Children:
John G. Laros
Sallie Ann Laros
Clinton J. Laros
Uriah Laros
Magaret Laros
Allen C. Laros
Annie Laros
Franklin Eugene Laros
Charles Albert Laros
Erwin Kennedy Laros
Marietta Laros
Martin Laros
Clara Laros
Alvin Laros
Alice Laros
Susan Laros
Earl Laros
Sibling(s):
Susanna Levers
John Henry Levers
Samuel Levers
Joseph S. Levers
Anna Eliza Levers
Jeremiah Levers
George Levers
Thomas Levers
Sarah Ann Levers
Margaret Levers
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Notes:
The Laros Tragedy
From The Easton Express
Funeral of Mr. and Mrs. Laros - Young Laros in jail - He confesses why he poisoned his family.
About 6 o’clock Sunday morning the expected throng began to arrive. Whole families in wagons and light buggies, men on horses and crowds of men, women and children on foot, came along the different country roads and over the hills. By 9 o’clock the vicinity of the Laros house was one vast mass of people, the teams lining both sides of the roads for fully a mile from the scene of the tragedy. The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Laros were viewed by a continuous hue of people who passed in the front door and out at the rear. The remains lay in the back room encased in handsome caskets, with the faces exposed to view.
At the Forks Township Church, where the services were held, and about four miles from the residence, had assembled an immense concourse of people from all parts of the county, The road leading from the house to the church was lined with vehicles of all descriptions, and it was estimated that there could not have been less then 700 in procession, or in its advance, a large number of which were from Easton. The funeral Cortege arrived at about 10:30 o’clock and the services began, Rev. David Kuhns pastor of the Forks Township German Reformed Church, preaching in German, and Rev. E.W. Rinek, in English. The latter took for his text the sixth verse of the Fifty-fifth Psalm – “Oh, that I had the wind of a dove, then would I fly away and be at rest.”
The services were held outside of the church, and were witnessed by at least 4,000 people. At the conclusion of the services the caskets were opened and the remains views by the vast assemblage, after which they were lowered into one grave, a tier of bricks as high as thee caskets separating them. The signing of the multitude was such as will be long remembered by all who were present.
Before leaving for the church the surroundings of the place where the tragedy occurred were examined by a very large number of persons. The spot where the money was buried was one that would have been the least thought of by the searchers after treasures.
The son, Erwin, lay all day Sunday in a stupid condition, and many were of the opinion that he would not live until the morning. The ten year old boy ws better by spells and would have grown worse again. He was permitted to see the remains of his parents, and it seems as if his little heart would break with grief and was at once taken worse.
The brothers appear to be well satisfied with the arrest of Allen, and hope that he will be made to suffer the full penalty of the law.
“Too Much Public School”
In the throng the reporter encountered a farmer, who took this view of the tragedy, and was aloud and frank in this expression: “It all comes from our country having too much public schools. We have to support too many schools, and those that attend them only learn how to commit crimes. I tell you education is a bad thing, and none of my children; shall ever be educated. Easton; She has public schools ten months in the year and see how much rascality is committed there! Why, it is horrible
The Murder Interviewed
Our reporter visited the county jail this morning, and through the kindness of the Assistant, Warden, was permitted to see Allen C. Laros in his cell. We found the prisoner laying on his bed, with his eyes closed, and a Bible lying open on his breast. He was awake, however; was very willing to converse, and answered all questions that were asked. He seems quite weak, having eaten nothing but two or three cakes and a small piece of bread since last Friday. His eyelids are red from weeping, and while talking they rove restlessly from one part of the cell to another.
Why he Committed The Deed
When asked why he had poisoned his parents and brothers and sisters, he was much affected, and said he wanted to study law, and his mother and father had laughed at home and told him, they could not afford to keep him, and so he thought to get the money to buy books with. His father had blackguarded him, and told him he would have to pay his board at home.
How He Did it
He said: “I put away my ‘Blickey” and went out to look for the box. Mother went out too. I came back and went into the wash house again and put the poison in the coffee pot, which was sitting on the stove. I do not know whether it was the coffee that was left from dinner, or whether it contained water to make the coffee for supper. It must have been three –quarters of an hour before supper time. I went into the house and unlocked father’s secretary and took the pocket book and money out; then I went upstairs to Schug’s trunk and took his pocket book. I did not have time to count the money, I then went out; saw mother sitting in the wash-house doing some sewing, and then I buried the money, after this I went over to the shop where father was working and sawed some boards to fix the box for mother, and while planing them my brother Clinton came in and I gave up my bench to him so that he could fix some shutters that he was going to hang. All this time I was thinking of the poison boiling in the pot. I think Clara called us to supper. We all sat down together. I sat being the table, between Mr. Schug and Erwin. Clara complained first, When I saw them all so tic, and heard them screaming, I was very sorry and took two swallows of the coffee, as I wanted to die, too. This is gospel truth. I knew I was the first who proposed to send for a doctor. The reason I was not taken sick as soon as the rest, I had eaten all my supper before I drank any, while the others ate and drank at the same time.
When told that it was reported that his favorite brother had died Sunday night, the prisoner was very much affected, and burst into tears, exclaiming, “Oh, God! Oh, God!: and it was some time before he became quiet enough to talk.
What Gangwere Says of Laros
While at the jail we learned that after being locked in the cell on Saturday night, the prisoner laid down on the bed and began talking to Gangwere, the other inmate of the cell, saying; “What are you in here for?” “For Larceny,” said Grangwere. “Oh! I am in her for a great crime than that,” replied Laros. “I poisoned by father and mother and the whole family.” “What did you do that for?” “Oh, an evil thought came over me, and I did it.” Shortly after Laros reached over to Gangwere’s bed, and putting his hand on his shoulder, said; “Do they hang people here?” “Yes, when they deserve it, “ said Gangwere. “Yes! Yes ! Yes!” muttered Laros. The prisoner, according to Gangwere’s statement, laid on the bed, as if were asleep, for a long time, frequently crying out, “oh, God!” and wrenching his hands in a frenzied manner.
Did he Mean to Commit Suicide
About 4 O’clock Gangwere, who was dozing, awake and Laros had the sheet of his bed all twisted up like a rope. Gangwere looked at Laros, who instantly dropped the sheet and laid down. Gangwere stayed awake the remainder of the night. Laros keeping in bed and now and then moaning, and sighing. At Daylight Gangwere was removed from the cell and Laros was left alone.
Post Mortem of Mr. Shug’s Remains
Yesterday afternoon coroner Carey proceeded to the Laros residence and help a post mortem on the body of Moses Schug, Drs. Junkin and Seem making the examination. The stomach was brought to Easton, and the content will be analyzed by Dr. Charles McIntire. The bodies of the late Mr. and Mrs. Laros will be disinterred and a post mortem examination made.
Funeral of Moses Schug
The funeral of Mr. Moses Schug was largely attended yesterday. The sermon was preached at the Forks Church by Rev. W.E. Rinecke, who spoke in German from the words found I Matt XXIV 22. Not nearly all who attended were able to get in to the church. Mr. Laros and Mrs. Schug were both members of Martin’s Creek Lodge, No. 745, I.O. O. F. They were both highly respected and lived for their virtues and noble character and stood very high in the regard to the Lodge. The Lodge did not attend the funeral in a body, owing to the large number of people and the excitement attending upon the occasion
Moses Schug’s Will
Makes some minor bequest, in all $900, and the balance, amount to about $4,00 he willed to Eugene Laros, son of Martin Laros, after all debts are paid. Charles Laros is appointed executor. The will was written on April 27, 1872, As Eugene Laros committed suicide since the will was made. The property will be reverting to the brothers and sisters of Moses Schug.
Unfounded Rumor
The rumor of the death of Alvin Laros is not true, both he and his brother Erwin are improving, and the later seems entirely out of danger. It is probable that all will recover.
Laros Refuses Food
An Express reported visited the jail at 3:30 P.M. Monday, Laros the prisoner, refuses to eat any dinner, and remained quiet on his bed in the cell reading the Bible, and occasionally crying bitterly. |
