The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-10
TRAGEDY IN PoUGHKEEPsIE.
A Man and His Wife Found Dead In
Poughkeepsie-A Wtfc Murder and
Suicide.

Man and His w lie Found Dead In
Poughkeepsie-A Wifc Murder and
Suicide.
POUGHKEEPsIy, August 0, 1873.
There Is much excitement here over terrible
tragedy which occurred at No. 400 Main street.
The building was owned by John Wenz, q dealer in
old junk, and was occupied by Wenz and his wife
Johanna, Eli Boyce and wife and Michael McGafen
and wife. The latter rented part of the house for
lager beer saloon. About three O'Clock this after
noon word was sent to Police Headquarters that
fight had occurred in the building and two persons
had been shot, Officers were Immediately sent to
the spot, and when they arrived a
TERRIBLE SCENE
met their view They entered the building through
the rear basement and passed through to the
cellar in 'front.' dim, sickly light shone through
the narrow window, falling upon two dead bodies
on the hard ground floor. One was that OF John
Wenz and the other that of his wife. The latter
laid on the right as the officers entered, and about
two feet from the dead husband Between the two
bodies lay Sharpe's four-barrelled revolver with
the stain Of recent firing upon It, Mrs. Wenz was
shot through the neck, the carotid artery being
severed, and John Wenz was shot through the
mouth upward. pool Of blood surrounded
the each body. In the back basement, close
to the PARTITION which divides 1t from the
cellar, was table. on which was scanty array
saucers. Under this table, close to the edge, the
moor, was besmeared with blood, as though some
one had been shot at that point.
THE THEORY IS
that John Wenz shot his wife there and she rau
In to the cellar and FELL seeing which he deliberately
placed the muzze of his pistol in his own mouth
and pulled the trigger, falling close to her. AS
quickly as possible the police notified Coroner
Wilson Hicks, and that ofllcial responding
promptly, the bodies were then removed to
the yard and laid upon stretcher
side by side. Wenz had nothing on but his pants
and Shirt and Mrs. Wenz was attired In ordinary
homework costume Both bodies were carefully
covered with sheet
BY this time there was
AN IMMENSE RUSH
from all parts OF the city to the scene. Men and
boys. and even ladies' clambered about the ada
cent fences to get good a view as possible, and
the police had hard time to keep them back.
Wenz and his wife being Germans that portion of
the horrible affair In all Its bearings. Many Of them
blamed the husband and many blamed the wife.
immediate cause Of the tragedy and 1t was a hard
matter TO ascertain the truth till was ushered
reside In the third story OF the house where the
tragedy occurred.
:, -. ,ouow, MRS. DoYcE's STATEMENT
live Il; Il the third story Of NJ Wenzs house He
onse soon ae his s enrd The and
sy mud s anS eS lady to a s
s 5 aay v 9sa hs a a we
aaex .s al sd IS #ess ssS ssI
e ssss s ] $s1s
asd Mrs. seyss
one a9$ hs :a aS S wsas n asH'nsd Both Ms
took three quart Fan Ssd with ' wafer and dung he
lady visitor started to leave the room and she also urged
hs doWn s
then went to my room Some time after little Philip
SS 5 TsI nS sS
port whatever That's all know about the affair.
| Mrs. Kelly, who was in the house at the time OF
the occurrence, was sitting In little shoe shop in
front OF the building at about half-past two O'Clock
| p. NJ She says that at that time she heard Wenz
and wife in the basement quarrelling In German.
| She doesn't remember hearing any pistol shots,
but heard singular noise as Il proceeding from
| went down into the basement and saw the husband
lying on the door, but did not see Mrs. Wenz's
body.
| Philip Wenz Is ten years of age and bright lit
tie fellow. He is the son OF the dead couple, He
was home at dinner at twelve o'clock with mother
h 1 was h e1 R s Be e sar yGo she on @
mad q she SAID laihsr had come home 80 drunk he
ay ,rec ana e Srn wasea % ee m
ssssi
Se told me- 90 down Vista and
s % s sa S S s
and saw my %qhe lying her qsS 3 Sas@
hsi 5i ~. Sc XaSsa s hhS
%s an; then md told W.
s sSsea . ] laid sstween iaSsr %Sshs
@ % Ssls My to
two days ago up stairs in 6rswe5 sSw II
Jersey with n b have heard her oa say she
three sister. yS%nsss.s e. fs,;y
it because he said mohor always took out Of his
SS ssr NARY ae i've kinder s9 ad my
brothers and sisters except one, live here
During the giving Of his statement the poor little
fellow was greatly excited. When reached the
scene found him leaning against the fence near
Would woe i'd" breas Ali around him IN crowds
ostling strangers, eager TO get view OF the hor-
be sig sight below It TOOK h y oe nana sn 6a
gentleman at once took charge OF him ana cared
for him.
three years ago in New Jersey, and that four Of
the children were by Mrs. Wenzs former husband.
a s ri say that Mrs.
abused MIN terribly; that oltentmes she has
punished him. being muc Me- the W stronger IL Is
insane, and attempted suicide, when she was sent
to an Insane Asylum, remaining there, however,
but short time, wnen she came back cured. All
concede that they frequently had bitter quarrels
and strifes, which led to this fatal result.
Late this afternoon Coroner Hicks succeeded in
empaneling jury, when the remains were off,
cially viewed after which they were passed to the
care of the undertaken and placed IN ice, the
friends OF the couple taking charge of them The
inquest was then adjourned till Monday morning
for the taking OF evidence.
When Coroner Hicks examined the clothing on
the bodies he found $14 as on Mrs. Wenz and $55 20
on Mr.. Wenz. Not a note explaining the tragedy
was found. There Is no doubt whatever but that
when Mrs. Wenz lett the room up stairs with her
lady visitor she babe the latter good-day and went
into the rear basement where the dinner table
was standing. There she must have sat down,
wnen Wenz came upon her suddenly and
another quarrel ensued, during which he shot her.
Staggering and bleeding she reached the front
| cellar and fell. Wenz, who was intoxicated, fol.
lowed closely after, AMI, seeing that he had killed
| ner, and stung with remorse, put the muzzle oil
the pistol In his mouth and blew his brains out.