Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-12-31
CLAIM CONVICTED
 POISOkER IS NO7
 MULTI.MURDERER
Whole Question of Herman Billik's Guilt Be Reopened
 at Pardon Hearing.

Chicago, Ill. Dec. 26.-ls Herman BilHk innocent of the murders when once brought hihl within the shadow of the gallows and for which he IS now serving a life sentence m the state prison al billet? This is the question that is to be threshed out here next Saturday, when the case that decade ago was a subject of countrywide discussion is to be re- opened on 8 petition for the pardon of the prisoner.
 Billik was a Bohemian magician and fortune teller. At his trial he was branded as a multi-murdefnr whose alleged crimes placed him in a class with Johann Hoch. who was hanged for the murder of several o1 his wives, and II. II. Holmes, whose trial of crime made the world shud- der in the early nineties. All three were alleged to have "put their vc- tins out of the way" by the poison route in order that they might ODtain the few hundreds of dollars or prop erty which their victims possessed Of the three, however. there was none who was alleged to have plalyed his part in so spectacular a setting as the Bohemian magician.
 Two of Billik's wives had died under circumstances that had aroused the suspicion of the authorities. But the immediate crime for which he was convicted and sentenced to death was the murder of Mary VrZal, the 9 year old daughter of Martin and Rose Vrzal, members of the Chicago Bohemian colony. He was dharged also with the murder of Martin Vrzal the father; of Tillie, aged IS; Rose, aged II, and Ella. aged 12. The five crimes were alleged to have been committed by Billik within period Of one year and nine months, and in that time. according to his own ad- missions, he had mulcted the family. through the medium of Mrs. Vrzal, of $4,00o in property and life insurance carried by his alleged victims.
 HypnOtized. Robber Victims.
 Martin Vrzal had made the acquaintance of Billik in the latter's capacity of fortune. teller and ma gician. Vrzal desired to destroy the business of a rival milk dealer and he consulted Billik in the matter. The two families soon bee anne intimate friends. Before long the studied blandishments of Biilik worked a fascination for him in the entire Vrzal family. Mrs. Billik, it was said, was completely under the control of his hypnotic personality. When Mar tin Vrzal died his wife collected $2,- 900 in insurance and gave most of it to Billik
 Two days before Mary Vrzal died her mother visited Billik and obtain ed from him some medicine" for Mary. The girl died in Billik's arms in the Vrzal home. The ailment that killed her was the same that killed her father, stomach trouble" When her remains were disinterred and chemists made an examination of the contents of her stomach they found it contained five grains of arsenic.
 Mary's life was insured for $500 The funeral expenses came out of this, and Billik got the rest from Mrs Vrzal.
 Within the year following Nary death. at intervals of a few months came the deaths of other members o. the Vrzal family all from "stoma ii trouble" Each of the alleged vic, tims was insured and in each instance Blllik is said to have obtained tho most of the money. Finally came tht death of Mrs. Vrzal. who passed away with only Billik in attendance. S;l> died by poison. whether self adminis tered or not was never definitely sa! tied. One of the last acts before the womans death was the persuasion O her by Billik to sell her home an( give him the money.
 Many Believe Him Innocent.
 Despite what appeared to be the overwhelming evidence of his gull there are many persons who have al ways held to the opinion that Billis was a victim of circumstances. While admitting that he was a cheap sham playing sordidly upon the ienorance and superstition of his victims for his own gains, they are of the belief that he was entirely innodent of taking hu. man life. Most prominent of those believing in Billik's innocence and now working for his release from prison is Father p. !. O'Callaghan now attached to the Catholic. univers ity at Washington who was parish priest in Chicago in 1907 and whose duties had brought him into touch with the principles in the Bllik case.
 lt was through Father O'Calla- ehan'S influence that Billik received five reprieves after his sentence to death. On one occasion the convict ed man was saved after he had actu ally begun the mardh to the gallows. On another memorable occasion the death sentence was stayed when Bill lik's little dauehter threw herself to her knees at tho faet of Covnr,,