Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1917 — HUNCHBACK KILLS PARAMOUR [ARTICLE]

HUNCHBACK KILLS PARAMOUR

Then Turns Gun on Self and Blows His Head Off. Undertaker W. J. Wright got a call Friday night through his Morocco store to go up in nprthwest Newton county near the Kankakee river where apparently a murder and suicide had taken place. Mr. Wright sent his assistant, Zern Wright, to look after the bodies. It seems that Henry Bruns of Momence, a hunchback, had been living for the past couple of years with a woman who went by the name of Gertrude or “Babe’’ Harkes. Bruns was a familiar character the Kankakee river, having been raised near "Six Mile’’ grove northeast of Momence, and where his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Bruns, and three brothers and one sister yet. reside. For a number of years he had conducted different resorts along, the river, and for the past few years had been at what is known as the State Line resort, which is just this side of the state line and across the river in Lake county. About two years ago the Harked

woman came from Terre Haute to this resort. It had been generally known previous to this time that Bruns was illegally selling liquor, but he was crafty and was never caught. But Boon after bringing the (Harkes woman to the river the authorities became more energetic and about a year and a half ago be and Miss Harkes were forced to leave Lake county and took up their abode on the Peterson ranch in Newton county, about five miles northwest of Conrad and near the state line. Here Bruns leased, or is supposed to have leased, a large acreage of pasture land and made , a pretense at making a livelihood by this land. However, this was nothing more than a blind, it is believed, and Bruns and the woman with him continued same kind of a nefarious business they were engaged in on the river. It was here that the tragedy took iplace and where Mr. Wright was asked to come. Upon his arrival there he found every indication of a most terrific battle having taken place. Bruns and the woman were both dead, each having been killed by the discharge of an automatic shot gun. They were last seen alive about noon Thursday and the bodies were found late Friday. Their state indicated that the tragedy occurred some time Thursday afternoon. Three empty shells were found on the floor, showing that three shots had been fired. Investigation disclosed that Bruns had probably shot the woman and then killed 'himself. Ho is said 'by those who knew him to be of an insanely jealous disposition and the tragedy probably followed a quarrel. In a bed room in the east wing of the house were found two beer bottles about half emptied setting on a trunk, and it is presumed that the two were sitting on the bed drinking beer when the quarrel started. When found Miss Harkes was wearing a sweater coat, in one pocket of which was found an open pocket knife, the handle of which had been wrapped in a handkerchief. That she used this knife with telling effect in the fierce fight was sijown by the condition of Brune’ body, which was cut in several places, especially about the arms and chest. Broken beer bottles and furniture were strewn all

over the house, also a pair of knucks were found, indicating the intensity of the fight. At this juncture Bruns probably secured the gun and the woman sought' refuge in a clothes closet off an adjoining room. Bruns went after her there with the gun. As he approached with the gun she held a suit case before her and he fired through this. The charge passed through the suit case, between her arm and side and through the wall behind her, lodging in a wall across an outside porch, She then probably dropped the suit case as he again shot her in the abdomen and killed her. She fqlj out of the closet, and Bruns then removed one shoe and sock and sitting down beside her placed the muzzle of the gun against bis chin and pulled the trigger with his toe. The entire side of his head was blown off by the charge and his body fell across that of the woman. They were in this position when found by a Mr. Peterson, who owns the bourse in which they were living, late Friday evening. Bruns relatives took charge of his body and had the same taken to Momence and prepared for burial. , They would have nothing to do with the woman's body and the coroner instructed Mr. Wright to take charge of her body. He brought It to this city where he could better care for it. Coroner Best of Newton county took charge of her affects and found letters from her people in West Virginia.' They were advised of her death and wired Instructions to inter the body here, which was done, burial being made in Weston cemetery Monday morning. ;