Bio: Koscielny, Eva (Investigation - 31 Aug 1921)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Andresen, Good, Hartwig, Koscielny

----Source: The Sheboygan Press and Sheboygan Telegram (Sheboygan, WI) 31/08/1921

Her Act Cost 3 Lives

Medford, Wis. - Charged with setting fire to the barn at the farm home near Lublin in which her child and two step-children were burned to death, Mrs. John Kascielny entered a plea of guilty when arraigned for preliminary hearing this morning. She had previously confessed to District Attorney Andresen of Taylor county, it was stated.

Lublin, Wis. - District Attorney L. N. Andresen of Taylor county announced late Tuesday night that Mrs. John Kascielny confessed to setting fire to the barn on their farm home, near here, in which her three children burned to death.

The confession is claimed to have been the result of an investigation conducted Tuesday morning by Andresen and Charles Good, state fire marshal.

The victims were: Elenora Kascielny, 13 years old, Katie Kascielny, 12 years old, John Kascielny 8 years old.

According to District Attorney Andresen, Mrs. Kascielny declared family troubles prompted her act and that she told him she had intended to kill herself.

Medford, Wis. - Mrs. Kascielny, who has confessed to killing her three children, this morning told the following story to the district attorney in the presence of Coroner Hartwig of Taylor county: “I intended throwing myself in the flames but afterward changed my mind. When I started the fire this was my plan but later I believed that the children would be able to get to safety and so I altered my plans.

Eleanor aged 13, Kate aged 12, and John aged 8, had been sleeping in the hay now all summer, with the hay banked up on either side. Sunday night after they were sleeping I went out took down the ladder so they could not get down from the mow and then after touching a match to the hay locked the barn door. It was only a few minutes when the whole barn was in flames.”

Mrs. Kascielny told her story as though it was an everyday occurrence, and it is the general belief that she is insane. Starting her confession she declared that she wanted to “make it as unpleasant for him as I could,” referring to her husband.