The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-05-06
4 DrcadfuiTrag Gy.

y shocking tragedy was developed
yesterday morning in Milllin Town
ship, Allegh my County, about eight
miles obove this city, on the south
bank of the Monongahela river, and
a mile and half from Homestead,
on the line of the Pittsburgh, Virgin
ia, and Charleston Railway. At first
it was reported that the dwelling Of
Mr.. John Hamnett Ga weli-to-do
farmer residing at the place stated)
had caught fire during the night anu
was destroyed, the inmates having
perished in the flames. The
family consisted Of Mr.. Hamnett,
his wife, two children, a boand boy
named Robert Smith, and a German
farmland. That the house had been
burned was true, and that the bodies
of those comprising the family had
/ been roasted in the ruins was il sad
reality. Yet an examination showed
that they had not been burned to
death by accident but murdered, and
the house fired by the murderer to
conceal his dreadful work of blood
\ search through the ruins, for the
bodies Of the missing led to the dis
covery that a most iicndish wholesale
butchery had been perpetrated by
some one, and suspicion soon fell up
on the German farm hand, Ernest
Love, whose body was not in the
ruins. The remains We're removed
to the tool shed near the house,
where they were subjected to close
examination by those who had the
courage to essay the task.
Sickening as was the sight of four
charred, shapeless trunks, with the
oder peculiar to the wasting of hu-
man flesh, there were marks of
wounds the sight of which were more
narrowing.
The skull of John liamnett, though
half consumed, showed that it had
been broken in by a fearful blow.
Near by where he lay were the
remains of his little daughter Ida.
aged about eight years, her skull
showing similar fractures.
The body of Mrs. Hamnett was
easily distinguished from the fact
that it was surrounded by the metal
rings or hoops which she had been
in the habit of wearing. the flesh
was nearly all consumed, but there
was q mass Of burnt feathers about
her, which indicated that she must
have been in bed when murdered
or placed thereon after the bloody
deed had been done. Her skull. !
like those of the others, had been
crushed in.
Robert Smith, bound boy, aged
about twelve years, was not so COM
pletely burned up as the others, and |
two deep cuts were plainly percepti- |
bic upon his throat, although the |
skin was crisped and hard. The en-
tire side ofthe skull was dreadfnlIy |
hacked and mashed
The remains of the fifth victim, /
little Emma, daughter aged about
five years, were not found 1t is
probable that they were so situated |
as to be entirely consumed
The motive 1t was generally sup
posed that Hamnett had consider
bic money about the house, and Love
had no doubt either heard the story,
or had seen something during his
stay to confirm this belief. Money
seems to have been the only motive
for the dreadful crime. Hamnett
was thrifty and close in his dealings,
and probably KEEP. money about the
premises. The murderer must have
been possessed of an extraordinary
amount of nerve to carry out to the
end this fearful tragedy. Most men
would have become appalled, with
the blood of three persons upon their
soul, and fed in terror from the scene
before the arrival of the other two;
but this monster was not to be
thwarted in his purpose. The butch
cry is one of the most dreadful and
in the annals of the
State.
Ernest Love alias Ortwein and
whose rea name is said to be Mentzer
was arrested ON Friday and confessed
having murdered the Hamnett family
1t appears that after committing the
deed Mentzer walked t. PittsbQrg.
He was seen in store on Ohio
street Allegheny about one O'Clock
Thursday morning, he visited sever
al other stores purchased a suit of
clothes and other articles of wearing
apparel He was arrested on FRI
day night in 2 saloon on Troy Hill
Aleghany.
On Saturday morning It was deh-
nitelv ascertained that the prisoner
was really the man wanted and the
rows spread rapidly. A great crowd
assembled about the Allegheny City
Hall and the Mayors gAle end
police station anxious to see the pPis- {
oner and learn the particulars of the
arrest
Some anAieiy was felt that a DEM
onstration would be made out in
favor of hanging on sight, but beyona
threatening remarks Of few, good Or
der was maintained In case of emer-
gcncy, sowever. strong guard of |
police was kept ABOUT Tie buildings. I
lie confesses the murder Mentzer |
was visited by Mr.. p. Holderman, i
and in conversation, in German, with
hat gentleman. the prisoner confess !