The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-01-24
John G. Spranger, Whose
Deathbed Story Started
Probe, Dies.
WAS CONSCIENCE FREI
After Unburdening Conscience
Months Ago Aged Man Had
Faced Death Calmly.

His conscience cleared by a Death
bed statement which he made here
several weeks ago when he told how
he had seen a man murdered in 1910
at tavern near Park Falls, Wiscon-
sin, John Gustave Spranger, aged 70,
died late Monday afternoon at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry
Amelung, 354 Middle street. Death
came and sealed his lips in the same
room in which he had made the death
bed confession several weeks ago.
He had never recovered enough con-
troll of his faculties to elaborate on
the story which was heard from his
half palsied lips several months ago
and which started an investigation
into the disappearance of a bartender
at Park Falls, resulting in the arrest
of Herman Spranger, step-son of
the aged man. on suspicion. The
younger Spranger was released few
days later. 1t is stated, however, that
the investigation into the disappear
ance of the bartender, as alleged in
the Kenosha dying mans story is still
pending in Price county.
Died With Clear Conscience.
After unburdening his mind of the
secret which he had carried for more
than ten years, the aged man had
calmly awaited death. During the
weary weeks of waiting, he had times
when he called to his family to his
bedside and attempted to tell them
more of the story Of the alleged slay-
ing. At each of these times he stated
that he was now ready to die with q
clear conscience.
Spranger's condition--his lips were
so palsied that the story had to be i'm
terpreted by his son-made the evil
dence which he gave to officials so
fragmentary that it could not be re-
lied upon to stand in court. Later in
vestigation, however, revealed that
Herman Spranger's former wife, who
had secured a divorce from him, had
confirmed the story told by the aged
paralytic here.
Take Body Back North.
The remains were taken to the Han
sen funeral home where they were
prepared for burial and where they
will stay until Wednesday afternoon.
They will then be taken to the old
home near Park Falls where the fu-
neral services will be held at the
Lutheran church with interment fol-
lowing in the Lutheran cemetery. 1t
was in this same cemetery that the
old man two years ago alleged to have
met his step-son, Herman Spranger,
the man implicated in his confession,
at the funeral Of a relatives At that
time the step-son was alleged to have
threatened his step-father with death
if he ever revealed the murder secret.
The burial will be in the family
plot in this cemetery, where the body
will be Inferred by the side of his
wife, who died only short time. be-
fore the incident referred to in the
deathbed statement, occurred.
Lived Here Several Months.
The deceased was native of Ger
many having been born in that coun-
try December 8, 1850. In his youth
he had come to America and had lived
most of his life near the village of
Butternut in Price county, only few
miles from Park Falls. Later he had
gone to Grants Pass, Oregon, where
he lived for ten years, coming to Ke-
nosha only few months ago.
Surviving him are four daughters
and three sons: Mrs. Margaret Boness,
Butternut; Fred Spranger, Grants
Pass, Oregon; Mrs. Louise Stein,
Grants Pass, Oregon; Mrs. Antonio
Amelung, Kenosha; Mrs. Alice Boness,
Butternut; Gustave Spranger, Keno
sha. He is also survived by Herman
Spranger, the step-son mentioned
above, of Park Falls, and by step
daughter, Mrs. Mary Psepcke, Of Fer
gus Falls. Minnesota.