The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-24
PHILADELPHIA, March %.
1frocioas Murder.

PHILADELPHIA, March %.
.ifrocioas Murder.
Oar cily has been the scene OF a most atrccious
murder during the past night; though the mystery
which Is attending IL 10 as yet scarcely fathom-
able, IL now appears 10 nave been committed by
burglars, disturb d while attempting TO plumber.
The house in which II occurred (No. 80 North
Fourth street, above MarkeD was occupied by
9. l.. Rademscher ana his wife, and theil broth
er-in-law, Mr.. Augustus hoellner, and family,
consisting OF he wife. two children, and SER
want girl. Mr.. Rademacher kept book store on
the first floor. ssd occupied the second floor; the
front room as Parlor, and the back as their
chamber; while Mr.. kosllaer aud family slept in
the room directly overhead.
About o'clock this morning, Mr. Koelner
was alarmed by groans proceeding from the
chamber OF MIR. Rademacher, and, going down
stairs, with has wife bearing light, they found
the two doors leading TO the second story rooms
locked after knocking Tor some time, during
which the groans ceased, Mr. h ran up to
mis- own rooms, and, returning with an axe,
was about to pry open The back door,
when 1t was unlocked, and Mr.. K. made his
appearance IN his night clothes, covered from
about to tall, and Mr.. X, catching hold Of him,
led him back into the room, and assisted him
INTO bed After the, he searched around for
Mrs Rademacher, and found her stretched upon
room, IN pool OF blood. She was dead, ugh
her body was still warm The neighbors and
physicians were speedily called In, and upou an
examination of MIR: Rademacher, they found
terrible cash upon his right arm, above the ell
bow, extending around the bend of the arm, a,
least four inches In length, penetrating to the
bone, and depriving him of all use of that arm
the blow severed some OF the veins OF the arm,
nous blood and had evidently proceeded from this
wound. On the right side of the head, back
OF the ear, was a cut to the skull, severing
small artery, which was bleeding proiusely-
the ear was also severed. There was also on the
left side OF his head semi. circular confused
wound, inflicted with hard blunt instrument,
probably the muzze OF pistol; this had cut
through the integunents to the skull. He also
bore the marks OF blows upon the forehead Al
ter removing him TO another room and dressing
his wounds, he was partially revived from state
OF lnsenslbillty into which he had fallen from
loss OF blood From his language 1t would APP
pear that two persons were In the room, though
owing to the dark he could see nothing He said
man tried to shoot him with pistol, but II did
not go of, and he then tried to kill HIM by beat
ing him with the pistol. He asked for his wife,
aud was much affected when told she was dead
The body of Mrs. Rademacher was, ia the mean
time, examined, and found to have more than do
zen wounds and hacks, from which the blood had
been pouring In torrents, enveloplng her person
and deluging the floor where she was found
Her arms were gashed in every direction, as ii
she had been warding of the blows aimed at her
breast In the terrific struggle that must have
taken place with her assailant or assaIlants. The
varied character OF her wounds makes il evil
dent that either two persons were making passes
At her In the struggle, or else two knives were
used. Some OF the wounds were Inflicted with
a sharp-pointed and narrow blade, while others
were with broad knife. A blade about one
inch broad and four inches long, was afterwards
found in the bed clothing, which had been
broken off from the handle. Ii was OF pecu-
liar shape, and, il is hoped, may lead 10
the detection of the perpetrators of this
atroclous crime. On comparing this blade
with the numerous wounds, the opinion was
confirmed that all Of them could not have
been made with II. The wounds made with a
sharp narrow instrument were-one on the bend
of the arm, passing entirely through the limb be-
tween tn bones, and severlng the arteries ano-
Their on the right side, below the throat, penetra
ting the cavity OF the lungs, which probably
caused death within inch or two of the
same spot was another, which, penetrating IN
wards towards the spinal column, entered the
muscles of the back, and was about four inches
in depth on the lett arm below the elbow, was
a cash two inches in length, cutting through the
exterior muscles; and Just below were two other
superficial wounds, inflicted, no doubt, with the
broad instrument, previous to Its being broken
from the handle. Just above the angle of the
lower jaw, on the lett side of the face, was a
transverse wound to the bone, and a penetrating
wound on the left side OF the chin.
The coroner assemble jury, and has been all
the morning engaged in the examination OF wit.
nesses, which will probably occupy him through
out the day.
If this deed OF horror has bee perpetrated by
robbers, 1t was probably with the intention To
obtain about $4,000 which rumor says Mr. RAJ
demacher keeps in the house. As the room
doors were locked, and the keys in the inside,
the robbers must have gained access by climb.
ing into the back window, by means of a shed
over the area. Alongside the house is an alley.
which has gate, but which is left open 20 nc-
commodate the occupants Of some small hou. e.
at the rear OF Mr.. Rademacher's house. One Of
the men occupying one OF those houses, on enter
ing the alley, about one or half past one O'clock
encountered tall, slim man, in the alley, who
was stranger to him.
The window shutter of the room has the
marks of bloody fingers upon IT, az IL pushed
was flso to be seen on the upright posts support
ing the shed. This would account for the es-
cape of the murderer; but neither Mr. Koellner
nor his vile can recollect whether the window
was up when they entered the room. They both
think that the window curtain was down Mr.
Koellner alarmed the neIghbors by calling out
of this window, and as his hands were blood ed
by catching hold of Mr.. Rademacher, the bloody
marks may have been made by him while push
ing back the shutter he, however, is positive
that he did not touch the shutter
Mr. Rademacher is a German who keeps a
bookstore and deals In homeopathic mrdicine
His wife was a smart little woma =, the daughter
OF Mr. Sheek, u confectioner, IN Arch, near
Seventh street, not more than twenty-fonr wears
Of age, and had only been married two years
and half She had been a mother, but her
child was dead: She expected to be confined
with her second child in May or June
Nothing was taken from the premises and
this leads to the belief that private malice must
have been the motive, or the alarm being gwen
so Immediately that time was not allowed
Mr.. Rademacher has not been examined he
ing in SO low state that 1t would not be war
ranted.