The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-05-07
The Hamnet Horror.

ueuu VINO mufucreu 4 family OF five, 1Of
SO, is about five feet eight inches in
height, heavily built, and would weigh
one hundred and seventy-tive pounds lie
has big round bulldog head, rather broad
fiat nose, low forehead and small eyes;
his face is large, red, and appears pulled
up by drink, and bears every evidence that
he has been spreeing for a day or two past.
He said he was a native Of Stuttgart, Wurt-
enburg, and came to this country about
wear ago, and first worked as a farm hand
with Peter Ramsey, at Brooklyn, n Y. 1t
was no use. he said, to conceal the fact
that he committed the murder He said he
lett Hamnets dwelling Just before supper
on the night of the murder, and went di-
rectly to the village of Homestead: he
drank two glasses OF beer in a saloon by
thC Wavside. which is all the beverage he
rad that night After quitting the saloon
he went to grocery store, where he got
some cigars, also some candy tor the Ham
net children He then told the following
story TO the press reporters through an
interpreter
I'm CONFESSION.
just as | was leaving it came into my
head that | must have lIamnet's money /
thought he had great deal OF money in
The house, and as | felt SO queer in my
head thought | must get it, went di-
Iectly to the house, but don't know how
got there | suppose must have been out
Of my mind. After getting into the house
found Mr. and Mrs. Iiamnet had not
come home 1t occurred 10 me that to get
the money must Kill the children. found
an axe in the kitchen, and taking that
with me | went up into The room over the
Kitchen where Robert Smith and myself
slept the bed was in one corner of the
room. and saw that Robert was sleeping
3oundlY with his face turned toward me.
/ took a position Al the front of the bed
and with one blow killed the boy he never
moved, can't say how it was that the
boy throat was cut; may have struck
INN twice but he never groaned
KILLING THE SISTERS.
After the boy was dead went into the
adjoining where Ida and little Emmie
were sleeping. There were two beds in
the room one in a corner and the other
the one occupied by the children, in the
centre Both Of the little girls were sleep
ing. | crept over cautiously to where they
slumbered, and | dealt Ida a fearful blow
which sllenced her forever She never
moved q muscle; she was dead in 4 minute
then raised the axe and struck at Emmie
She uttered a cry and hit her the second
time. She did moi groan again. After this
| went down stairs and took a position
Just inside the door of the room adjoining
the kitchen and waited for Mr. and Mrs
IIamnet to come home God knows my
feelings when concealed here. | was de-
perate now and thirsted for more blood.
After waiting a long time heard the foot
steps of the couple coming up the lawn.
They came nearer and nearer, and clutch
cd my axe handle tight at last they
were here.
MURDER OF THE OLD FOLKS.
Mr.. lIamnet came into the room first
| was standing SO that he could not see
me, and / struck him from behind using
the same axe, and he fell to the floor Mrs
IIamnet then came rushing into the room.
and as she passed through the door struck
her, but did not kill her She shrieked once
or twice, "Oh, God. John and then
struck a second blow, which killed her
Instantly. Mrs. Hamnet and baby We're
the only ones | struck twice, the others
We're killed with one blow | used the
axe all the time. ! committed the deed
Ia get Mr. IIamnets money.
THE BOOTY.
searched Mr.. Hamnets pockets and
obtained his pocket-book; it contained
only fifteen dollars in paper money |
found Mrs. Hamnet's pocket-book in the
sewing machine There was only fifty
cents in it. ! looked over the house, but
all the money l got was fifteen dollars
The silver money spent l brought with
me from Germany and did not get it from
the house | never had any i'll feeling
towards the Hamnets always liked the
little children, and always bought them
candy When ! went to Homestead the
boy Smith and ! were good friends, and
always liked Mr. and Mrs Hamnet | did
not fire the house, and it was not q part
of my plan to cover up the murder When
searching the house | put IN oil lamp in
the sitting room, and when rushing away
from the building it was overturne |. |
thought il would 90 out | did not think
the house would burn
THE MURDLREE's ESCAPE.
As soon as l left the building | proceed
ed at once to the railroad and walked di-
rect to Pittsburg. ! stopped At several
places but don't know the name of the
places came over to Pittsburg and went
10 see my friend Baler, on PENNSYLVANIA
street, think. | don't know locations
very well Inever was in Pittsburg more
than three times. After leaving Baler's [
crossed over to Allegheny City | crossed
4 covered bridge and went to several
breweries TO get work. | purchased Il new
suit OF clothes yesterday morning and fin
ally was arrested 1t has been ascertained
that the parents OF Ortwein, who live in
stuttgart, are well off. During the Franco
Prussian war he was drafted and deserted
and came to this country.
FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS.
one of the closing acts of this dreadful
tragedy took place this afternoon, the con-
signing to the graves OF the remains of
the murdered family. There were two
collins, the largest of which held the re-
mains of MI and Mrs, Hamnet and the
two children, Ida and Emmie-in another
and smaller coffin the boy Robbie Smith
These horrible objects were kept enclosed
until after the ceremonies were concluded
in the church The editice was filled to
overlooking with anguish-shicken men
and women, who in great measure were
neighbors OF the murdered family.
MISS AuItiS, one VI Tie SClOUI COl1Hlltlet
OF Searsport, gives notice that no teacher
need apply for certificate who uses either
tobacco or intoxicating liquor The Pro-
gressive Age doubts if the Revised Stat
utes will bear her out, whereupon she
replies giving as chapter and verse, r. S,
Chap IL, Sec. 81 If the same regulation
had been made by committee of the
other sex, we wonder if the Age would
- "a
if the same slurring tone would have been
adopted as in this case. 1t is refreshing
to note the vigor and persistencv with
which paper, oddly named Prog5eSSire,
holds back on the question of almost every
reform 1t is ably assisted by the Bruins
wick Telegraph, and the honest independ-
cnce OF these papers is beyond question.
They are both greatly exercised of late
over the election of women upon school
committees. What will they do when
women vote as we'll as hold office? If