Joseph Eisele

Joseph Eisele (c. 1834 – March 6, 1868), known as The Parkersburg Murderer, was a German serial killer who robbed and murdered three fellow immigrants in Parkersburg and Wheeling, West Virginia, from June to December 1867. After a failed attempt on a would-be fourth victim, Eisele was arrested and linked to the previous crimes, to which he subsequently admitted in a written confession published after his hanging in 1868. After that, he deserted and fled to the mountains, a common tactic used by deserters at the time. He emigrated to the USA circa 1864, settling in Parkersburg and marrying a woman there two years after his arrival. He often worked as either a carpenter or woodworker, but was considered to be mediocre at his job, preferring to spend his time at saloons, amassing massive debts in the process. He then rummaged through the saloon, stealing any cash that he could find, with which he later paid off some of his debts. After rifling through Ulrich's pockets, he stole $75 and a watch, left the crime scene and went to the Pemberton House to pawn off the watch, but keeping the chain that came with it.

Serial killer Thomas D. Carr later claimed to have met Eisele and been an accomplice to the murder of Aloys Ulrich.

For the next six months, Eisele is not known to have committed any further violent crimes. That changed on December 6, when, after amassing debts to a Dr. Koch, who had treated him, he wanted to find a new victim. Thusly, he befriended Rudolph Tsutor, a Hungarian horse trader who had just recently sold a horse to a man in Parkersburg. After allowing his new friend to visit his rented apartment near the railroad depot, Eisele took out his hatchet and hit Tsutor on the back of the head, killing him in one blow. Eisele then took a cotton glove and shoved in the victim's mouth, before proceeding to crush Tsutor's temple and then slash his throat from ear to ear, severing several major blood vessels in the process. He asked for a receipt, and when White turned his back to go to his desk and write one, Eisele got his hatchet and immediately swung towards his would-be victim's head.

Trial, sentence and execution Following the announcement of Eisele's arrest, he was placed in protective custody, as a large crowd of angered citizens gathered outside the jail, threatening to lynch him. In the confession, written in German and read aloud via an interpreter, Eisele expressed remorse for his crimes and asked for forgiveness from both his German and American countrymen, as well as emphasizing that his wife did not know of his evil deeds and that people continue practising religion to avoid becoming like him. During the rest of the proceedings, Eisele appeared calm and unmoved by his circumstances, responding in quiet 'No's or simply shaking his head when asked a question. He was found guilty and sentenced to death, and when the presiding grand jury read out the verdict detailing his crimes, the speaker also remarked how tragic it was that an educated man like Eisele had chosen such a dark path.

On March 6, 1868, Joseph Eisele was publicly hanged in a field outside Parkersburg. The event was supposedly attended by upwards of 5,000 people, due to which he had to be escorted to the gallows by a squadron of militia.