New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-24
DOUBLE MURDER, SUICIDE AND ARSON.
A German Stranglcs his Wife, Fires the House of
Nicholas T. Horton, esq, and Murders him,
then Cuts his own Throat and Wrists.
Jealousy the Cause Of the Horrors.



famous torpedo case whereby Mr.. and Mrs. Allison
me. with fearful death by the diabolcal agency OF
the unhung Airison. We afiiS the particulars, to-
gsther with the verdcts of the Coroners Jury The
public in the time are in higa state Of excite
ment, and the bloody episode will be regarded with
| {, oiiul interest by our citizens.
At about Q clock yesterday morning, the mansion
occupied by Nicholas I. Horton, esq in Ohio avenue
at the head OF Vipes,reet Hil discovered to be
fire. Judge Parker, whose residence is upon the
opposite side Of the way, aroused by the
Vi be inmates Of Mr.. Horizons house. and speedily
dressing himself he rushed to the scene, when upon
entering the hall he discovered gentleman named
Ccnckln endeavoriDg to remove the PROSTATE body of
Mr.. Horton. The smoke suffocaiing, but between
.hem they succeeded in carrying their charge to the
lawn, when it discovered that he was bleeding
prOfusely from cut inflicted on the head and dread
full cash given evidently by the downward stroke of
some sharp weapon in the left groin, and which had
severed the femOrsl artery He appeared sensible,
blu. was speeches., and in a few moments breathed
his last.
Previous to this and at the first alarm Of fire, the
mother Of Mrs. Horton rushed into the hall, when she
perceived her unfortunate son.in.law staggering TO-
ward the bedroom Of his wife, who had but recently
been confined, and eIclaiming, "Oh, mother, ain
stabbed" He fell upon the spot where he was dis
covered by Judge Parker and Mr.. Concklin.
In the mean time the excitement had spread and
some fremen from the Mohawk Engine House arriv-
ing upon the spot the fire was coon extinguished and
spcion having fallen upon q serving man named
Joseph Loefner. who had for upward Of two years
been engaged in the family Of Mr. Horton, SONS per
sons hastened to house on the corner of Vine and
Green Streets in which Loefners wife resided In
few minutes aiteIward, however, and while the party
assembled in front Of the house yet in a state Of
hoirid bewDdermeLt, Loefner was staggering to-
ward them from reighboring orchard bleeding pro-
fusely from cut in the hand and horrd cash across
the throat Some Of the party advanced to meet him,
but he sunk upon the grass upon his hands and knees
They traced the blood to an apple tree, beneath which
they found large sharp butcher:knite and razor.
With the former he had inflicted the fatal blow which
had deprived Sir. Horton Of life, and with the latter
lie had attempted TO accomplish his own destruction.
When Intercepted to whether he had committed
the arson and murder he nodded flor he speech
lessl assent and also that he had his throat.
In the neal time the party who had first started in
uruit o. him arrived at the residence OF his wife, but
found the door Of the room locked. Subsequently they
BURT il H. and there stretched nearly naked upon the
bed but with her shoes her feet, they beheld the
dead body Of the Inflated wife Of the murderer of
Horton, 10 wound upon her person, but otherwise
exhibiting marks which made it evident that she had
The wretchcd man, Joseph Loefner, was removed
10 the Commercial Hospital, where at late hour last
night be ley in speeches. agony the attendants
pecting momenarly that he would breathe his last.
lie had previously sgnided by signs that his motive
for committing this double murder, suicide and arson.
wac jealousy Of bis wife aud Mr. Horton, and after
being taken to the Hospital, he succeeded in tracing
upon slate the Ineligible characters that be had
lin poifoned butter upon his bread, and which had
caused tho alteration that had led to her murder,
after which be had FASTENED to the house of Mr. or-
ton in the front basement OF which ne usually slept,
where he kndled the fire with the intention OF burn
ing the house and its inmates but meeting Mr. dor.
ton who was aroused by the smoke, he Inflicted the
fatal stab and then rushed forth into the orchard to
eonsumma:e his own destruction.
The fire which Loefner had kindled was Immediately
under ath the apartment occupied by Mrs. Horton
MI Horton in consequence Of the recent coniGe
nent Of his lady, occupied sleeping room upon the
other side Of the hall and in the rear OF the house. He
was an old and respected CITIZEN aged about fifty
year. and leaves his wife and six children TO mourn
bis loss. He extensive manufacturer of CRATES
and Marbeizcd iron doing business on Third street,
between Race and Elm, the mandatory being on
Plum street The firm was known as Nicholas 4.
Horton & Co. Formerly he in cOparnership
with Dir. Baker, and more recently the firm vas
known az that of Horton & Macy, but this connec-
ton was dissolved two years since.
Joseph Loefner the murderer, il barely twenty-five
yea,s Of age and is said to have several occasions
exhibited violent and uDgovernabe disposition. He
was engaged by Mr. Horton az gardener and to tase
core OF the horses and is said that upon one Occa
sion when the harness became entangled, he seized
knife and cut it to pieces, after which he TUNED and
served his coat which hanging from peg in the
stable in the SEINE manner. The evening previous to
the tragedy he bad been reprimanded by Mr. Horton
for exercising undue cruelty to the horses, AID 1t Is
said that at that time he had muttered dark and ma
lignant threats. He was German by birth, but has
wife, was q beautiful German gill of some twenty
Summers. Her maiden name was koehler, and 1t was
by this name that both herself and husband were most
frequently called. She had contracted the marriage
but short eight months, and was five months advanced
in pregnancy. To beautiful and expressive face,
and form fauitless in its symmetry, she Is said to
have combined the more lasting charms 1t amability
If disposition and singulsrly-tor her staton-re-
fined and cultivated mind. Like Desdemona, she suf-
fersd the greeneyed and uHfounded suspicion OF her
jealous tyraht and met, too, the same death as that
Inflicted by the Moor upon bis pure and spotess wife,
1t will be seen by the testimony ELECTED at the inquest
held over her body that for time previous to the
fearful denouemen her life had been clouded, and The
eager hopes which, for in her situation, about for
tie ist time to be invested with the sacred TILE oil
mother is ever supposed to shed rosy hao over .ns
and mysterious existence, destroyed Dy Aer cruei
ard unatniabe partner.
We subioin tue following result Of the investigation
by the Coroner: ,
elias Il. Horton; somewhere near o'clock this morn.
ing was awakened by screams and good deal OF
nOise particularly from my own dogs; Mrs. farker
jumped to the window and said. Mr. Horizons house
is on fire." dressed myself az soon "a possible toe
screams continued | found the house full Of smoke
| ard Mr.. COnckln dragging at the bodXof man. l
mediately seized bold Of the feet aud Mr. u passed
round to the head and took bold Of the shoulders We
carried the body out end laid upon the grass and then
discovered that il was that of Nicholas T. Horton We
procured mattress and laid the body upon IT. Mr. H.
was not quite dead, but speechiess; Mr.. =; ueu 70
attract his attention. and asked INN the deeu
Nr H. was unable to answer he showed no Signs OF
recognition; turned down quilt which had been
thrown over him and saw the nature of the wound
the yitals were cut, and the appearance oil Tue
would satisfied me that he could no' i've;
by this time had collected, and were en-
.sped in putting ont the fire; | turned my a'tsn-
ion 10 evidences inside Of the house a. 10 inc
mission Of the crime yonns ssi aanS ,bs entry
il The aide hall which leads out TO the porch, on The