Zeigler - Agnes Wilson - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

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Zeigler - Agnes Wilson

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Tuesday 13 Sept 1892

Many persons here will remember Arno Ziegler and wife, who with Mrs. Minnie Deprez were the guests of Otto Ziegler, of Ziegler & Reiman, a few weeks ago. They were here quite a while and made many warm friends. Mrs. Ziegler was a very handsome lady of fascinating manners and was much admired. Her husband suffered quite a great deal from a paralyzed arm which at times drove him almost wild. He would drink while suffering so greatly from his arm, which was injured two years ago by a fall, and was at times wholly irresponsible. Some days ago his wife left him and yesterday while he was insane with pain he shot her. His brother, Otto, received a telegram last night announcing that his brother, Arno, had killed his wife and left at once for Shelbyville. The Chicago News Record gives the following particulars of the deed in a special from Shelbyville:  A terrible tragedy was enacted a mile from this city at 4 o’clock this evening. Arno Zeigler shot his wife twice. He then came to the city and deliberately told of his crime and defied the officers. He was before a justice of the peace, where he stated that he had done the deed in the presence of his wife’s parents, just where he wanted to do it. Zeigler married Aggie, the daughter of Benjamin Wilson, in 1884, when she was scarcely 15. For the last two years they have not got along very well. Sunday, Sept. 4 Zeigler threatened her with violence. Getting an opportunity, she slipped away, taking her two little boys. Monday she employed attorneys and filed a bill for divorce. She remained concealed from him until Saturday evening. He then found she was at George Benson’s.

Procuring a revolver, he went to Benson’s and sought an interview with his wife but she refused. Later she drove to her parents’, a mile from the city. Today he learned where she was and at 3 o’clock went out there. Her father is at the point of death. Zeigler spoke to the sick father of his wife and expressed a desire that he might recover from his illness. Finally he shook hands with Wilson, who lay on the bed more dead than alive, and bade him good bye. Turning quickly to his wife, he asked her to withdraw her petition for a divorce. Upon her refusal, he drew his revolver and shot her in the right breast, the ball passing around and coming out near the spine. A second shot took effect in her arm. He then turned leaving his wife who had fallen in her mother’s arms, and two children screaming, and came to the city and told of his deed. The woman is probably fatally wounded. While waiting for his preliminary trial, James Barnett shook hands with him and said, “How do you feel?” “I never felt better in my life. I did just what I wanted to do. I shot her in the presence of her father and mother. I intended all right but I guess I failed.” He was placed under a $5,000 bond, which he soon gave and is now on the streets as wild as a crazy man.

The many friends of the Zeigler family here extend their sympathy in the sad calamity.


Source: Indianapolis Journal Tuesday 13 Sept 1892 p 3

Shelbyville, Sept 12 - This afternoon about 3 o'clock Arno Zeigler, a reckless young German recently separated from his wife, went to the home of his father-in-law, Benoni Wilson near town where Mrs. Zeigler was waiting upon her dying father and shot her twice. One ball entered the arm and other the abdomen.  THe wounded woman fell to the floor, and Zeigler hastily left and came to town. Later he was arrested by officer Magill and gave a $5000 bond with his aunt, Minnie Deprez as surety. The wounded wife is still alive. Agnes Wilson married Zeigler 8 years ago but their married life was not pleasant.  She finally left him and 10 days ago applied for a divorce, alleging various ugly charges against him. SHe is 24 years old. Zeigler committed the deed because his wife would not live with him.


Source: Logansport Pharos-Tribune Wed 14 Sept 1892 p 9

Shelbyville, Sept 13 - A shocking affair was enacted a mile from the city at 3 o'clock Monday afternoon which has provoked the citizens almost to mob violence. Arno M. Zeigler, a finisher in one of the furniture factories shot his wife twice.  He then came to the city and delibertely told o fhis crime and defied the officers. In a few minutes over 500 persons were after him.  He sought refuge in the house of Mrs. Deprez, an aunt of his but was soon captured and taken before JD Lacey, a jsutice of the peace where he stated that he had done the deed in the presence of his wie's parents, just where he wanted to do it.  Zeigler married the girl when she was scarcely 15 years old and constant quarrels have marked their wedded life. Finally she brought suit for divorce which act led to the shooting - kbz

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