Person:Martha Sess (1)

"Hamilton County, Ohio and Cincinnati, Ohio Morgue Records June 1887 to 1992" Little Miami Publishing Co.; Ed. by Margie and Michael Mohr; Page 171: Kathel, Martha, white, 47 years old, 09 Dec 1912, murder/s-i-l John Eiber, ID husband Peter; Wm. Schreiber [Funeral Home.] Original records are at the Blegen Library at Univ. of Cincinnati, and the only Schreiber listed in funeral home reference page is Joseph Schreiber and Sons 35 W. McMicken and 1910 Race Street.

From a newspaper clipping sent to Jillaine Smith by Gail Guenthner, but without a date or the name of the newspaper.

Think Slayer of Women Planned to Kill Daughter John Eiber, 26, plumber, of 1739 Elmore St., was held Tuesday by the police pending investigation of the killing of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Martha [Sess] Kachel, 47, Monday night.

The woman, who lived at 1798 Dreman-Av., was shot once in the neck and twice in the breast after she had opened the kitchen door of her home in response to a knock. Her daughter, Marie, 11, and grandchildren, Eleanor Eiber, 4, and Anna Bell Eiber, 2, were in the room at the time, but were unable to aid in efforts to identify the man who had done the shooting.

Finds Mother Dead

"I saw the smoke all over the room. I had heard a noise like shooting but I thought there had been an explosion. I shouted 'fire,'" said Marie Kachel.

"Then I saw mama lying on the floor. She was lying right near... I went over to her and called to her to speak to me. Then I knew that she had been shot, I listened at her heart, but she was dead. After that I don't know what happened. I didn't hear anybody knock at the door because I was sleeping and only woke up by the noise of the shooting."

Divorce is Recalled

Peter Kachel, the slain woman's husband, who is a teamster, was at work at the time of the shooting.

Eiber's wife, Frieda [(Kachel) Eiber] got a divorce several months ago, after telling insolvency Judge Warner her husband neglected his family and was cruel. She also accused him of intoxication.

The man was committed to jail recently because he was delinquent in paying alimony, but relatives secured his release upon his promise to make prompt settlements.

Mrs. Eiber is employed in a shoe factory at Genesee and Plum-Sts., and usually returned to her mother's home about the time the shooting took place.

Think Wife was Marked

The police and Coroner Coe, from their preliminary investigation, believe that it was the purpose of the slayer to shoot Mrs. Eiber.

Marie Kachel told of seeing Eiber threaten to kill his wife recently and said he begged her not to tell any one of the incident.

Eiber was arrested late Monday night at the home of his parents at 1739 Elmore-St., by Sergeant Jennings and Patrolmen Lonway and Mahlenkamp.

"Is she dead?" he asked, Jennings declares.

When told by the police that they did not know, the prisoner, they say, replied: "Well, she ought to be, anyway."

A girl who says she saw Eiber run into a lumber yard after the shooting was found by the officers and acting upon her statement, a search was made, which resulted in the finding of a revolver.

Alarmed by Prophecy

Eiber was held during the night at the Cumminsville Police Station. He was taken Tuesday before Lieutenant of Detectives Poppe. The arresting officers say he had been drinking heavily.

That Mrs. Kachel and her daughter, Frieda, feared for the latter's life was learned by the police, who were told the elder woman had visited a fortune-teller Sunday, and after her return said to neighbors:

"I am so scared for my daughter's safety. A fortune-teller told me she was going to be killed."

Mrs. Eiber said Eiber was jealous of her. He had been employed at Keidel's plumbing shop, at 12 West Twelfth-st. It is declared he was seen in the vicinity of Mrs. Kachel's home Sunday night.

Frederick Sass [Sess] and his wife, both 77, parents of Mrs. Kachel, were prostrated Tuesday by the shock of the tragedy. Mrs. Sass went about their home at 616 Conroy-st., moaning, "Oh, my Martha. Why did he shoot her." [Note: the Sesses were at Conroy St. for several generations.]

Mrs Guenther, a sister of Mrs. Kachel, said Tuesday that her sister's eyesight was poor and that it was her opinion that Mrs. Kachel did not know who was the door when she was shot. She said Mrs. Kachel could not see a distance of two feet in front of her.

Rudolph Sass [Sess], 29 (or 25?), brother of Mrs. Kachel was at work Tuesday when he learned of the killing. Fellow employees asked him if had heard the news. He replied in the negative and they told him to read a paper. He then learned of the death.

--- end ---

1. ↑ Gail Guenther.
2. ↑ 1880 U.S. Census - OH
   Cincinnati, OH.

   enumerated as daughter of Frederick and Sophia Sess; age 15 (therefore b. abt. 1865); b. Ohio.

3. ↑ Gail Guenther.
4. ↑ St. Paul German Evangelical Church - Cincinnati, OH.

   SESS, Martha Fredricke Elise 10 Dec 1867; par: Friedrich & Sophia (Peters) Sess