South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-25
Mr.. and Mrs. George w. Mex
ell of TAO MiShawaka
Av., Attacked Early
Wednesday Morning.
SMALL FORTUNE TAKEN
TO BANK ON SATURDAY
RumorS That Couple Had ST.
0G0 SeCreted About the
House Believed to Have
Caused Tragedy.

Attacked boy rufians bent on rob-
berry who had been secreted in the
barn, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Meix-
el. an old couple who for nearly 80
years had lived alone at 1910 Mish-
awake ay, were terribly beaten
about the heads and unconscious.
dragged and left for dead in an old
granery in the barn where they
were found AT about 1880 o'clock
Wednesday morning by a party OF
laborers who mad sought shelter
from the rain.
Mrs. Nickel was dead before Ut.
A. l.. Knapp, who had been called
10y the men who founG the bodies
arrived. Mr. Nickel was rushed 10
the Epworth hospital IN the police
ambulance where little hope is ex-
tended for his ultimate recov cry.
Late Wednesday afternoon mas con-
dition remained about the same. lie
had lost much blood and the upper
part of his head and face were Ia
a pulp.
Find Murder Weapons.
Covered with blood single-tree
and an adj were found i'm one cor
ner OF the barn It is the theory
OF the police that at least two men
participated i'm the crime and that
while one attacked Mrs Nickel with
the blunt side Of the adj. the other
struck her husband with the single
tree. Clots of blood were on the
floor AT the foot of the stairway 10
the hay-lot where the murder was
committed and from there a tell-tale
trail led % the old granery where
the bodies mad been hidden.
After having disposed Of the
bodies the men went through the
house and hurriedly ransacked II
from top 10 bottom No thorough
search was made OF any part. but
the most careful attention was given
To dark corners and out-Of-the-way
places where money might have
been hidden As far as X is pos
sible TO ascertain no valuable papers
and no iewelry was taken but il IS
not known just how much money
was found by the murderers.
Banked Money Saturday.
Approximately s.. GOO belonging 20
the old couple was taken from the
house on Saturday by AIRS. Marian
Handn OF Portage Prairie. sister
OF Mrs Nickel. and banked az the
South Bend National bank.
According 10 brother-in-law.
James H. Ray. IL Cushing St, the
old people were in the habit OF keep
ing money about the mouse Both
were property owners and moder-
ately well 20 do Mr Nickel often
carried as much as 500 on his per-
son. and other sums AZ the house.
The bodies were first discovered
10y Cornelius Taylor, an employe OF
the Northern Indiana Gas company.
who with a gang Of men we're put
ting In gas taps 10 the curb on Mish-
awake Az a down pour Of rain
caught the men AZ about O'Clock.
and they ran 10 the barn IN the rear
OF the Nickel property for shelter.
Soon after thev arrived they heard
a low moaning and for a 3ong time
attributed ic 20 a noise made by one
OF the animals. Finally they threw
open the door OF tee small once
in which they were standing and
the poor Oh DlhDA JUST bAtrAAE leu 20
the discovery OF the bodies.
Near Macklin Murder.
The Nickel home. which is the
first house east OF the South Bend
watch factory IS scarcely 200 yards
from the old shanty and vault. the
scene OF the horrible murder OF
Hazel Mackliu. Just a short dis
lance further on along the banks OF
the river Is a Jungle an habitual
camping place OF tramps and
hoboes. Neigh5ors say that At err
tain seasons OF the year this place -
frequented BY dozens Of men who
FISH In the river and make their
permanent residences along
the banks.
IL was the custom OF the olf
people 20 arise early In the morning
and go together 20 the barn where
he fed The fine team Of bay horses