The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-11
THIRD EDITION
THE GERMANTOWN MURDER.
Confession of the Criminal.
PLUMBER HIS SOLE MOTIVE.
He Obtains Only Firty-nve Dollars.


columns that Chief Franklin, with three of the
detective officers, were out at Germantown
during the greater part of Sunday examining
into the Watts murder case thoroughly, and
securing such information as might lead to the
conviction of the criminal. One man, arrested
on Saturday, was discharged after he accounted
satisfactorily for his whereabouts during the
morning.
Late on Saturday night, however, the officers
took into custody Christopher Berger who re-
ides on School lane, above Main street. The
facts duplicating this man we're not stated, but
the officers were of opinion that sufficient had
been discovered to implicate him in the deed.
He was held for hearing.
There can no longer be any advantage to the
cause of justice in suppressing the facts of
which we have had possession for several days,
but which have been published by two of our
contemporaries, that Berger, the man arrested on
suspicion of being the murderer of Miss Watts,
has at least partially confessed to the crime.
Money was his sole object, and he says
he obtained about ffty-fve dollars His idle,
suspicious habits, together with having been
seen in the neighborhood about the time of the
murder, and his displaying coins Immediately
after the crime had been committed, led to his
<,
| and returned in a couple of hours, appa-
rently as unconcerned as though nothing had
happened.
He was man of forbidding countenance,
much disliked by his acquaintances, though very
respectfully connected by marriage. He had
not been at work for some time and had no
money. Thus the bloody deed had scarcely
been committed before the heavy hand of the
| law is upon him.
| Since his arrest matters have been developed
| which will undoubtedly lead to his conviction.
| II more testimony we're wanting, his own confes
sion would add the required evidence. This
confession, however, is only partial, and he does
not absolutely adnit that he murdered the
| woman. He says that he went to the house,
| that money was his aim, and that he met Miss
4 Watt in the lower rooms Beyond that he does
| not go. He says that he was crazed, that he
! was not sane, and knows nothing more If he
| killed the unfortunate woman it was a murder
committed without knowledge or generalization.
The murderers weapon was a keenedged
| razor. 1t was found clotted with blood and
rusted With gore mile and a half from the
scene of the tragedy. The policemen found it
in working up the case. 1t has been identified
as the property of the prisoners father-inlaw.
To show the GOODNESS with which the deed was
committed, it is only necessary to state that the
razor was when found encased in a paper box
such as are usually used for that purpose. The
murderer, after cutting Miss Watts throat put
the razor into the box, and placed it into hi:
pocket. This accounts tor no blood being found
upon his clothing
The weapon and the inside of the box wer e
well stained with blood, and very small quan
tity, probably two or three drops, was found on
the prisoners boots. This was the only stain
about his person. He confessed having thrown
the razor away on Fishers lane, near York
road, where it was found by one of the officers
The razor belonged TO his father and was taken
from the house OF the latter about three days
previous to the horrible tragedy. 1t was missed
from its usual place on the mantelpiece, although
nothing unusual was thought of the matter al
the time, the prisoner having been in the habit
of shaving himself at the house of his father-in
law. When he was married his fatherin-law
presented him $500.
His wife worked at tailoring and made from
four to five dollars per week. She was an eco
nomical and saving woman, but Berger spent
the money in some way or other, only kRown to
himself. few days previous to the murder, he
was very hard pushed for money. His grocer
with whom he had been dealing threatened to
stop credit until bill of twenty-three dollars
was paid, and the nurse attending to his wife,
who was just recovering from her confinement,
was clamoring for hertpay, which had reached
nine dollars, and threatened to leave if it was
not forthcoming at once.
Berger became desperate and left the house
about halfpast o'clock on the morning of the
murder, stating to his wife that he was ''going
into town" to collect fifty dollars, which he had
loaned party. 1t was then that he left the
house and committed the crime. After having
obtained the money he first stopped at the
grocer's, paid him his bill, and upon coming
home at halfpast o'clock settled with the
i nurse.
Immediately after the murder became KNOWN
Information was lodged with the police that
Berger had been seen lettering on the corner OF
the street, in the vicinity of Miss Watts house,
and this fact led to his arrest II was also aScer-
| tanned that he had been lurking IN the neigh
borhood every morning for two weeks past,
showing that he had the design of taking life,
but never could muster sufficient courage until
the morning in question.
1t was then that he watched until he saw
Betsey Lippincott, the old lady who staid during
the night with Miss Watts leave for her daily
occupation. After she had gone he rushed TO