National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-06
CONFESSION OF DRIVEN
TIE DETAILs OF THE MASSACRE on
THE HAMGET FAMILY,

The Pittsburg correspondent Of the New York
Herald, under date Of May 2 gives the Glowing
particulars Of the arrest OF the murderer Of the
hamnet family and his confession or the horrible
crime; The black-hearted hend who butchered
ana burned the Hamnet family was arrested In
Aiieghany City this morning, and at present lies
man ~ this city. All day yesterday detectives
were making untiring efforts to get trail or the
usS'r. a man giving the name OF Ernest
oftHsin was suspected on account of his strange
eonanot, and so nearly AlIng the description 9fgsn
py those VINO knew him, he was traced TO various
piaces W me Guy and nnsliy he was heard Of in
Allegheny City. Aboute o'clock Yesterday aft.r.
noon he made his appearance on Troy hIIL A
number OF men were talking about the murdar
and this stranger Joined In the Conversation. Hs
said that be bad worked for Mrs..Hamnet.
As soon as be had said this he becahe alarmed
and ran od st full speed. OHieer Quirk, of the
Allegheny police force, gave chase, and soon sue
ceeded In capturing him. His sarpet-saek was
found at Q store on Ohio street. It contained
lot Of clothes, nearly new. In vest was found
ah assessors notification Of valuation, piece Of
paper on which are pencil figures, ten-cent
scrip and o railroad ticket over the Pittsburg,
Virginia and Charleston railroad The assess
ment paper Is signed BY "a. Behl assessor" and
sdirected to John Hamnet, giving tho valuation
OF his property at sl2,72o. The PIECE OF paper
with the figures evidently contains M Hamnes's
S~s@A-sS VI 'eAeS VI AAS PEOpSEIyf OSluR LOuuu u
connection with the assessors valuation. The
vest was doubtless one worn by Mr.. Hannet.
When It became generally known that
THE MURDERER HAD DEEM CAPTURED
the greatest excitement prevailed, and the Tombs
in Allegheny were soon surrounded by an ex-
cited throng. It was feared that efforts would be
made to lynch the prisoner, and Il was found
necessaryto place . strong guard Of police along
| the corridors Of the Tombs. He gave his name a.
Ernast flrkv air nd
culated to impress one favorsbly. This fend, WhG
murdered family Of ave for els, Is about Eve feet
eight inches in height, heavily built and would
weigh IT'S pounds. He has . big, round, bulldog
head, rather broad, hst nose, low forehead and
small eyes. His face IL large, red, appears pulled
up by drink and bears every evidence that he has
been spreeing for day or two past. He has =
short, sandy mustschesnd . little tuft Of hair in
the dImple Of his chin.
He was dressed In nne black froekcoat, dark
figured psnts white shirt and . small silk neck
tie. He has Q very short, thick neck. black
sloueh hat was lying on . bench beside him. His
shoes are new, IS Is all Of the clothing he has on
He said he was native Of Stuttgart. wurtem-
berg, and came to this country about . year ago,
| and first worked as . farm hand with Peter Ram
sey, at Brooklyn, N. Y. 1t was no use, he said,
| 10 conceal the crime; he committed the murder.
he said he left Hamnet's dwelling Just aftsr sup
per on the night Of the murder, and went directly
| to the village Of Homestead He drank two
glasses Of beer in q saloon BY the Eayside, which
| Is all the beverage he had that night. Afler
| quitting the saloon he went to . grocery store,
where he got some cigars, also some candy for the
Hamnet children. He then goes on and tells tho
following story to the press representatives.,
through an interpreter: aust as was leaving It
came into my head that must have Hsmnet's
money. Thought he had great deal Of money
in the house, and as felt SO queer all at once in
i my head / thought must get It. went directly
| to the house, but don't know how got there.
| suppose I must have been out Of my mind. After
| getting into the house found Mr.. and Mrs.
Hamnet had not come home. It occurred to me
that to get the money
| must KILL THE CHILDREN.
| found an az 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 Robert was sleeping sOundly, with his face
i toward me. I took position at the front Of the
4 bed, and with one blow killed the boy. He never
moved. I can't say how It was that the boys
throat was cut. I may have struck him twice, but
| he never groaned. Amer the boy was dead 1 went
into tho adjoining room, where Ida and little
Emmie were sleeping. There were two beds IN
the room, one In q corner and the other, the oa0
occupied by the children, near the centre Both
Of the little girls were sleeping. I ereps over
cautiously 10 whsro they slumbsred, and ! dealt
Ida q fearful blow, which IIlsneed her forever.
She never moved . muscle; shs was dead In q
minute. ! then raised the axe and'struck ct En-
mIe. She uttered . cry, and hit her a second
time. She did not groan again. Aftsr this I
went downstairs and took position Just inside the
door Of the room adjoining the kitchen, and
WAITED goR Mr.. AND MRS. HANNET
to come home. God knows my feelings when con.
eeaIed here. was dspsrate now and thIrsted for
more blood. After waiting for long time heard
the footsteps Of the couple coming up the lawn.
| They came nearer and nearer, and clutched my
ax-handls tight. At last they were here. ME.
| HSmnet came into the room frat. was standing
50 that be could not see me, and struck him nom
behind, using the AZ, and be FELL TO the door
/ Mrs. Hamnet then came rushing into the room,
and as she passed through the door struck Der,
but did not kill her. She shrisked Once or twice,
| "Oh God, John |" and then I struck . second
| blow, which killed her Instantly. Mrs. Hamnet
/ and baby were The only ones struck twice, the
others we're killed with one blow. used the AZ
all the time. l committed the deed to get Mr..
| Hamnet's money. I searched Mr.. Hamnet's
pockets and obtained bis poeketbook.
IT CONTAINED ONLY BIFTEEN DOLLARS
in paper money. found Mrs. Ismnet's pocket
book on the sewing machine. There was only
nfty cents In IL. looked over the house, but all
| the money ] got was sl5. The silver money
| spent brought with me from Germany. ibid
| not get It from the house. My only motive for
doing this deed was TO get the money. never
had any III feeling toward any Of the Hananets.
/ l always liked the little children, and / always
brought them candy when went to Homestead.
The boy Smith and were good friends, and
always liked Mr.. and Mrs. Hamnst. Idld not
are the hou,e, and It was not part Of my plan to
cover I'D the murder. When searching the hsuse
| put an oil lamp In the sittlng-room, and when
rushing away from the building It was over
turned. I thought It would 20 out. l did not
think the house would burn.
ESCAPING FROM TIE SCENE
As soon as left the building proceeded at
once to the railroad, and walked direct 70 Pitts
burg. I stopped At several places, but don't know
the names Of the places. Icams over to PIttsburg,
and went to see my friend Baier, on PennSylyanIs
| street, think. / don't know locations very well.
I was never In PIttsburg more than three times.
| After leaving Bsiers, crossed over to Allegheny
| City. I crossed Q covered bridge, and went to
several brsweries to get work. Ipurchased anew
suit Of clothes yesterday morning, and finally was
| arrested.
II has been ascertalned this evening that the
| parents Of Ortweln, who lived In Stuttgart, are
/ we'll off, During the Franeo-Prussian war be was
drafted, but deserted aud came to this country.
sURIAL OF THE VICTIMS.
One OF ms closinS acts VI ms uEe ~AuA HAseSS
took place this afternoon-the consigning to the
/ grave Of the remains OF the murdered family.
There were two oofins, the largest Of which held
the remains Of Mr.. and Mrs. Hammet and tho
two children, Ida and Emma In another and
smaller conn lay Robbie Smith. These horrible
objects were kept nclosed until after the cersmo-
mics we're Soncl1ded In the church. The edihes
was nlIed 10 ovsraoWing with snguish-strieken
men and women who, In a great MEASURE, were
nelghbors Of the murdered family.
| AN OHIO GIANT.
A Cleveland paper relates . number OF ansc-
dotes illustrative Of the strength and size Of Al
ner McIlrath, whom 1t dubs giant. It appears
that MeIrath Is sixtyons years Of age and Ii SIX
feet seven and half inches standing In his boots,
fairly proportioned In form, without an ounce Of
waste hesh. He was and is . giant IN muscular
| strength as we'll as phyyically. He has lifted