Swaim - William Quincy - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Next door neighbor to the Egberts lived Herman Haschke and family, Haschke being a German baker and also a man well esteemed. The families did not get on well together and indulged in some trivial quarrels over trifling matters. Nothing of a serious nature ever occurred, however, until this morning.

Shortly after seven o’clock young Pete Egbert, without saying a word to his family, quietly loaded a double barreled shot gun and filled his pockets with shells loaded with squirrel shot. He crossed the alley then to the Haschke place and entering the yard found two Haschke children, about seven or eight years old. He walked close up to them and deliberately blew their heads off. Coolly throwing the empty shells away and reloading his gun, he quickly proceeded to the back alley, where Mrs. Haschke was milking the cow. He shot her through the head also, and then reloading his gun started up town, a distance of four or five squares.

News of his horrible deed preceded him and the citizens gave him a clear right of way as he marched down the street brandishing his death dealing weapon.

Word of the awful crime reached Sheriff Mull at the jail, and accompanied by his deputy, Quincy Swaim, he started for the public square, where young Egbert was reported to be. Egbert was there as reported and had things all to himself, no citizen daring to come within his murderous range. The sheriff and his deputy fearlessly approached the boy and marched to their death. When they had come quite close up the quiet demeanor of the murderer changed to one of fury. He spoke no word but with lightning rapidity he raised his gun and shot Sheriff Mull dead in his tracks, literally blowing his head off. Deputy Swaim made a movement toward him and the murderer gave him the second barrel, blowing Swaim’s head off also. Both men died instantly, neither man nor the slayer having spoken a word.

Having satisfied himself that both were dead, the insane fiend reloaded his gun and slowly and quietly walked off down the street. As he went, the people disappeared before him, all being too greatly terrified and shocked to interfere. In a few minutes, however, the streets were swarming with wildly excited citizens and shortly a large and heavily armed posse started in pursuit of the murderer. He was found to have proceeded to the fair grounds and there the posse came up near to him but he broke and ran, entering one of the stalls. It was thought that he intended to make a desperate stand and kill as many as possible, but in this his pursuers were deceived. In a minute after he entered, a muffled gun shot was heard in the stall and some of the bolder ones going up found that Egbert had committed suicide. He had removed one shoe and sock, placed the muzzle of the gun to his breast, and pulled the trigger with his toe. The shot entered just below the point of the sternum, causing instant death, and when the posse came up his clothing was on fire from the discharge of his gun. All five of the victims were shot in the head, and all dying instantly, except Mrs. Haschke who lived about two hours.

The town is in a state of the wildest confusion and the whole surrounding country is in swelling the excitement. Business has been practically suspended and the awful tragedy is the sole topic of conversation.

Dr. W. H. Mull, the sheriff of Parke County, had been re-nominated by the Republicans only two weeks ago. He was a fearless and efficient officer. His deputy, Quincy Swaim, was also a fearless man. Sheriff Mull’s daughter on hearing the news of her father’s death fell in a swoon and her condition is regarded as serious.

Egbert’s family is prostrated by the boy’s awful deeds and death, and sympathy is expressed for them.

Arthur Mull, son of Sheriff Mull, heard of his father’s death in Crawfordsville on Saturday. He is a student at Purdue and started for Lafayette from Rockville Saturday morning, bidding his father and sister farewell at the breakfast table. When he got off the train here he was handed a message announcing that his father had been shot and killed. He supposed that the shooting had been done by a desperado named Ratcliff who had escaped from jail last Monday, and who upon being recaptured, had sworn to kill the sheriff. Young Mull was greatly affected but declared that he would see that justice was done before the setting of the sun.

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 1 May 1896

Rockville, Ind., April 27—There is no accounting for Saturday’s horror here, in which Albert Egbert murdered five well known citizens and then killed himself, except on the theory of sudden insanity.

This record of crime adds to the state’s history the darkest, bloodiest deed yet reported and the gloom which prevails here today is without precedent.

Egbert, who was but 21 years old (*17?), started apparently for a hunting expedition on the day of the tragedy, armed with a double barreled shot gun. On his way to the woods he passed the home of Mrs. Herman Haschke, at whom he leveled the gun. She ran, but the crack of the explosion and her headlong fall to the ground, dying almost instantly, afforded quick evidence of the first murder, the top of her head having been blown off. Agnes Haschke, the 10 year old daughter, came running from the house when she heard her mother scream, and the second barrel was emptied into her breast, the child falling dead near the body of her mother. Reloading the gun, Egbert pursued 8 year old Herman Haschke, who attempted to escape by running, bringing his young life to a sudden end by a shot in the back.

The murderer then coolly walked down the street until in the business center he was accosted by Sheriff William D. Mull and Acting Deputy William Swaim. When the sheriff spoke to the man with three murders already to his credit, the latter warned the officer to keep away and leveled the gun, which he still carried, at Mr. Mull. The latter dodged into a stairway alongside the First National Bank, and hurriedly started toward the top. Egbert, however, followed closely and from the lower step fired a volley which struck the sheriff in the back. The injured man threw up his hands, fell backward and was soon a corpse. The deputy, who had been a witness to this inhuman act, was the next victim, Egbert turning upon him and shooting him in the neck. Swaim fell dead on the sidewalk in front of Hunnicutt’s jewelry store.

The populace was thoroughly frightened by the deadly havoc already wrought and naturally was averse to making any attempt toward the capture of the murderer as he ran down the street to the fair grounds. At some distance, however, a posse followed and fired some shots at the fleeing man, who subsequently took refuge in one of the sheds at the fair grounds. While the pursuing crowd was discussing the best means to affect a capture, a sixth shot was heard and investigation found the murderer writhing in his own blood, he having committed suicide by a shot into his own heart and being dead when reached.

The young man had always borne a good reputation and the deed of horror is attributable no doubt to a sudden insane impulse which is thought to have been super induced by close attention to his sister, who is near death’s door from consumption. Ever since the tragedy hundreds of people have been in town and some of the funerals today have added to the gloom previously existing, all the victims having had large circles of friends and standing well in the community.

A special from Rockville says: For three days the funeral knell has rung in Rockville and the pall of Pete Egbert’s awful crime has hung over the city. Before any of his victims, he himself was committed to mother earth.

The triple funeral of Mrs. Haschke and her children took place this afternoon from the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was packed to its utmost capacity, hundreds being unable to get inside. The Rev. T. F. Drake preached the funeral sermon and no sadder scene was ever in Rockville. Never before were three hearses seen here in single procession, and never before were three bodies buried here in one grave. The mother was laid on the south side of the grave, her daughter next, her son next. At the grave the Pythian Sisters gave their ritual burial service.

The public schools were dismissed, both of the children being members of No. 3. Many beautiful offerings were placed on the caskets.

At 4:30 the funeral of Miss Florence Egbert was held at the Methodist Church.

The county commissioners will meet next Saturday and possibly select a successor to Sheriff Mull. At present, Coroner Newlin has, according to law, assumed the duties of the sheriff. His many friends are hoping he may be appointed to fill out Mull’s unexpired term.