Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-11-07
HorribIe Tragedy az Porl ClInten.

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"A horrible tragedy occurred at Port Clinton on
Friday last, the 3lst ult- two young women
having been murdered, the life of another at
tempted, aud the murderer terminating his own
life by suicide. An Extra from the Ottawa
Democrat gives thefull details ofthe affair, from
which we condense the following account:
Early on Friday morning, Mr.. T. j. Kirk, liv-
ing few rods east of the corporate limits of
Port Clinton, went with his wife and two small
boys to visit friends at Elmore, intending to
stay few days. The house was left in charge
oftwo daughters, Alice, aged Is, and Amy, aged
II years, together with an adopted child, Naomi
Knight aged le years. A young man, named
Henry Riquartz, aged about % years, who had
been employed during the summer was also
left on the premises. rft EB8tA
About nine clock in the morning, after the
departure Of Nr. Kirk, Alice, the eldest daugh-
ter went to dentist to have some work done.
On returning between l and 9 o'clock p NJ, she
found the table prepared and the plates having
the appearance thatth three (the two girls and
the young mani had been to dinner, but no per-
son was to be seen about the house. Being dis
Iappointed at finding the house alone, she went
into the yard called alond for the girls but hear
ing no response, went to the barn in search Of
them; not finding them, she returned to the
house, at whichtime the young man made his
Iuppedrunce from one Oh lne cndHiDcr rooms. AD
inquiry was made as to the whereabouts of the
other girls; RiqaaHz answered that he knew
nothing about them. NO tr2a tfAt0
| An hour passed, the girls not making their
| appearance, Alice again went to the barn, where
the young man was and again made inquiries
about the girls, receiving the same answer as be.
fore that he knew nothing about them Tho
two than retnrhed to the house, Riquartz repair
ling'to his room where he gathered up his clothes
and started towards the village, Alice supposing
that he was tax ing some garments to the place
where he usually had his washing done, buf
which proved to be all of his clothes When
might came on and the girls had not returned,
Alice went TO look for them, and met Riquartz,
who then told her he had seen them al. their I'M
lcles house, III the Sillsge, and they would soon
be home. Alice went back to.the house, and on
the suggestion of RiquaitA she lit the fire and
llprepared for supper, after which she said she
would go and accompany the girls home.g
Riquartz Immediately gfasped her by the
Throat and strangled her until She became un-
conscious He then bound her hand and foot
and remarked that he did not desire TO murder
her 'bllt onlyrwentedt 10 place her in soch eoua
dition that she could not alarm tho neighbors un-
Iiil he killhdhiuiself thsm tdlling her that the
.lother girls would "neyer come back bid bel
\ good bye and left the house, n - ~.
1 He was mot at the. door by a woman, who wal
lgong to the hopse On sR eFraad. and Eho asked
Z him where The girls were, He replied, mp IL
1.-THE chamber, On entering she lonnd Alics
hound as described, released her, aud the tive
started to alarm the village. .a ra.i1l as,.
4 BY this time twas between fYc and six O'Clock
The people of the village, came and qbagan q
Iseapch, when Riqaartz was found hanging IN III
ham, having been dead about haif an hour
Farther search was rewarded BY the discoyerl
lof the bodice oftheitaro girlsinl the grauary,
being evident that Riquartx bad first ravishe'
them and then strangled them by leather band
} around their necks. The. younger girl had he
andsstied behind her back ~ ~ sls'i17
, The deed was probably committed Just afte
I'he girls had got their dinner, aud it appear
! that after the tragedy had been done, the mnr
e derer had gone to the house and eaten his ow
linner Aninquest was held on the bodies, an
lhe verdict rendered in accordance With Ii
! above facts. = fsssa 3,ia bi-s -ss.