The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-03-30
KILLED KLFE AND CHILDREN
HANGED SELF IN HIS NOME
Frightful Deed Committed By William Kleeman,
Farmer Residing Near Redwood Falls;
Was Discovered By School
Teacher
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.l

sible to complete the Journey by
team, so Miss Snyder walked the
latter part of the way. The house
was dark as she approached it, no
lights cleaning a welcome anywhere.
The young woman slowly approached,
and opening the door walked into
the darkened dining room. A death
like stiffness prevailed, and nervous
ly she felt for the matches and
struck one on the wall.
: Waverihgly the blaze of the match
sputtered up, and revealed for one
brief instant the sinister figure hang
ing Imply from rope in the center
of the dining room Alone with the
dead body, and shaking with the
horror of the discovery, the young
woman did not lose her presence of
mind, but bravely struck another
match and lighted the smoky lamp,
which revealed the room with all its
hideous evidence of tragedy Think
ing that the man might yet be alive
Miss Snyder hurried to the dangling
form and cut the rope which held it..
The body fell to the floor and wit
an energy. born of desperation the
young woman endeavored to bring
back the breath of life to the muir
derer and suicide. With every effort
and plan suggested by "first aid to
the injured rules, Miss Snyder work.
ed over the body, but to no avail.
Had Done Clever Job.
The man had done his job very
cleverly. He had placed pole across
an open stove pipe hole in the cell
ing, and tied the rope around the
pole. He had then fastened the moose
to his own neck and jumping from a
chair had strangled himself to death.
Finding that Kleeman was really
dead Miss Snyder hurried to the tele-
phone, to call for help. She got P.
H. Croker on the line, and as best
she could explained what had hap
pened.. Mr. Crocker knew at once
that the young woman was under a
great mental strain, and he kept her
at the telephone engaged in, converse
ton while he sent DR.. J. l.. Adams and
Attorney w. r. Werring out to the
farm. 1t took them two hours to drive
out, owing to the bad condition of
the roads, and Henry Redding, a
farmer, arrived short time before
they did. ByNtffe foresight of Mr..
Croker, Miss Snyder had been pre-
vented from investigating the rooms
and finding the other dead bodies,
She had been alone in the house for
about an hour and a half, and was
Frustrated with nervousness when
the physician arrived. AS soon as
the men entered Miss Snyder was
greatly relieved, but was taken to
neighboring house that she might not
view what remained to be seen in
the house of death.
AS the men went from room to
room they found the dead bodies OF
the young wife, and the little chill
dren. The mother lay in her bed and
baby was lying in a cradle in the same
room. while in the front room the
other children lay asleep in the last
great sleep, as the father had slain
them cuddled together in their trun-
die bed.
The father Of Kleeman lives at
Redwood Falls, and the relatives of
the wife live near that city, the
fathers name being Henry Petrie.
an inquest over the remains was being
held by DR.. Bray of Wabasso today