The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-10
CorOner'S Jury Finds Janitor
Guilty Of Chi|d's Murder
WITNESSES TELL STORY
in the Church and the Janltor
Hanging Around After
Everyone Left

Louisville, June 9.-Alma Kellner met
her death at the hands of Joseph Wend
ling missing janitor of st. Johns Cath
olic church, according to a verdict re-
turned by the coroner's jury late today.
The jurors deliberated for more than an
hour before reaching their decision.
The one missing Link of evidence neces-
sary to establish the fact that Alma
Kellner was last seen alive in St. Johns
Catholic church was obtained last night
by Frank Fehr, the murdered childs
uncle. Mrs. Rosa Steuble who lives a few
blocks from the scene of the murder, was
called today at the coroners inquest to
tell how she happened to be the last per-
son save THE Kellner child to leave the
church on the morning Alma disap-
peared. She was probably the last per-
son, save the murderer, who saw the
girl alive. Mrs. Steuble says Joseph
Vending, the missing janitor, who is be-
ing sought in connection with the MUIR
der, was in the church when she left, and
that she had noticed him moving about
the church several times during her stay
of a quarter of an hour, and that she
had remarked at the time the close at
tention he paid to the little girl, who was
on her knees praying and toying with
candles. She explains her failure to come
forward sooner by the statement that she
is not a member of st. JOHNS congre-
cation, and was not aware of the neces-
sity for tracing up the slightest move
ment of the little victim.
Mrs. Steubles story and the finding of
a bloody knife and bloody razor among
the effects of Vending are the latest de-
velopments in the case.
Beyond stating that she knew nothing
of her husbands whereabouts. Mrs. Lena
Wendling, wife of the missing janitor,
today refused to answer all questions put
to her at the coroner's inquest. This was
by advice of counsel
Benedict Thomas. the present janitor
of st. rJoiuls .rhur.2s told os mailing d
letter containing $40 to zsdwas a WendiIn.;
/ In France at the request of Mrs. Wend-
ling. The latter told him previously that
she thought her husband had gone to
New Orleans to secure work. He did
not like the position here and he had
| friends in New Orleans Mrs. Elizabeth
Weitzel. an aunt of Frankfort KY, iden-
titled the gauntlet found in the basement
as the property of Alma Kellner.
Mrs. Rosa Steuble, believed to be the
last person who saw Alma Kellner alive,
was the next witness
Myself and another woman were late
to mass that day." said Mrs Steuble.
After we had said our prayers the
woman called my attention to a little
girl who was at the communion railing
playing with the candles. At this time
the janitor Eas in front of the altar,
near the middle aisle. He watched me
closely, walked out front, came back,
went inside the communion railing and
pretended to be doing something. The
little girl then was at the communion
rail-
THE janitor watched the child all the
time. following her with his eyes as she
moved from one place to another The
child had a red hat and a checked coat,
as we'll as can remember. She SCENE i
to be between and years old. She
was there alone when l left the church,
az the other woman left before I did
dio not know Alma Kellner. The man
had black hair and black mustache.
He seemed to be young
T'he other woman referred to Is Mrs.
Anna Grahle. Mrs. Grahle testified:
IT saw this little girl pass from one
side of the communion railing to the
other and then come back. A man
orened the sacristy door while we were
there and looked in and then closed tho
door. / saw another man who wore an
oyercoat appear in the back part of the
church His overcoat was dark brown
or black. He entered a pew. saw
Rim on his knees. was attracted by
his face, which was so white. l don [
know whether this was the one who
opened the sacristy door.
"I had a presentiment that that child
ought not to be in church there by her.
self and said to the woman In the pew
with me, DO you think anything could
happen to herr
'The woman answered: MY, what could
happen to the child in church,"
."The man with. the overcoat left the
church almost immediately. The janitor
was around there STILL"