Evening times-Republican., 1913-07-02
DREMER COUNTY MURDERER
WANTS FREEooM FROM
STATES PRISON.
HAS SERVED sEvENTEEN
YEARS ron WoMAN's MURDER
BeseI< Shot Sister, MistaIsins Her For
His Wifs-NarrovIy Escaped Lynei,.
Ing During TriaEFinalix Accepted
Lie Term 70 save His Nsek-Parols
Board Investigating Application.
Special to Times Republican.

New Hampton. July 2.-Senator w.
H. Berry. Of Indianola; David c. Mott.
Of Marengo: and DIR. ]. e. Howe, OIL
Greenfield. who compose the state
board Of parole. recently visited New
Hampton to investigate the case Of
Hermann Boeck. committed to the
penitentiary for life for the killing of
his sister-in-law, Miss Augusta Bartz.
Altho this murder occurred seventeen
years ago 1t IL still fresh in the minds
willing to sign protest to this parole.
Boeck.
Miss Augusta Bartz was returning
from church with other members Of
the family when she was shot and
killed by Herman Boeck. who claimed
that he was hunting and his shot
went wild. Miss Bartz was wearing
the cloak belonging to her sister. Mrs.
Boeck. and the supposition was that
Boeck supposed it was his wife at
whom he shot. Miss Bartz lived until
after surgeons arrived at the home.
000Sk 6Un0 Away.
Meanwhile Boeck, realizing the
probable indignation Of the neighbor-
hood fed in terror for his life. Sheriff
Murphy and posse were searching the
country for him when he ran breath
less to the county jail at New Hamp-
ton. and plead with Mrs. Murphy. the
sherin's mother. to take him in and
give him protection. She granted his
request. and soon saw an angry group
Of people approaching the jail. Her
courage and presence Of mind probably
averted q lynching. She told Boeck
to lie fiat on the floor Of the cell and
to keep perfectly still and she would
save him. Then she went to the door
and when asked If Boeck were there.
she replied that her son was out look
ing for him at the time and that she
expected them to arrive most any min
ute. Thus the temporary hysteria Of
the mob was banished.
Accepts Life Imprisonment.
The trial Of Boeck lasted only three
or four days. The attorney for the de-
Tense pleaded that Boeck was irrespon-
sible for the act because Of being an
epileptic. However. the proofs for his
epilepsy were rather feeble and were
based upon some attacks experienced
while living in Germany. AS the trial
progressed the feeling grew more Bit
ter. and his attorney feared verdict
Of guilty and a sentence Of capital
punishment. When he saw tho pos
sibiiity of escaping with life imprison-
ment. he accepted 1t most gladly. Court
adjourned at noon and q carriage
backed up to the court house door and
Boeck was hurried to the station Just
in time to catch the train. This pre-
caution was deemed necessary In order
to escape a dangerous demonstration.
When court was called after noon
many were amazed to learn Of the
sudden termination Of tho case, and the
records were filled out for his life Inn
prisonment after he had already
started on his journey to his prison
cell. The attorney who defended him
during the trial IL active In this en-
deavor to secure his parole. However,
the Bartz family have engaged an at
torney to appear before the board and
register most decided protest to his
release.