South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-09-10
MURDERER'S TALE
TOLD BY SHERIFF
William Kramer Kills CaSSop-
oils Man With Butcher
Knife in Front of
Wife.

Details Of the brutal methods pur-
sued by William Kramer, formerly OF
South Bend, Self-confeSsed murderer
of his father-in-law, Squire Collier,
II years old, at the latters home three
miles south of Cassopolis, were made
public last night Ivy Undersheriff f.
IT. Lundy Of that city. 1t was to Lundy
and 10 Deputy Sheriff Nixon. also of
Cassopolis. that Kramer surrendered
himself Thursday morning at $40 o.
clock after a night of horror spent at
the Collier homestead and the grounds
adjoining.
Kramer is SO years old. and has
been separated from his wife, Squirs
Golfers daughter, since June IA.
1915. Their married life prior to that
time, according TO the wife's sobbing
story to the undersheriff. was made
difficult and truculent by the hus-
bands cruelty and his addiction to
intoxicating liquors. Her father. she
said. urged her to seek legal separa-
ton and to return TO his home.
Ordered To Leave.
This according TO Kramer, was the
cause of a grudge which has lasted for
years. although he and his wife lived
under her fathers roof. On June IA
Kramer was arrested by Lundy be-
cause he had threatened the life OF
both his wife and her father. There
him and Mrs. Kramer at that time.
and Kramer was released under
peace bond of $3.50 and his promise
TO leave Michigan forever.
He went to LapOrte and from there
came to South Bend. Here he sought
work as bartender, and secured such
a position Thursday night. moved
by a spirit Of revenge inspired, he
said. by much brooding and melan-
chOly because of the barrier between
himself and his wife, he went to Cass-
opolis on a Grand Trunk passenger
train, and walked the three miles to
the Collier homestead.
He opened the unlocked front door,
entering the living room and lighted
an oil lamp. A search for a weapon
led him to the kitchen. where he
picked up a butcher knife from a
table.
Stabs Man Twice.
With this in one hand and the lamp
in the other, he entered his wife's
bedroom At his first touch she
awakened, and rerrorized by his ap-
pearance and the knife in his hama.
screamed for help. Her aged father
entered the room in his night gar
ments. and. according to his daughter,
unarmed. He sought to eject Kramer,
but the younger man plunged the long
blade of his weapon twice into the
two sharp 1abs, he tore deep wounds
in his head One was just in front
Of Golfers left ear, and the other
above his temple.
Partially sobered by his deed.
Kramer seized his wife's hand and
fed into the yard. Mrs. Kramer. clad
only in night garments. was dragged
screaming, according to Lundy, into
neighbOring cOrnfield, her husband
-ofusing TO allow her to return to her
father and himself afraid to enter
the house.
After a time the wife persuaded
Kramer to enaer the barn. Here the
two spent the night, and it was here
that Kramer hid his loaded and un-
used revolver in a pile Of hay. At
daybreak after a night OF begging
and pleading, the wife had persuaded
her husband to surrender himself 10
the authorities, and the two mace
their way TO the office of Undersheriff
LUndy.
The broken knife the revolver and
a half-empty WHISKY bottle are now
in his possession. Kramer has been
charged with murder In the first de-
gree and has been held to the circuit
court grand jury. which will meet
next week. He claims self-defencc.
saying that Collier also was armed
with a knife. but this is denied by the
wife.
Coroner s. L Loupee of Vandalia
impaneled a jury Thursday afternoon.
but adjourned Immediately until Mon
day. No evidence was taken.