1889 - - MARTYR TO HIS LUST. (Chmelik)
Source: Saint Paul Daily Globe (MN) Feb. 20, 1889; transcribed by Mary Kay Krogman
Joe Chmelik's Passion Prompted His Triple Murders and Fear Led to Suicide.
Special to the Globe.
ALBERT LEA, Minn., Feb. 19. - The mystery of the London township massacre is being cleared up. At the instance of County Attorney Todd, Sheriff Mitchell and Dr. Blackmer went out there to-day and removed the bullet from the head of the murdered Mrs. Chmelik, and on comparing it with those found in the revolver and pocket of the assassin it is seen that they are of the same size and kind. This quite clearly establishes the fact that Joe Chmelik shot his aunt, as well as his two nieces and himself and removes most of the suspicion which has been entertained as to one or two young men intimate associates of Joe. Further facts were learned which make it almost certain that Joe was consumed with an intense love or lust for Mary, notwithstanding she was his half-niece, and that he became deeply jealous of the attentions of her other admirers. He was an accomplice in an assault on one of her admirers at the Bohemian ball, and he seemed to be enraged at her for repulsing him or preferring other suitors. Sheriff Mitchell obtained a letter which the murdered girl received from the Glenville postoffice the afternoon before the tragedy, and which she was reading in Joe's presence on the fatal evening. It was from a lover in Bancroft, and was very ardent. The concluding sentence is: "I only wish I could be with you all the time and have all the good kisses I want." It is thought that Mary might have tauntingly shown this to Joe, and that it made him desperate. Doubtless he then determined that if he could not have her for his own that no one else should, and thus formed his desperate resolve to kill her. He showed his anger at her home so that the father noticed it, and said his eyes looked wild. Joe went home, got his gun and returned, intending to shoot Mary through the window. He happened to find her out doors, with her sister Rose and fired, and by mistake hit Rose also. They ran into the house and told who shot them, and, fearing discovery and arrest, he determined to kill the entire family. He went in and killed the mother, the girls being dead or dying, but was disappointed in not finding the father, the son Reuben and Frank Lanachek, his companion visitor in the early part of the evening, and realizing that he was certain to be discovered, as they knew he shot the girls, he determined to kill himself, and did so before the parties mentioned, who had gone for help, had returned. This is now accepted as the explanation of his motive, and it is undoubtedly correct. The bodies of the three victims and that of the murderer were buried this afternoon in the Bohemian cemetery.
Contributor: Becky (48441978)
Source: Saint Paul Daily Globe (MN) Feb. 20, 1889; transcribed by Mary Kay Krogman
Joe Chmelik's Passion Prompted His Triple Murders and Fear Led to Suicide.
Special to the Globe.
ALBERT LEA, Minn., Feb. 19. - The mystery of the London township massacre is being cleared up. At the instance of County Attorney Todd, Sheriff Mitchell and Dr. Blackmer went out there to-day and removed the bullet from the head of the murdered Mrs. Chmelik, and on comparing it with those found in the revolver and pocket of the assassin it is seen that they are of the same size and kind. This quite clearly establishes the fact that Joe Chmelik shot his aunt, as well as his two nieces and himself and removes most of the suspicion which has been entertained as to one or two young men intimate associates of Joe. Further facts were learned which make it almost certain that Joe was consumed with an intense love or lust for Mary, notwithstanding she was his half-niece, and that he became deeply jealous of the attentions of her other admirers. He was an accomplice in an assault on one of her admirers at the Bohemian ball, and he seemed to be enraged at her for repulsing him or preferring other suitors. Sheriff Mitchell obtained a letter which the murdered girl received from the Glenville postoffice the afternoon before the tragedy, and which she was reading in Joe's presence on the fatal evening. It was from a lover in Bancroft, and was very ardent. The concluding sentence is: "I only wish I could be with you all the time and have all the good kisses I want." It is thought that Mary might have tauntingly shown this to Joe, and that it made him desperate. Doubtless he then determined that if he could not have her for his own that no one else should, and thus formed his desperate resolve to kill her. He showed his anger at her home so that the father noticed it, and said his eyes looked wild. Joe went home, got his gun and returned, intending to shoot Mary through the window. He happened to find her out doors, with her sister Rose and fired, and by mistake hit Rose also. They ran into the house and told who shot them, and, fearing discovery and arrest, he determined to kill the entire family. He went in and killed the mother, the girls being dead or dying, but was disappointed in not finding the father, the son Reuben and Frank Lanachek, his companion visitor in the early part of the evening, and realizing that he was certain to be discovered, as they knew he shot the girls, he determined to kill himself, and did so before the parties mentioned, who had gone for help, had returned. This is now accepted as the explanation of his motive, and it is undoubtedly correct. The bodies of the three victims and that of the murderer were buried this afternoon in the Bohemian cemetery.
Contributor: Becky (48441978)
1889 - - MARTYR TO HIS LUST. (Chmelik)
Source: Saint Paul Daily Globe (MN) Feb. 20, 1889; transcribed by Mary Kay Krogman
Joe Chmelik's Passion Prompted His Triple Murders and Fear Led to Suicide.
Special to the Globe.
ALBERT LEA, Minn., Feb. 19. - The mystery of the London township massacre is being cleared up. At the instance of County Attorney Todd, Sheriff Mitchell and Dr. Blackmer went out there to-day and removed the bullet from the head of the murdered Mrs. Chmelik, and on comparing it with those found in the revolver and pocket of the assassin it is seen that they are of the same size and kind. This quite clearly establishes the fact that Joe Chmelik shot his aunt, as well as his two nieces and himself and removes most of the suspicion which has been entertained as to one or two young men intimate associates of Joe. Further facts were learned which make it almost certain that Joe was consumed with an intense love or lust for Mary, notwithstanding she was his half-niece, and that he became deeply jealous of the attentions of her other admirers. He was an accomplice in an assault on one of her admirers at the Bohemian ball, and he seemed to be enraged at her for repulsing him or preferring other suitors. Sheriff Mitchell obtained a letter which the murdered girl received from the Glenville postoffice the afternoon before the tragedy, and which she was reading in Joe's presence on the fatal evening. It was from a lover in Bancroft, and was very ardent. The concluding sentence is: "I only wish I could be with you all the time and have all the good kisses I want." It is thought that Mary might have tauntingly shown this to Joe, and that it made him desperate. Doubtless he then determined that if he could not have her for his own that no one else should, and thus formed his desperate resolve to kill her. He showed his anger at her home so that the father noticed it, and said his eyes looked wild. Joe went home, got his gun and returned, intending to shoot Mary through the window. He happened to find her out doors, with her sister Rose and fired, and by mistake hit Rose also. They ran into the house and told who shot them, and, fearing discovery and arrest, he determined to kill the entire family. He went in and killed the mother, the girls being dead or dying, but was disappointed in not finding the father, the son Reuben and Frank Lanachek, his companion visitor in the early part of the evening, and realizing that he was certain to be discovered, as they knew he shot the girls, he determined to kill himself, and did so before the parties mentioned, who had gone for help, had returned. This is now accepted as the explanation of his motive, and it is undoubtedly correct. The bodies of the three victims and that of the murderer were buried this afternoon in the Bohemian cemetery.
Contributor: Becky (48441978)
Source: Saint Paul Daily Globe (MN) Feb. 20, 1889; transcribed by Mary Kay Krogman
Joe Chmelik's Passion Prompted His Triple Murders and Fear Led to Suicide.
Special to the Globe.
ALBERT LEA, Minn., Feb. 19. - The mystery of the London township massacre is being cleared up. At the instance of County Attorney Todd, Sheriff Mitchell and Dr. Blackmer went out there to-day and removed the bullet from the head of the murdered Mrs. Chmelik, and on comparing it with those found in the revolver and pocket of the assassin it is seen that they are of the same size and kind. This quite clearly establishes the fact that Joe Chmelik shot his aunt, as well as his two nieces and himself and removes most of the suspicion which has been entertained as to one or two young men intimate associates of Joe. Further facts were learned which make it almost certain that Joe was consumed with an intense love or lust for Mary, notwithstanding she was his half-niece, and that he became deeply jealous of the attentions of her other admirers. He was an accomplice in an assault on one of her admirers at the Bohemian ball, and he seemed to be enraged at her for repulsing him or preferring other suitors. Sheriff Mitchell obtained a letter which the murdered girl received from the Glenville postoffice the afternoon before the tragedy, and which she was reading in Joe's presence on the fatal evening. It was from a lover in Bancroft, and was very ardent. The concluding sentence is: "I only wish I could be with you all the time and have all the good kisses I want." It is thought that Mary might have tauntingly shown this to Joe, and that it made him desperate. Doubtless he then determined that if he could not have her for his own that no one else should, and thus formed his desperate resolve to kill her. He showed his anger at her home so that the father noticed it, and said his eyes looked wild. Joe went home, got his gun and returned, intending to shoot Mary through the window. He happened to find her out doors, with her sister Rose and fired, and by mistake hit Rose also. They ran into the house and told who shot them, and, fearing discovery and arrest, he determined to kill the entire family. He went in and killed the mother, the girls being dead or dying, but was disappointed in not finding the father, the son Reuben and Frank Lanachek, his companion visitor in the early part of the evening, and realizing that he was certain to be discovered, as they knew he shot the girls, he determined to kill himself, and did so before the parties mentioned, who had gone for help, had returned. This is now accepted as the explanation of his motive, and it is undoubtedly correct. The bodies of the three victims and that of the murderer were buried this afternoon in the Bohemian cemetery.
Contributor: Becky (48441978)
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