THE MURDER OF SAMUEL BREAKWELL
Samuel Breakwell was born at Hopton Wafers, Shropshire, on February 22nd, 1836, the son of Samuel Breakwell and Eliza (née Hancocks). He married Mary Ann Norris in England in 1854, by whom he had five children. Mary Ann died in 1863 and some time later, Samuel married her sister, a widow, Jane Nutman. The family emigrated to USA in 1873 and settled at Highwood, Illinois, where he ran a grocery business and became a Baptist Minister, ordained in 1880. Jane left Samuel to live with a German immigrant, Carl Pethke. Jane and Samuel were divorced in 1894. There was a dispute over property which Samuel had bestowed upon Jane. Incensed at Samuel's stance on the dispute, Pethke murdered Samuel in cold blood on the streets of Highwood on the afternoon of August 17th, 1898. Pethke made no attempt to resist arrest.
Below are links to several newspaper articles which have been transcribed by Jan Mackie and are reproduced here with her kind consent. The articles have been reproduced as printed, and contain some inaccuracies with regard to dates, places and spelling of names.
Newspaper Articles
The Waukegan Daily Sun, Wednesday, August 17, 1898 - brief account of the murder
The Waukegan Daily Sun, Thursday, August 18, 1898 - fuller account of the murder
The Highland Park Press, Friday, August 19, 1898 - account of the murder
The Waukegan Daily Sun, Friday, August 19, 1898 - Carl Pethke in prison
The Waukegan Sun, Saturday, August 20, 1898 - Mrs. Breakwell's story