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Not much information can be found about Joseph Eisele's up bringing. In a written confession he states he was born in The Grand Duchy Of Baden (southwest Germany) in 1834. He went on to serve two years in the Papal Army, spending one year in Rome. Eventually he deserted and fled to the mountains which at the time was a common move by deserters. In 1864 he emigrated to the USA settling in Parkersburg, West Virginia and eventually married two years later. Mediocre in his work fields of carpentry and wood working, he often spent more time at saloons where he accumulated massive debts in the process.
One saloon he often frequented was on Market Street and ran by a fellow German emigre named Joseph Lillenthal. On June 5, 1867 after assuring they were both alone at the saloon, Eisele took a hatchet and inflicted blows to Lillenthal's head, fracturing and severing parts of his skull. After killing Lillenthal, Eisele slashed his throat and chopped up his spinal column. After, he stole any cash he could find as he rummaged through the saloon in which he would later use to pay off some of his debts. Afters it's discovery, the brutality of Lillenthals corpse sent the city into panic. A black man by the name of Taylor was falsely imprisoned for the murder but due to lack of evidence was eventually released.
Eventually Eisele ran out of money and was unable to find employment. He contacted another German merchant by the name of Aloys Ulrich who offered him a lucrative business opportunity in wheeling, West Virginia. On June 29 after reaching a stone culvert along the Hempfield Railroad, Eisele took his hatchet and viciously hacked his companion, decapitation him in the process. He then stole $75 and a watch from Ulrich's pockets, left the crime scene and went to Pemberton House to pawn off the watch. Several days after the murder, Ulrich's body was found but was unable to be identified, as well as the murder weapon used in the killing due to decomposition.
Authorities later found a case a Saddlers needles and a ticket for the steamer express in which they narrowed down the decendents potential identities to two men. Basket weaver John Andrew's who vanished from wheeling two weeks prior or German merchant Aloys Ulrich. A postage stamp and a note written by his brother klemenz found in the pockets of the deceased confirmed it was indeed Aloys Ulrich.
Within the next six months it is unknown if Eisele committed any further violent crimes. Then on December 6 after amassing debts for medical treatments, Eisele pursued a new victim. He befriended Hungarian horse trader Rudolf Tsutor who had just recently sold a horse to a resident of Parkersburg. Tsutor would visit Eisele at his apartment rental near the Railroad depot where Eisele aging took his hatchet and killed tsutor with one blow to the back of the head. Eisele then shoved a cotton glove in Tsutor's mouth, crushed his temple, and slashed his throat from ear to ear. After, Eisele again took $75 dollars from the victims pockets to pay off his debts.
On January 6, 1868 Eisele went to pay another debt he owed to coal merchant and Parkersburg resident John White and presented himself not as Joseph Eisele but as John Schaefer. When White turned his back to write Eisele a requested receipt, Eisele took his hatchet and aimed for White's head. Fortunately for White, he moved at the last second and the blow landed on his shoulder instead. White then shouted "Murder!" heard by several men who quickly ran to his aid. Eisele attempted to flea but was captured by authorities and was brought into custody.
Police found a cotton glove and a towel in Eisele belongings as well as several other items identified as belonging to Ulrich and Tsutor. Initially remaining silent about the the murders, Eisele eventually caved and confessed to them in the presence of a Catholic Preist several other witnesses. Eisele would provide a written confession as well.
Eisele was placed in protective custody after the announcement of his arrest due to a large crowed of angered citizens gathering outside the jail threatening to Lynch him. Two weeks later, Eisele pleaded guilty to all charges, presenting his written confession before the grand jury. It was written in German and read about via an interpreter, expressing remorse for his crimes and asking forgiveness from both his German and America countrymen. It also emphasized that his wife was unaware of his evil deeds and that people continue to practice religion to avoid becoming evil as he did.
During the rest of the trial, Eselie appeared calm and unmoved by his situation with his responses consisting of quiet No's or a simple head shake when asked questions.
He was found guilty and sentenced to death. The speaker of the grand jury when reading the verdict and detailing the crimes, also remarked how tragic is was that an educated man like Eisele had chosen such a dark path.
Conclusion: Joseph Eisele was executed on March 6, 1868 by public hanging in a field outside Parkersburg. Up to 5,000 people supposedly attended the execution in which Eisele had to be escorted to the gallows by a squadron of militia. His written confession was published soon after his execution.
Sorry about the errors
That's supposed to be "again" not aging in line 8 of paragraph 5.
The word "and" is missing from line 6 in paragraph 7.
One saloon he often frequented was on Market Street and ran by a fellow German emigre named Joseph Lillenthal. On June 5, 1867 after assuring they were both alone at the saloon, Eisele took a hatchet and inflicted blows to Lillenthal's head, fracturing and severing parts of his skull. After killing Lillenthal, Eisele slashed his throat and chopped up his spinal column. After, he stole any cash he could find as he rummaged through the saloon in which he would later use to pay off some of his debts. Afters it's discovery, the brutality of Lillenthals corpse sent the city into panic. A black man by the name of Taylor was falsely imprisoned for the murder but due to lack of evidence was eventually released.
Eventually Eisele ran out of money and was unable to find employment. He contacted another German merchant by the name of Aloys Ulrich who offered him a lucrative business opportunity in wheeling, West Virginia. On June 29 after reaching a stone culvert along the Hempfield Railroad, Eisele took his hatchet and viciously hacked his companion, decapitation him in the process. He then stole $75 and a watch from Ulrich's pockets, left the crime scene and went to Pemberton House to pawn off the watch. Several days after the murder, Ulrich's body was found but was unable to be identified, as well as the murder weapon used in the killing due to decomposition.
Authorities later found a case a Saddlers needles and a ticket for the steamer express in which they narrowed down the decendents potential identities to two men. Basket weaver John Andrew's who vanished from wheeling two weeks prior or German merchant Aloys Ulrich. A postage stamp and a note written by his brother klemenz found in the pockets of the deceased confirmed it was indeed Aloys Ulrich.
Within the next six months it is unknown if Eisele committed any further violent crimes. Then on December 6 after amassing debts for medical treatments, Eisele pursued a new victim. He befriended Hungarian horse trader Rudolf Tsutor who had just recently sold a horse to a resident of Parkersburg. Tsutor would visit Eisele at his apartment rental near the Railroad depot where Eisele aging took his hatchet and killed tsutor with one blow to the back of the head. Eisele then shoved a cotton glove in Tsutor's mouth, crushed his temple, and slashed his throat from ear to ear. After, Eisele again took $75 dollars from the victims pockets to pay off his debts.
On January 6, 1868 Eisele went to pay another debt he owed to coal merchant and Parkersburg resident John White and presented himself not as Joseph Eisele but as John Schaefer. When White turned his back to write Eisele a requested receipt, Eisele took his hatchet and aimed for White's head. Fortunately for White, he moved at the last second and the blow landed on his shoulder instead. White then shouted "Murder!" heard by several men who quickly ran to his aid. Eisele attempted to flea but was captured by authorities and was brought into custody.
Police found a cotton glove and a towel in Eisele belongings as well as several other items identified as belonging to Ulrich and Tsutor. Initially remaining silent about the the murders, Eisele eventually caved and confessed to them in the presence of a Catholic Preist several other witnesses. Eisele would provide a written confession as well.
Eisele was placed in protective custody after the announcement of his arrest due to a large crowed of angered citizens gathering outside the jail threatening to Lynch him. Two weeks later, Eisele pleaded guilty to all charges, presenting his written confession before the grand jury. It was written in German and read about via an interpreter, expressing remorse for his crimes and asking forgiveness from both his German and America countrymen. It also emphasized that his wife was unaware of his evil deeds and that people continue to practice religion to avoid becoming evil as he did.
During the rest of the trial, Eselie appeared calm and unmoved by his situation with his responses consisting of quiet No's or a simple head shake when asked questions.
He was found guilty and sentenced to death. The speaker of the grand jury when reading the verdict and detailing the crimes, also remarked how tragic is was that an educated man like Eisele had chosen such a dark path.
Conclusion: Joseph Eisele was executed on March 6, 1868 by public hanging in a field outside Parkersburg. Up to 5,000 people supposedly attended the execution in which Eisele had to be escorted to the gallows by a squadron of militia. His written confession was published soon after his execution.
Sorry about the errors
That's supposed to be "again" not aging in line 8 of paragraph 5.
The word "and" is missing from line 6 in paragraph 7.
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