Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 125, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1904 — BRIDE CONFESSES TO MURDER. [ARTICLE]

BRIDE CONFESSES TO MURDER.

Rae Krauss Serving Life Term foi Slaying Stepdaughter, After many weeks of stout denial in tbe face of almost absolute proof, Mrs. Rae Krauss confessed in court at Hartford Oity that she administered strychnine that killed her stepdaughter, Crystal Krauss, who -died in convulsions Aug. 2. . The confession was a surprise even to the woman’s lawyer. After the admission the woman was sentenced to prison for life and wfts taken at once to the women’s prison in Indianapolis. A mob at the station hissed Mrs. Krauss and uttered threatening cries as she boarded a train for prison. It came out that the confession was drawn from the woman by lrer husband, who, with that idea in view, visited her etei-y day in jail. He was instructed in liis actions by State’s Attorney Burns. An indictment was returned and -the trial was begun at once, iu accordance with the prisoner’s demand. Late in the afternoon a jury was secured, and when the usual questions as to guilt or innocence was put, Mrs. Krauss replied, calmly, “Guilty.” The word startled the court room, ai? a fight had been expected and the defendant's attorney hud consulted with her up to the opening of court as to her defense. At tile dramatic -moment Mrs. Krauss produced a paper and handed it to Judge Vauglin. It was -her written confession. She said in her statement that she did not realize what she was doing. and expressed deep penitence. Crystal was 18 years old, and her stepmother, who was married to YV. R. Krauss, a prominent druggist, only two months before the murder, is 27. Both women were active in church affairs. Krauss intended to leave his fortune of about $20,000 to his daughter. The girl died suddenly, after a meal. Mrs. Krauss advanced the suicide theory. YY'lien suspicion began to point strongly toward the older woman a chemical examination of the contents of -the dead girl’s stomach showed she had been killed with strychnine.