, 1875-11-28
TORCH AND PISTOL
Eiins7&ndf9 1u9uItr. .Eop. 70.

1t intervals fortte past few weeks references
his been made in the LawreucehurG columns OF
the Inquirer to the vicious and unhusband1iko
conduct Of man named John D. Eornmann, q
German gardener, living shout miles north
Of Lavrenceburg. on Ludlow Hill. not rar from
where tho horrible MoDole~ Bradley tragedy oc-
CURED over Z wear ago. This Kornmann,
it will be remembered, WAS ANNOUNCED N
having been the husband Of her who but year
since was the Widow SundeEbrook- He was also
announced as most savage man when under
the influence OF rum, aud of him it 1as written
but few DAYS since that he had attempted tho
life OF Mra, KoEumann with n cooper atz, had
been thwarted in his murlerous designs BY hi
own and only son in this country, Valentine,
after which he had been locked up in the County
Jail.
with his wife over what hs claimed WIS m un-
just division Of the profits Of the farm. She had
declined to give him ali the mcnoy be wanted
cause tho farm, utensils aud all. belonged to
her. He had married her for her
money, and beng choated in his design,
OF course. became morose and quarzelsone.
Inst Monday he was released from Jail
and as usual vent On big drunk. He spreed i
~
induIged in the iuxurv of chasing his aon Ta1en-
tine over the farm with shotgun, declaring ho
would have his life.
sa,e this, nothing OF any particular import
snce occurred until Thursday, when Kornmanu
demanded dollar and quarter from his w1ge
telling her he wanted it to 20 to Cincinnati with
and look for work. She, knowing bis wsakpesa.
naturally refused, whe-euron he told her he'd
make it cost her before the next morning mora
than the paltIy sum o. dollar and twenty-five
n{4r Tkt,r1r r1A nF$ I1n
down to Law1encs1urg wirh 4revolver, Smith E
Wesson seven-shootef,- took it into Israel Crst'e
and paid him for loading tho seven chambers. He
remained around town until 8 or o'clock
in the evening" talking very ugly and making
uso Of suudry savage threats, after which he left
demanded 1nonsv, and WAS 1galn refused.
repeated his threats. and, aa Mrs. Koznmann
supposed, again went Of. Her supposiuon Was
not correct one, however, - the seque! and his
subsequent confession shows. Ho fingered in tho
vicinity OF the houae until be supposed the whole
family hnd retired. wbao. With singts match
and lis revolver in his band, he repaired to the
barn, which, two years ago, Was new, snd
which Thursday night was wall stored with
crops, having in It betseen GOO and 100
oas straw, and BIZ OF saven tons Of hay.
Entering, he proceeded Ut once to ignite tho
hay. Almos: in 4 twinkltpg the who'e building
WAS enqaloped in flames. aud tho owner. Mzs-
KorDmann. with her whole family, consisting Of
Kornmanu's 800, a hired man, and two or three
daughters. we're aroused, and, rushing panic
stricken from the house, uade deeperate bot
fruitleas efforts to stay tho fury OF the tirs-
The flames hsd lit M ali the surrounding
county, aud those who vere fighting the fire, Of
cou1ee. were particularly coo~plcuous. This wa&
what old hornmann wanted He was after
shot at his best friend his wife, md bis oppor-
tpaitY soou came. He had secretod himself near
tha house. and not faT from the barn, with bis
revolver ready for Instant use, snd was coFertly
.atchicg all the movements. PRESENTLY Ms
Eo1Dmann, ignorantly, came within pistol
:ange, when Kornmanu blazed awAy. Blinded
" hate aud fear tho woaid-bo murderer cid
rot wait 10 See whether or not his shot had
,een fatal, but madiy rushing from his hid
;neelng down On hot-bed pnt the mug
:le Of his weapon to his Own foEahead snd
gain fred. The bail penetrated only hia
hick akin aud datteued against : hard wall ct
'one. Again he cooked BITS revolver and fired.
nd still ags.n, even to four timer, only TWO bal1s
reak1ng his skull &nd two baIs entering hia
esp1cable brain. He then dropped hia revolver,
nd with the blood ooziug out Of h,x quadtuple
round, staggered Awav into The road and thence
o~zfd LawTeuceburH.
The reports Of the successive shots hud
lar1ned Valentine and the b1red man, Leonard
.andal. both Of whom were engaged At tho fire,
nd they 1su to ascertain the 1ausA, They tna.-
' found old korumann snll staggering
oward La~renoebu1g, arrested him, brought
im IN early yesterday morning,
>dged him in the County Jail, nnd
ruced their liberalization to proae-
ute the old man for arson 1p case be recovered.
turing tho night his wounds were probed, and
Atez yesterday morning his wounds we're probed
2alc, when ono OF the calls was extracted,
nd when, though still conscious and alba
} confess his quit to the writer, he vas be-
eyed to be fatally injured
Tho effect OF his attempted and of bis accoen-
i.shed crime aroused the peopie c! HE pegh-
orhood, and very soon After Valentine and Ran
al. had removed him to Laurenceburg. = crowd
determined Germans had assembled. cIamor-
O for h;e body aud eager to $50 him hung.
adeed, All day yestarday they weEa declaring
ae,r purpose to assemble IN LAxrencebutg last
genlnc, snatch EoEnmauo from tho jail II n
Ill uted, and hang him to sh@ dzst lamp posA