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The Murder of Anna Wiese | ||
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EVENING TIMES REPUBLICAN |
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1894 CONTINUED... | |
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HEADLINES APRIL 6, 1894 DETECTIVE TALKS Testimony of Barney Shultz, of the Pinkerton Agency, Heard This Morning Throws But Little Additional Light Upon the Case, However Crowd Disappointed as to Startling Disclosures - Defendant Unmoved Other Witnesses Detail the Circumstances of the Murder and What Followed TODAY'S DEVELOPMENTS Barney Shultz, the Pinkerton Detective, First Witness - No Sensational Discoveries - Other Testimony NOTE: The first column of the newspaper that was microfilmed here was filmed with a few of the words on the left cut off, so we have tried to reconstruct from the sentences what was actually written. There may be some discrepancy here, but you will be able to get the gist of what was going on. The people expected the state would put Barney Shultz, the Pinkerton detective, on the stand in the Bennett case this morning. Had it been generally known that he was to testify it is likely there would have been such a crowd on hand as to make that of previous days dwindle in significance. For everybody examined Shultz would make disclosures others only dreamed of. He was supposed to be the man of all others possessed that would go far toward establishing the guilt of the accused. It has long been rife of the man's knowledge of the crime; he had kept up an espionage on Mrs. Bennett's actions and had overheard statements of hers that were damaging and exonerating to a great degree. He was to have surreptitiously entered the Bennett's house and lain for hours under the bed where husband and wife slept, and there heard conversation between the two, or jabbering by the defendant that convinced him beyond all doubt that she had committed this monstrous crime. It was reputed to be conversant with the Bennett's inner life for weeks and to read her like an open book. In his official capacity he was supposed to have advantages and to have gleaned a sensation bearing upon this case im?? for any other individual in other capacity to have obtained. Much was therefore expected of Barney Schultz as the people anticipated a revelation that would produce profound sensation, crystallize public sentiment, focus the light of ? and long-continued investigation and go toward clearing up the awful mystery. Whether all were disappointed, whether any were satisfied, is not fully known. It is a fact, however, that Shultz's testimony was not such as had been generally anticipated. He doubtless told all the state expected of him, but the people had expected more. How his testimony was construed by counsel, by the court, and the jury, this paper will not try to guess. The opinion is already expressed. It is always reliable, not always impartial, always fair. And, moreover, public sentiment is not the arbiter in this case. It may be, probably is, more important issues attached to the testimony of Shultz than is apparent. The public probably expected too much. Be it remembered that the state has at no time claimed to have direct evidence implicating Mrs. Bennett, but that only circumstantial evidence has been asserted. The prosecution is making good though not making headway. Counsel are going over the ground carefully, method ? and meeting stubborn resistance at every step. There has been the same crowded con-? of the court room today, the same rapt attention and intense interest. Be ? be found the evidence adduced, and the convening of the court this morning in the middle of the afternoon: FRIDAY MORNING - Barney Schultz sworn - I live in Chicago; am employee of Pinkerton; have been in the business since 1871. I was sent here by Pinkerton Detective Agency; came here Aug. 28, 1893; went to Vienna township and found a home with T. P. Low. I investigated the murder of Anna Wiese; made a ? search; was at the home of Mrs. Bennett several times; went there first on (month ?) 24; went alone; found Mr. and Mrs. Bennett; had a conversation with both of them that day; talked about the crime with them; Mrs. Bennett told me Miss Wiese had not been a good girl, and that only loafers ? had gone with her, like Isenhart. She said that Isenhart had worked for them and was very brutal with the stock, and that had caused his discharge. While talking about Anna Mr. Bennett told her to stop talking; Mr. And Mrs. Bennett and Arthur Sherlock took part in the conversation; Arthur was there when Mrs. Bennett made the remarks about Annie and Isenhart; Mrs. Bennett broke sticks of wood over her knee and used both of her hands; she seemed very much on her guard and uneasy. I saw her again Sunday, Oct. 8; I went to get hair from her head and Arthur Sherlock's; I pro-? the hair; got the hair for the county attorney; Mrs. Bennett was alone when I asked her for her hair; I had obtained Sherlock's hair before this; I noticed a change; she had always been very polite to me, but this time Mrs. Bennett would not take any notice of me; when I asked Mrs. Bennett for her hair she stared at me and said, "My hair?" I saw she was in a state of excitement. I told her that I had taken hair from a great many, and that if she refused it would be a ? of suspicion; I told her I had no authority to force her to give it to me, but if she refused I would have her subpoenaed to Marshalltown; she then gave me the hair and I delivered it to Dr. C. C. Cottle, of this city; the package was marked Mrs. Bennett. I told in her presence that we would catch the assassin by his hair, as we had the hair found in the hand of Miss Wiese, and that hair we expected to hang - the assassin; I saw her again on Oct. ? in the yard; she was hunting for a skink under the woodshed; she had a pole and was poking with it under the shed; I asked her for more hair at that time and she cut if from her right temple; (We are now at the second column in the article and the words have been filmed in full) she used both hands in obtaining the hair; Dr. Cottle asked me to get this hair; she told me I had better go over to Sprecker's and look after the man that was reported to have been seen near there on the night of the murder; I told her I had already satisfied myself on this point; told her it had been reported to me that she had been talking very bad about Anna Wiese; she denied it and said she had never talked hard about her, and when people talked that way they lied; she was very much excited and angry; she said, "You want to convict me of this murder. When you say you heard me speak disparagingly of this girl you lie!" I was present when the body of Anna Wiese was exhumed; examined the body and the hands; held her fingers while Dr. Cottle cleaned the matter from under the finger nails; Dr. Cottle put this matter in a bottle and preserved it; the hair I got from Mrs. Bennett the second time I delivered the same day to Dr. Cottle; there were several small cuts in the palm of the hand; they seemed more like scratches than cuts; there was white mold on the hands, especially between the fingers. I saw scratches on the upper lip; the body was somewhat discolored but decomposition had not set in yet. The sticks Mrs. Bennett broke over her knee were about 2 feet long and 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter; she told me that on the night of the murder they had gone to bed early and had slept; that they had heard Sherlock enter the house and had come home quite awhile before Hill arrived. Cross Examination - I have used probably three names, Barney Schultz generally; I get $1,500 per year; get a fixed salary; get nothing extra for this job; my employer made the bargain; my business calls me among criminals a good deal; I do not assist in committing crimes; have never been arrested and sent to jail; did not work with Low; have taken an active part in this case; have not been posting witnesses; have talked with witnesses; have not called them in to a corner to talk with them; know a great many of the men out there; Mr. Bennett has treated me "A No. 1," and told me I could have a horse to ride and use; Bennett's have not assisted me; have never called on them for assistance. She was not willing to let me have the hair; she was angry. I had no special reason to select a time when Mr. Bennett was not present to ask her for her hair; her husband was in the immediate neighborhood; I did not expect to frighten her; I took the hair from Mrs. Bennett's bangs; marked the package "Mrs. Bennetts" only; did not threaten this lady; told |
her I had no authority; did not tell her this to intimidate her; she did not refuse me the hair on the 8th or 10th. Mrs. Bennett did not manufacture the story about some one being seen from the window at Sprecker's on the night of the murder; I heard it from others as well. The body was exhumed on October 6; I got the first sample of hair the eighth; I did not rub the mold off the hand and wrap hair around the finger to deceive the defense if they should go there afterward to get evidence; did not enter into a conspiracy with Carney to do this, to mislead the defendant. I was present from the time the coffin was first opened until it was closed; did not go out there myself alone, take up the body and commit other depredations. The cuts or scratches on the hand were very slight; the hands were not mangled. The body was taken up when I was present, October 6, on Friday. Re-cross - I was there only as an assistant to the sheriff. Albert Isenhart sworn - I live at Rolfe, this state; left here about two years ago; left the county on the 12th day of June, 1892; resided around Green Mountain; lived one month at Bennett's; worked for them as a farm hand; knew Anna Wiese; Mrs. Bennett introduced me to her; that acquaintance continued until about the first Sunday in June; the last time I saw Miss Wiese our relations were not friendly; saw her last the Sunday before she was murdered, at Mr. Russie's; took her from school house No. 5 to Russie's; Mr. Sherlock came up behind when we were talking and nudged Miss Wiese with his arm; I went home with her that night and left her at Russie's. Mrs. Bennett always seemed to be stout and healthy while I was there; she carried water, swill, milk and such like; I never knew of her manifesting any fear about going out nights. There were clubs lying about the yard; cattle were in the yard; this club (exhibited) resembles the clubs I saw there; Bennett kept cows in the grove; I think they milked eight; I did not know Mrs. Bennett was lame; did not know she used one arm more than another; her health was good while I was there; she milked and carried slop to the hogs, about six rods, two buckets at a time; she appeared to be strong for a woman of her size. I saw Miss Wiese in Marshalltown the Saturday before she was murdered; called upon her three or four times once a week; the Sunday night at the school house I did not see Sherlock talk to Anna Wiese. Cross - I have seen clubs something like this in the grove at Bennett's; don't know anything about her being lame in the back; saw Sherlock nudge Anna Wiese; don't know that Mrs. Bennett ever knew that Sherlock nudged Anna. Redirect - When I left Bennett's I went to Gladbrook to live. Anna Wiese was about 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed about 145; was very stout; she looked to be very stout for her build; Mrs. Bennett's hair is red. Perry Greggs - Am 15 years old; live at Beaman; did live at Henry Russie's; was there when Anna Wiese was murdered; was doctoring a colt at about 10 o'clock that night; heard Anna Wiese halloo; Russie asked me where it was; told him if was in the slough; we ran down there; heard her scream three times; heard her groan when about five rods away; he told me to go for Hill's; Arthur Hill came down; I did not see that her throat was cut until Hill came; Russie moved her head a little; the first I heard was a scream or halloo; heard her scream three times; it is sixty rods from Russie's to where the murder occurred; did not recognize the scream as being that of Anna; did not think about it being her until Russie asked me what that was; when I started to go I went a little way and was afraid, and called to Russie to come; he came at once - did not stop to get his hat; we did not look at the sides of the road until we had gone about thirty rods. We heard the third scream near the gate; from there on we looked for Anna and did not go so fast heard last scream at the pasture gate, about half way to where she was; heard a groan at the culvert; it was about twenty rods from the body; heard another groan when about seven rods away; think she was dead when we reached there; did not recognize her voice; did not hear any running. We kept in the traveled road; there were no weeds on the west side; there were dense woods on the east side; don't think they were as high as my head; did not look around to see if any one was there; Mr. Russie called "Annie!" and picked up her head and put it on a small raise in the ground. When Hill said her throat was cut Russie's said, "What shall we do now?" and we went to arouse the neighbors; we all went away and left her alive; it seemed to me about half an hour; Hill bent over her and said her throat was cut; as soon as Hill came Russie said: "My God! Arthur, what does this mean?" Russie said he thought at first she had fainted, and did not know her throat was cut. Mrs. Russie did not want to stay alone. The sick colt kept us up that night; we had just done the milking; Anna Wiese went over to Hill's quite often; went there twice and stayed all night; frequently stayed there as late as she did this night, and came home alone. Hill was up stairs when I went there, going to bed. I have not been told to keep anything back. I have told all I know about it. Anna's hair was hanging down on her shoulders. FRIDAY AFTERNOON - Arthur Hill - I reside in Vienna township; live in house next south of the place of the murder; heard of the murder through Perry Griggs; was in the house; my wife and children were there; I had not retired; was upstairs in the east end; saw Anna Wiese a little less than an hour before; I was not at the house when she came; my wife and Anna were in the house; I had been away; arrived home about dark; heard Mr. Low pass; Anna looked out of the door and said it was him; she soon left; she started away alone. I saw no one around there; had not undressed when the boy came; he called me by name and said Anna was killed or murdered; I had my overalls and shirt on; we both went down there and found Henry Russie there alone; the body was lying nearly straight on the back. NOTES - There is always morbid curiosity in a murder case. It is more than ordinarily manifest in this trial. The desire to see and handle the bloody clothes and other articles introduced as evidence has such an attraction for some that as soon as the court takes a recess a dozen or more make a rush for them. The court was compelled to notify them that it would not be permitted. Judge Hindman treats the great crowd with the utmost consideration and at the same time pleasantly reminds them that his suggestions must by obeyed. So far the order has been good, considering the crowded condition of the court room. The air in the court room is almost stifling, owing to its densely crowded condition. Yesterday afternoon an aged gentleman was overcome and had to be helped from the room. Ladies stood for hours at a time who would deem such a thing impossible under ordinary circumstances. It is difficult to maintain good order in court when the bloody corset placed by the assassin's knife in a dozen places is exhibited. It is a silent but terrible relic of the tragedy. One of the stays was cut squarely in two by the knife. Sight of it causes an involuntary shudder among those unaccustomed to such things. Those who were so fortunately situated as to observe the countenance of Mrs. Bennett when Barney Schultz took the stand this morning watched her with keener scrutiny than at almost any period of the proceedings, to see what effect his testimony would have upon her. They might just as well have gazed upon the features of an Indian cigar sign for all the change that was manifest. There was nothing to indicate agitation or apprehension in her eye or a muscle of her face.
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