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Caddo County - Newspapers

Submitted by:  Nancy Charlton

MINCO MONITOR
18 March 1898

MURDER NEAR MINCO

OTTO ECKERT, WHILE SUPPOSEDLY INSANE, KILLS HIS HIRED MAN

FOUND WITH HIT(SIC) THROAT CUT 

After the Commission of the Crime the Murderer Surrenders.  Says the 
Victim was the Aggressor

   Great excitement was caused on our streets Monday mourning by the 
announcement that a murder had been committed almost within the confines of 
our little city, and that the murderer, his hands and clothes stained with 
his victims life blood was walking up and down the street looking for an 
officer to whom he could surrender.
   For four or five years Otto Eckert has been a resident in this community, 
and for the past year or so has been a renter on the farm of J.E. Wright, 
east of town.  He was a sober, industrious man and had contrived by hard 
labor to get quite a start in the world.  He was unmarried and until last 
fall lived alone in a "dug-out" on the farm.
   Last fall a young fellow by name of Robert E. Wiles went to work for 
Eckert, and together they lived in the dug-out, evidently, until lately on 
good terms.
   About a month ago Eckert commenced to show signs of an unbalanced 
mind, his mania being that he was about to lose his property that the U.S. 
Marshals were looking for him with bloodhounds, and he took too hiding put 
in the ravines and gullies about the place.  He was not thought to be at all 
dangerous, however, although only two weeks ago Wiles expressed fear of him 
and threaten to leave.
   On Monday morning about ten o 'clock R.H. Faris met Eckert opposite Robt. 
Tuttle's residence, walking north.  He inquired of Faris for an officer, 
saying he wanted to give him self up.  Knowing his condition Faris said: 
"Oh, you're all right, Otto." "No I am not," was the reply, "I had trouble 
with my boy (meaning Wiles) this morning and he came at me with a razor, I 
took the razor away from him and got the best of him."  Mr. Faris then noted 
the bloodstained appearance of Eckert's hand and clothing and convinced that 
something was wrong brought hem down to the drugstore, where he repeated his 
story.
   A party consisting of L.K. Bingham, J.P. England, Chas. Williams, 
J.L. Dobbs and Mr. Holmes rode hurridly out to the farm.  They found the 
dug-out door closed and out side was found piled some bedclothing and other 
articles, while about fifty yards from the house lay the carcasses of a 
horse and dog, both with their heads crushed in, done with an axe which was
found near by.  The door of the dug out was pushed open and a terrible sight 
met the gaze of the party.  Extended on the floor, with his feet against the 
door in such a manner as to prevent it being fully opened, lay the body of 
Wiles, the head almost severed from the body, while his blood covered the 
floor in pools.
   The party returned to town with a report of their discovery.  Eckert was 
immediately taken in charge and upon being searched a razor- with which, 
evidently, the deed had been done-was found on his person.  The prisoner was 
turned over to Mr. Beck for sage keeping, there being no safe place to put 
him, or nor regular officer present.   A meeting of citizens was then called 
to provide ways and means for handling the case, the law allowing regularly 
organized bodies of citizens to act in the absence of officers.  This 
meeting, presided over by Lewis N. Hornbeck, appointed King Taylor to assist 
Mr. Beck in guarding the prisoner.  Dr. Connaway was appointed acting 
coroner and a jury of six was appointed, 
composed of the following gentleman: R.S. Tuttle, S.M. Baret, J.M. Ellis. 
J.E. Wright, T.A. Gillum and J.D. Saunders; Loweis N. Hornbeck, clerk.    
The coroner and jury left for the scene of the murder at two p.m.  After 
viewing and examining the remains the taking of testimony began.  Messrs. 
Bingham and Dobbs testified as to the finding of the body; Mr. Farris 
testified to his meeting with Eckert and his story in regard to the trouble.  
Dr. Connaway testified as to the nature of the wound; that both jugular 
veins and the arteries had been completely, and the trachea (windpipe) 
partially, severed.  An examination of the interior of the dugout lead to 
the theory that the boy was engaged in preparing breakfast when the deed was 
done; that he had been thrown down in front of the stove where the cutting 
took place, and after the murder had released his hold, had struggled to his 
feet and over to the door. Where his strength failed and he fell where 
found.   Eckert told several different stories of the crime, differing 
widely in some points, always agreeing in the Wiles was the aggressor.  
One of his stories was to the effect that he killed the dog, which belonged 
to the decease, and in turn the latter killed his (Eckert's) horse; hence 
the quarrel and result.  Another story was that they quarreled over money 
matters.  Many believe that after deliberately murdering the boy Eckert 
killed the horse and dog in order to make a grand play to convince people of 
his irresponsible condition.
   Eckert has a brother living at Okarche, Ok. G. Eckert, who arrived 
Tuesday.  Of Wiles little is known.  He was originally from Illinois and it 
is reported that he has a brother in that state.  He was about 17 or 18 
years of age and a very quiet and industrious lad.  The remains were 
interred in the cemetery here Tuesday.  Eckert was taken to Chickasha Monday 
and upon examination was bound over to the grand jury.