The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1914-02-20
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EX-sIJ|TOR HELD
Brutal Crime Committed in Al
rora, III.
BODY IS FOUND ON GRAVE
BODY IS FOUND ON GRAVE
Ycung Woman's Father Finds Corpse
Following Search for Daughter
Story ct Old Love Affair Leads
to Arrest OF Man.


Chicago, Feb. 1S.-Theresa Hollan-
der OF Aurora, twenty years old, was
brutally slain near her home Monday
night. Her body was thrown across
the head Of grave in ST. Nicholas
cemetery, where it was found by her
father.
On the theory that the crime had
been committed By rejected sutton,
the Aurora police arrested Anthony
Petras, who was married last Septem-
Der.
The girls head was crushed by
blows from a heavy piece Of timber
which had been used in lowering cot
fms into graves. The timber, stained
with blood, was found near the body.
Engagement Is Broken.
Stories OF a love ENHANCEMENT told
by Mrs. Mathew Hollander. the girls
mother, led to PetEas' arrest. She said
her daughter had been engaged to the
man and had broken the engagement.
Then the man began series Of an
noyances,' she said. He married a
woman named Amelia Mathews last
September and q few weeks later he
told my daughter he had married her
for spite because Theresa would not
marry him.
Attends Lodge Meeting.
Miss Hollander was financial secrc-
tary of the Aurora lodge, Knights and
Ladies of Honor. She, with her father,
attended meeting of the lodge Mon
day night, and the girl collected about
SO in lodge dues.
About nine o'clock she turned the
money over to her father, saying that
she was going home. AS near as could
be lea med by the police she boarded
an Ohio street car In front of the lodge
hall.
Petras was a passenger on the car.
He occupied the same seat with her,
and talked with her all the way home.
Witnesses, whose identity the police
refused to reveal, told the police that
Petras got off at the same time, al-
though his home was about half a
block down the street.
Searches for Daughter.
From the time the girl left the car
until the discovery of the body by her
father little is known of the move
ments OF the two. The father arrived
home about ten o'clock and asked for
the daughter Mrs. Hollander said the
girl had not arrived.
The father started on his search A
red trail led him out of the yard, along
the sidewalk and into the cemetery to
a tiny grave, upon which lay the girls
body.
The snow was trampled, showing
that the girl had made a terrible bat
tie for her life. A little further on
the father found the piece Of timber
with which her head had been crushed.
Chief of Police Frank Michels went
to Petras' home and placed him under
arrest.
He denied that he had any connec-
ton with the crime.
II left Theresa at her front gate,
and went home" he told the police.
my wife had made some tea, and
drank that and went to bed"
His statement was corroborated by
his bride Of few months
Petras was taken to the Aurora Jail
and was questioned by the chief of
police and Eugene Norton, the coroner.
Later ne was locked up, to be held
pending the verdict of the coroner's
Jury.
Says "Nobody Saw IT,
The police attach much significance
to remark Petras is reputed to have
made to Coroner Norton. ct looks
bad for you, Tony said Norton. mo
body saw it." Petras is said to have re-
piled.
Petras eyed with apprehension
crowd of men and women who gath
cred around the jail, striving for a
chance to look through the barred
windows at the prisoner Hearing his
outcries, the police drove his torment
Drs away.
The body was beaten almost beyond
recognition. The heavy blows of the
club had crushed the skull. The torso
and limbs also were bruised and cut.
The police declared that search of
Petras' house had revealed blood
stained shirt and pair of shoes which
had blood spots on them. Chief OF
Police MicEels said that they had not
been shown to Petras and that he
would be confronted with them today.
u