The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-21
TRAOICAL OCCURRENCE IN NEW YORK.

A German woman muRders Her Three
Chtldron Rnd Attsunpts 90 XIII Hel.
seli-DOResuo TrWuSIo tne Cause of
the Aoe.
The neighborhood OF Forty seventh street and
Broadway was the scene, on Saturday evening,
OF q terrible tragedy, German woman having
il believed, mEroered her three children, aud
then attempted suicide. News Of the affair soon
spread, and IN q short time large and excited
crowd had gathered in the vicinity, each person
having different version OF the case. The
facts, as ar as can be ascertained are as follows:
About seven o'clock on the evening In aues-
ton, John Roth, German instrument maker.
returned TO his home, one-storV shanty in
Forty seventh street, between Broad way and
Eighth avenue, and on entering the outer 70 om,
he found a woman named Anastatla Shotz, who
had been living with him IN the capacity of
wife Tor some years past, though unmarried,
lying upon lounge. ALI efforts TO rouse her
we're useless, and he then passed into the back
room. Lying upon bed we're her three chill
dren, Caroline, aged six years; John, aged two.
and.a.half years, and Willie, aged fifteen months
Their peculiar stiffness startled him, and on
making q closer examination he found that they
were dead. .....t -.,..,
The horrifed man at once rushed into the
street and gave the alarm. A crowd soon col
lected, and notice of the affair was conveyed to
the Twenty-second Precinct Station House, but
. short distance from the scene OF the occur
renee. Roundsmau McMurray with some
officers was at once despatched TO the place. and
moned. On their arrival they examined the
CHILDREN and pronounced them quite dead, and
then turned their attention tO the woman.
Recourse was had TO the stomach pump, under
the suppostion that she had poisoned the
children and then attempted her own life in the
same manner. No trace of poison could be
found, nor were there any traces OF food, sho "
ing that the deceased had not pariaken OF
nourishment for some hours previous to the
commission OF the act
The exact means by which the children came
to their death could not be determined by the
physicians. The bodies were not distorted, as
would have been the case had poison been used,
nor were any traces Of violence visible II was
the impression thAt they had been suffocated in
some manner.
Mr.. Roth, on being questioned, could only
assign one reason Tor the commission OF the act.
For some time past the woman has been rather
eXtravagant, and he has demonstrated with her
upon the subject; A few days since he gave her
$40 bill, and she subsequently informed him
that she had lost 1t. This he discovered to be
an untruth, and on speaking TO her about the
matter she became much excited, and mutual
recriminations followed. Since then she has
seemed very low-spirited, and, without doubt,
while in this state Of mind, she conceived and
executed the terrible crime.
The two younger children are the fruit Of the
illicit cohabitauon of these persons. The girl
Caroline, was born while the woman was living
with her husband. The latter is again married,
and is al present living in another part Of the
city.
The woman Is of medium height, and agef
twenty six years. Yesterday morning she w's
conveyed to Bellevue Hospital, where she nc "
lies in critical condition. In the opinion OF DR..
Smith, one of the physicians who was called in
soon after the commission of the act, and who
visited the woman after her removal TO the hos
pital, her mental powers are completely pros
trated, and it is doubtful il she will recover
the use Of her faculties.
Coroner Wildey has been notified to hold an
inquest. Or. Wooster Beach, Jr., will make a
post mOrtem examination, and the exact cause
Of death will then be made known. AT present
the case is involved in much mystery. -Net
York Tribune of yesterday.