The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-23
CHICAG0's LAST HORROR.
A Sick Wife Trampled to Death by Her
Husband-Thc schevers' Case-Discasc
of the Kidneys Accelerated by q Boot

Sick Wife Trampled to Death by Her
Husband-The schcvers' Case-Discasc
Of tho Kidneys Accelerated by Boot
Heel.
CHICAGO, H.. Feb. IA, 1873.
The HERALD correspondent yesterday had for mis-
theme three wife-murderers, one convicted, one
hanged and one respited. To-day, it seems that
he mas to add fourth to the. list, the evidence
which has just been made public, or rather the
iacts which have come TO light in the Schevers
case, leaving no doubt whatever that an intelli-
gent, young and beautiful lady, after couple OF
years OF welded ile characterized by violence and
sorrow, instead Of tender care and love and joy,
has come to her death through the brutality Of her
drunken husband
II seems that the Schevers were married only
two years ago. or their welded life we have no
record till last September, when the husband was
arrested for drunkenness and sent to the Bride
well, where he passed nearly o month ere some
friend paid his fine. Schevers then returned to his
wife, but she refused to live with him, and he re-
moved to another part of the town, where he found
work and boarding place. This fact seems to
lend color to the reports frequently circulated that
when boarding in Jefferson street. at the house Of
a Mrs. Payton, Mrs. Schevers had been frequently
maltreated by her husband. 1t was said that on
one occasion he had locked her in her room for a
SPuOC vi wv WCcho tiu buC COubIlVcu W tsCdpe
through a window, and that SO neglected was she
that she would have gone naked, but for the kind
ness OF the boarders, who supplied her with boots
and clothing. To these boarders she averred that
her husband was continually abusing her, 'jerking
her ont oil the bed on to the lOOr" beating her and
so on. Some six weeks after their separation in
September they became recOnciled and went to
live together again at 1863 CanalpOrt avenue.
Schevers afhrms that his wife came to him, saying
she was
TT NJ
and urged him to return and that he did so, Civ
ing her all the money he had The boarders at this
his wife at times, but she was sick and ailing and
they saw little Of her.
on the night Of the 2lst Of January. one OF the
bOarders, Mr.. Charles Matthews, who had taken
particular interest in the Schevers, came home
and went to their room, where he found them
BOTH the woman being sick in bed, her husband
who was somewhat under the influence OF liquor at
the tlme-sitting by her bedside, talking pleasantly
to her. Mr. Matthews spoke few words to them,
then went down to tea, but had hardly got down
w0MAN's PIERCING SCREAM,
and rushing back to the Sick room, whence he felt
convinced the sounds proceeded burst open the
door, and saw Mr. and Mrs. Schevers struggling to-
gether on the bed. The husband was clasping her
throat with one hand to prevent her Outcries, and
with the other striking her in the face, while he
had firmly planted his heavy foot on her stomach.
Matthews rushed to the wOman's help, seized
Schevers and strOve to drag him of, but the latter
resisted so desperately that he tore his wies dress
into tatters. leaving her almost naked. Finally,
Bridewell on charge of drunkenness and dis
order. Mrs. Schevers did not seem very much the
worse, but some days later sickened and died,
with all the appearances of woman
dying Of disease of the kidneys. Sus-
plcon, however, having been aroused,
that her husbands violence had really caused her
DEATH the dead body was eXhumed and examined
by the authorities, when curgOry examination
showed that while there were signs of disease in
the Kidneys, they did not betOken severity sufi-
Gent to have caused death, which must have been
caused, Immediately or remotely, by
HER HUSBANDS BRUTALITY.
The legal authorities thinking the case sufficiently
strong VIII take action as soon as the county ply
stefan shall have had time to prepare detailed
account OF the autopsy.
Schevers is confined at the Bridewell. He be.
lieves that the charge Is a simple one says he
RENDERS being drunk, but has no recollection of
beating his wife. Indeed, he did not know OF her
death until reporter told him, when he burst into
tears and sobbed that lie had always loved her and
never struck her. ''HOw could strike her." said
he ''when loved her so2n
He states that she had always had disease OF the
Kidneys and complained of pains In the back and
side, and that, further, in December last, when
hanging out some clothes, she had fallen down O
fight OF steps, iniurng herself severely. He COM
planned bitterly OF Mr.. Matthews, whom he called
''PEBPING TON,
saying that Matthews was always pceping into his
room at nights and trying to make trouble. He
solemnly denied having said, as Matthews seized
him, LET ME go; let me go; till kill the damned
b." Indeed he says lie has no recollection
whatever Of the affair.
The medical officers being sure that the evidence
Is strong enough, the legal authorities will at once
proceed against the prisoner In due form.