Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-21
Says He Killed Mother
and Her Two Babies
at EIgin.
MOTIVE STILL MYSTERY
State School Ward Tells of
Eating at Table Over Well
Where Bodies Lay.

Elgin, Ill, April 21.-"Pil wipe out
the whole family some day." Herman
coppes told Ida Sleep, II years old,
two months ago, following a chastis-
ing administered by Nanny Sleep,
husband OF the woman and father of
the two babies found murdered on
the Sleep farm, according to a state
ment by the girl today preceding the
funeral Of the victims at East Plato,
~. According TO Detective Held, spe-
cial investigator for the states attor-
ney, the boy had insulted Mrs. Sleep
and when she rebuked him and threat
ened 20 tell her husband, he shot and
killed her. Then he murdered the
babies because they were witnesses.
The coroners jury ahsolVed the faith
er from any colIusion in the crime.
No other arrests will be made.
Herman Coppes, IA, paroled from ST.
Charles reformatory, who confessed yes
t,rday 70 the murder of Mrs. Maud
Sleep and her two children, was today
held to the grand jury by the coroner's
jury. which concluded the investiga-
scence of a motive for the boy TO
have committed the crimes led the
authorities TO believe he may have
been induced to kill Mrs Sleep and
her children by another. Sheriff Nc
Briarty and Assistant States Attor-
ney Philips began a new investigation
today which indicates that a relative
pf the victims may have been impii
Gated. Several cleEs which point TO
the possibility that this relative smaK.
have induced the boy to have commit
ted the crimes for a monetary con-
sideration are in possession OF the au-
thorities, and they will make a care
ful investigation. Several detectives
from Chicago who are aiding the FL
gin authorities learned that Mrs
Sleeps life was insured for $1,000,
payable to her husband, that the hus-
band had the farm mortgaged for $5.-
900 and that recently he complained
to friends he was short of cash. It is
probable a special grand jury will be
called in few days. Coppes, in the
county jail at Geneva maintained the
same attitude as yesterday, when he
realize the enormity of the crime.
hoy SLEEPS sOUNDdY
The boy slumbered quietly nine
hours last night. When told his vic,
Tins would be buried today he gave
no evidence of interest The funeral
will be held from the farm, and the
bodies taken by special car TO Aurora
on the tnterurban electric line. The
consequence of the tragedy many boys
paroled as was Coppes to Kane coun
" farmers from the reform school al
81. Charles. Ill, have been returned
TO the institution. Their sponsors
have been so unnerved by the triple
killing they feared to trust any in
mate OF the school What penalty vii
be asked in case COppes is found gull
ty was not learned today. The states
attorney said the boy can legally
be hanged, but declined to indicat,
what punishment would be sought
TEACHER FINDS CARTRIDGES.
Margaret Dwyer. teacher OF the dis
trict school Coppes attended. said sht
found three empty revolver cart
ridges in the school room Wednesda!
and thought It possible they dropped
from Coppes' pockets when he Was il
school the day before. Miss Dwye
said the pupil exhibited unusual mood,
Tuesday. which was a day after tn,
murders. He told her he didn't fee
we'll, she said. Obtaining permis
sion to leave 5he room, he failed L
l.. 10 -
the week. Previously he had beel
noticeable for his attendance record
Herman Coppes. aged IA, lang he'd yes
,erday as be confessed that he was I'll,
slayer of Mrs. Nanny Sleep and he
two small children, whose bodie
we're found Saturday in a cistern be
meath the kitchen OF the Sleep farm
house, five miles west of Elgin.
Coppes was paroled from the 81
Charles State Home for Boys ST
months ago. Sleep was his benefaC
tor The boy confessed having sho
Mrs. Sleep for no reason at ali an,
while her children looked on. Their
that they might not tell what the
saw. he killed the children with
hatchet-
The boy murderer then threw thei
bodies into the empty cistern. Fo
FIVE days following the crime he at
his meals from a table directly owe
the cistern. He said that the pre-:
ence OF the dead and mutilated bodie
beneath him didn't bother him bit.
sLFEP SHOWS HORROR.
Only once during the day did tn
ocontlnued on Page Ninel