The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-06
The Parkman-Webs Affair outdone
"A Case that will Serve to Point
a Moral and Adorn a Tale.
The Murder by Or. schoeppe of
Miss Stennecke, xFis a.
fanced Bride.
The Prisoner Makes a Statement in
His Cell-The Parties to the
Tragedy-The Crime, the
Trial, and the Con-
viction.
From Our Own Correspondent

CARLISLE, Pa Nov. 3.
The case Of Dr. Paul schoeppc who is now in
prison in this place, and under the sentence of death,
is certainly one Of the most exciting as well the
most interesting that has been placed before the
public for many years. The talent OF the young
man the difference between his age and that of the
lady he had engaged to marry, her situation in life,
and her remarkable and tragic DEATH the interest
manifested by the friends of the accused and the
efforts that have and are being made to give him
that life which an execution of the law shall take
away are all circumstances which lend to the case
an interest which commands the attention OF people
of all classes. Nor is this all for the case not only
involves the taking away OF life but it also involves
grave questions OF science, wherein men who profess
a knowledge of the effects OF different kinds OF
poison will find much that may prove of interest to
them, and at the same time aid justice in working
out her ends correctly.
If q murder lit is said that clear case OF poison
ing was never made ouD IL is certainly one of the
best planned most skifuy executed, and heart
less deeds that has before the public for many
years. And besides this there is a degree OF tragic
romance clinging about the whole affair that at
once commands the attention OF the public, who
are strangers to both parties and have no interest
in the matter save that of seeing the laws executed
should the accused be guilty. without fear favor
History of the Case.
The history of the case, from the commencement
of the arrival of the accused in this quarter is as
follows:-
Some time in the summer OF 6S, young and pre-
possessing German came to this town from New
York, where he had landed but few days before,
and put up at the Beniz House. His father was
clergyman in the town. and the aflable manners and
evident intelligence of the gentlemen Immediately
gave him ente into society," and he was intro
dr ced as Doctor Paul Schoeppe, but recently from
Berlin Prussia, Soon after took up his abode at
the Bentz House he made the acquaintance OF a
maiden lady, who was also boarder at the same
hotel by the name of Maria M. Stennecke. For
long time-that is to say, some weeks-there was
nothing OF marked or noticeable character existing
between the young doctor and the lady we have
Notwithstanding more than an occasional inquiry
to the health of either, or passage Of the COM
pllments of the day. From all accounts it would an
pear that Miss Stennecke was one of those pecu-
liarly constituted persons who having nothing else
to do, are continually ailing, and her complaints
coming to the Doctors ears, they enlisted that GEN
tleman's professional sympalhes, aud ere long we
find HIM prescribing a few simple remedies such as
her case seemed to demand, and thus the acmaint-
ance, which afterwards came to ripen into a mature
and undisguised love, on her part at least, was
commenced.
II was known to everybody that Miss Stennecke
was wealthy, and it is reasonable to suppose that the
intelligent young physician was not long in deriving
the same information, for Notwithstanding that he
was at the time only about twenty seven years OF
age, and the lady somewhere between hfty-1ve ana
seventy, his services soon changed from those of
physician and medical adviser to the alteration OF
lover In this there is nothing particularly a5tonish
ing, when come to recollect that the young gen.
teman was stranger in strange land and almost
without any tie that he could call friendly. But it
does appear little singular that lady over half
century old-Who was far gone in the sere and vel
low eaf-shOuld be so weak as to listen to the COO
ings OF such lover. And yet, if all accounts be
true she did not only listen to him. but, filed with
that laudable ambition and let add charity toward
the aspiring gentleman, she accepted his love, and
became his duly afanced wife. In respect to this
the lady shows herself to have been a woman OF
really remarkable ability, as well great strength
OF mind for she not only took most excellent care of
herself but also attended in person TO all her bank
ing and business connected with her estate This
was known to all her friends and relations, and when
it came to pass that she had made out
will some months previous to her
DEATH wherein she willed her entire
estate and personal property to different Institutions
and some four Chinese children, whom the viii
stated must be named after her to enable them to
participate IN her dover, there was nothing thought
of it, and effort so far swe can learn, the part
of her relatives any one else, made to have her
changeit AS another evidence OF her ability well as
foresght-for it would appear that she did not have
an ext aOrdinaly amount of confidence in the mere
words Of men-we append copy of her agreement
of marriage with Doctor Schoeppe. The document
is written in the ladys handwriting, and Is clear
and Distinct in every particular, 1t is as folows:-
CARLISLE, Pa, Jan. IA, 1SG0.-Received of Miss
NJ NJ Sennecke one bond OF the State OF Missouri of
one thousand dollars $4,000, dated 10th day OF Octo-
ber, 1885 (No. 979) City of Jefferson.
Being part Of five thousand dollars, the sum
agreed upon by Miss NJ Nj. Stennecke and ID. Paul
Schoeppe, under the promise that Miss NJ. NJ. Stem
necke has 10y her contract for marrage) the entire
control Of her own personal and real estate and
the management OF the same
(Signedl p. ScHoEPPE.
Under the circumstances, one would scarcely be-
lleye that woman Of so much evident stability and
management would for momeAt lose sight OF the
incongruity, we might say, unnatural falcee and
yet we find that the love-making, after it had once
fairly commenced, was not entirely confined to the
youthful DOCTOR Those who were in position to
see and know the actions Of the parties, observed
that after the doctors attentions became more stu
died. that the maiden also fell into the same channel
and decorated herself in days Of yore with bright
ribbons, line laces, and gay dresses. 1t may have
been that the unfortunate creature had arrived at
her second childhood, and believed herself once
more belle, and yet the statement of the doctor
would lead one to suppose that she had perfect
knowledge Of her advanced age and near decay. At
any rate the affair progressed, as Is necessary in
such cases. as 'merry as marriage bell" until after
the lady had returned from visit to Baltimore and
taken up her residence at Burkholder's hotel, at
! which place she afterwards died, while under the
medical treatment OF her lover.
Prom all accounts, it appears that the lady had
been complaining, as was Rer CUSTOM for few days