The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-04-26
JACOB WOLF, WIFE T
AND 5 DAUGHTERS
MURDERED ON FARM
NEAR TURTLELAkE
easily Crime Is Most Shocking
In History Of North
Dakota
EIGHT MONTHS OLD BABE
ONLY ONE TO ESCAPE
Mclean County Officials Ex-
pect to Make Arrests
Before Night

Turtle Lake, N. D., April 60
The arrest of two men believed re-
sponsible for the murder of eight
persons on the farm Of Jacob Wolf,
near here, is expected before mid
night, according to- Mexican county
officials. Posses are searching for
two strangers seen leaving the farm
Thursday afternoon, when the muir
ders were believed to have been COM
mitted.
The bodies of Mrs. Wolf and three
daughters and hired man were found
in the cellar Saturday evening and
the body of Jacob Wolf and two 9TH
ers were found in the cow shed.
All were killed with shotgun ex-
cept one. The shotgun was found in
puddle Of water about mile from
the house. 81
Little Emma Wolf, eight-month-old
baby, is sole survivor of the family
and is recovering from exposure at
one of the neighbors' house today.
It was first believed that the crime
had been committed in the kitchen
and that the instrument Of death
was a Ratchet, but later investiga-
tions proved that a shotgun was used
to perform the dastardly crimes.
The bodies were discovered by
John Kraft, a neighbor, when he
visited the place today. In the barn
he found the bodies Of Wolf and a
hired boy; named Hofer, aged 49,, ~
ing On the floor with blood clotted
about several wounds on their heads.
Several pigs were gnawing on the
bodies, and they had been badly mutt
lated by the animals.
Kraft then rushed to the house
where, in the cellar, he found the
bodies Of Mrs. Wolf, four other chill
dren and farm hand, lying in a
heap on the floor. =
There was no evidence Of strug-
gle, according to reports received
here, and as Wolf is known to have
no enemies, the sheriff's office here
is unable to offer any theories for the
eight-fold tragedy.
The only member of the family
who escaped being murdered was the
youngest child. The little tot was Sit
ting on the floor on the first floor
and was almost famished when found,
indicating, the authorities said, that
the murders were committed at least
twenty-four hours before.
One of the most horrible features
of the discovery Of the bodies was
the terrible condition Of the bodies
of Wolf and the daughters.
Inasmuch as the Wolf farm is near
several other farm homes, the au.
thorities are at a loss to understand
why neighbors failed to hear the
shots which the many empty shot
gun shells indicated had been fired.
According to the story Kraft told,
he noticed on Friday night that a
washing was hanging on the clothes
line at the Wolf farm. Today he no
ticed the washing still on the line, and
this aroused his suspicion. The
suuealing Of the hogs led him to the
barn, where a gruesome sight met
his gaze. :,
Wolf was about as years old and
was we'll liked by his neighbors and
residents of Turtle Lake. He was
considered to be well-to-do. The
children killed ranged in age from
one year old to twelve.
States Attorney Williams Of WASH
burn and Sheriff Ole Steferud were
in Bismarck when the report Of the
crime reached here, and they left at
once for Turtle Lake to investigate.
The crime is one Of the most start
ling and mysterious ever recorded in
North Dakota.