American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-01-22
Hon JonN NELSON, Sc. c. CUSHING

HoRRBLE AND MYSTERIOUS MURDER IN
PHILADELPHIA. A German, named Andrew
Freager, manufacturer of plaster of Paris
images, was discovered on Monday morning
in the basement story of frame house back of
Coates-st,, in Philadelphia, lying in bed with
his head horribly gashed with Ratchet or
some other sharp instrument, and his skull
broken in several places. The Ledger gives
the following particulars:
The deed was discovered by washerwo-
man, who washed for the deceased, and went
to the house for his dirty clothes, and finding
the door locked got into the window. She
saw the man lying on his bed in a small closet
on the opposite side of the room, and called
him by name, but as he did not answer, her
suspicious were aroused, and she opened the
door and called in some men from the front
house, which is occupied by them as turning
shop.
The bed was then examined, and the man
was found 70 be dead, ana appearances seemed
to indicate that the murder had been commit
ted some time previously, The Coroner W.
sent for, and on his a:i q, jury was enpane-
/ 'cd The body was found lying on the left
side, with three gashes on the cheek, about
| three inches in I"ng.h, .L.-~ ~ti.oi s,"so",
completely severing the windpipe, were dis
covered in the throat, and on the head were
two wounds inflicted, apparently with blunt
instrument breaking in the skull. Search was
made all over the room, and the cellar under
meath, for any weapon with which the afro
cious crime could have been committed, but
without success. The bed was completely sa-
turated with blood, which was also to be
seen on the wall in the cellar, having trickled
down from the room above. From the appear
ance of the body, it was evident that the de-
ceased had been murdered while asleep, as he
was found with nothing but his shirt OH, as if
he had retired for the night.
Two men, also Germans, boot-cTimpers, who
lived in the room above that occupied by the
deceased, were called before the jury as wit
nesses. They testified that they had last seen
the deceased on Friday There was some lit
tie discrepancy between their testimony, one
saying that the deceased had breakfased with
them about ten O'Clock on Friday morning, and
the other stating that they had ate breakfast
between seven and eight o'clock, and no one
ate with them. This may have been OCCASION
ed by the difficulty of making themselves un-
derstood, as they speak but little English
The trunk of the deceased was found in the
room locked up Upon being opened it was
found to contain a quantity of clothing, but no.
thing of much value. 4 silver watch aud a
blue cloth coat, which it was ascertained he
was possessed of, are not now to be found.
A young man was examined who saw the
; deceased on Friday evening in his own room.
From the fact that he has not been seen since,
it appears probable that the murder was COM
mitted on that night.
A watch was found on the person of one OF
the boot-crimpers which somewhat resembles
the description of that belonging to the deceas-
cd. The young man who testified in relation
to the watch, said 1t was broken on the face
near the hole where it wound up. In this par
tcuar the watch found is like that belonging
to the deceased.
Thinking that perhaps the delay of day
might bring to light some additional particulars
! the Coroner adjourned the jury over till thi:
morning, and the two boot-crimpers were COM
mitted for further hearing.
The accounts gisen by the neighbors as to
the habits of the deceased do not lead to the
belief that he could have had any sum of mo-
ney by him, which would have been an objec
to his murdered He was drinking man, ant
in his pockets pawnbroker's ticket was found
by which it was ascertained that he had pledged
a cloth frock coat on the 9th of December las
: with j. Nathans, Callowhill street, for the sun
o of seventy-five cents. 1t, however, appeared
9 in evidence, that he was in expectation some
: time before of receiving several hundred dol
, lars from his own country. Whether he hat
received this money at the time of his murder
/ has not yet been ascertained.
!. CHURCHES IN ST. LOUIS. Presbyterian, 6
Baptist, Q; Methodist, 8; German Lutheran, l