The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-10-13
Mrs. Vajgrt Denies Mate
Had Part in Killing of
Betrayer of Daughter
Repudate Previous Confession That Husband Assisted in
Staying and Declares She Welded Club arm.
hand-Says Girls Father Did Not Arrive at Home
Until After ight Was Over.
Father and Daughter Held In Jail Without Bond

Lincoln. Oct. 12.-Mrs Adolrh
Vaigrt emphaticaHy denies that hor
husband played an active part in the
death Of Anton Lana. in confes-
sion given . County Attorney NJ.
Kip today.
He didn't come until after tie
fight was over" she repeated again
and again, referring to the struggle
in the straw house In which Lam
met his death last Monday morning.
This Is in direct contradiction to a
confession secured by Seward county
authorities from Vaigrt. IN which he
SAYS that he heard scream and
came to the assistance q lis -ife
and daughter in time TO deal Lana
n blow over tho head that was largely
responsible for his death
County Attorney Mekilip was At
his wits end tonight in an endeavor
TO reconcile statements that have
been made by the three Na5erts As
far As can be seen. al are telling
the truth as they see II. II being
thought that not one u them had
sufficient control OF his faculties II
that time 70 be able 10 tell coherent
story.
IN the kitchen of the little whits
farm house that week ago housed
happy family. sat Mrs. Eajsrt. re-
iatiug in halfbroken English her yer.
sion Of the fight with the Naigrt
farm hand that ended n = tragedy
Woman Weeps.
Now and again she would burst
into tears as the county attorneys
questions called up the picture q
the struggle in the early dawn. 3.
side her stood her son Frank. ls
who assisted his mother In answering
the questions put her The two
younger children had been sent from
the room when McKilip and County
Sheriff l. y. Scott arrived 70 take
the confession
Thin and frail Mrs Na5ggt hardly
looks capable Of welding The leng
plank with which she says sic
struck Lana again ard again until
be ceased to struggle. Her hands
worked nervnusly as question after
question was put TO her.
According 20 her she and her
"a - = AANFA- -AA2A WI AAA 20 Ia
The morning 70 the straw house
whore Lana was sleeping Arrived
there. with hardly a word 10 him.
they attacked him. He-haa a revolver
in his right hand. she says. and when
she seized him by the wrist. il, was
discharged.
Struggling. the two women and the
man fell 10 the ground. As they fell
the shotgun. which Lana vas holding
by the barrel. was grssped by Alhx
ard went eff. the charge ploughing
INTO Lanas right side
Says She dubbed Man.
As he lay PROSTATE on the ground
fearful that he would yet escape. and
half frantic. Mrs Najgrt seized the
long. heavy plank. and. as> she says.
with all my strength ard as high
as I could reach il. beat down upon
him" She Is unable 10 recall wether
she was sitting on Lana Al the time
or ~as STOPPING over him.
Hoping TO reconcile her confession
with that Of her husband. McKilip
asked several times whether or nos
her husband had played part in the
latter half Of the struggle. but when
II was inadvertently put n the record
that he might have. she protested
stoutly that II was mistake. and II
was deleted.
Her story also fails 10 tally with
statements Of the father and dsuSh.
ter. that the two women had gone
To the straw house armed with =
revolver and shotgun She insists
that they Went unarmed. and found
Lana with the two weapons.
Her recollection after the struggle
is very hazy. her replies 70 Mckilips
questions as u what followed being
mostly. 4 don't remember" As
nearly as can be determined from her
story. she Returned 10 the straw
house after the fiSht. and got the
shotgun from which she removed one
exploded snd one unexnloded shell
Later she got the revolver and
blanket that were in the house.
Deny Digging Grave.
She explained. Is did her husband
that a large hole in ore corner ~ the
house. had been dug hv Lana SIS a
place Tor muskrat skins and was nel
a grave dug 10 receive the body O.
Lana
Najgrt in his confession yesterday
said he arrived az the straw house
Just as Lana broke away from the
two women. and that he struck him
with the plank. Lana fell, he SAYS.
and Abby then fired charges into the
body. with the shotgun and revolver
that they might have a plausible
story of her having killed him in SELF
defense
The boy Prank. explained that Ger.
tain wounds found about l-ana's face
wero caused when he was working ep
stumps and logs that had been swepi
onto the favm by tho h.sh waters q
81 week ace lie sans that Lana
slipped ana soarrcd his face badly and
paid No attention 70 the wound Ne
Nond coNering Il with mud
lie went IL school Monday unaware
that traecdy had been enacted wita-
in ioo tect of his home. The smaller
childrcn were Asleep aud knew neth-
ing ~ the traEcdy.
Family Threatened.
Whom asked IL the famaA nl had
tearcrt 4Harss ~.ts 49,
.t.... a