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New TJlm Bm«w,ORMSBY BANKER MURDERS FAMILYFRANK KLOCOW KILLS SELF AFTER SHOOTING WIFE AND CHILDREN.APPALLING TRAGEDY ENACTED IN HOME DISCOVERED MONDAY WEEK.The most horrible murder in the history of Watonwan county came to light Monday morning of last week, when neighbors at Ormsby discovered the entire family of Frank Klocow shot t death in their beds, while the revolver, with which the shooting was apparently done, was found lying under the left side of the father, indicating that he had shot his wife and live children and then turned the gun o.i himself. Frank Klocow had been prominent for a number of years in the business circles of Ormsby, and was well known in the southern end of Watonwan county.A woman, going to make a call, discovered the bodies shortly after 4 p. m. last week Monday, but Coroner Thompson of St. James concluded that Ltyey met death between midnight and 1 a. m., the previous day, Sunday.^Besides Klocow and Mrs. Klocow, the dead are:Fred Klocow, 16 years old.Myrtle Klocow, 14.Glen Klocow, 12.Oliver Klocow, 10.Leland Klocow, 3.Chloroformed Victims.All except the father had been shot by a revolver as they lay in bed and there were indications that chloroform had been used to numb their senses before they were shot. Indications point to the fact that Klocow beat his wife over the head with the butt of his revolver before shooting her to death. The revolver was found under Klccow’s left arm.Coroner Thompson, after viewing the bodies and talking to neighbors, said he thought Klocow had killed his family and then himself.Klocow was 49 years old and until six weeks ago was cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Ormsby, but resigned for some unexplained reason. Not even the bank officials knew why he quit, as he refused to give a reason. They declared his accounts were in regular shape.Woman Finds Bodies.At 4 p. rfi., Monday, Mts. Albert Strelow went to the Klocow home to give to Mrs. Klocow the Sabbath school contribution of the Unionchurch, uf which Mrs. Klocow wastreasurer. Her knocks on the front door were unanswered. Mrs. Strelow went to the rear of the house.The back door was open and on it was pinned a note, reading: “Walk in.” Mrs. Strelow stepped into the kitchen, then into the living room, where 14-she saw the I4-year-old daughter, Myrtle, lying on a cot, dead. She was shot through the head.Mrs. Strelow hurried into the adjoining bedroom, and saw Klocow’s body lying on a bed, the face towardher. In the bed with him was Mrs. Klocow and the youngest child, LelandJMrs. Strelow ran from the house to' neighbors, who notified the authorities.Re-loaded Cun Twice.IThe three qlder boys, Fred, Glen I and Oliver, were found in their beds upstairs. The boys and Myrtle each had been shot twice, as had also Mrs. Klocow, while the baby and Klocow’; had each been shot once.On the floor were ten exploded cartridges, and in the five-chamber re-1 volver were two exploded and ttiree unexploded shells. It was apparent that Klocow had reloaded his revolver twice as he went about his gruesome task of dealing out death to his family.A letter was found on a table, addressed to Henry Klocow, a brother at Estherville, Iowa. Pending the brother’s arrival, funeral arrangements were hel£ in abeyance.Paid Bills First.Neighbors thought the Klocow family had gone a^vay Saturday night to visit and did not plan to return until late Mpnday.and consequently-it was not thought strange when no signs of life were seen about the .house Sunday.On Saturday, Klocow had goneabout the town paying all his bills in cash, although it was his custom to use checks. One merchant remarked on this, and Klocow responded:“You’re lucky to get your money at all.”That day about 7 p. m., Klocow was seen in the yard, playing with his youngest child, and Mrs. Klocow was ironing in the kitchen.It developed that a neighbor, Arnold Ingold, whose home is about 200 feet from the Klocow home,tho ught, he heard several shots between 12 and' 1 a. m., Sunday, but thought it as revelers on their way home from adance. It wag on Ingolds information and the condition of the bodies that the coroner placed the time of their death.Was Banker at Ormsby.Mr. Klocow had lived in Ormsby for 22 years, 18 years of which he was employed in the Farmers State Bank of that village, resigning in May. Since his resignation he hpd taken life easy in an effort to regain his health, but appearing at all times to be rapidly waning. He is survived by three brothers and one sister, H. L. Klocow of Tracy, J. S. Klocow of St. Peter and Mrs. William Eldridge, of Clarion, Iowa.The coroner Albert Thompson, of St. James and the sheriff, who arrived on the scene, decided that no inquest was necessary as sufficient evidence was left to prove the nature and the reason of the crime and as long as his brother was there to take care of the situation it would be in his hands.Ormsby Stunned.The enormity of this crime hung over the village of Ormsby. Men, women and children gathered in groups in the dim lights, discussing the ways, .the means and the,horror of the crime which in the history of this section of the state has neyer been equalied. How a man in his right mind could contemplate such a brutal murder, even to the extent of placing a card on his door, evidently after the crime was committed is beyond comprehension and there is no doubt but what Klocow’s mind had given away. The card evidently must have.hoen written after he had killed his family, for it was not in his usual handwriting. Itwas scrawled out and appeared to be the writing of a man nervous to the extreme. The letter, however, his brother said, was written in his usual handwriting, showing no trace of fear in the script.The bodies were .taken to St. James last Tuesday for preparation for burial. The two days showed very little effect upon the remains of the dead, with the exception of the daughter whose face was swollen practically beyond recognition. All the village and surrounding country feel deeply in, this-master. The opinion is that Klocow waV insane.It has been Jalawn for a longjti^ fhat his ill health and fear of finances have preyed on his mind. The awful deed is one that none but a diseased mind could conceive. Insanity without doubt was the cause.The mother and her five children were buried in a. single grave, while the remains of the father-murderer were interred in a separate grave in the same cemetery plot. Funeral services were conducted Thursday.clciglt;fiaa*dc:MANY CASES HANDLEDBY “CLEAN-UP” SQUADEx-Service Men Being Greatly Assisted in Filing Claims for Federal Help.A large percentage of new cases among disabled ex-service men needing hospitalization or vocational trainingare reaching the proper authorities in the ' s tates1 ’ where tHe “Clean Up”Squads have been at work.This is the information which has reached Central Division Headquarters in''Chicago from He'd Cross workers, who are co-operating with the American Region in the local work of the squads throughout the nine states of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.Approximately 40 per cent of the cases thus far reported from Nebraska have beer\ new claims. Many of these war veterans did not know of* the assistance to which they were entitled until the news of the squad’s visit reached them. In Iowa, another state where wprk is well under way, the per centage of new cases approximates 30 per cent.The effort to form a contact between the disabled men in various communities and the War Veterans Bureau through the local agencies of the American Legion and the Red Cross has materially.assisted in placing many claims in adjudication. Much of this work is de-centralized and is acted upon in the district offices, instead of through Washington, thus avoiding much delay. Many old claims are also put into such shape by the visit of squad members that they will be greatly expedited.Miss Lydia Schmidt has returned to her home in Springfield, after spending several days visiting with relatives here. Miss Schmidt is assistant chief in1 the Springfield telephone exchange.Dr. and Mrs. Emil Mueller celebrated the former’s birthday anniversary at their camp across the Minnesota river, Sunday afrernoon. There were about 25 guests present, and all were taken over by car. At 6 o’clock a big picnic dinner was served. The affair was greatly enjoyed.
Newspaper Details
New Ulm Review
New Ulm, Minnesota, US
Wed, Sep 14, 1921
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Don B.
USA 04 Dec 2022
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