The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-18
Trial OF William schanenberg for the MUIR
der or Helena Meyer.


er, in house No. 90 Greenwich street lager bier
LOOM kept by Louis Rebel The woman was stabbed in the
left breast and died the 21st of October In the New
York Hospital The Of the murder was jealousy
The prisoner was arraigned for trial yesterday morning
The prosecution conducted by the District Attorney
Mr. Hail. in person who opened the case setting forth
the facts Of indictment they given above The
prisoner young man. about % years of age very
specially dressed and possessing rather intelligent
looking face.
Lewis Rebel was the first witness calied-I knew girl
named Helena Meyer in September last; knew the pr
soner at the same time she is dead; her the
day before she died she died the 21s of October
the prisoner and Helena Meyer together the month
of September before she died; he the prisoner stab
the deceased the 2ft of September 1854 he saw the
blood streaming from her side.
The District Attorney said he noticed informally in
the indictment The indictment stated that the decea sed
stabbed the oath of September 1854 and died
the 21s ofSeptember 1854 the inter date being cie
cal for 21st Of October, 1854 Mr. Hall said he
a variance between the indictment and the proof
The Recorder consented to this and directed the jury
to find acquttal of the prisoner the ground OF
rance between Me indictment and the proof The Re-
corder stated that upon the rendition of such verdict
Indictment could be found against the prisoner, and
the trial would proceed Immediately.
The jury accordingly found such verdict as was
ordered by the Court.
Mr. Hall then retired from the Court ROOM and sent
the case with the proofs into the Grand Jury who we're
ingly corrected in the space of 9 few minutes.
RE.ARRAIaNMENT OF PRISONER.
AT half past one O'Clock, the Grand Jury into
Court and presented corrected indictment against the
prisoner when he re-arragned for trial.
Louis Rebel again called to the stand.-I keep
lager bier saloon in Greenwich street. kept there
year ago; knew girl named Helena Meyer; knew her
tanee about the first part of August year she
worked in my house at the time Of her death my family
then consisted of four myself wife another girl the
r,ant Helena Meyer know Schafen terg; knew him
for about eight months before last September he
emgrant runner; do not know that Meyer and Schaf
fenberg in love with each other intimate with
Schaenberg Meyer and SchafTenberg knew each other
they met often in my house; not say how often
deceased remember the evening of the oath OF sepem
Der; Schafenburg that night; he in my house;
during the day he there often and appeared crazy
he drunk at aboui or O'Clock in the evening;
thought he crazy because he and down III the
barroom like crazy man, and his eyes looked will;
not think the prisoner had his senses he saw Helena
Meyer at this time, but don't know that they spoke he
did not live at house, he came there to see me- he
spoke to about being wild; told him he was crazy
and must go home schafenburg said he would not; he
Helena Meyer was in the room at the time took coffee
myself that evening; this between and O'Clock
soper and Helena Meyer we went into the barroom and
took wine and at this moment the stab was given;
raise his hand he stood before Miss Meyer and srks
at her heart; ] did not see any knife at the time;
was sitting at the time she was stabbed; she
exclaimed" o. Jesus, ! dead - Charles
Wagner took the wounded woman and carried her to
bed: saw her afterwards at the hospital, dead think
the prisoner and the deceased together about fifteen
minutes before she was stabbed don't recoiiect that
Schalenberg told anything about his feelings
towards the deceased.
The Court then took a recess of half hour for
dinner.
Tie Court re-orened at O'clock and Lewis Rebel
recalled for cross-examination by Mr. Clinton.
schaieabelg think was IN liquor in the forenoon OF
noon when he came to my house in the afternoon he
stopped in the barroom he took supper at my house.
Int nd nfN s tha
with myself my wife and Helena Meyer; the prisoner
seemed crazy while at supper he eat the potatoes with
said any thing in particular; noticed the eyes Of the
prisoner-,hey looked Wild, and rolled very much;
drunk after supper the prisoner took three glasses of
wine after drinking this wine the prisoner acted be-
knew what he was about; showed schafenberg back
after the stab given and he sat down: did not OBJ
serve anything strange about schafenberg after the
To the Recorder heard the prisoner say any.
thing about any affinity existing between himself aud de-
ceased.
Caroline Rebel, wife of las, Witness next
knew Helena Meyer she and myself came to this
Try together; intimate with the deceased
heard the deceased say anything Of schaenJerg or the
prisoner say anything of deceased have only heard
few words between the prisoner and deceased Schaf
tenberg always slept at her house when he drunk
behind the bar at the time the stab given the
first heard was Helena exclaiming, .Oh, my Jesus
am dead' looked around and Schaffenberg
Helena and saw my husband shove him away. The tes
mony of this witness precisely the as her hus
Charles Wagner was then sworn.-My business is Sc
gar making work for Mr.. Peterson know schaaen-
berg have known him for n long time knew Helena
Meyer Helena and and the prisoner together,
excepting in cellar at No. co Greenwich street, have
never them in the street together; never knew
what they used to talk about never heard Schaenberg
speak her. in No 90 Greenwich street the night
OF the murder saw nothing was not asleep; talked
to Helena Meyer that night she sitting the sofa
man named Meinecke talking TO the deceased;
wanted TO sit down the sofa and Meyers would not let
me- do not know where schafenberg was al this time
| q n
not know the cause; saw no blow given; do not
member what Helena said ! remember .s:chafenberg
few moments afterwards. said slou will up
from that sofa will be hung and that will be an end
saw him walking up and down the room; did not
tice his app he did not walk very fast; have
knowh sehanenoerg year ago ms ast august; car.
she was stabbed
Mr.. Joachim Menecke sworn-I am seafaring man;
was at sea last April know William schafenberg;
have known him ten or eleven years. knew Helena
Meyer knew her about four weeks before she was
stabbed in this time slept with her three times;
Schafenberg spoke me several times about the girl
said he liked her very much, and said she pretty
nice girl; he said he liked her; do not know
that he slept with her. do not know that he eSer
wanted to- stad with her the last time three weeks
before she was stabbed never told him had slept with
Helena he knew it though saw Schafenberg there in
the afternoon before the night Of the murder talked
together about Hamburg, but nothing about the girl;
when scbancnberg went away in the afternoon, went
into the room with Helena and remained with her till
supper time; schaienberg knew with Helena, for
ne chneu tne room 10 sOu6tnnR 10 drink
Helena and sat down the sofa after supper in the
bar room Schafenberg was before us, and playfuily
striking Helena with stick; Rebel sat side Of
and saying something, turned around to see what he
had to say and while was turned around heard the
girl exeaim 80 my jesus-my life is gonep' turned
around and the blood running from her side; ran
for DOCTOR after the stab, schaffenbcrg sat down in
chair.
ossexamned-I did not tell schafenberx that slept
with Helena but he knew il; he go to bed with
her; others besides staid with her; any could
sleop with her who wunted to- she was there for this pu
pose: schaaenberg under the influence Of liquor
the day Ct the murder; he looked very wild.
John Fitzgerald sworn--Said he the officer who
made the arrest of schaenberg when he went into the
house; he was there but moment, when Schafenberg
said, ~ am the who did this !" he made opposi
ton TO arrest he walked 10 the station house peaceaby
enough searched him at the station house but found
nothing upon his person; that the knife which
found on the sofa by the side Of the murdered
The knife here shown Ia the witness and jury; Il
old rusty dirk knife the blade being about six
inches long.)
Cross. examined-I DO not remember that said before
the that Schaenberg said he hoped he would he
hung the next day; the prisoner spoke broken English