Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Ludington Daily News Thursday, November 14, 1935 STEARNS HOSPITAL EMPLOYE KILLED MISS KRAFT DIES; POLICE NAB SUSPECT. WILLIAM HANSON, Alleged Assassin, Placed in Jail Under Guard Ludington Girl is Shot at Noon While Passing from X-Ray Room. BULLETIN Sheriff's and police officers, fearing possible violence, were preparing at 2 p.m. today to move WILLIAM HANSON, believed murderer of MARGUERITE KRAFT, to some other city, name of which they withheld. MARGUERITE KRAFT, 28-year-old bookkeeper at Paulina Stearns hospital, was shot and killed at noon today as she entered a hospital ward from the X-ray room. A 12-guage shotgun was fired into her back at close range by a man described by patients and nurses who witnessed the shooting as wearing a brown coat. WILLIAM HANSON, 28, Manistee, was shortly afterward arrested by sheriff's and police officers as he emerged from the waters of Lake Michigan whither he had fled after a dramatic chase by the officers. After the shooting the sheriff and police departments were called and five members of the two forces started in pursuit of HANSON, who was rapidly paddling across Pere Marquette lake in a small boat. Sheriff GEORGE L. COLVER pursued with Capt. THOMAS McMASTER in a fishing tug; Chief of Police T. J. BARBER headed for the coast guard station. Patrolmen BERNARD BETKA and OTTO AMERELL with Deputy ED. ANDER- SON, drove around the state road bridge route to cut off his escape by land. At Taylorsville The officers said HANSON landed at Taylors- ville, saw the pursuing officers and ran over- land to Lake Michigan and plunged in. The of- ficers gathered on the beach and upon order of Sheriff COLVER, Deputy ANDERSON fired a shot over HANSON'S head as he stood in the lake up to his armpits. An arm came up to the surface and threw an article officers described as being probably a revolver, out into the lake. He then came ashore and was handcuffed and brought to Mason county jail. Wet and disheveled, but seemingly cool HANSON was locked up in solitary confine- ment at 1:10 p.m. He had not been questioned nor identified by witnesses at the hospital at 1:30 p.m. He said nothing. Former Suitor Miss KRAFT, who is the daughter of REINHARD KRAFT, of Ludington, had been keeping occasion- al company with HANSON until he injured her in an attack at the hospital several months ago. He pleaded guilty then to an assault and bat- tery charge and served 10 days in county jail. Officers say he at that time threatened to commit suicide. The girl died instantly, falling forward upon her face just inside the room she was entering when the shot was fired from behind. She evidently did not see her murderer. She is survived by a brother HAROLD of Ludington, and a sister ONABELLE of Milwaukee. The body was removed to the Morrison Funeral home. According to Chief of Police BARBER, who later traced HANSON'S movements. he went to the hospital in a taxi with the shotgun evidently concealed under his coat, and dashed directly into the rear door. The gun has not been found and it is thought he threw it into either Pere Marquette lake or Lake Michigan, later discarding the other weapon. -------------------------------------------- (Transcriber's Notes:) Hanson was secreted out of Ludington and held at Baldwin, in Lake County. HANSON confessed to the murder and, at 10:20 p.m. the same evening, was brought back to Ludington to appear in a special session of justice court before Justice HENRY SEEBA. After waiving examination he was bound over to circuit court and immediatly arraigned befor Judge HAL CUTLER. At 11 p.m. he was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison and taken to the State Prison of Southern Michi- gan at Jackson the next day. His reasoning for killing MARGUERITE KRAFT was that he was "crazy about her," but any relationship they had ended when he abused her earlier in the year. Miss KRAFT actually did see HANSON as she left the x-ray room and began to run. A would be heroine, Nurse Irene Rounding saw the sawed off shotgun and managed to hit it with her hand, sending the first blast into the ceiling. Thirteen years later a motion was made to set aside the life sentence and requesting a new trial. Both were denied. ==========================================================================