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Gustave Kreuger Murder
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Murder of Cresco Twin Babies

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This information was gathered and submitted by Reid Johnson.
Thank you Reid, for your diligent detective work.

The following articles relate the grisly details of the murder by pick-ax of Gustav / Gustave Kruger / Krueger / Kreuger in April of 1903 in Howard county. Sofia / Sophia Kruger / Krueger / Kreuger was tried and convicted for the crime of murdering her husband and sentenced to life in prison. The couple had married only a short time prior to the murder so they do not appear on any census as a couple. As individuals I note the following as possibilities:

1880 Federal Census of Albion Township, Howard County, Iowa.

Gustave Kruger, 64, Married, Born Prussia, Parents born Prussia.
Augusta Kruger, 42, Keeping house, Married, Born Prussia, Parents born Prussia.
Amelia Kruger, 13, Daughter, Born Michigan, Parents born Prussia.
Ida Kruger, 10, Daughter, Born Michigan, Parents born Prussia.
Otto Kruger, 8, Son, Born Michigan, Parents born Prussia.
Richard (looks like Richard) Kruger, 6, Son, Born Michigan, Parents born Prussia.
Lizzie Kruger, 4, Daughter, Born Iowa, Parents born Prussia.
Alfred Kruger, 1/12, born May, Born Iowa, Parents born Prussia.

(Note the age difference between Gustave and Augusta, both indicating they are married yet no head of household was indicated nor is Augusta designated as Gustave's wife as are the wives on other entries on this census. Gustave's given age on this census, while clear on the image, may be in error.)
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1900 Federal Census, Cresco Town, Howard County, Iowa.

Charles Mandelko, Head, Feb. 1862, 38, Married 12 years, Immigrated 1867, Born Germany, Parents born Germany.
Ida Mandelko, Wife, Jan. 1870, 30, Married 12 years, 3 children born, 2 living, Born Michigan, Parents born Germany.
Lydia Mandelko, Daughter, Dec. 1888, 11, Born Iowa, Father born Germany, Mother born Michigan.
Clara Mandelko, Daughter, May 1892, 8, Born Iowa, Father born Germany, Mother born Michigan.
Gustave Krueger, Father-in-law, Dec. 1833, 66, Widowed, Naturalized 1866, Born Germany, Parents born Germany.
Alfred R. Krueger, Brother-in-law, May 1880, 20, Single, Born Iowa, Parents born Germany.

(Note that the age of Ida and Alfred match that of Ida and Alfred Kruger on the 1880 census, while the age of Gustave does not.)
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1910 Federal Census, Iowa State Reformatory, Anamosa, Jones County, Iowa.

Sophia Kruger, Prisoner, 66, Widowed, 6 children born, 2 children living, Born Germany, Parents born Germany. Seamstress.

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1920 Federal Census, Women's Reformatory, Center Township, Calhoun County, Iowa.

Sophia Kruger, Inmate, 76, Widowed, Immigrated 188?, Naturalized 1882, Speaks English but does not read or write English, Born Germany, Parents born Germany.



Index

SourceDayDate
Elgin EchoThursdayMay 7, 1903
Humeston New EraWednesdayMay 27, 1903
Cresco Twice-A-Week Plain DealerTuesdayJune 16, 1903
Emmetsburg DemocratWednesdayOct. 28, 1903
Cresco Twice-A-Week Plain dealerTuesdayNov. 3, 1903
Des Moines CapitalFridayNov. 24, 1904


______________________________ Go to the Index _____________________________

Elgin Echo Thursday May 7, 1903



Gustave Kreuger Murder Elgin Echo Thursday May 7, 1903


______________________________ Go to the Index _____________________________

Humeston New Era Wednesday May 27, 1903



Gustave Kreuger Murder Humeston New Era Wednesday May 27, 1903


______________________________ Go to the Index _____________________________

Cresco Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Tuesday June 16, 1903



Gustave Kreuger Murder Cresco Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Tuesday June 16, 1903


______________________________ Go to the Index _____________________________

Emmetsburg Democrat Wednesday Oct. 28, 1903



Gustave Kreuger Murder Emmetsburg Democrat Wednesday Oct. 28, 1903


______________________________ Go to the Index _____________________________

Cresco Twice-A-Week Plain dealer Tuesday Nov. 3, 1903



Gustave Kreuger Murder Cresco Twice-A-Week Plain dealer Tuesday Nov. 3, 1903


______________________________ Go to the Index _____________________________

Des Moines Capital Friday Nov. 24, 1904



Gustave Kreuger Murder Des Moines Capital Friday Nov. 24, 1904

_________ Go to the Index _____