From the Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/8/1944, p. 11, c. 5

Reward Offered for Slayer Of J. E. Krengel, Pattern Maker

A $500 reward was offered last night by the Tredegar Iron Works for the slayer of John Ernest Krengel, 69-year-old pattern maker, whose beaten and shot body was found stuffed behind shelves in the company’s supply building Wednesday.

The reward will be paid to the person or persons furnishing information which might lead to the arrest and conviction of the killer. In making the offer, officials of the iron works said that the reward would stand for six months as of September 5. Chief Detective O. D. Garton said that any information would be treated as strictly confidential.

The mystery as to who killed the pattern maker became even more baffling yesterday as detectives followed every possible clue in a case in which no fingerprints could be obtained and which necessitated that 650 employees of the iron works be questioned.

Many Theories Advanced.

Theory after theory was advanced as to who killed the aged pattern maker, the only one employed by Tredegar Iron Works. Detectives agreed, however, that the answer probably would not come after a process of elimination.

The big question in the case appears to be why Mr. Krengel left his shop and went to the supply building, which is a good two blocks away and, if he went for a pattern, who wanted it. Also, detectives want to know, if the pattern was large, then who was the second person Mr. Krengel needed to help him carry it.

This would leave two people who might have known that Mr. Krengel was going to be in the supply house – the person for whom he was getting the pattern and the person he needed to help him.

Familiar With Building.

It was pointed out that Mr. Krengel was thoroughly familiar with the supply building and had the reputation of knowing every pattern stored there. One of the workmen explained to detectives that about a week ago a foreman had asked for a pattern which hadn’t been used for over 30 years, and Mr. Krengel went directly to the place it was stored. The pattern maker had been with the iron works for about 50 years.

No one saw Mr. Krengel after 10:30 A. M. Tuesday, but on his workbench a steel bar was found with three holes drilled in it. As yet no one has been found who could identify the bar, or what it was used for.

Detectives feel certain that they will find the murderer, but the scarcity of clues makes the case a difficult one. For instance, the supply building had about one inch of dust all over it, making it impossible to find fingerprints. The weapon with which Mr. Krengel was shot in the head has not been found. Neither has the shell.

Money Considered Motive

Chief Garton said that everyone felt certain that the motive for the killing was the large amount of money which Mr. Krengel always carried with him, usually between $1,000 and $1,500. The chief added that another sure thing was that the slaying had to be done by someone who knew someone who knew Mr. Krengel’s habits.

Detectives have said that the pattern maker was slain sometime before noon on Tuesday. The body was not found until Wednesday morning. Chief Garton said that the victim was knocked in the head with some blunt instrument, but the blow was not enough to be fatal. Then Mr. Krengel was carried to the second floor of the supply building, where he was shot with a .22 caliber gun. The body was found stuffed head first between two supply shelves and covered with window facings.

Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon for Mr. Krengel, with burial in Riverview Cemetery. Surviving him is his wife, Mrs. Mary A. Krengel; a stepson, Conrad Howle; a brother, Charles E. Krengel, and a sister, Mrs. L. W. Francis.

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