Bio: Koscielny, Eva (Conviction - 8 Sep 1921)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Koscielny, Risjord

----Source: The Appleton Post-Crescent (Appleton, WI) 08/09/1921

Mother Gets 20 Year Sentence

Mrs. Koscielny is Convicted for Firing Barn in Which Children Burned.

Ashland - Pleading guilty before Judge Risjord in Circuit court her of setting fire to a barn in which her own daughter and two stepchild burned to death, Mrs. Eva Koscielny of Lublin, was sentenced to 20 years in Waupun.

Mrs. Koscielny blamed her act on family troubles, declaring she wanted to make trouble for her husband.

She said she did not expect her children would be cremated in the flames but that she expected them to escape as soon as they noticed the fire.

The three victims were sleeping in the barn among piles of hay when the fire started. An investigation by the state fire marshal and the district attorney disclosed that they were unable le to open the door to escape.