Obit: Meyer, Julius (? - 1917)

Contact: Audrey Roedl

Surnames: Meyer, Stevens, Reuth

----Source: Loyal Tribune 6 December 1917
 
MURDER NEAR VEEFKIND THURSDAY
 
Body Taken to Cellar and House Burned to Cover Up Crime.
 
The Julius Meyer Farm near Veefkind, was the scene of a double crime Thanksgiving evening, the tragedy occurring about 9:30 in the evening on the farm situated near the Fisher factory.
 
The house was first discovered to be on fire by Mr. and Mrs. Ed Stevens, who were returning from a neighbors, they with several other neighbors, went to the farm and found the house about half burned. Mr. Meyer was found to be in the barn, where he made the pretext her was caring for a sick horse, but it was noticed at the time he had no lantern, her also stated that he did not know the house was on fire. The house burned to the ground as the fire was too far advanced to be extinguished. Mrs. Meyer could not be found and a thorough search was made in the nearby woods and vicinity, but no trace could be found of her. The next day her body was found in the cellar, in the part of the house under where the bedroom was situated. A coroner was summoned from Neillsville, an examination showing that she met her death by a blow to the skull and that her death was not caused by the fire.
 
Mr. Meyer was arrested and taken to Neillsville where he is now lodged in the County jail awaiting trial. The supposition is that he killed his wife and dragged her body to the cellar before setting fire to the house. The motive for the crime is that Mrs. Meyer was the owner of the farm and property and that Mr. Meyer was determined to get possession of same, and had tried many times to have her deed property to him which she would not do.
 
There are two grown sons in the family but both were away the night of the crime. The body of Mrs. Meyer was taken to the home of her brother Mr. A. Reuth and the funeral services were held in the Catholic church at Chili on Tuesday morning.