The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-03
Arrest Of Ernest 0rtwein, the Hired
Man, as the Murderer.
FULL CONFESSION OF THE DEED
The Children Slaughtered in Their Sleep
Killing Of the Parents.
A SKETCH OF THE FIEND.

making uutlrlng Chorus 70 get traH OF tno muir
derer. man giving the name Of Ernest Ortwein
was suspected on account OF his strange conduct,
and nearly filing the description given by those
who knew him, be was traced TO various places in
the city ana finally he was heard Of In Allegheny
City. About six O'Clock yesterday afternoon ne
made his appearance on Troy Hill A number
OF men were talking about the murder and
this stranger joined In the conversation.
He SAID that he had worked Tor Mrs.
Hamnet. AS soon az ne said this he
became alarmed and ran on at full speed. Onicer
Qulrk, OF the Allegheny police force, gave chase
and soon succeeded IN capturing MIN. His carpet
sack was found at a store on OHIO street. 1t con-
tanned lot OF clothes, me- rly new. In vest was
found an assessors notification Of valuation,
piece Of paper on which are pencil figures, ten
cent scrip and railroad ticket over the Pirtsburg
Virginia and Charleston Railroad. The assess
ment paper Is signed by "a. Behl. ASSESSOR and
Is directed to John Hamnet giving the valuation
OF his property at $l2 720 The piece OF paper with
the figures evidently contains Mr.. Hamnet's esti-
mate OF value of his property, being found in con-
nection with the assessors valuation. The vest
was doubtless one worn by Mr.. Hamnet When it
became generally known that
THE MURDERER HAD BEEN CAPTURED
the greatest excitement prevailed. and the Tombs
in Allegheny were soon surrounded by an excited
tu1OuB. IL WAS IcdTcO til6t cuOTLS WOulu DC maO6
to lynch the prisoner, and 1t was found necessary
to place strong guard OF police along the CORR
doris Of the TomDs. He gave MIS- name as Ernest
Ortwein, and his appearance was not calculated to
impress one favorably This nend, who murdered
a family OF five for SIS, is about five feet eight
inches In height heavily built and would weigh It's
pounds. He has big, round, bulldog head,
rather broad nat nose, low forehead and small
eyes, His face Is large, red, appears pulled mp by
drink and bears every evidence that he
has been spreeing for o day or two
past he has short, sandy mustacne and
little tuft OF nair in the dimple OF his
chin. He was dressed III q fine black fr0ckcoat,
dark figured pants, white shirt and small silk neck
tie. He has very snort thick neck black
SLOUGH hat was lying on bench beside him. His
shoes are new as is all OF the clothing he has on.
He said he was a native OF Stuttgart, Wurtemberg.
and came to this country about q year ago. and
first worked as farm hand with Peter Ramsey at
Brooklyn N. Y, 1t was no use, ne said, to conceal
the crime; he committed the murder. He said he
left Hamneti dwelling just alter supper on the
night OF the murder, and went directly to the
village Of Homestead. He drank two glasses
OF peer in saloon by the wayside, which
After quitting the saloon he went 70 q
grocery store, where he got some cigars. also
S1 ns 70 he s
representatives through IN Interpreter :-"Just as
was leaving It came into my mead that must
have Hamnet's money. l thought he had great
deal Of money in the house, and as felt 30 queer
all at once in INV head thought must get it. 1
go: there. Tsuppose must have been out OF nv
mind min L.. After getting into the house found Mr.
to 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 the corner OF the room and saw that
me. l took q position at the front OF the
bed, and with one blow killed the boy; he never
S2Us su sa nav y m the
he never groaned. Alter the boy was dead went
into the adjoining room, where Ida and little
room. one in q corner and the other the one 6c6u-
pied by the children, near tho centre Both OF the
1t ss e asse and 0rf
blow which stenced her forever. She never
moved muscle ,S she .n was dead
did not groan again. Alter this | went down
STAIRS and took position just inside the door OF the
room adjoining the kitchen, and
WAITED FOR Mr.. AND MRS. HAMNET
cessd nee was ana thrssed o
the footsteps Of the couple coming up the lawn.
axe handle tight. At last they were here. Mr.
Hamnet came into the room FIRST. was standing
behind, using the same axe, and he iel to the
door. Mrs. HamneJ then came rushing into the
and rs she sS the
twice, ION God, Jcnnl" ana then / struck
second blow, which killed her instantly Mrs.
Hamnet and baby were the only ones struck
twice; the others were killed with one blow. /
used the axe all the time. COMMITTED the deed
nets pockets and obtained his pocket book.
1T CONTAINED ONLY FIFTEEN DOLLARS
in paper money l found Mrs. Hamnet,s pocket
hnra w osrlx a
cents In II. l looked over the house, but all the
money got was SIS. The silver money spent
brought with me from Germany. did not get it
from the house. NY only motive for doing this
deed was to get the money. never mad any iii
liked the little children, and always bought them
candy when went to Homestead. The boy Smith
and and were good friends len and nd always nked Mr.:
was not part OF my plan to cover up the murder.
When searching the house rut an oil lamp IN the
building 1t was overturned. thoughtIt would 70
out. l did not think the house would burn.
ESCAPING FROM THE SCENE.
AS soon as l LEFT the building proceeded at once
to the railroad and walked direct to Pittsburg. l
stopped at several places but don't know the
names OF the places. l came over to Pittsburr
and went to see my friend Baier, on Pennsylvania
street, think. don't know locations very we'll
After leaving Baier's crossed over to Alleghany
City. I! crossed covered bridge and went to
set re 70 ga WORK. na
arrested"
IL mas been ascertained this evening that the
parents or Ortweln who live In Stuttgart, are well
OF. During the Franco Prussian war he was
drafted but deserted and came to this country.
BURIAL OF THE VICTIMS.
One OF the closing acts IN this dire adful tragedy
took place this afternoon-the cOnsignng to the
grave Of the remains Of the murdered family.
There were two collins, the largest OF which neid
the remains OF Mr. and Mrs. Hamnet and the two
children, Ida and Emma. In another and smaller
comm lay Robbie Smith. These horrible objects
were kept enclosed until after the ceremonies were
concluded 10 the church. The edince was nlled to
overlooking with anguish-stricken men and
women who. In great measure, were neighbors
OF the murdered family.