The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-23
UNPARALLELED BRUTALITY.

AN OLD MAN DRIVEN TO DEATH BY HIS WIFE
AND CHILDREN.
One OF the most shameful cases OF wanton abuse
and fnhuman treatment Of an aged husband and
father by his wife and children that has ever been
recorded came to light yesterday through the
medium or testimony OF coroner's inquest.
Last Wednesday morning, at an early hour, the
sharp report OF pistol was heard coming from
the back yard of No. !, 646 Third avenue, On look
ing to ascertain the cause OF The report the neigh
bors saw Stgismond SETTER an old and feeble
man, lying dead in a pool OF muddy water. In his
right hand he held a revolver, with which he had
blown out his brains
The deceased man was married many years ago
70 q woman very much younger than himself, and
with whom he lived very happily until within
three or four years. Two strong. lusty boys were
the product OF this marriage, and they are now
respectively nineteen and twenty-one years OF
age The old gentleman as the time Of his death
was seventy-six years Of age. His wife Is now
about forty-1ve II what one-half the nelRnbers
VINO lived contiguous to the residence Of these
people say be true this woman and these sons are
simply
BRUTRs IN HUMAN SHAPE.
As stated above the fatal shot was nred at an
early hour on wednesday morning, the body OF
the unhappy man failing into pool OF stagnant,
nlthy water. Here It was left all day beneath
the rays OF q scorcning sun, the wife and
sons refusing to touch IL. number OF times
they we're heard congratulatlng themselves upon
dance II ana one OF the boys several times In
dulged IN what he considered facetious remarks
about the appearance OF the ''old man, as he lay
STARK and cold in death. Coroner Kesser visited
the scene OF the tragedy about SIX O'CLOCK on
Wednesday evening, and removed the body from
the yara 10 the house.
me inquest was held yesterday. Some fifteen
or twenty witnesses were examined. 49,,
i Il
West TnIrty-sixth street; am furrier; have
known Stetter Tor the past nteen years; he was al
ways sober and Industrious and seemed to be
very ktRdnearted man; the deceased told me that
MS wife and children had treated him wrengfullyi
that he had done oil be could Tor them the wife
was dissatisfied with him because he was TOO old
last week the man visited my place twice, ana
Cancellation, IN view OF the near approach OF MS
eldest sons birthday.
Charles static tcstibed;-l have known the
deceased ABOUT a rear aud nalf he often got me
to 90 home with MIN 20 endeavor TO concilate his
family, but was never successful; the youngest
son has often, Ia the presence OF hts mother ana
while was standing by. SAID, 81 am going 10
KILL TIKI OLD DoG,r
abiding 10 his father; old StetteT bore everything
quietly, although his wife even behaved immorally
In his presence; at last his mind became greatly
depressed in consequence OF the il-treatment he
received at the hands OF hts family, aud am satis-
fed IN my mind nom my intimate acquaintance
committed suicide only on that ground he was
unable any longer to bear the abuse.
Another witness swore;-I nave known the de-
ceased since 1862; he was q good man and sup
ported his family as long as nc was able to do so
he often complained 70 me that bis wife and
children threw him out OF the house when he was
sick, and wanted TO get rid OF him the deceased
TO my knowledge has been saving money and laid
| the foundation Of tue business now carried on by
the wife aud sons; Stetter also did his utmost to
educate his sons.
The orioer who first saw the dead man swore
that he asked the wife II sbs would bury the
BODY, ana she replied that she would not spend
one cent on that man. The oficer was also told
tnat one OF tho soma pelted the old man with rot
ten eggs few days before his death.
The jury rendered the following
VERDICT -
That deceased came 70 his death by suicide,
from q pistol shot wound, at No. 1o4e Third ave.
nue., and we find that the deed was committed
while he was suffering from an aggravated case Of
ill-treatment as the hands OF his wife, Maria Ste.
ter and his children. We also severely eensure
the said wife and two sons, Emil and William, Tor
their inhdman treatment OF their aged father and
their brutal conduct IN allowing the remains OF
the deceased TO Ito, exposed to public gaze In the
yard and on the very spot where the deco was
committed.
This MODEL wife and three exemplary sons were
held 70 ball By the Coroner IN the sum Of $500
u zach " Await Vie sctl0R " me Graaalnr&