Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-04-07
Alton Marshal Brutally Murdered.

Alton, iowa, Democrat, gives the
particulars regarding the murder
of Joseph Kaschmitter of that
city, a brother of M. Kaschmitter
and father of Mrs. Frank Sprute,
of this place.
''Alton citizens We're severely shocked
on Saturday morning when word was
passed around that Joe Kaschmitter,
the town marshal, had been brutally
shot down by hoboes, in the early morn
ing hours and was in precarious con,
dition. The dastardly crime was com
mitted at about one o'clock in the morn
iag. Joe was coming from the depot
Immediately after the first night train
from the south had pulled out. When
he reached the alley between theodore
Hoxmeier's store and home, two men
ordered him to throw up his hands and
before he could comply with their de-
mands, the brutes shot him down as
though he were a dog. He was shot
twice-once from his side and once
from the rear. The first shot struck
him under his right arm, pierced the
lower portion of the lung and left the
body just to the right of the breast
bone. The second bullet entered his
right buttock, passed through the low
er end OF the rectum and tore through
the left uretor, destroying that connec-
tion between kidney and bladder. 1t
seemed that the assailants hid them
selves behind the telephone post at the
rear of the Hoxmeier store. They saw
kaschmitter in the distance and decid-
ed to hold him up. They waited until
he was alongside, had almost passed
them and ordered him to hold up his
hands. According to Mr.. Kaschmitter
they shot Immediately after making
the demand. 1t is our opinion that the
dastards discovered that they had held
up an officer and knowing that he was
armed, expected him to shoot and they
shot first. The first shot brought him
to his knees, evidently with his face to
the ground as the course of the second
bullet would Indicate. The fiends shot
him the second time, this time from the
rear, after he was down and almost
out. We may be able to find u reason
for the firing of the first shot but the
dastards had no reason for shooting the
second time. Mr.. Kaschmitter, while
down, emptied his revolver but evil
IDENTIFY without effect. He walked to
Main street and tried to get into the
st. Louis restaurant as he wanted to
inform the mayor of what had happen
ed. He failed to gain admittance and
went down the street and tried at
Schroeders, then at the Weis restau-
rant and from there went across the
street to Cooks restaurant and again
cried for help. Some of the people on
Main street were up and heard his cries
but as he staggered around with gun
in his hand and was not recognized ly
anyone, they feared to venture out rs
they did not know what to make Of
what they saw and heard. By this
time John Weis was up and ventured
out and assisted Mr.. Kaschmitter into
the restaurant. Joe told Mr.. Weis
what had happened and where and
asked that Mr.. Weis notify the Kasch-
mitter home, call DR.. Gleysteen ard
Father Bruno and also notify P, Schaap
the sheriff. In few minutes two
doctors and nurse were in attendance
and the poor man was given the best of
care. He was carried to his home and
in the early morning hours an operation
was performed by DR.. Gleysteen as
sisted by DR.. Meengs, of Alton, and
DR.. Cram, of Sheldon. Miss Van
Houte, of Boyden, registered nurse,
who was guest in the city, assisted in
the operation and attended Mr.. Kasch-
mitter until the nurse arrived from
Sioux City. The operation disclosed
that the bullets had passed through his
body with the results mentioned before.
One of the bullets, thirty EIGHT cali
bre, was caught in the clothing after
PoSohiS ShiNuSh hio poNy. ne uOcUOI
gave little hope for Mr.. Kaschmitter's
recovery and he passed away on Mon
day morning at about three-forty. His
end was peaceful and without much
pain. His family was at his bedside
and as he slowly passed away he visited
with them-told the little ones to be
obedient children and admonished the
older boys and girls to walk in the
paths of righteousness and after for
giving his assailants he breathed his
last.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sprute left im.
mediately for Alton on receiving
word of the injury of their father
but were delayed by wash-outs
on the railroad and did not arrive
there in time for the funeral
The murdered man was So years
of age and leaves a wife, nine
children and one brother to mourn
his untimely death.
The many friends of the
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