The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-11-13
From the y. Y jour. Of Commerce 3lst
AIROClOUS MURDER IN NEW JER
SEY.

~ II n H.
SEH.
| A few days ago it was reported that on the
22d inst, citizen of MiddletOwn, n. j., dis
covered the body Of an unknown man floating
In the water. Upon examination he discovered
that most brutal murder had been perpetrated
the body being stabbed in more than twenty
places, and he Immediately alarmed the proper
o!hcer. Deceased was we'll, in fact fashionaby
dressed, and there were found on his person
SllO III gold, besides some change. This went
to show quite cOnclusively. at the time, that
the murder had not been committed for gain
and the officials OF MddlelOwn could lind no
one who had done it with any other purpose in
view. An inquest was held, the jury returned
a verdict that deceased had come to his death
by some means unknown to them, and the Cor
Oner adjourned the case in search OF further
Information. In the meantime a gentleman
residing in this city, who does business down
town, received a letter from the city of Mainz,
Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany,
stating that Sigsmund Fellner one of a
wealthy Jewish family, residing in that place,
ha" gone to America in the steamship Ba, aria
with large amount OF property in Jewels and
money, and requesting b III to write back, should
any ytning have happened him. The person to
whom tire letter was addressed, immediately
made inquiries aud ascertained that Fellner had
taken up his quarters at the Prescott House,
on Broadway. He there learned that q day
before, on the 18th inst the object of his search
had departed. in company OF a stranger. He
carried trunk with him, avOwiDg it As his in
tention to seek other lodgings. The next thing
that struck the eye OF the gentleman engaged
in searching for the stranger was the notice in
the Express OF mysterious murder" A sort
of instructive fear struck HIM that the victim
might be Fellner. Beyond the mere thought
he had 10 reason to believe SO, but on making
an examination, his fears were realized. The
body. until then unrecOgnized, was that Of the
stranger. Watch and chain, diamonds to the
value of $4,000, and $40 900 in money. be-
sides other valuables had all diappeared, the
small sum found in deceased's pocket being left
behind doubtless, to deceive people, by making
them believe that robbery was not the object
of this foul murder. The breast of Fellner
was a mass of wounds. Twenty cash, from
dirk, seven of which entered the heart, had
been found necessary to complete the bloody
work. Upon identification OF the body it was
buried. and word has been or will be sent to
Felluer's wife and family in Germany, of the
sad affair. The police are sOrely puzzled about
the matter. That the murder was plotted in
New York. is beyond q doubt, but it will tax
the Ingenuity OF our most ingenious detectives
to discover who committed it. A stranger.
rather poorly dressed. was seen to leave with
Fellner when he settled his bill at the Prescott
House. He was seen, but observed only to
create suspicion in the clerks mind. that he
was an unreliable character. Did this man 60
with Fellner 10 New Jersey? 1t is likely be
did. as the G'rman was child in experience
here, and besides totally ignorant of the Ian
guage. A shrewd fellow OF his own land might
have discovered his wealth and advised him to
s-e K. as he said he was seeking, a new boarding
place, gradually drawing him into New Jersey.
and at night numbering and robbng him, after
wards throwing his body in the water. 1t is
said, however, that he was seen, a day or two
afterwards, on a Catharine street ferry boat, in
company with Polish Jewess, who was very
richly dressed, and sparkling with diamonds.
This woman might have drawn from him the
secret OF his wealth. and hired an assassin to
perpetrate the crime. In fact, the stranger
who was seen with him might have been the
agent OF this woman. How to get at the man
and the woman is matter for the officers.
That they will try to ferret out the villains en-
gagged in this horrible transaction. there is no
doubt Their success, under existing circum-
stances. is. to say the least. problematical. A
reward of five hundred dollars is offered by
Fellner's friend for any information that will
lead to the discovery of the assassin.