Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-07-30
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN CINCINNATI
A CITIZEN MURDERED IN COLD
BLOOD AND THE WIFE STRANGLED

At an early hour yesterday morning, says tae
Cincinnati Gazette Of yesterday, the city was start
led by the announcement that N. 7. Horton, an
old. we'll known and influential citizen, of the firm
Of N. I. Horton & Co., manufacturers of enam-
eed CRATES and marbeized iron, had been brutal
" murdered at bis private residence, on OHIO av-
enne, Vine Street Hill, in the suburbs Of the city.
The baeful news spread and by 0 O'Clock hundreds
of our citizens were anxiously questioning each
other, and marveing, if the account of the bloody
tragedy, as popularity given, could be true. A
number of them soon repaired to the house of
Mr.. Horton, and there behed scene well cacu-
lated to freeze their blood, and heard sanguinary
tale they we're at first i'll prepared to believe.
Augmentation of HOrrOrs-the whole Story
Mr.. Horton had been awakened little after
4 o'clock by a heavy smoke pouring into his cham
ber and supposiug the house to be on fire be
rose and opened the door and started to
90 into the hall, where he was encountered
by German serving.mau, for some time in bis
employ, named Joseph Lefner, who struck him
in the abdomen with butcher.knife, causing
deep and ghastly wound that proved fatal few
minutes after, and then ran out Of the house.
Mr.. Horizons mother-inaw, Mrs. Mary Ann
Smith, also awakened by the smoke, came into the
hall and beheld Mr.. II. bleeding prOfusely, anu
heard him exelaim. another, am stabbed
Mrs. s., terribly alarmed, ran to the window and
cried "murler and fire." aud Mr., Fl. fell in dy-
ing state to the floor.
The neighbors soon rushed into the house, and
found MIR. H. not quite dead and the family bOr-
dering on state Of phrenzy, They removed Mr.
H, who had no garment upon his person besides
his shirt, to the yard, and placing him upon the
grass covered him up with blanket. They
then looked about for the guilty party, and soOr
nerceiyed Joseph Lener, near the green house. OF
1.-The premises, whom they pursued, when he lay
down. They came up to him and found hin
J bleeding profusey from both his wrists and from
5 deep cash in his throat. They asked him it he
} had murdered Horton, and if he had wounded
} bimself and he expressed assent, but could no
speak.
It was learned short time after, in manner
3 that will be understood from the depostlons below
Itbat previous to numbering Mr.. Horton he hat
D strapoled his own wife, residing at No. 6s5 VIM
street, and then set fire to Mr.. HIS. house, will
: the expectation of wreaking vengeance upon II
4 nroprietor for an imagined wrong Having &C
mshea i;amsshea bis fell purpose he had endeaV0red
10 DESTROY himself by opening the principal VEN
oI .., n. wrist, and cutting his throat with r'
10 The Alleged cause of the Murder.
Lefner and bis wife had both been employe
70 q. domestics in the house of Mr.. Horton; the 10
% mer for nearly two and the latter for three or f0
= YEARS. They often quarreled, and Lociner was
)S tha habit of abusing her, which rendered him d
- agreeable to the family of Mr.. H, who reprlman
" al him for his conduct. Lcefner had married
D. wife formerly Francisco Koeher about nine mont
uc before. Francisco had not recently lived III
= HIS, family. but had been there since the Comm
Q! meut Of Mrs, Il, in The beginning of last week..
he The husband had abused her on Monday, and
A': :lueAred more than usually malignant. Many ha
ell sunnosed that the German had contracted hatr
ate for Mr. H. because of the censures OF that gent
CO. man, But it seems the chief cause Of that lns'
0es wrath which impelled Loefner to say bis wife
~ his employer was jealousy. He has by signs G.
O,' fessed this since The tragedy, lie, no dou
~ =, though witb!ssaE reason, Is fer as we can 's
-. ~ suspected bis wife of an improper intimacy
~ Horton.
HS MIS-. LoefnE was much lika4 by Mr. HoF'