Dubuque-Jackson County IA Archives News.....Family Murdered September 4, 1913
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com October 15, 2013, 9:00 am

Jackson Sentinel September 4, 1913


    Jackson Sentinel, Maquoketa, Iowa, September 4, 1913

    FAMILY MURDERED

    Dubuque- Henry Sternweis, wife and three children were murdered and then
cremated in the ruins of their home, sixteen miles northwest of here,
authorities believe, equaling in horror the wholesale murder at Villisca, just
over a year ago.

    All of the buildings on the farm were burned, except one and rags saturated
with kerosene were found in this building. The bodies had been charred almost
beyond recognition. Mrs. Sternweis and one of the children were found in the
ruins of the house and the body of Sternweis was found in a granary nearby.

    Near the house, eleven empty revolver cartridges were found, but the bodies
recovered from the embers are so badly charred it is impossible to tell whether
or not they were first murdered. Neighbors saw the fire burning for at least an
hour and rushed to the scene in autos and on horseback, but were unable to
extinguish the flames or enter the buildings to investigate. When the ruins were
cooled the search was started and it was not until then the theory of murder was
advanced. Authorities have not arrived at a clue to the perpetrators nor a
reason for the crime. 



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