Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-11
A Fearful ReyeIatiOn-COnfessiO of an
EncentsiRry.
TFrom the Chicago RepubIican.1

lcroH Ine Chlcag0 kepuoHcan.l
In Tuesday issue of the Republican an account
was given of fire which occurred in the of the
Farmers Hotel, on West Lake street, and the state
ment was made at the time that two persons were
supposed to have persisted in the flames. Upon sub
sequent investigation the surmse proved unfortu-
nately too true; man. named Henry BahleT, by
occupation whltewasher. with his daughter were
the victims
=, On Tqesday. afternoon an inquest was held upon
the bodies of the Whitewater and his daughter
The examination elected the fact that Bahler and his
daughter slept in the upper front floor of the barn.
in the rear Of the hotel which was fitted up as a
sleeping room. In the barn seven or eight tons
of hay and ten horses and two cows were stabbed
there. About o'clock Henry Wendt discovered the
fire, awakened Fred. Obenbers the hostler and the
two underworld to save the animals.
After they had partially succeeded in this, they
gent gent to the top OF the staircase and called to
smoke prevented them from entering the room, and
as they received no answer they concluded both had
flames extingushed, the bodies were found lying
upon the floor of the room. The man bad crswled to
5ne Top 81 the stairway which was Just outside the
mdiiy leaning on one elbow The flesh Of the skull
Was entirely burnt Of and bis hands feet and one
Knee were burnt and blackened. The daughter had
succeeded in reaching the window of the room, and
was found lying on her back with her feet resting
upon the window-sii The body resembled in gem
eral appearance, that of the father. 1t is probable
tpat they both died from the effects of the smoke be-
lore thelr bodles were reached by the fire.
The verdict Of the jury was death by suffocation
But tho most dreadful feature of the affair is yet
appear. confession has been made. copy of
Whlcn we subJo1n. by which it is alleged that the
atrocous deed, wherein not only two human lives
were SACRIFICED but the existence of many others
were !eopardlzed was planned in anticipation of its
performance, and a weak minded man wrought up
to the proper state of excitement by ardent spirits
CHOSEN as us perperator The sole motive assigned
Tor the prompting of the execution of the heliish
deed was rivalry, or mean, contemplate spirit of
revenge, begotten By the apparent success of rival
house.
Louis Hoffman, who committed the arson. saws
that he went into the Bremen HOTEL on little spree
and there met the saloon keeper, man named Cas-
per. who commenced to talk about the business of
sonic. the proprietor OF the Farmers Hotel. Casper
tod nm that oohle had promised not to open a
mousse near his when he (Sohle) sold out to him his
present place of business. Hoffman continued to
drink at intervals, during The conversation, and
faith on the part of Sohle innoculated him with his
own deVlllSh spirit. Casper also reverted TO a fire
SGiG1 nad taken place some time previously
some premises and remarked, in connection there
with, that if the fire had burned him out or if an
other should burn him out it would probably close
his 4o9hie') business in Chicago. After VIII lie mis-
guided tool, Hoffman, conclud-s to light his nine
and calls Tor matches. Casper furnishes him with six
or eight, and suggests that they could be put to
more effective use and holds out broadly minated
future reward in case SOhles premises are consumed
trembling and cautiously the miserable tool, heat
ed by liquor, and blinded by aVarice, or it may be
some more deeply hidden passion which his confess
son does not reveal approaches the premises of the
FARMERS hotel upon his almost openly hidden err
ISmu OF 19ul CRIME. teari9lly he gazes around,
Shrinking from the sound of his football for Con
science does make towards of us ALL" and listening
ana looking through the yard, he approaches the
shed OF the barn. Here he finds some hay prouding
from the open, chinks of the timber and hastily
drawing match he igntes it, and sets fire to the
eombustibe material within. He knows full well that
his task has been successful one. and not waiting
Tor the result, flies rapidly to his home
The sequel has heen told. Imagination can readily
NIL up the void in the narration The position of the
unfortunate girl, as well that of her father when
their charred and lifeeSs remains were found tell in
agonizing emphasis their struggles for escape from the
terrible doom which awaited them What fiend in
human flesh must he be who could conceive or plan
even IN thought, the contamination of so dreadful
deed; and how douby fendsh he who could coOIIy
execute IT ~ SO-''