The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-23
U RICIDE.
A Missouri Wife Murderer
Sentenced to Death.
The Husband Drives a Dagger Through His
Wife's Heart at Midnight-"I Licked or
the Blood, Love Her So"-The Dead
Woman's Dried Heart in Evil
dence-Much Methodical Madness.

- --~e-~~->~s~> ~>~~~~~~~'
ST. LOUIS, NO., Feb. IA, 1873
To-day Anton Hoime-efYorts to prove his in
sanity or delay passage OF sentence various legal
points having faied--was sentenced to execution
by hanging on the Sd Of April, for the murder OF
his wife, Ida HOlme, on the 26th OF July last. The
following are the particulars Of the CRIME and the
trial, particulars which have not hitherto been
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. was native OfGermany, where
he had been well to do. His business was saloon
or hotel keeping at which he prospered. While in
Germany he married Ida Holme. They removed to
America, and for ten years lived at New York
happily. Thence they came to st. Louis, where
they arrived about five years ago, their means
having been exhausted at New York, but
he received some two hundred dollars q
year from Germany and worked at such en-
ployment as he could secure. Their relations at
st. Louis changed after some time Mrs. Holme
her husbands jealousy by remaining
absent frequently at nights, and pretending that
she had been out ION business'-for she was under
stood to practice midwifery. Her midnight works,
however are said to have belonged rather to the
ROsENZwEIGIAN THAN THE RosICRUCIAN
school, as the business of midwifery was but dis
guise for another branch OF the traffic. nearly
allied thereto, but not so legitimate She also had
boarding with her always one and sometimes two
girls of doubtful reputation. Several times young
Ernest, her son, followed her when she went out
what she alleged to be ''sairey Camp" business,
but found that her errands were always to the
Riato where she met various men, evidently for
mysterious purposes, the character of the house
alone would testify. Her son, Ernest, she fre-
quently sent to carry notes to gentlemen, but he,
believing them to be invitations, destroyed them
without delivering them-sO. at least. he swOre on
the trial.
On the oath OF July Holme went q short distance
into the country to work at the residence Of Mr..
Andrew Auer. He returned here on the 25th. In
the evening he went to his house and asked to be
let in, but Mrs. HOlme said, 'There was NJ room
for him in that house." He returned a little later
about eight O'Clock, entered the house by back
window and took away clock. This he brought
she would let him stay-a petition which she an
swered by pushing him from the door into the
was renewed and she finally pushed him
down the stairs, SAYING "YOu have, no right to
come here any more" Then she went in, locked
The door, and went up stairs to her room in com.
pany. About midnight her son, the boy Ernest,
already alluded to, who was sleeping on
couch IN the pago and had heard
her come down stairs with lamp in her hand.
was with her. She passed across the
Then she placed the lamp on the dining room table
and went to the back door. Holme, who was still
here, called to her. New tnat your friend has
az AM sTABBEDp,
md running out found that she had fallen with her
lead against a chair. She could only whisper the
word. "Doctor." Ernest drew a shawl over her.
The surgeon, DR.. YOungbloOd, who arrived in few
found wound In the left breast which
passed through both the right and left ventricles
If the heart and must have caused instantaneous
lone about midnight-Onicer Martin Mueller, VINO
lad been sent to tell the officers on the boats to
COX out for Holme, as he was passing along Broad
way and Wash street, about hafpast two o'clock,
leard voice from a window say.
81 RAN MY KNIFE INTO sOPHIE
do not know II hurt her or not" Entering the
lodging house he was told by the keeper not to go
up. as the man had big knife and would kill him.
Running up stairs he found Holme in bed, with
only his underclothing on, made him prisoner and
ordered him to walk TO the station. At the corner
Of Fifth street home refused to go further, saying
znuckles and brought him along Holme remark
ng, al licked the blood Off the dagger, loved
sophie so much" At the station he tried to seize
he dagger, saying, 81 bought that long time ago
o do what have done with It," Then asked the
sergeant "Is she dead ?'' (IIis son stated at the
rial that Holme had once used the dagger
IN himself, and that Mrs. Holme used to hide
IT, At the trial the facts Of the killing
we're shown and admitted, the defence-conducted
y w. w. Arnett--of course holding that the long
buse OF HOme by his wife, eliminating in her
eing taken in open adultery would have been
nOugh to justify verdict Of mansaughter in the
owest degree, but claiming that there was abun.
liant evidence OF the mans insanity. The sensa-
ion OF the trial was the production by the prosecu-
ion OF
THE DEAD wOMAN's HEART IN COURT,
he doctor pointing out the wound that traversed
rom side to side the anatomical preparation which
lad once loved and hated.
The medical evidence went to show what med
al evidence in such cases generally shows that
here were fever and dclirium to some extent, and
hat fever might be increased by certain contin-
gencies. The testimony as IL acts OF insanity went
Jack to some six months before the murder, when
Iolme was employed to fold circulars at cother's.
lie was eccentric and Eighty then woman, in
whose house he had lived for some time earlier In
he year. testified to his restlessness ana agitation
Another witness saw Holme few DAYS before the
murder riding on broomstick In the yard, fancy
ng himself hussar. On the night OF the murder
he called his wife beast and told witness he was
.ong to "sh0ot her with ths.n He was armed
With syringe. Mr.. Andrew Auer said he had
murder Holme said he had had fever and wanted
est, adding that he had had much trouble with his
wife,. When Mr.. Auer told him to feed the cows he
ound Holme
TELLING THE COW ALL ABOUT HIS WIFE
md his troubles, and then threw his arms around
ne e. horses neck to Kiss him, He sent Home
indeed. he advised him to try and get admitted to
he Lunatic Asylum. The keeper Of the lodging
topped there three nights. On the last night |
lie came In early. acting strangely and If he had
een drunk, and engaged room, then left saying
e had some business to attend to. He returned
bout one O'Clock, and with some OF the other
odgers, who were awake sent out for some
o a man in prison. Holme said, ''They won't |
rouble me, sure" drew his knife and walked up |
md down the passageway, saying, "Now she got |
t." The result OF the trial was a verdict OF |
Guilty Of murder in the first Degree the Jury be-
eving that the purchase and wearing OF the dag. |
Ter SO long, with frequent threats, showed pre- |
meditation; that he was so well acquainted with |
lis wifes character-even were it as black as was |
lleged-as to make the insanity plea idle, and |
aving besides strong leaning towards the belief
hat the symptoms OF insanity just before and after
he murder were In large degree feigned.
motion to appeal the case for hearing in q |
higher Court has been made.
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