The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-07-30
HORRIBLE TaasED1 j, =. il GIN

NAOkkttkbLE TlkAGHDN IN CIN-
A most thrilling and terrible tragedy has just
transpiredAt Cincinnati. The papers afe filled
with particulars, and the proceedings before the
Cor A,-s 1t occurred on Tuesday morning.
A German named Joseph LOeffner, and
eirl named Francesca KOehler, were employed
by Mr.. Nicholas I. Horton, on Vine Street Hill
the former in the capacity Of gardener and hos
tier, and the latter as a domestic. Becoming
attached, they Were married although ther tenn
pers are represented to hate been uncongenial
On account of his manifestation OF temper, Loelf
ner was dismissed but reihStatgdi. lle withdrew
his wife from regular service, but she OCCASION
ally did work at Mr. llorton's and hsd been
temporarily engaged there during Mrs. Horizons
confinement which had recently taken place
Size, too, was eaciente.
Not to pursue the details, i.oefIner believed
his wife guilty Of inideliy, and that her trans
eression was shared with Mr.. Horton.
In the vicinity of ten o'clock, on Monday
night the residents Of the building No. 623
Vine street heard loud and angry talking in the
room occupied by Loetlner and his wife. Loeff-
ner was heard to say: "fve seen it, and now
know it" and other similar expressions, and
shcrlly after all was quiet. AT seven o'clock in
the morning the woman was found dead in her
nothing upon her save short chcmise and her
shoes. LoeiFner, after being found and sui
fciently revived, answered by signs and by
means Of aslate, that he murdered his wife a
bout two o'clock In tfe morning, and choked
her to death while she was asleep by pressing
on her throat with one hand.
1t seems that after the murder Of his vile,
Eoeffner locked the door and proceeded to the
residence of Mr.. Furton (who was the cOntrac-
tor for the iron fence around the State House
yard,) to which he attempted to set fire, imme-
diately beneath the Chaiuber of Mrs Horton.--
Alarmed by the smoke, Mr.. Horton attempted
to ascertain the cause, when. he was met in the
hall by Loeffner and assasSinated, receiving a
wound in the hand anotherin the abdomen sew
ering the entemol lilac artery, inflicted with a
sharp butcher knife. He died in very few
minutes. .....
Mr.. Horton, from the cut in the hand, made
struggle, and then staggered back into the
narrow hall where he was foaAd by Mrs. Wild
er. The murderer ran out by the side door
to the rear garden, at distance of nearly one
hundred yards; and, upon the slope of hill
made the attempt upon his own miserable life
by cutting his throat with a razor and attempt
ing to sever the artery of his left arm near the
wrist. After that, he ran around behind the
green and up toward the gate, where he fell--a
distance OF over one hundred and fifty yards.
The Cincinnati Enquirer furnishes the follow.
ing further particulRrs:--Stu Statesman
Mrs. Loefher was about twenty-three years
cid, very prepossessing in appearance, finely
formed, and is spoken of as exceedingly intel
kgent for one occupying the position of domes
tic. She was reared in this city, and contribu.
Ted to the support of her aged parents, vino re-
sided on Hamilton road. Leoffner has resided
Mere about six years, and for the most of the
time has been engaged in gardening. He is
about thirty years old, dark hair, black goatet
has viscious expression Of countenance
Hlen and morse looking
We visited Loeffner at the Commercial Hos
pltal yesterday afternoon, about three o'clock
He lay upon a cot in the upper waId, and was
attended by Drs. Rocker and Hays, the resident
physicians OF that institution. DIR. Rocker in
formed us that Loeffner had answered many
qsestions asked him, by writing '.yes'' or ''no''
upon slate; but, becoming feeble, he was una
bic to respond except by shaking his head
bis throat was cut terribly, the windpipe being
severed and the veins and arteries protruding
He was yet bleeding profusely, and water and
light soup were administered to him through
tube. lit appeared perfectly sensible and cog
infant of what was going on.
He was asked, "Did you kill them?" meaning
his wife and MIR. Horton. lie wrote on the
slate YES"
Questton-"Did you kill your wife frst?''
AnstCeT-"Yes."
Q,testion--"Did you know that Mr.. Horton
had slept with your wife? AnsWer-"Yes."
In answer to many other questions by signs
and the slate, he said that he had caught Mr.
Horton with his wife several times. He said
he did the deed coolly and deliberately, and vas
not sorry, and wanted to die.
We give his statements, for what they are
worth confirming ourselves to the facts as they
were related to us.
Mr.. Horton was gentleman of unmpeach
able character, and has been III business in thi
city for over twenty-five years. He has bee
extensively engaged in the manufacture of iro
railing, mantles and grating, on Plum stree
near Columbia. He was director in the Obi
Life assurance Company, in which he had
large life insurance. Among all his friend
and acqHaiatances he was highly esteemed, nc
only as a prompt business man, but a gentle
man of strict moral character and possessing
kind, benevolent dispositions. He leaves wi
and six children. four of them yoGag in year
to mourn his sudden death.
LoeffneP may have committed the doub
murder under the belief that his wife and NJ
Horton were too intimate, and while maddene
"ph JSiioua IieIhy' ouI tllaI SUCH was the Hc
we are satisfied the many friends of Mr.. Hortc
cannot believe. On ths other hand he ina
have been prompted to commit the deed for Il
simple reason that Mr. Horton did not wal
him about his premises, aai Ind endeavored
get rid'of him. The murderer has frequent
abused hls wife, and the family of Mr.. HortC
have expressed their sympathy for her, and,
we are informed, advised her to leave him.
This NAV have been another inducing cause.
The affair has east glconFoe the city, AZ
during yesterday scarcely anything else was tall
ed Of in the streets and business places.
At a late hour in the evening Loetfiler WI
more comfortable and apparently improved co.
dition, but the prospects Of his recovery are a
most an inpossibiHtg.