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{3076} Alvin ROEHR
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{3109}
Pearl (ROEHR) Mehre
b11/19/2012 [],
{ 3110 } Emmet Mehre | ||||||||
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{3128}
Raymond Roehr | ||||||||
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Saturday, November 2, 1912
Triple Tragedy Near Plymouth
One of the Foulest Crimes ever Committed in this vicinity took place near this city Last Sunday evening at about 6 o'clock NEARLY WHOLE FAMILY SLAUGHTERED
Alvin Roehr kills Phillip Ott and Wife and the Latter's Father Fred Haut, and Later Takes His Own Life by Hanging
With the terrorizing and benumbing effect of a terrible nightmare, the news brought to Plymouth late Sunday evening of the triple murder committed so near our boarders, almost overwhelmed the community with its horrifying scope and all found it hard to realize that such a tragedy could be enacted so near our peaceful city.
The murderous affair took place at the home of Phillip Ott, a mile and a half southeast of the city and almost in the twinkling of an eye, a quiet pastoral scene was changed into a dire tragedy – the foulest ever committed in this community. The victims were Alma & Phillip Ott and Mrs. Ott's aged father, Fred Haut. The murderer was a son-in-law of the Ott's, Alvin Roehr, who had nursed thwarted desire and hatred in his heart until it made him a mortal madman, capable of one of the most cowardly crimes a human brain can conceive or a human hand execute.
The seed of the tragedy was sown in contention many months before, when Roehr's young wife, formally Meta Ott, sued for a divorce on the ground of cruel and inhuman treatment and went to live with her parents. The divorce had not yet been granted and Roehr, who lived with his mother across the road from the Ott home, had sought to have the proceedings stayed and desired his wife top return to him. Failing in his purpose, he became enraged and threatened it is said to "clean out the whole family."
On the afternoon of the fatal day, Roehr played with his little son, Raymond, whom by order of the court, he was allowed to have each Sunday from 9 until 6 o'clock. About 4 o'clock he took his gun saying he was going hunting. At about 6 o'clock he called at the Ott home and asked to see his wife. The grandfather went to the door and refused to let him in. He went away and shortly after returned with his gun and meeting Mr. Haut near the door, shot him in the right breast, causing instant death.
He then sought out Mrs. Ott at the milk house nearby, where she was washing milk cans and shot her from the back through the lungs. It is thought by the physicians that she lived for an hour after she was shot, bleeding to death. According to the story of the adopted son, Roy, Mr. Ott came running from the barn at the sound of the shooting and Roehr fired at him, the charge grazing his right hand and lodging in the heart, causing instant death.
The frightened boy ran into the house, removed his shoes and crawled into bed, where he was found late in the evening by the rescuing party and made a desperate fight against being taken away, fearing that he too was to be counted victim of the terrible crime.
During the shooting affray and suspecting the worse, Mrs. Roehr, with the wisdom of desperation had secreted herself in a chest of drawers in a closet underneath the stairway on the upper floor, in so small a space that it seems marvelous how she could have gotten into it, not being able to hide herself, she pulled some clothing over her and for more than an hour her husband searched for her with shot gun in hand, at one time entering the closet in which she had taken refuge, almost overcome with terror. She remained in that posture until 9 o'clock when she ventured from her hiding place after being unable to stand it longer and fled in fear of her life to the home of Herman Miller, who lived nearby. Here she told the tale of the horrible crime and Mr. Miller ran to the home of John Brickbauer to telephone for our police and medical aid.
The search began for Roehr that evening but it was not until 9 o'clock the next morning, when his lifeless body hanging to a tree about 60 rods east of his mother's home, was discovered.
Never before in the history of our city such a crowd assembled at a public hall as gathered at Turner Hall, Wednesday afternoon to pay last tribute of respect to the three citizens, who had met such a tragic death, hundreds being obliged to remain outside the hall for lack of room.
The services were in charge of Rev. Beisser of the German Reformed Church and were in German tongue. The remains of the aged grandfather, Fred Haut, were taken to the Union cemetery for interment. The remains of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Ott were taken to Woodlawn cemetery, were they found a last resting place, not divided even in death.
The funeral of Alvin Roehr was held Tuesday afternoon from the home of his mother and he was buried at Union Cemetery. Justice Mahlsted made a short address at the funeral which was scarcely attended. The grave remains unmarked.
Plymouth Historical Society research: The Haut homestead was subsequently sold. The barn still stands today, however, the house was struck by lightning in the early 1970's and burned. The Roehr farm, directly across the road, was torn down in the 1980's and today is a subdivision located south of the Horizon Elementary school. Further research found that Meta Roehr was 8 months pregnant at the time of the mishap. She was so distraught that the inquest of the murders was postponed for many months. Meta later remarried settling in Greenbush where she and her husband raised their family. The daughter, born after the murders, was named Pearl. Note: A large family Roehr monument is present with 3 smaller headstones: Richard, Minnie and their daughter Antonie Roehr Cain. Alvin does not have a marker.
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