Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-20
The Mystery Cleared UP.

DluCc tllc discovery Vi Tue ucdu Douico VI
the two unknown men on the Washington road
on Monday last, efforts have been made to
clear up the seemingly impenetrable mystery
that hung around the affair, aud yesterday, the
following particulars were developed, establish
ing he identity Of the deceased, and also that
they were victims Of suicide, as far as it is pos
sibe to do so without direct and positive evil
dence. 1t appears that on or about the Sth of
August Lieutenant Cadwallader Of the western
district, received information that two men
were stopping at the boarding house of Her
man Schultz on Franklin street, near Paca,
and that they were acting in such manner as
to attract the suspicious Of Mr.. Schultz and
others in the house. They had attracted the
attention of the other inmates by exhibiting
large rolls of grcenbacks, and first excited the
suspicious Of Schultz by making inquiries about
the police and detectives of the city. Lieut..
Cadwallader acquainted Captain Lepson with
the fact as stated above, and the latter officer,
suspectlng that all was not right gave direction
for the apprehension of the men. Sergeant
Zimmerman was directed to effect their arrest,
but on visiting the house of Schultz found
that the strangers had taken their departure,
Il
and one night. A few days later, rs now learn
ed, on leaving Schultz's house, they took up
temporary lodgings at house of ilrcpute,
Here, as at the boarding house Of Schultz,
they exhibited large amounts of money, and
made extravaganza presents Of jcwclry to the
inmates, one of whom, it is said, Was given a
gold watch Beure leaving Mr.. Schullzs
they stated TO him, and others in the house,
that they were brothers, and engaged in New
! ork in the manufacture Of tortoise shell jewel
ry, and that their names were George and Ro-
bert Fisher, and their ages % and 20 years.
They were we'll dressed, and were men of con
siderable intelligence, and evidently Germans,
although they spoke English fueutly, with a
slight toreg IN accent On August Is they
visited the store of Frederick Batz and pur-
chased two pistols, which Mr.. Baltz Identifies
rs those found near the bodies, they being
peculiar pattern, and readily recognized AT
ter purchasing the pistols the men returned to
81 Raborg street, and showed the weapons to
the Inmates (who also identity them. They
also exhibited the two cmigrants tickets found
in the pockets of one of the deceased They
left the house on the same day, stating their
Intention OF going to the Country. On the 10Th
of August Waidner received a letter from them,
written in German, and dated at Cumberland,
Maryland. Wadncr did not receive the letter
for several days after it was written, and before
he made application for the baggage, requested
to he sent, the two strangers returned to his
house from Cumberland The men were
roughly dressed on their return, and were in
depressed spirits, stating that they had lost
all their money and watches while away, and
were only able to return by stealing ride on
coal trains. One Of them, known as Robert,
L., Il L. a ,l, ,tnl
Mr. Schultz and asked for his baggage repeat.
ing his story of having lost his money. Mr..
Schultz requested him to call again with his
brother, and the man left Schultz then mott
fed an officer, and requested his presence Oh
the return of the strangers for the purpose of
arrcsting them. Their suspicious we're, how
ever, probably aroused, as neither OF them
again called for their property. 1t appears
they then returned to ltahorg street, and again
spoke of their Losses and seemed to be in
very melancholy mood They took their de-
partlrc on the following day, and, it is sup
posed, fearing that they would be arrested if
they remained IN the city, nothing further was
heard of them until the dead bodies were found.
1t is quite evident that the above singular chain
of circumstances fully establishes their Identity
and it is supposed that they were engaged in Il
robbery by which means they possessed them
Selvc VI the money Of which they were a5un
dainty supplied They stated to several per
SonS that tlicv had money scwed on the inside
of their clothing, and they were seen by num-
Der Of persons with large rolls Of notes in their
pockets. Their manner was cautious, and eX
cited suspicion among all who met them. They
frequently expressed fears of being robbed, and
stated to the inmates Of the house in Josephine
street that If they lost their money they would
blow out their brains. The one known as Ro-
bert, spoke of having wife living in New
York The hats found near the bodies were
also fully identified by Mr.. Schultz and three
of the boarders in his house as those worn by
the strangers and the same person also recog-
nized at glance the pistols as having been III
the possession Of the men while in the
house 1t seems probable that the victims lost
their money either at or near Cumberland by
gambling, or were robbed, and being without
money on reaching Baltimore, wandered off in
to the county, and in a fit of desperation at
their poverty stricken condition, aud fearing
arrest, committed suicide -Bnito Gu=ette,
CONCERNING ERIE Should the stories which
have been prevalent lately contain only portion
of truth the Erie road has gained little by its
change of management. The English stock
nOlueTS' II Is clalncu, represented NY Mcllenry,
are engaged in Systematically sknning the cor
poration, and in saddling the Atlantic aud Great
Western road upon it have depressed its inan-
ces and injured its reputation to an almost in
credible degree. Bischofheim, in London
since General Dix retired from the presidency
shy!ocked the road out Of nearly million of
dollars. The money which he lent could easily
have been obtained in New York at a much
lower figure. McIIenry drew $II500O0 from
the road for ''reorganization" claims. The
Atlantic and Great Western road by the change
of management gets 81. 100000 for rcopened
claims. The earnings of Erie are steadyiy
decreasing. These are only portion of the
rumors concerning Erie, but they are sufficient
if true to inspire the public with a still more
,1id anrrnnintinn of tho tnnnnSs Of Erio and