The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-11-22
REDOUBLE GUARD
ON H. SPRANGER
First Wife Tells of Death
Threat Made by Man
and Woman.
REVEALS BURIAL PLOT

/ Winter of Orwell, Minnesota, to Sheriff
August Johnson of Price county, have
led officials to redouble their guard
/ on Herman Spranger, while they con-
/ tinue to search for the body of the
man who was supposed to have been
murdered following an alteracation in
/ a tavern near Park Falls, in 1910.
Following the first intimation of the
crime made here by John Spranger, 72
year old paralytic, several weeks ago,
iSherif Johnson, in running down a
rumor that woman had divorced
/ Herman because "she didn't want her
children to grow up with murderer"
located Mrs. Winter in the northern
state From her, the sheriff learned
| that she had divorced Spranger seven
years ago, and four years ago mar
| ried Winter.
Mrs. Winter, who in fear of her
| life, at first refused to make any
| statement regarding her knowledge of
| the case, later admitted that Spranger,
while under the influence of liquor,
had told her that "he had finished a
| bartender so that he would never
! speak another word. He threatened
that if she ever revealed what he had
told her, he would kill both her
and the children.
Clothes Smeared With Blood.
Mrs. Winter told the sheriff that
f, Spranger had visited road house near
Park Falls in February of 1910. He
| left home on a Saturday night and
his team came home alone on Sunday
| Later Herman put in an appearance.
! He was badly under the influence of
| liquor, his face was battered and his
clothes were smeared with blood.
! She said that Herman refused to
tell her anything about the circum-
stances of the fight other than to an
nounce that there had been "big
quarrel and that he had FINISHED
bartender so that he would never
speak another word"
| Mrs. Winter at first refused to adj
nit that she knew anything about the
buriel place of the supposed victim.
Later, however, she admitted that she
| had overheard Herman muttering in
his sleep that the body was hidden
on the "Streiniker farm" This, it was
stated, was the farm upon which they
were living at the time. She also adj
mitted that she had written this fact
to person "back in Wisconsin" on
October 20 of this year.
Second Death Warning.
The day after Herman came home,
Mrs. Winter said that man and
woman came to the house and, threat
ened her with death if she ever
breathed a word of what she knew
| She said that the man was John
Kerchak, and that she did not know
the womans name. They called her
'Trixie," she said, and added that
she understood that she was employ
ed ,at the tavern.
! Gustav Spranger, own son of John
| Spranger, who made the confession
which started the officials on the trail,
stated today that he knew Kerchak.
Kerchak, he said, was county road
| supervisor of Price county at that.
| time. At various times, he said, Her
man had been employed by him.
Gustav, however, added that the two
men had not been friendly since about
| 1910, despite the fact that before that
they were very "thick." The knowledge
of the crime, he added, might account
for Kerchak's GOODNESS.
DR.. A. J. Randall, who is caring for
the old man, stated today that his lips
might be unlocked within the course
of a few weeks. This would enable
him to tell officials here a complete
and coherent story of the crime. He
could also point out for them the
burial place of the victim, which is
said to be all that the Price
county sheriff needs to make COM
plete case against Herman.
Spranger Getting Stronger.
Old Mr.. Spranger is gradually re-
covering his powers of locomotion,
Dr.. Randall said. The paralysis is
gradually leaving the right arm and
leg which were affected by the stroke.
Another encouraging sign is said to
be his ability to pronounce certain
simple words, although ne has not as
yet been able to fornl phrases and
sentences. In the hope that he will
make a rapid recovery, officials are
giving him the best OF medical at
tention. He has recovered his APP
petite and seems to be in a pleasant
frame Of mind