Double Tragedy -- CR Cop Killed in 1885

Capt. William McDaniel, 47, was the first Cedar Rapids police officer killed in the line of duty when a train knocked him off a trestle north of Solon while he was in pursuit of a murder suspect, as explained in today's Ramblin' column in The Gazette.

His story came to my attention because Jeff Stevens (right) of Cedar Rapids had drawn a sketch of the captain based on the way his great grandson, John McDaniel, looks. John is a 23-year veteran of the CR force.

As promised in that Gazette column, here's the account of this murder/death just as it appeared in the Jan. 7, 1885, Evening Gazette. (Jeff's sketch of McDaniel is added, because there were no pictures in the newspaper in those days. And, the multiple deck headlines are as they appeared in that edition, the second of the day to make way for this huge story):

SECOND EDITION,

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4 O'CLOCK.

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John Mundbrood. a Packing

House Employe, Murdered

by the Frelich Brothers.

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While in Pursuit of the Murderer*

Capt. McDanlelsls Struck by a Train

and Hurled Into Eternity.

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A Terrible Night's Work- Particulars of

the Ghastly Affair-Notes.

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Our people were horrified this morning to learn the particulars of a ghastly murder and the subsequent death of Capt. McDaniel, of the night police, who with Night Jailor Henley, was in search of one of the murderers between Ely and Solon. To-describe the two shocking affairs fully, the details of last night's murder must be given first. Shortly before one o'clock this morning the police received word from a man named Herkimer, hastily summoning them to the house of a German named Chick, situated at 422 South Second Street, below Fourteenth Avenue. Capt. MoDaniel, accompanied by his force and Dr. J. M. Ristine, who had been hurriedly summoned, jumped into the patrol wagon and were soon at the scene of the murder. A terrible sight met their eyes. On the bed lay John Chick, the occupant of the house, with several slight cuts in his back, while beside him was a man named John Mundbrood, or "Boutsch," as he was familiarly called by his fellow-laborers, having a terrible gash in the right side of his neck. When found he was unconscious; deep pools of clotted blood bespattered the floor and surrounding furniture, and the bed on which he lay was deeply crimsoned with gore. The sight was sickening and terrible in the extreme. Mnndbrood was unconscious when discovered, and had apparently lost the best of his life's blood. Dr. Ristine took immediate steps to resuscitate the man, and by hvperdermic injections succeeded in rallying him for a short time. However, the victim did not regain consciousness sufficiently to relate his story, and despite the most superhuman efforts to save his life, he quietly passed away at about 3:15 this morning.

The story of the affair, as accurately related to us by the officers who were on the spot, appears to be as follows:

The murdered man, Mundbrood, was foreman in the gut department of the packing house, and working under him were two brothers, Peter and Mat Frelich. These two brothers boarded with the German Chick, who resides in the house named above. About eleven o'clock last night the brothers, along with the murdered man Mundbrood and several others, including Chick's wife, were drinking beer and playing cards in Chick's house. All were intoxicated, or at least had been drinking. Suddenly the brothers Frelich jumped up and began striking each other, owing to some trivial dispute, the exact cause of which cannot be ascertained. Fearing serious difficulties might ensue from the row, Chick and Mundbrood endeavored to separate tbe brothers, but were violently turned upon by the men and stabbed, Mundbrood receiving the terrible gash which caused his death, and Chick several minor cuts and bruises. They are not serious, and he will recover soon.

As may be imagined, after having accomplished their murderous work, the occupants of the house speedily scattered, and when the officers had arrived on the scene in response to the message, they only found the wounded man and the woman of the house, who appeared cool and collected, and silently pointed to the murdered Mundbrood and the wounded Chiok. Instant search was made by the policemen for the murderers, and it was but a short time afterward while the police were searching a boarding house on Third street, that Policeman Healy, who was waiting outside, sitting on the patrol wagon seat, saw Mat Frelich, the younger murderer, coming down the street in a maudlin condition. Healy pulled a revolver from his pocket, and presenting it in the face of Frelioh, easily captured him. He was instantly jailed on the charge of murder. The dead body of Mundbrood was removed shortly before 6 o'clock this morning to his home on South Fifth street, near the Star Wagon works. He is a married man, having a wife and three children, and naturally his family are completely prostrated over the terrible and unnatural death of a husband and father.

THE SECOND HORROR

Upon awakening this morning our citizens were not only horrified to learn of last night's shocking murder but were doubly startled upon receipt of the news that Capt. McDaniel, of the night police, who with Night Jailor Healer, had gone down to Solon on a freight train in quest of Peter Frelich, one of the murderers, had been struck by the B. C. R. & N. south-bound passenger train, No. 4, and his skull crushed, from which injury he died shortly afterward. The train was about three hours late, and was due at Solon at 3:10. The accident most have occured a litte after slx o'clock this morning, as the following telegram from Conductor L. M. Peck to Supt. Robert Williams, conclusively shows:

SOLON, Jan. 6, 5:40 a. m

SUPT. BOBT. WILLIAMS:-Train 4; Engine 14. Engineer Simpson in charge, struck Capt McDaniel, policeman, on the bridge three-fourths of a mile north of Solon. His skull is broken. Don't think he can live long. I leave him at Solon. Have sent for a doctor.

PECK

Realizing that Policeman Healey, the comrade of the dead Capt. McDaniel who accompanied him in the search, could tell the story more vividly and accurately than any one else, a reporter for THE GAZETTE obtained his statement of the terrible tragedy. It was told in a manner that showed the deep friendship and regard which evidently existed between the two.

HEALEY TELLS OF THE ACCIDENT.

Officer Mike Healey's report of the accident at the bridge is as follows:  When Mac and I reached Solon, we received word from headquarters at the Rapids that the murderer Frelich was supposed to be making his way down the B. C. R. N. track toward Solon and we were ordered by Swem to work back afoot toward Ely-one taking the wagon road and the other the railroad. After some consultation Mac and I decided to go together along the track until we came to the place where the wagon road runs in close proximity to the railroad and then to separate as directed by Swem. Before reaching that point we came to a bridge some forty feet long. When we arrived at the end of the bridge we heard the rumbling of the train, which appeared as yet to be some considerable distance from us. I suggested to Mac that we wait there until the train had passed. Mac remarked, 'Oh, go on; you are just like all Irishmen-afraid.' So over the bridge we started. As the timbers were icy and very slippery, we had to progress very slowly and by the time we reached the middle of the bridge upon looking up we discovered the headlight of the train but a few rods from us. I called to Mac and asked him what we should do. He said "go ahead and get off." "We both made a desperate effort to reach the end of the structure before the train would be upon us, but I alone succeeded and my escape was only by a hair's breadth. When I put my foot on the last tie the engine was scarcely a rod from me. I made a leap sideways and forward and came down in the snow on the bridge embankment as the train whirled by. About the time I lit I heard a sound like a heavy thud, the breaking of the ice in the stream below and the splashing of water. I looked down and saw Mac in the water. I ran down and made my way to him, wading in water to the belt before I reached him. I caught him just as his head was going under the water, pulled him up as far as I could and said: "Mac, Mac!" He opened his eyes, looked at me and recognized me, then closed them and with the exception of a slight groan made no sign of life. By the time I had succeeded in getting Mac to the bank the train, which had stopped a few rods below the bridge, had backed up and with the help of the train men Mac was put on, and in a few minutes we had reached the depot at Solon. Mac never spoke after he said to me to "go ahead and get off the bridge." In ten minutes after we got to Solon he was dead. His body was not cut any or bruised much. There was a bruise on his forehead and the skull on top of his head was crushed in. I was all wet and very cold and had a severe chill after getting to Solon. Dry clothing was brought me and I was putting it on when someone said: "There is a man coming along the track now!" I looked, out and saw that it was the man we were after. I reached for a revolver and started out with nothing but my undershirt and pants on, and in my bare feet to capture the man. By the time I had stepped out on the platform the murderer had passed the station and was down the track a few rods. I ran along the platform and called to him to halt. He paid no attention to me. I then stepped down on the track and started in vigorous pursuit with my revolver in hand. I ran up behind him and caught him by the shoulder and told him to surrender, which he did very quietly, returning with me to the station, where he was put under guard. Frelich admitted that he had been a party to the crime at Cedar Rapids but said he did not know who did the cutting, as he was drunk at the time. He made no effort to escape after I arrested him."

Officer Healey was greatly agitated over the tragical death of his partner in the pursuit of the murderer, his comrade and his friend, and his story of Captain McDaniel's sad ending was told with great difficulty, many sobs checking his speech and tears profusely flowing down big cheeks. His experience while away was such that he came home completely exhausted and was obliged to go to his room at once.

Officer Healy is uncertain as to just how Mac was thrown from the bridge, but is of the opinion that he was nearly off the bridge when the engine struck him and knocked him down in the stream. As the cross timbers in the bridge are so close together it would be almost impossible for a small man to go down between them, let alone a man the siza of Mac. The engine must have struck him and knocked him over the end of the trestle, and, probably was so injured by the force of the blow from the train that the hard fall upon the ice was unnecessary to cause death.

THE RETURN TO THE CITY.

The B. C. R. & N. train bearing the dead policeman, together with Healy and his prisoner, arrived in the city at 9 o'clock, and were met by a vast crowd who had heard the startling news. Frelich was immediately jailed, while the remains of the night captain were taken to Krebs Bros., where they were properly prepared before removal to the deceased's late residence on E avenue west. Mrs. McDaniel is frantic with grief, and it is feared that the shock may prove fatal to the captain's aged parents, who for some time past have been making their residence with their son.

THE DEAD MEN.

Capt Wm. McDaniel was forty-seven years old. He had been on the police force for a period extending over eight years, and was a capable and efficient man, and greatly esteemed by the men on the force. He leaves a wife and three children, aside from his parents, to mourn his unnatural death.

John Mundbrood, the murdered man, was a German, aged about thirty-two years. He leaves a wife and two children to mourn his demise. Mundbrood was greatly liked by his associate. His only fault, however, was an appetite for liquor, and when under its influence he frequently became violent and pugilistic.

OFFICER MCDANIEL'S WATCH.

Among the personal effects taken from Officer McDaniel's person after his death was a fine gold watch purchased from W. H. Thompson a day or two ago. Cap was in at Thompson's last evening and told the jeweler that he wanted an inscription engraved in the watch and said he would bring the copy in in the morning and have them do the engraving, which Mr. Thompson agreed to do to-day.

THE MURDER INTERVIEWED.

By the courtesy of Marshal Francis a GAZETTE reporter visited the alleged murderer, Peter Frelich, in his cell in the jail this forenoon. He is confined in tbe middle cell upstairs. Frelich, in substance, said: "I am a German and thirty-three years old. I came to this country four years ago, and located in Chicago, where I was engaged in a meat market with my brother who is there yet. I have been here about six weeks and was working in the packing house, for a Chicago firm, cleaning entrails. My brother, Matt, was here with me, and we boarded with Mr. Chicks, also from Chicago about nine weeks ago. My brother and I roomed together. We were in with Chick and John Mundbrood, a friend of Chick's. Mundbrood has been here about three years and has worked for the same Chicago cleaning company in the packing house, as foreman of that work. We had been drinking whisky and were very drunk and we had a little row. It was about twelve o'clock and my brother and I had gone to our room to go to bed. I was undressed except my pants, when Chick and Mundbrood came into our room and said they wanted to fight. I told them to leave the room, but they would not, and a general row followed. I don't know if I cut anybody or what was done as I was so drunk I could hardly stand up. After the trouble I started for Chicago and intended to see my brother there and tell him about it and then come back.

MAT FRELICH,

 a brother of Peter, is also in jail and was asked about the affair. He is twenty years old and has been working with his brother here. He says the story of his brother is just as the thing occurred, but they were so drunk they did not know what they were doing.

Peter Frelich, one of the murderers, is a now about thirty-three years of age, five feet-seven inches in height weighs 160 pounds, speaks French and broken English. His hair is black and cut short; wears a small, dark moustache and goatee. When arrested he wore a green striped shirt, gray pants, black felt hat, blue woolen shirt. Frelich has lived in Chicago, and Marshal Francis thinks he was making for that city when apprehended and brought back. His brother Mat, also in jail, resembles the elder somewhat, except that he is much smaller in size. The latter is twenty years of age.

THE TWO VICTIMS.

Truly might one point to the dead bodies of the two victims of last night's bloody work and exclaim, "This is the result of rum," but the great sorrow and grief occasioned thereby, cannot be realized until yon look upon their desolate homes where wives' hearts are bleeding, and children are made fatherless, and where friends are bowed down under this awful load of sorrow. How the sympathy of every heart goes out to the poor old father and mother of the unfortunate McDaniel. Seventy-three years of age, away down the ladder of life and on the shady side, after having passed through all the troubles and the trials incident to the journey in this "vale of tears," to have the son at whose home they were living, brought to them dead, and thus have their last days blackened by this deep distress; is so sad as to bring tears to the eyes of every one who has experienced trials aud sorrow. And as his death stroke was received while in the performance of a duty that took him after a murderer whose crime and the death of whose victim was due to rum, so is poor Capt. McDaniel's death due, indirectly, to the curse that exceeds all other of hells infamous productions. And to rum may be ascribed all the grief and sorrow that hangs as a black pall over so many homes.

How we pity all of those who mourn the loss of these two men, but words cannot assuage their grief, and we turn from the sad scenes, hoping that the Father of us all will be merciful to those whose hearts are bleeding and whose light of life has been changed to the blackness of night.