Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-12-08

to some of the minor nisdeeds of the
gang and then she went little further,
and confessed sundry grave crimes,
and then, as the magistrate still kept
up his questioning, she told story
that shook Switzerland from one end
to the other.
She said that her brother and two
or three others of the celebrated gang,
had murdered Herr Keller. They had
been hired to do so by two eminent
citizens of Lucerne, and had ambushed
themselves in some shrubbery border
ing the path along the Reuss on that
night of storm. They knew Keller
would come that way, but were not
expecting his daughters. When they
saw the outlines of the girls in the
darkness they thought their plans were
frustrated, but just then one of the
girls turned back to find her shoe, and
at that moment they seized Keller and
threw him into the water. The story
agreed in every particular with the
known facts, and the resulting sensa-
ton was tremendous.
The alleged instigators of the crime
were at once arrested and thrown into
Jail. They were Joseph Pfyffer and
DR.. Leodegar d'Orelli, citizens of high
standing, members of the cantonal
council and leaders of the Ultramon-
tame party. Their hatred of Keller
had been well known, and it was
against them that the dark hints of
foul play were directed Immediately
after the death of Keller.
A dragnet was put out for the va
grants, and many of them, including
the chief, were brought in. The trial
was long drawn out, and Switzerland
was in fernent while it lasted. The
confession of Klara Wendell was cor
rObOrated by her brother and the al
legged accomplices. They confessed so
freely and fully, and with such en-
gaging candor, as to create some sus-
picion. Their story was that they had
met Doctor dOrelli and Pfyffer at an
ale house on the evening of the crime,
and had agreed to remove Keller for q
certain sum of money which would be
handed over as soon as the deed was
done. The doctor informed them that
Keller would return home on foot after
eight O'Clock, and they laid in wait for
him, as related above. The job done,
John Wendell waited upon the doctor
next day and was paid his wages in
gold.
The story was circumStantial and
covered every possible point, but Wen
del was such a notorious liar, and his
associates were so celebrated for plain
and fancy perjury, that the very
smoOthneSS of their story created
| doubts in the minds of the jurymen. AS
the trial went on, and the witnesses
were examined and re-examined, and
badgered by lawyers, they began to
contradict each other, and to confess
things which were known to be untrue
so 1t was easy in the end to shoot their
testimony full of holes, and the doctor
ana Pfyifer were acquitted, after hav.
ing been in Jail six months. They suf.
1ered more than the imprisonmcpt
however, for they were osfracizdd as
long as they lived. The acquittal failed
to convince their neighbors that the
story of the Wendels was untrue.
In order that nobody might accuse
the court of grinding away for six
months to no purpose, John Wende
was placed on trial at once, and, after
a brisk and breezy trial. was convicted
of murder, perjury, arson, assault anC
battery, mayhem and sundry Other
crimes, and was promptly hanged. tC
the great qualification of the LEADING
business men. Deprived of its CHIEF
and inspiration, the heimatlosen los
its grip, and twenty years, later it wa.
practically extinct.