The New York herald., 1873-10-01
John Wachals, German Agent for Sew
Ing Machines, is Shot by Oscar
Ette, Photographer
Human Life for a Quarrer About
~
a Street Sign.
Ante-Mortem Statement Of the Dying
Man-Ette Still at Large-Where
We're the Police 2

occupied the top foor OF the building above men,
6Oned. Elite, who is tall, stawart Prussian, OF
about thirtyfve years, was in partnership with Ed
ward T0llner. The rooms next to the Photographic
gallery were occupied by John Wachals and his
wife. John Wachals, who was also a Prussian, was
mot so large . man as Elite. He was OF a rather
delicate mould; had blonde hair. black mus
tache, blue eyes and q fair complexion. Elite was
dark, had black nair. which usually tossed
over his forehead very dark eyes, bushy eyebrows,
and dark, glossy mustache.
They had been quarrelling or long time. 1t is
difhcult to ascertain
now THE FEUD ORIGINATED.
Ette's friends give one version OF the story and
Wachais friends give quite anoshor. Howev er, IL
seems certain that Elite in the habit OF coming
home late at night, or rather, at an early hour OF
the morning. He had no night-Sey and relied upon
the Wachas family to let him in. They did not
like to be distu bed In taelr sleep, and told Elite
that he must not rouse them any more IN the dead
OF the night. Ette replied that whenever he had
no night-key with him he would knock at the door
and continue to knock until they would open it.
One night he came home as usual, without his
night-key and knocked at the door, No came
and he made the most terrific noise. 1t was OF no
avail. however, and he nally put his foot against
she door to burst it open. At last after Elite had
been laborng for about half an hour,
THE DOOR FIEw OPEN
with tremendous crash that made the old house
echo TO the roof.
Next morning Elite ami Wachas had some angry
words. Wachals told Elite 1t outrage that
he had burst open the door and kept them awake
all night. Elite swore that he would come in when
ever he pleased, and il no one would let him IN he
would burst the door open. This the begin
ning OF the trouble, but after this they were quar-
relng constantly, until it became evident that
or the other would have TO leave. Mrs. Wachas,
after the quarrel had terminated in poodshed yes
terday, said that Elite abused her in the most
shameful manner, and called her ntinuaiy by the
yiest names in order to eXasperate her and to
render her stay at the house unenduraole. Ettes
friends maintained on the contrary, that she was
also to blame for what had occurred.
Yesterday noon, When Wachals came home. his
wife told him that Elite had thrown MS lWachals'
sgn down. wachals had hung up his sign, DIS
playing pictures oi sewing machines, at the
whcs Fe 'ng amed uns aMa On 70 an nm ron ea
sign, also displaying photographs, hung on
the same bar. lite did not claim that
Wachals sewing machine sign obscured his dis
play OF photographs but he insisted that Wachals
should not hang the sign on his tEtte's, bar.
weeks and weeks, and when Mrs. Wachals told her
husband yesterday that Elite had pulled the sign
down he became very angry. He went TO see Ette,
who was in the next room. Ette groTled dercey
at his enemy.
p"what do you want ?" Elite asked in German,
with a fierce menaclng gesture.
II want 10 ask you why YOU have thrown nv sign
DOWN. Wachals replied IN very angry voice.
We'll, won't let the sign remain there" Elite
said, hotly.
'Wen, / have right to have my sign there"
Wacnals exclaimed in determined tone: ..and
dare you to interfere with It. | am now gong
down 10 put 1t up again. and non't want you to
throw IL down again. You understand me q;
Ette mumbled some angry words. lie was
WHITE WITH PASSION.
His hands trembed, and he seemed scarcely able
TO control himself any longer. His rage was lost
upon Wachals, VINO c0olly descended and huug up
his sign again. Wachals had scarcely turned his
haaH .vhn Eft Ar,rx
The ground.
There was another angry scene you have no
right to throw down my sign,n Wachas said, and
Elite answered hun IN an abusive manner. Wachas
then went to Mr. Dreher, friend OF his, who
m mnved on tne moor below, 70 ask M ais advice When
what they said except that Wachas again men,
toned the sign. All at once Elite, VINO was trem-
bling with passion, put his hand into his breast
pocket, and drew pistol.
"For Gods sake don't shoot,n wachals STAN
mered but there was q flash and down he sunk,
with a bullet In HIS breast.
Mrs.wachals, who rad witnessed the scene, threw
herself between them with shrek; but htte, his
eyes almost starting out OF his head and his
LIPS QU1vERING WITH FRENZY,
said to her. "Let me go or Ill shoot you, too.r
she started back as he put the pistol at her head
and lie tnen disappeared
Mrs. Wachals cries, as she threw herself over
the body Of her wounded husband, soon attracted
an immense multitude. Wachals was carried up
10 ms room which he had lett but lew minutes
before in the best o health. rney laid MN on the
floor. He m0aned terribly and was convuisgl ny
pain when Drs. Homes and Hunter arrived. 1hey
found that the wound was in tue right side. Just
above the diaphragm, aud extending III slightly
downward direction. DR.. Cushman. who arrived
few minutes later gave II as his opinIon thaG Tue
ball, in all probability, entered the liver anu that
the wound would probably Prove fatal.
Mrs. Wachals shed bitter tears meanwhile and
kissed her husbands cod hands and lips many
times Word was sent TO the Coroners' Ufice ana
Coroner Herman and Dr. Cushnan were soon on
the spot.
AL aoout quarter before two O'Clock Coroner
Herman took Wachalis ante-morUem statement.
Being asked by the Coroner whether he had any
hopes OF recovery he answered that he had none.
lie then made, IN German, the following state
ment, which was broken by his means and conyul-
sions;-
nome MY wne told me that my business sign mad
been taken down by Oscar Elite. ! went in search
oI Oscar Ette and asked him why he had taken my
sign down. He SAID he would not allow the sign to
remain there any longer. | went TO put up the
sign again, but mad scarcely put 1t up when Elite
threw it down. said to Ette, "You have no rirbt
TO throw my sign down. Elite insisted that he
Our association, and told him about H. AS came
out, while al the loot oil the stairs, met Elite ana
told HIM again that / would not allow him 10
PULL SIGN DOWN.
We exchanged some angry words when Elite pulled
out revolver and snot me IN the rlgnt side. We
stood both on level at the foot of the stairs when
he snot me. ] had no pistol or other weapon on
me; neither did strike him. have had trouble
with Elite lor long tlme lie never gave me rest
sence.r
this statement, and Dr. Cushman signed the
wounded mans name 10 the document Inry
was then empaneled, which rendered verdict
that
''John wachals, OF No. 2l4 Bowery, came to his
injuries by pistol shot wound at The hands OF
Oscar Ette.n
Coroner Herman then placed a warrant for the
arrest of Elite in Captain Clincnys hands, Elite not
having been arrested UP 70 that time, and ordered
Wachalis removal to Bellevue Hospital. Wachals
had expressed a desire 10 be taken 10 the hospital
The only eyewitness OF the crime was Mrs
Wachals. She was too much excited to give con-
nected statement OF what she saw, but her nco.
mere hefenI answers were TO the effect that she saw
Etie nre at Wachalsi Wachas fell she sJried 10
SEIZE HOLD or ETTE,
when be told her that ne would shoot her too: and
then he ran away.
Mr.. Edward T0llner VINO was Ettes partner in
the Photographic gallery, tod the reporter OF the
HERALD that Ette had been ten years In the United
states and was born IN Berlin. ttte and Wucuals
Rad quarrelled frequently The Wachals family
always boited the door when they knew that Ette
was out S night, and would not let MIN iD.
once Ette nurst the door OPEN which was the
orgtn oI al thls turmol. Several times Elite