Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-07-25

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT CINcINNATI.-We
copy from the Cincinnati Gazette of the 22d
inst, the following particulars of shocking
tragedy in that city -
'At an early hour yesterday morning, the
city was startled by the announcement that
Mr.. Nicholas I. Horton, an old, well known,
| and influential citizen, of the firm of N. L.
| Horton Co., manufacturers OF enamelled
CRATES and narbleized iron, had been brutally
murdered at his private residence in the su-
burbs of the city.
Mr.. Horton had been awakened a little at
ter four o'clock, by heavy smoke pouring
into his chamber, and supposing the house to
be on fire, he rose and opened the door and
went into the hall, where he was encountered
by German serving man, for some time in
his employ, named Joseph L@fner, who struck
him in the abdomen with butcher knife,
causing deep and CHASTITY wound that proved
fatal in few minutes after, and then ran out
of the house.
Mr.. Horizons mother in law ran to the
window and cried murder and FIRE, and Mr..
II. fell in dying state to the floor.
The neighbors soon rushed into the house,
and removed Mr.. H., who had no garment
upon his person beside his shirt, to the yard,
and placing him upon the grass, covered him
up with quilt. They then perceived Joseph
LGfner, near the green house, on the preml-
ses, whom they pursued, when he lay down.
They came up to him, and found him bleed
ing profusely from both his wrists, and from
a deep cash in his throat.
1t was learned short time after, that pre-
vious to numbering Mr.. Horton, he had
stIangled his own wife, residing at No. 623
Vine street, and then set fire to Mr.. Horizons
house, with the expectation of wreaking re-
venge upon its proprietor for an imagined
wrong. Having accomplished his fell purpose,
he had endeavored to destroy himself by open
ing the principal veins near his wrists, and
cutting his throat with razor.
L@fner and his wife had both been employed
as domestics in the house of MIR. Horton; the
former for nearly two, and the latter for three
or four years. They often quarreled, aud
L@fner was in the habit of abusing her. He
had married his wife, formerly Francisco
Rmhler, about nine months BEFORE Francisco
had not recently lived in Mr.. h. s family, but
had been there since the confinement of Mrs.
b., IN the beginning of last week. The hus.
band had abused her on Monday, and ap-
peared more than usually malignant. Many
have supposed that the German had contract
ed hatred for Mr.. IL. because of the censures
of that gentleman, but it seems the chief
cause of that insane wrath which impelled
INSAAeL W stay MS Wle ana MS employer. was
Jealousy. He has by signs confessed this since
the tragedy. He, no doubt, though without
reason, as far as we can learn, suspected his
wife of an improper intimacy with Horton.
No one knew of the murder of Mrs. Lgf-
ner until the door of the room occupied by
her was forced, and her body half nude, and
her face discolored and livid, was discovered
upon her bed.
Leiner is apparently about forty years of age.
His reputation is that of violent tempered
and vicious man, often addicted to excess in
drinking.
AT last accounts Lefner was still alive, but
it was doubtful if he would survive. lie as
assigns as a reason for the murders the alleg
ed criminal connection of MIR. Horton with
his wife.