Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Scholtz, Krueger
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/21/2013
Scholtz to Hold Aug. 24 Book Signing (New Book - 2016)
Scholtz to Hold Aug. 24 Book Signing
Local author Kay Scholtz displays a copy of her new book “The Wisconsin Krueger Family Tragedy-16 years of Letters from Prison.” Scholtz will hold a book signing at The Thirsty Bookworm Saturday, Aug. 24, from noon to 2 p.m. (Contributed photo)
Kay Scholtz, Town of Sherwood, will be holding a book signing Saturday, Aug. 24, from noon until 2 p.m., at The Thirsty Bookworm in downtown Neillsville.
Her new book, “The Wisconsin Kreger Family Tragedy – 16 years of Letters from Prison” was recently published by Big Earth Publishing/Trail Press of Boulder, CO. Her book is nonfiction, a true account of the Krueger family from the Town of Longwood, just south of Withee.
“The Wisconsin Krueger Family Tragedy” begins in September of 1918 when the Krueger family was involved in a shootout at their farm home after evading the draft during World War I.
One brother disappeared, and two others were sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder after the death of a posse member during the shootout. Scholtz received hundreds of letters previously kept storage that the family exchanged while in prison for a period of 16 years. Scholtz’s book includes news clips, trial transcripts and photos of the Krueger family along with excerpts from the vast letter collection. She will have items on display at the signing and books will be available for purchase.
Nearly 100 years later, Scholtz hope to personalize their story and give the Krueger family vindication for a crime she feels they did not commit. Her book also describes the hardships the family faced on their farm, along with their struggle for freedom.
