The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-02-08
AT GRAVE
ON MURDER CEARGE
As THE HDUN OF HIS WIFE WAS
LOWERED INTO GRAVE Illus
BAND is ARRESTED FOR
MtHEEI..

Cherokee. ia.-Arrestcd at the
grave OF his Wife as soon as the
body had been lowered, and charg-
cd With her brutal murder by strang-
ulation. Ernest II. llessenius, a
yonng German. $ To-Day lying in a.
cell at the county jail, refused bond.
He Will be given Il formal hearing
at 8 u. m. February II. Strong
evidence against him in his home on
Il farm near Cleghorn will be used 20
combat his own story that his wife,
while shaking out he'd clothing on
the balcony OF the house, fell to the
ground and was killed by striking
ON he rhead. A post mortem re-
suited N finding that tho
died by strangulation instead OF by
concussion of the brain. as the hus-
band asserts.
The death of Mrs. Hessenius at
Cleghorn Wednesday was reported
by her husband, who said he found
her unconscious about 3 O'Clock in
the yard and that he took her into
the house. where she died, a coro-
ner's jury rendered a verdict tina
she came TO her death by conclusion
of the brain, accepting the husband:
story that she fell from the balcony
The parents of the woman. however
refused to cccept the verdict and de
mandcd Il post mortem. The bod,
therefore Vas brought to Cherokee,
and DR.. c. Il. Quinn, of Meriden
DR.. p. b. Cleaves and DIR. c. ii. Hall
of Cherokee, performed the autopsy
oornninu in thnir Nnrliat ne Cfa,,p,,
lation.
while, had conducted an investiga.
tion about the premises. He founC
Il broken mirror on the floor and a
heavy oven door from y stove brok-
en- off it hinges. a sewing machine
drawer had been broken and bore
blood spots. The body itself had "a
severe abrasion on The temple, as
is the woman had been struct with
some blunt instrument, and there
were blood bruises on the throat.
These, the husband explained, were
caused by blood gushing up in the
throat as a result of the supposed
fall. There We're evidences found
that the body had been dragged
from the parlor to the kitchen.
where it lay ut the time the death
became known, There were no bed
clothes found on the balcony, it is
said, as they should have beer il
the woman was in the act of shaking
hem when she fell.
= sister Of the dead oma told
the county attorney that, on the day
OF Mrs. I%lessenius' death. she had
/ TN hGy thut Shp hnA hont
q%uarreling with her husband ant
would come owe TO the old home to
spend the dav. She had told hel
husband, according to the sister!
story, that she wanted to so to ar
entertainment that n'ght, and he oh
jected. 1t is said the couple have
had frequent qualrels in the two
years since their marriage, mostly
over the fact that she was disposed
TO spend money out of their ample
means, while he objected. Hesse.
Mus had a reputation Tor sobricty
and steadiness.
An odd feature of the case is thai
a brother of llessenius is convinced
that the husband is guilty OF muir
der. while a brother OF the dead wifi,
considers him innocent. Hessenius
brother approached him. it is related
knew about the death. The husban,
instead of giving him an answer
turned his back and walked away
according to the story.
Hessenius is about % years ole
and his WIFE was %. They ar,
cliildless.