A FUNERAL STOPPED.
A Coroner Steps In to Make an Investigation of the Cause of Death.CHICAGO, Jan 13. — Yesterday afternoon people in the vicinity of 553 Larrabee street were surprised to see the funeral of a girl known as Lucy Krug stopped by the police as it was about to leave the house, especially as soon after several detectives and Deputy Coroner Barrett and his assistants arrived to make an investigation as to the death. In September, 1885, Lawrence Krug, a captain, was married to Mrs. Heidelmeyer, a sister-in-law of Officer Heidelmeyer, of the Rawson street police station. Krug and hs bride started on a wedding trip to New York, he previously insuring his wife’s life for $1,000 in the Knights and Ladies of Honor. When on their wedding tour Mrs. Krug died and Krug was married again in New York. He had been at home but a few months, when this second wife, whose life had also been insured in the same association, died. Two months after her death he married Mrs. Albertine Rohr, who was nine years older than he. This was in September last. Six weeks later she was attacked with typhoid fever and died. This last Mrs. Krug was also insured in the Knights and Ladies of Honor. During her illness she was attended by Dr. Kalistein. Some comment was made at the time and some suspicions were aroused at her death by the fact that the insurance, which was made out to her daughter, Mrs. Charles Anderson, had been signed over to Krug.
Lucy Heidelmeyer, or Krug, as she was generally called, daughter of Krug’s first wife, was insured in the same association and the policy was made payable to her stepfather, Krug. He was placed under surveillance and Dr. Bluthardt will make a post mortem examination on the body.
Atchison Daily Globe (Atchison, Kansas) Jan 14, 1887
VERY SUSPICIOUS
A Man Marries Three Wives in Two Years and They Die Mysteriously.CHICAGO, Jan. 15. — Inquest was begun today on the body of Lucy Heidelmeyer, step-daughter of Lawrence Krug, whom it was believed that the latter had poisoned in order to obtain her life insurance. It had been shown that three wives of Krug, to whom he had been married within the space of two years, had all died somewhat mysteriously, and that they had all held life insurance policies which were made payable to him. The county physician said he had detected no trace of mineral or corrosive poison. Ida Schoenstein, who is a relative of the dead girl and attended her during her illness, testified that she had gone to a drug store for medicine prescribed by a doctor. It was a bright, clear liquid and after she had returned to the house with it Krug took it into the kitchen to see what was in it, he said, and when he gave it back to her instead of being bright and clear it was cloudy. Other testimony of a character tending to throw suspicion upon Krug was given by relatives of the dead wives. Miss Schoenstein testified that on Monday when the body of Krug’s step-daughter was laid out in the front room, Krug called her aside and asked her to marry him. When she refused, he said: “You must, for I will make you.” Dr. M.G. Kellner testified that he had been called to attend deceased on Christmas. He was told that she was suffering from rheumatism and he prescribed for that malady. The next day he made a critical diagnosis and observed marked symptoms of lead poisoning. He began antidotal treatment for lead and the girl was improving when witness was notified by Krug that his services were no longer desired. Dr. John Simpson had been called to attend the third Mrs. Krug and prescribed for malarial fever, from which it appears she was suffering. Next day Krug notified him that another physician had been engaged. During the proceedings Krug had been quietly taken into custody and officers dispatched to his residence, where all articles of a suspicious nature were levied upon. Krug’s appearance on the stand at the outset of the examination created a rather favorable impression, except for the fact that he was excessively nervous.
Atchison Daily Globe (Atchison, Kansas) Jan 17, 1887
The Kruggs Poisoning Case.
CHICAGO, January 24. — It is now certain that Lucy Herdelmeyer was poisoned. Prof. Haines, of the Russ Medical College has completed a chemical analysis of her stomach. He found traces of arsenic in every vital part. It was administered in such liberal quantities that the only wonder is that the girl lived as long as she did. Capt. Schaack also ascertained that Lawrence Krugg, the girl’s stepfather, who is being held to await the result of the investigation, lived for a long while with a celebrated chemist in Germany, and there gained extensive knowledge of the deadly qualities of various poisons. Yesterday Prof. Haines began an analysis of the remains of Krugg’s third wife, which were exhumed for that purpose last Thursday. Officers think they have a strong chain of circumstantial evidence against Krugg. The inquest on the step-daughter will be resumed this week and inquiry redoubled as to the four other deaths charged against Krugg. He has authorized the sale of two houses belonging to him in order to raise money to defend himself in the criminal court.
San Antonio Daily Express (San Antonio, Texas) Jan 25, 1887
Cord Tightening Around Krug’s Neck.
CHICAGO, Feb. 4. — The inquest on the body of Lucy Herdelmeyer, the young girl whose step-father, Lawrence Krug, is alleged to have poisoned, as well as two of his former wives, in order to obtain money from their life insurances, has been concluded. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that Lucy Herdelmeyer came to her death from arsenical poisoning, and that the poison was administered by Lawrence Krug with intent to commit murder. Krug will be held to await action of the grand jury.
Newark Daily Advocate (Newark, Ohio) Feb 4, 1887
KRUG’S MANY VICTIMS.
CHICAGO, March 1. — The poisoning of another woman, making five in all, is to-night alleged against Lawrence Krug, who lies in the county jail suspected of murdering three wives and a stepdaughter. The supposed fifth victim is Gunda Schoeppner, a pretty 19-year-old daughter of Krug’s first wife’s sister. After much consultation Gunda’s friends and relatives to-day decided to ask an investigation by the County Physician. According to their statements Gunda was a close companion of her unfortunate cousin, Lucy Heidelmeyer, the stepdaughter whose death caused the arrest of Krug. At the funeral Gunda was present as befitted a near relative. Each time, she, like Lucy Heidelmeyer, was shocked by proposals of marriage from Krug even before the services for the dead were completed. The proposals were made in the presence of numerous witnesses. After the first advances Gunda made no effort to conceal her aversion to Krug, but continued to maintain her companionship with Lucy. About the time of Lucy’s death, a number of weeks ago, Gunda fell ill with a similar complaint, and, although given the best medical aid, her mysterious ailment is yet unconquered. While she has rallied somewhat during the past few days, the girl is in a critical condition. Her friends express the belief that Krug poisoned her out of pure malignity, in revenge for the undisquised contempt with which she treated him. Krug’s other four victims had assigned their life insurance to him, but in Gunda’s case no mercenary motive is apparent. Dr. Geifeldt, who has been in attendance upon Gunda, delines to talk upon the matter.
The New York Times, Mar 2, 1887
Joliet Prison
Wife Poisoner Krug Dead.
JOLIET, Ill., Sept. 16. — Lorenzo Krug, the poisoner of Lucy Heidlemeyer at Chicago, is dead. Krug was suspected of having poisoned three different wives previous to the time when Lucy Heidlemeyer became a victim. He is said to have poisoned his wives in order to obtain the insurance money on their lives. He was so tried not tried on these charges, but on the death of the Heidlemeyer woman he was convicted and sent to Joliet prison for eighteen years. During his short imprisonment Krug has rapidly declined in health, consumption ending his career this morning in the prison hospital.
Chicago Daily Tribune, Sep. 17, 1889
*Thanks to Kate from the P.A. Penn Genealogy Group for the Krug death notice.
Tags: 1887, Albertina Rohr, Arsenic Poisoning, Chicago IL, Gunda Schoeppner, Ida Schoenstein, Illinois, Lawrence Krug, Lucy Heidelmeyer, Prof. Haines
