The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-04-24

| inquest which ought TO Satls1y ANYONE
who is curious to know what his at
tude is in the present tragedy"
Tells of Home Life.
August Kaems, safety engineer OF
the Simmons company who for four
years and four months has lived at the
Eichelman home, will appear as star
witness for the defense at the pre-
| liminary hearing on Saturday, it was
| learned today. He will tell of threats
made by Mrs. Eichelman against her
/ life
In an interview last night, Kaems
characterized the charges of murder,
which has been made against the hus-
band, as absurd and ridiculous. He
also declared that stories Of domestic
trouble between Eichelman and his
wife were, groundless rumor.
He stated that few realize to what
extent the husband depended on his
wife for advice and counsel. During
the four years that he has lived right
in the home Kaems maintained that
he has had an unusual opportunity to
observe their relations. He said that
while they have had their little fam
! lily differences, that might be termed
''squabbles" yet there has never been
any trouble serious enough to last
over night.
Always Kissed Wife.
''Never once have seen Benny leave
the house without kissing his wife
good bye" Kaems said. "It is true
that they have had their differences
of opinion but they have never been
serious enough to last over night.
Benny depended on his Mile to an
extent that few realize. know, be-
cause lived right in the home for
more than four years. He couldn't
even plant row Of beans without she
advised him how to do it.
"The charge that he would murder
her is absolutely without foundation.
1t is ridiculous and absurd. He had
no reason to take her life. Before a
person murders, they must have an all
powerful motive to prompt them to do
such a thing. 1 have heard the hus-
band make such statements as 'Oh,
keep quiet or 'shut-up' and onse or
twice to forget it, But at the same
time this is nothing more than any
married man has said to his wife. |
know, because / am married, and
would hate to spend the rest of my
life behind the bars on such fimsy ev-
idence. I'll venture to say that there
is no married man who has not done
the same
ALTHOUGH they had their differ
ences, it was never in front of me.
Of course l could not help overhear-
ing these statements at times, even
though my door was. closed. But do
know that he never struck her while
was in the house."
Threatened Own Life.
Asked if Mrs. Eichelman had ever
threatened her own life, the safety
engineer paused for moment, and
then replied: "Mrs. Eichelman had
been having a great deal of trouble
with her teeth. During the past six
months she had many times gone to a
Milwaukee specialist and sat for four
hours at time in the chair. The fol-
lowing day she would stay in bed,
worn out from the strain.
II once suggested to her that it
might be better to have them all pull
ed out and wear plate, to which she
replied that she would rather be dead.
Now, you have heard people make re-
marks of this sort and thought moth
ing of them. But as I stop to think
back recall that she made this state
ment in rather tense tone of voice,
which might indicate that it was not
purely said in a testing spirit.
"The poor little girl suffered in
tense pain with her mouth, and
would not be at all surprised if she
turned the gun on herself in moment
of mental arrangement. / do know
that she stated that it was costing her
about $1,000 to get her mouth into
shape, and that this fact prayed upon
her mind.
Handles All Money.
'Millie handled all the family funds
Ben turned his pay check over to her
and got what cash he wanted by ask
ing for it. She realized, probably
more than Ben did, what this dentist
bill was doing to the family savings
account. Ben always gave her full
reign in all financial matters, and new
er said no to anything she wanted to
do. When it was found that her teeth
were injuring her health Ben insisted
that she get the best dentist that
money could buy and have the work
done right.
''The fact that this dental work
prayed upon her mind was evidenced
by the fact that she would talk fol
hours on the subject if a person would
listen to her. Some people laugh of
J the fact that a woman might have
t shot themselves over a mere tooth,
: ache, but if they had had that contin
ual aggravating pain for months they
! do not know what they might have
: done, had they been placed in Mrs
Eichelman's place.
Nov the coroner's jury say tha
: Ben did not appear to be particular,
upset on the stand, and that his &C
: tions were peculiar during the tins
i after he arrived home and found hi:
wife with a bullet in her heart. 1
: they knew Ben as / know him, the!
t could readily understand his actions
r Although he is an excellent mechan
4 ic, he lacks the power to express
Y himself. But it is nonsense to thinl
e that he killed the woman who. wa
y his mainstay and whom he loved"
Among First Safety Men.
Y Mr. Kaems is numbered among tn
d first safety experts in the country
: Before coming to the Simmons com
6 pany he was with the Wisconsin in
| e