Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-12-23
Horrible Domestic Tragedy in St. Louis
Bigsmist Detected and Shot DEAF.


From the Missouri DmJsrai
At eight O'Clock yesterday morning a well
known and respectable young German, named
Henry LiuhUf, called at the office Of Justice
P W. J0hnstone, on Pine street, and cOnfssse3
thath had jast shot, and, a. be believed, had
killed DR.. Edward Van Der Roscks, al the res
idence Of the latter, on Fourth street. Linhcf
was accordingly placed il jail to abide an ex-
animation into the facts Of The case.
Coroner Boisliuiere was speedily summoned
20 hold an inquest at No. 81 SOu'h Fourth
street, between Spruce and Myrtle street, west
side, on The BODY Of DR.. Edward Van Der
Roecke. Deceased lay upon the floor Of bis
medical ONCE, ia the second story, front room
No blood was visible. A chair was overturned,
and the position OF the corpse suggested that
the Doctor had been shot while sitting, and bad
overturned the chair in falling. A jury Of in
quest was duly sworn, and The following facts
we're ELECTED Deceased has been two years
in this country, and for seven CT eight months
acquainted with Mary Ann Costanz-to Xhom
be was married a month ago. She was a
widow Der maiden name was Mary Ann Lin
hof, and Henry LinhOf is her brother. Be-
fore marrying her the deceased Practlced In the
country 10 tbis region, but on his marriage 70
ceived from her money, with which be fur
uished an Office in good style On the third
day after the wedding be began to abuse his
wife by scurriluus TepTosehes. The occasion
appeared TO be-sccording to her own state
ment-eeT disinciiuatiOn to give hin all her
money. since that time be has continued bis
abuse, and has caused Der to fear for her life.
She suspected that be wished TO leave the city,
and only wished her money 10 abandon her.
She concluded that something mast be wrong
~ h.s past history, and, to resolve her doubts,
she Instituted a search amorg his private pa
Pers.
The search brought to light four letters ad-
dressed to bin as Edward ROech, written from
Wurtem5urg, in Germany, and clearly showing
that be had forsaken a wife Wh3 was still liy-
ing in that city
These letters the unhappy woman showed to
a female relative, Mrs. Gushing, wh0 retained
them, and in turn gave them to her friends
bTCtheT-inIaw. August Hoffman. The latter
made the astounding disclosure TO Henry Lin
hCd, who was excessively shocked and grieved,
but expressed no determination as 10 his action
IN the case. HofmaU's Interview with LiHhOh
was on Tuesday night. Hoffman proposed to
obtain clear proof, and prosecute the bigamist,
to which Linhof replied by requesting him to
see him in the morning. Between three and
four O'Clock yesterday "wednesday morning,
Linhof called at HoffmaH's house on Broadway
and said be could not sleeT. The two cOuvsrs-
ed upon the melancholy affair till seven o'clock,
when Hoffman proposed to visit the doctor and
ask hin about the letters. They found the
doctor and bic wife in the hall, and entered bis
Office with him. He owned that be had a wife
ia Germany, but said be left her because she
vas a cripple. Liuh0f cOnversed with cool
ness and candor; but when he reproaChed the
doctor FOR dsceiving bis Il - sister, the doc
tor replied that be also had found himself de-
ceivsd IN her. At this remark. Liuhof drew
DIS revolver and shot the doctor through the
heart. The victin started from his chair.
clapped bis hand to bis breast, fell, groSn-
ed once, ard instantly expired. Tie ball
passed through both ventTicies OF the heart,
from the left to the right side. LinhOh at once
proceeded to the Justices office, and surrender
e himself into LEGAL custody.