, 1875-12-26
SAD DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.
Baltimore 1dxetfe. Dec. Is.

John Lauterbach Lived with hia Bon, Ferdinand
Lauterbach, at the corner OF Baltimore aud Pop
peton streets. Tho old man Was great favor
i:e OF tho children in the neighborhood, and
would frequently gather them around him and
distribute among them gifts OF cake. cardies,
and the like. He Tas also an 1nTetetate pipe
smoker, and WAS in the habit Of carrying his
pipo, tobacco, and matches in the same eDockes-
Shortly before 7 o'clock on Tuesday he left
tue house OF his son and went to the store OF
Mrs. Annie Schmidt, No. C85 West Baltimore
street. There he met two daughters and 3 neice
(Lizzie Eidmonn) Of Mrs. Schmidt, and bcgsu
amusing them with stories and childish tales.
After time he produced from the pocket where
he carried his tobacco and matches three small
cakes, which be gave the children. The Oldest
daughter Of Mrs. Schmidt ato portion Of the
axe given her, but, finding something peculiar
abont the taste, threw the remainder 10 the
etcve, saying that ehe did not like it. The cake
in burning emitted bright blue flame noticed
by the others, but only thought remarkable after
the fatal results. The younger daughter ate
about cne-half Of her portion when ths oldest
sister, suspccting something WRONG, took
the remainder from her and laid It
on the mantel shelf. The child Lizzie
Eldmann. unnoticed by the other, ate the Whola
OF he. cake. AiE. Laurerbach shortly after left
the store, returning to the house OF bis son and
retiring for the night Between and O'Clock
that evening Lizzie Eidnann WAS seized with
violent vomiting, md what WAS most remark
,, able. the material thrown from her stomach
emitted blue phosphorescent smoke. Some
delay ensued before physician WAS called, and
when DR.. EttcrIine arrived at $3.50 D. m We'd
pesday, he found Lizzie Eidman dead and The
daughters OF Mrs. Schmidt suffering with
symptoms similar to those OF the other
child. By administering an emetio to
the children tho remainder of the poison
ous material was removed and their lives
saved. On hearing tho story OF she affair, DR..
Ento1liao repaired to the residence OF Ferdl-
maud Lnuterbach and told him Of the occur
rencc. In company they went upstairs to tho
fathers room, and found him, partly dressed.
living on the right side OF the bed dead- The
Coroner searched the pockets Of the old man,
and in them found number OF loose matches,
crumbs OF cake, bits OF tobacco, and pipe.
Examining the body Of the deceased he found it
turned to blush hue, and the odor OF the
phosphorus was evident throughout the room.
He then proceeded to the house OF 3lra. Schmidt,
examined the body OF Lizzie Eidmann'
and finding the traces OF the poisonous
phosphorouB still moro evident, decided
that an inquest would be unnecessary,
death having undoubtedly ensued from the ef-
fccts OF the phosphorus OF the matches In tho
old mans pocket having iHpregnated the cake
eaten By the child and the tobacco which he bad
used. The child was years old, and was pu-
pi at Female Primary School No. Is. John
Lauterbach was 79 years Of age, and came TO
this city from Germany about Elk years ago.
Where ha procured the cakes is not knoVn, aa
his eon states that they could not have come
from his store, as they are Of shape and SIZE
yhicn he does not make The portion IN the
possession Of Coroner Os1e .s stale, and had eyi-
IDENTITY been carried in the old mans pocket Tor
sc1r daTs; and had become perfectly perme2ted
with the phosphorus from the matches