The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-23

murder of Mary vrzal. whom he was
alleged to have poisoned with other
members of the family.
The Communication is made on recon-
mendation of the state board of par
dons, after the supreme court had re-
fused to interfere, saying that the rec
ord showed no reversible error.
The state board of pardons in max
ing the recommendation to Governor
Deneen for Communication of sentence,
says that after the final action of the
supreme court, Jerry Vrzal, brother of
of Mary Vrzal, and one of the principal
witnesses for the state at the trial of
Billik, appeared before the state board
of pardonS at the hearing of the petit
tion for BiIlik's pardon and swore that
all his testimony at the trial against
Billik was false, except as to unim-
portant facts.
The trial judge in a communication
to the state board of pardons recon-
mended Communication of the sentence,
saying that the enforcement of the
death penalty, under the circumstances
of Jerry Vrzal recanting his testimony
at the trial, would not, in his judg-
ment, meet with general appreciation.
Governor Deneen several months ago
granted Billik a reprieve until the su-
preme court could review the case
Last month Lieutenant Governor Sher-
man, in the absence of Governor De-
neen, granted BiIlfk another reprieve
A Thrilling Case
The legal battle of Herman BilIik
TO escape the sentence of death first
Imposed upon him on July IS. 1907,
is without parallel in the criminal rec
ords of Illinois. Five times Billik was
granted respites or stays of executions
the reprieves coming twice within four
days of the dates set for his execution
and once when the death march to
the scaffold was about to start
the criminal. appellate and supreme
courts of the state, from the federal
district court to the United States su-
preme court and to the Illinois state
board OF pardons, which with Gov
ernor Deneen sitting as presiding Of
fetal, held a special session in Chi
cago to consider it. It was made an
issue in the political battles of Cook
county and the champions of Billik
insist that their efforts were in great
er part responsible for the defeat of
State Attorney Healy, who had op-
posed new trial for Billik, and who
failed for denomination.
The crime for which Billik was con-
victed was the poisoning of 22-year-
old Mary Vrzal. Indictments accus-
ing him of causing the deaths of six
members of the VrzaI family had been
returned and he was convicted on the
first of the charges. After the con-
viction of Billik, Jersolobat Vrzal a
II year old brother of the victim. and
the chief witness against the accused
man. repudiated the testimony he had
given in the trial and declared he had
been coerced by the police and Off
cials of the states attorneys office
into giving false testimony against the
defendant. The youths declaration
was the basis for the long struggle
made by believers in Billik's innocence
to procure a retrial or a commuta-
ton of his sentence.
He was a Fortune Teller.
The revelations of the poisoning of
the Vrzal family startled Chicago fol-
lowing the arrest of Billik on Decem-
ber 4, 1906. The suicide of Mrs. Rose
Vrzal, BiIIik's alleged conspirator. i'm
her home, No 1886 Fiftieth street
preceded his arrest by a few hours
Billik later was accused of inducing
the woman to commit suicide. The
man was an itinerant fortune teller