The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-06
A GERMAN CRIMINAL.
Charles Eggler, Convicted Of the Murder
of Elite Conkling, Sent to Germany for
Punishment.

Charles Eggler, Convicted Of the Murder
of Elite Conkling, Sent to Germany for
Punishment.
AUBURN, n Y, June 5, 1874.
To-day was to have been one o. note in this city.
Charles Egger convicted OF the deliberate and
brutal murder OF Elite Conkling, In Ca uga county
something over year ago, was To have been
hanged this forenoon, but owing to circumstances
without precedent in this country he escaped
punishment, at least in the United States.
Elite Conkling, the murdered girl, was an or
phan, having been taken from the asylum OF
Cayuga county and adopted as the daughter Of an
aged cOugle, living on farm IN the southern part
OF the county. Eggler, German, worked for
them. One saturday, in April 1878, the old people
went to o neighboring village to trade leaving the
house IN charge OF the girl Eggler was working
IN the fields. When the farmer and his wife re-
turned home they were Mortified to find the dead
body OF Elite living in hall, between
the kitchen and sitting room, In pool
Of blood. dozen knife stabs were found
on her person. large butcher knife
lay near the girls dead body. Egger was nowhere
to be found. 1t was at once conIectured that he
had outraged the girl and then brutally murdered
her. Search was Immediately made for him ana he
was captured on the Sunday following in TompKins
county. On being arrested Eggler told, IN effect,
STATEMENT OF THE ACCUSED
About the middle OF the forenoon on Saturday he
went to the house to get luncheon. The girl
would not give him any. He could speak very
little English and she had maue him the
butt OF her ridicule, and tormented him from
the day he went to work at the farmers. When
she refused TO get him the luncheon and would not
let him get 1t himself quarrel ensued between
them. knife lay on the table near them. Elite
Conkling picked it up and rourished 1t If about
wrenched the weapon away from the girl. She
was large and muscular, and sprang upon him.
He was afraid she would Kill him and stabbed her
na M ha hn had tahh nr
he feared the consequences and fed.
THE TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
Eggler was lodged in jail. His trial came on IN
this city, and he was convicted of murder in the
first degree and sentenced to be hanged on the 5th
OF June. His counsel E. ID. Jackson, OF this city,
believed Eggler was not guilty OF wlul murder,
and carried the case to the Court Of Appeals when
Application was then made TO Governor Dix for
Communication OF sentence. Numerous petitions
were laid before the Governor, together with the
evidence in the He declined to interfere with
/ the sentence OF the Court and 1t seemed That
| Eggler was doomed. In this strait his counsel
4 learned That there was provision in the treaty
between the United States and Germany to the
! effect that German subjects convicted OF crime in
/ this country may be
! TAKEN HOME FOR PUNISHMENT,
and Uice UeT'Sd. Mr.. Jackson at once proceeded to
Won Schloezer, the German Minister He was
willing to take the responsibility Of sending Eggler
home II the Governor OF this state would consent
to release him into his custody. Governor DIX
was applied to, and he wiling to have the
convicted murderer sent to Germany for punish
ment Consequently a conditional pardon was
took him to New York, and he is now on his way
to Germany. He is to be imprisoned in Baden
until his sentence IS pronounced In that country.
AS no one under eighteen years oil age commit
| ing capital offence Is punishable with death
there Egger viii escape the gallows, as he was
/ but seventeen when he committed the crime.