The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-01-20
A HORRIBLE CHAPTER OF CRIME,
MAN SLABS HIS WIFE WITH A BUTCHER
KNIFE-BEATs HER BRAINS OUT WITH A
RATCHET, AND THEN BLOWS HIS OWN
HEAD oFF-JEALoUsY THE CAUSE.

From the Cincinnati Chronicle, Dec. 30. ]
Abo two O'clock this morning one of
the most horrible double murders ever per-
pctratcd in this city was committed at No.
$40 Central Avenue. The particulars, as
near as we could ascertain them. arc as
follows:
William Asbach, German basket ma
ker, aged siNty-five years, and his wife. fif-
ty-seven years of age, about five months
since leased a small two-story frame build
ing, containing five rooms, mt the above
number, and moved into it, the old man
plying his vocation of basket maker in a
back room, and his wife keeping small
confectionery and toy-shop in tue front
room. The day after their occupation of
the house the neighbors heard them quar-
relling, and from time until last night it
has been kept UP almost incessantly. The
apparent cause of the disagreement was to
settle the question as to who should take
care OF the joint earninas, and 50 violent
have their disagreements been that on four
occasions since their marriage, four years
ago, they have separated the wife going to
her friends and remaining from one to six
weeks, but on each time returning on Mr..
Asbach's promising to be moro peaceable
Once during violent quarrel he threaten
ell to kill her; and it is asserted by her
ration he followed her to Camp Washing
ton with musket. intending doubtless to
take her life. Fortunately he could not
hnd her, and his anger cooled down. Late
ly 1t appears Asbach has been spending
much of his time and money with q Mrs.
Butler, who keeps saloon few doors
north of his late residence, and or several
occasions Mrs. Asbach has allowed jealousy
to rank1e in her breast, and has upbraided
her husband with his apparent preference
for this woman, and has made some very
serious charges against her. Mrs. Butler,
hearing OF the remarks made by Mrs
Asbach, went to her store night before
last, and struck her with mineral water
bottle on the arm. Yesterday morning
Mrs. Asbach sWOre out q warrant for her
assailants arrest, and the trial was to have
taken place before Squire True today
Last night Mr.. Asbach's oldest son, An
gust, and two women, named Mrs. Hcale
and Miss Catina, were with tho couple I'M
til about half-past ten o'clock. Mrs. As
bach was living on the floor in a room
back of the store all the evening, and her
husband came in about nine o'clock, and
after sitting by the fire short time also
laid down (both Of them were lying with
their heads resting on chairs,) but got up
to let out the visitors. When Mrs. Heale
spoke of leaving Mrs Asbach objected and
asked her to stay longer, but Asbach did
not appear to encourage such PROPOSE
ton, and was very gloomy during the time
he was at home. There were also indica-
tions of his being under the influence of
liquor, as was almost always the case with
him, but not sufficiently so to be at all
irrational. No words whatever passed be-
tween the husband and wife during the
presence of their visitors, but after they
hn Inff MNc hull lo1,
neighbor heretofore mentioned, heard them
qnarrelling about Mrs. Butler, and heard
Mrs. Asbach ask her husband if he wanted
her money to give to the woman. Both of
tho parties, it appears, had prospcred in
their business, and each thought the other
was getting moro than the pepper share of
the money. Asbach had saved enough to
buy small cottage at Camp Washington,
and Mrs. Asbach owned two cottages on
Elm street. ,.l .ft5. 10
TIE DEED. fs.
About two O'clock this morning officers
kuster and HuncCke We're standing Oh the
pavement in frontof the. house, when they
heard scnflle and the woman gave a
shricd, almost immediately followed by
the report of a gun. They aroused the peO-
pie next door and procured light, then
bursting open q cellar door and back stair
door they rushed into the front room on
the second floor, where tho dead bodies of
the couple were found. Mrs. Schultheis
also heard the scutiic and heard Mrs AS
bach groan several times; but she did not
hear the shot. This was probably owing
to her excited feelings and the noise imlne-
diately preceding it. The officers immcdi-
ately reported the matter to tho Bremen
street station house and to the Coroner,
and called Asbach's oldest son. Constable
Miller was also notified of the affair, and
about four o'clock he arrived and took
charge of the bodies, to await the coroncr's
jury.
THE SCENE.
When we arrived at the scene of the
terrible crime, this morning, one of the
called upon to witness was revealed. In a
well furnished room, about twenty feet
square, on the second floor, lay the vic
tins. The rooms contains two windows
overlooking Central avenue. Between the
windows marble top centre table stood,
and against the south wall an old fashion
ed sofa, the corner of it being about two
feet from the corner of the table. In the
northwest corner stands bureau, and
against the east wall n wardrobe. The
only door entering the room is in the east
side, opening against the south wall Be
sides the furniture enumerated there were
several chairs, a large number Of water col
or pictures, small quantity of oranges
and lemons, and lot Of willow.
The body of Asbach was lying on its
back, with what there was left of the head
between the corners Of the sofa and the
table, the feet extending toward the cen
tire of the room. He had on q brown
wooden shirt, gray woollen drawers, silk
necktie and sock on his left foot, while
lying close by was the one taken off from
his right foot. BY his side lay a Spring
field musket, unlonded, and with the large
toe of his right foot in the guard, pressing
on the trigger, leaving no doubt whatever
Of his having committed suicide. The
charge from the gun had entered his mouth,
but the mnzzle was evidently not in his
mouth, as his lower lip was shot partially
away. The right side of his head, from
about the middle of his month TO near the
centre of the back part of his head, and
from the lower portion of the jaw to about
two inches above the ear, is entirely gone,
and half of his tongue all that remains
hangs out of the awful cash, making a
most sickening spectacle. Fourteen shot,
apparently part buckshot and part smaller,
were lodged in the ceiling Immediately
above where Asbach's body lies, while the