The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1867-05-03
A Son Murders His Father.


at Watertown, Wisconsin, in relation to a
young man suspected Of the horrible crime
of numbering his own father, and burning
the dead body, in order to conceal his
guilt. The circumstances, as We have
heard them, are as follows:
In the town of Milford, about six miles
from Watertown, there had resided for
many years past German named Charles
Sohnepf, with family, consisting of bis
wife, one son and two daughters. Schnepf
and his wife have always 9uarreled more
or loss since they lived there, and during
the war, although somewhat advanced in
years, be enlisted, and thus obtained fur
Tough from domestic broils by going to
fight the rebels. His wife was heard to
express the hope that he would never re-
turn, but this unamiable wish was not
granted.
Schnepf having helped oIush the rebel.
lion, returned to confront, as it now seems
probable, greater dangers, to which he was
exposed at home. In this way he contin-
ued fighting the weary battle of life, until
the Sd inst, when he mysteriously disap
peared. His neighbors noticed his alb
sence. The family said nothing about it
until questioned, and then expressed no
concern. His son said the last he saw of
him was on Wednesday, the Sd, when
they were out upon newly cleared piece
of land. The old man was in his shirt
sleeves. He told his son to set a certain
brush heap on fire, and while he was thus
engaged his father disappeared. He pro-
fessed entire ignorance Of whittier he had
gone, or of any further knowledge of him.
At about the date of Schnepf's disap-
pearance, and for night or two subse.
quently, the neighbors had observed a
bright fire burning at night in the field
where the son asserts he last saw his
father. This was regarded as strange,
from the fact that the weather was wet
and very unfavorable to burning logs and
brush. The protraoted absence of
Schnepf, and the indifference shown by
his family, created suspicion of foul play,
and on Tuesday last number Of persons
visited the premises to ascertain if any
thing could be discovered to explain the
mystery.
Upon examination it was found that in
addition to brush heap, large pile of
logs had been burned in the clearing, and
upon further examination bones were
found calcined by the fire and mostly de-
stroyed, but some of them retaining their
form sufficiently to indicate that they
we're the remains of human being. The
next day surgeon was sent for, and a
further examination of the ashes of the
log heap made. About peck of frag-
ments of calcined bones were obtained,
including number of human teeth, part
of the jaw bone, and pieces of the skull.
The latter had evidently been pounded in
to fragments. They also found some sus-
pender buckles, and nails, such as are
used in the heels of coarse boots or shoes.
These relics were in about the relative pc.
sition which they might be expected to
occupy if they had been upon man burn
ed in the log heap.
These indications of the preparation Of
tragic crime of the most abhorrent ma.
ture were deemed sufficient TO warrant the
arrest of the young man. He was taken
with his mother, by the sheriff Of the
county, to Watertown for examination.
Yesterday morning so strong were the
circumstances against him, and SO assured
the public belief in his guilt, that large
number OF Germans collected, threatening
to seize him and hang him at once
Great fears were for the time felt of pop
ular outbreak and riot. This danger
however, was averted by the sheriff, AM
by keeping the prisoner out of sight
Undor the circumstances and with tn