Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1899 — OFFERS SON AS SACRIFICE. [ARTICLE]

OFFERS SON AS SACRIFICE.

With mind crazed by constant meditation upon tbe Lord's awfnl command to Abraham to aacrifice his son Isaac, Abel Dykstra, a fanner living two miles east of Booth Holland. 111., on Wednesday killed his 5-year-old boy, Peter, by nearlysevering his bend with a corn knife. The terrible deed was committed in the presence of his wife, Mrs. Sophie Dykstra, who waa standing in the door of the Dykstra home with her baby in her arms. Aa the boy fell dead in tbe freshly plowed field, Mrs. Dykstra fled to the home of her father, Cornelias Van Drannen, nearly a mile away. Dykstra, believing that his duty toward his God had been performed, and fearing the wrath of his fellow men, mounted • horse and rode to the home of John Meeter, five miles distant. He had worked for Meeter twelve years ago. Dykstra told him what he had done and begged to be forgiven. Meeter realized that the man was insane and took him to South Holland, where he was turned over to Peter De Young, justice of the peace. Later Dykstra was lodged in the Cook County jaii. The news of the crime spread rapidly in tbe sparsely settled neighborhood about South Holland, and intense excitement prevailed. South Holland is about twenty miles from Chicago, on the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad, and is inhabited by a colony of industrious Hollanders. Dyk-stra-had always borne a good reputation in the community, and had lived for some years upon his farm. Dykstra-read the Bible constantly, and kept reading over and over the chapter relating to the command of the Lord to Abraham to offer hp Isaac as a sacrifice. On Sunday night Dykstra told his wife that he was called upon to make a sacrifice for God. Mrs. Dykstra was frightened and on Tuesday evening went to the home of her mother. Wednesday morning Mrs. Dykstra return home with the children and was met at the door by her husband. “I mnst do it this morning,” the man called out as they approached him. “God has ordered me to do it.” Without saying another word, Dykstra made a rush for the boy and seized him by the shoulder. He dragged the little fellow to a shed near by and took np the corn knife. “Papa, please don't hurt me,” cried the boy, and. he struggled to free himself from the man’s grasp. Mrs. Dykstra also pleaded with her husband to spare the child's life, but their extrenties had no effect upon the maniac. Holding the boy with ‘ his left hand,.the crazed man drew the corn knife across the lad’s throat. Little Peter ran nearly 100 feet before he fell. He was found lying face downward upon the sos earth, where he had bled to death.