The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-13
HUSBAND SHOT
PRAYING WIFE
Deliberately Carried Out His
Murder Scheme-Victim
Told of Intentions

PittSburg, Jan. 13-While praying
devoutly before small image depict
Ing the crucifixion of Christ, to be
saved from death, with which she had
been threatened by an enraged and
Jealous husband, Mrs. Stephen Lack
ner. was shot late yesterday afternoon
and instantly killed. The husband
then seized their 9-months old daugh-
ter and tried to escape. but was
captured shortly afterward by mount
ed police and made full confession.
Lackner. who was insanely Jealous
of his wife. followed her from Phila-
delphia four weeks ago. She had come
to the northside a year ago to Join her
mother. she said. to escape abuse at
had refused to work to support the
family.
Joseph Biernack. boon com.
panion. left Philadelphia at the time
Mrs. Lackner came here. Mrs. Lack
ner supported the cozy little home by
taking In washing and doing day work
when she could secure It. Both men
lived there. Neither Of them had at
tempted to obtain employment since
their arrival here and the woman was
the sole bread winner.
Several days ago Lackner accused
his wife of thinking too much of his
friend and heat her. The accusa-
tIon was denied by Mrs. Lackner but
the beatings continued at regular in
tervals. Shortly after the meaRer
MONDAY meal, which Mrs. Lackner
had provided yesterday. her husband
coolly informed her that he was go-
ing to kill her and then take his own
life. He also stated that he had writ
ten letter to his father and mother
who reside on farm near Lansdale,
short distance from Philadelphia,
telling them Of what was about to oc-
cur. The letter had been written and
mailed several hours before and was
addressed to John Lackncr, Sr., Hatz-
feldt.
After notifying his wife that he in
tended to kill her. Lackner sat down
at a kitchen table and wrote another
letter to be mailed to friends at
Philadelphia where he formerly resid-
ed. They were instructed to send
the contents Of the envelope to his
parents. The letter secured by the po-
lice reads:
Dear Friend: This is to say that
have shot my wife for bad living. She
has kept herself in another's love and
she did the same here. 1 shot her
and myself. couldn't live with her
because she was bad. She was not
worth shooting but must shoot her
Julius Lackner.
"P. H--This is my last word. This
is my address, 824 Long alle."
Completing the letter Lackner read
1t to his wife, who began to beg for
mercy. With her baby who lay in a
little crib near the kitchen stove. she
tried to make her escape. Lackner
seized the woman and threw her back
into the bedroom where Biernack lay
on the bed asleep. He then locked the
only door leading to the hallway from
the apartment. Returning to the bed.
room he carried the baby back into
the kitchen and placed 1t in the crib.
He then walked into the bedroom
again and secured a .32 caliber re-
volver and bog Of cartridges from q
dresser drawer. As he was putting the
five cartridges into the weapon he
remarked to his pleading wife:
Now. prepare to die. for am going
to Kill you and myself"
BY this time the plaintive appeals
for mercy from the doomed wife and
mother half awoke Biernack. He
started to expostulate with Lackner
but at the point of the revolver which
had been loaded. he remained silent
and motionless while the grim pre-
parations for the crime were being
completed.
Lackner walked back into the kitch-
on and kissed the baby. according to