er that he might be freed. Two da,
en- before the date set for the execute