Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-10
AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.
How n German Murderer Escaped
the NOose-Sent TO Germany 10 be
Punished for Crime Committed
in This Country.
Auburn (June O Correspondence OF the New
York Herald.

Punished Tor a trfme committed
in This Country.
Auburn (June 81 Correspondence of the New
York Herald.
Yesterday was to have been one of
note in this city. Charles Eggler, con-
victed of the deliberate and brutal MUIR
der of Elite Conkling, in Cayuga
county, something over a year ago,
was to be hanged this forenoon, but
owing to circumstances without a pre-
cedent in this country he escaped pun
ishment, at least in the United States.
Elite Conkling, the murdered girl,
was an orphan, having been taken
from the asylum of Cayuga county and
adopted as the daughter of an aged
couple, living on farm in the south
ern part of the county. Eggler, Ger
man, worked for them. One Saturday,
in April, 1873, the old people went to
a neighboring village TO trade, leaving
the house in charge of the girl. Eggler
was working in the fields. When the
farmer and his wife returned they were
Mortified to find Che dead body of Elite
lying in a hall, between the kitchen
and sitting room, in pool of blood. A
dozen knife stabs were found on her
person. A large butcher knife lay near
the girls dead body. Eggler was no.
where to be found. 1t was at once con-
jectured that he had outraged the girl
and then brutally murdered her. Search
was Immediately made for him and he
was captured on the Sunday following
in Tompkins county. On being arrest
ed Eggler told, in effect, the following
story:
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 made 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 it himself, a quarrel ensued
between them. A knife lay on the ia
bic near them. Elite Conkling picked
it up and fiourished it as if about to
stab the German. He seized her hand
and 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 sew
eral times, and, seeing that he had
killed her, he feared the consequences
and fled.
THE TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
Eggler was lodged in jail. His trial
came on In this city, and he was con-
victed 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 willful murder, and carried
the case to the Court Of Appeals, when
the Judgment of the court below was
affirmed. Application was then made
to Gov. Dix for Communication of SEN
tence. Numerous petitions were laid
before the Governor, together with the
evidence IN the case. He declined to
interfere with the sentence of the court,
and it seemed that Eggler was doomed.
In this strait his counsel learned that
there was a provision In the treaty be-
tween the United States and Germany
to the effect that German subjects con-
victed of crime In this country may be
TAKEN HOME FOR PUNISHMENT,
and rice Uersa. Mr.. Jackson at once
proceeded to Washington and held an
interview with Baron Won Schloezer,
the German Minister. He was willing
to take the responsibility of sending
Eggler home, if the Governor of this
State would consent to release him into
his custody. Gov. Dix was applied to,
and he was willing to have the con-
victed murderer sent to Germany for
punishment. Consequently a condi-
tional pardon was granted to Eggler.
The Sheriff of Cayuga county 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 pro-
nounced in that country.
As no one under eighteen years of
age committing a capital offense is pun
ishable with death there Eggler viii
escape the gallows, as he was but seven
| teen when he committed the crime.