The New York herald., 1876-10-26
THE MAGGIE BAUER MURDER.
CONFESSION or M'coSocHIr, THE SLAYER %


Tue CHILD.
Tho terrible mystery is at last clearei up and the
murderer Of little Maggie Bauer is discovered. Ever
since her mutilacd body found in the woods
her parents dwcllins, the morning OF the 18th OF
Angus, last, suspicion has pointed most strongly at
Kate Holman probably guilty OF the dreadful
me- she was last seen IN her company the
evening previous but appears after all Kate's
fcrvcnt asscveratons OF innoceuco tho coroner's
inquest true and that she have parted from
Maggie Hummels barn. related her testL
monv. Two or three men have also been suspected
and have al various times been under and ex
animation and finally discharged Tor lack Of suicica,
proof, but y proves that OF these men, Frank
McConochie, otherwise known Frank Conner, 10
really guilty OF tho foul murder.
Mcconochie. II viii be remembered, arrested
weeks ago on suspicion shirt with blood
tho sleeve having found a barn where he had
made change, and he had since remained in the
Queens County JAIN at North Hampstead until tho
meeting OF the Grand Jury OF the Circuit Court last
week. when both no and Kate Hoffman were DIS
charged from custody. there not being evidence
Sufficient to warrant the ducing of Indictment
against either Since McConoche was set al liberty
no has been pcrsistently followed by Detective
Stephen Payne, whose in bringing the negro
murderers, jarvis and Jackson, to justice, VIII bo
recolectcd. He had no sooner leit Inc jan than
On Saturday night last, becoming satisfied that he
the right track, he arrested McConocno at
house In Fulton avenue Brooklyn, where lie was stop
ping with a German family named Hcrmely He i'm
mediatcly conveyed him 20 Jamaica. where he was
locked up cell At the Town Hall and kept there,
wnlc the officers worked upon various contradictory
stories lie told, all OF which were found To be falsc
He persstcnty insisted that he in New YORK when
the murder was committed and that he had
been Valley Stream or Fosters Meadow THIS
found to be entirely untrue the officers ascertannG
that tho day ana The day previous murder he
L.
18th. he was thcrc and got something to eat
On Monday about one hour after the murder o'
shortly after two o'clock 7. NJ. he entered a saoor
kept by German, between Springfield and Mr. Bauer's
house, and asked Tor something TO eat Al thus time
II noticed that his nose and face were scratched
aud bleeding He then inquired TOR the Merrick plank
road and went away toward pearsas Corner. About
four miles from this saloon 10 the eastward he was
seen the following day ut noon. He then stopped
barber's shop and got shaved, paying Tor II by
ing wood. He stated that he had walked from New
York and on his way to the Mcrrick camp
ing. Hc did not 20 to Merrick. however bu,, as ap
pears walked to Brooklyn and went TO the mouse oi
his sister who resides there, and whom hc asked Tor
some money. saying that he wanted to 20 West. She
gave him some money, but Instead OF gong away he
renamed about the place INT he had spent H.
On tho I'd OF September he got on farmers wagon
and rode to Hampstead and went 10 Mr. r. G. Barnums
place, where he worked about month. He then
arrested on Suspicion oi having knowledge OF tho
murder, in connection with KATE Hoffman, with whom
he was alleged TO have been intmate and kept in jail
until discharged as above stated.
Yesterday Detective Payne took HIM from his cell at
the Jamaica Town Hall aud conveyed him the place
where the murder committed. He had previously
been closely examined IN the presence OF Justc Ben.
nett and number OF officers when his manner and
his statements led to Tho conclusion that
he guilty Arriving at the place where the body
found NO was immediately struck with horror and
rcmorsc He could stand out in his denial no lonper,
but gave completely away, and made iull confession
only OF tho crime, but o the in which be
committed H. AT the request OF Payne he also showed
others who by tho fatal spot where the deed
committed and tne way in which he accomplished
II. His narrative II AS follows
On the afternoon oil the 18th of August, when the
murder was committed he was In corn 1eId ut inc
time when Maggie went to show Kate Hoffman tho way
tn rough the woods to tho Valley stream depot He
them both go past the field; watched Maggies
and as she got opposite to bm he sprang out At
her and grapped her by the throat TO prevent hei
making NOISE, the child meanwhile cying Ma! ma ~
At this point OF tho confession the mother OF Maggie
wis was present. sprang upon the prisoner with the
ierocty OF tigress. grabbed him by the throat and
would no doubt have cbokcd HIM to death but for the
IN, n,crpostion OF the officer who could with difficulty
keep her away ON the murderer OF her child.
McConochic c0ntlnucd.-After choking Maggie he
kept grasp upon her throat aud carried her through
tho field 10 the woods where he attempted
her person, aud crammcd leaves and tho OF
her bonnet into her mou b. tying tho strings tightly
tied tightly around her neck, which completed the
work Of murder He atierward broke down come
cedar limbs that he could hnd the body alter dark
the purpose OF hiding enectually bu: whei
darkness camo on he was AFRAID 10 go near the place
In answer TO a question he said that the injury Ia
Maegie's person done with his hand.
After McConochc had made this horrible confession
no was at once taken by the officer to the Valley Str am
depot, to take IRAN back Jamaica. Here tho
fcssioa being nosed about crowd soon gathered with
rope and The prisoner saved with great difficulty
from immediate death by lynchingthc officers lhreat
ening shoot the FIRST person that approached him.
He finally returned IN safety to his cell at jamaica
McConochc Is twcnty-scven years old and was born
In this country The members OF his family highly
respected residents Of Brooklyn and for some time
past havc refused to have anything to do With him
Hc represented 10 be by nature passionate and lust
u One circumstance that led Detective Payne TO be-
lcve that he guilty was his explanation OF tho
scratches his nose and face and the blood his
shirt sleeve. The former were undoubtedly mace by
Maggc's finger nails IN her struggle with him. Hs
said they madc through his being thrown OF
wagon. Had this been the the wounds would hav,
been OF a different character He said the blood hi
came from tho cause hts arm beng cut,ant
he showed what he said rent the sleeve, hui
which proved, upon close examination to be cut with
q knifc There also small cut in the arm pu
an examination OF the sleeve showed that tho blood
was upon the outside; there was none upon the In
side.
rho regular examination will take place before Jus
tico Bonuctt, OF Jamaica. o. Monday next. The Jus
tice and the officers attached to his deserve
much credit Tor tho prompt manner In which the,
have throughout cooperateI with Detective Payne.
Tho Board OF Supervisors some ago offered
reward o.. $3.50 Tor tho discovery OF tn murderer
This will probably be voted, with an increase to 81 o00
at the next meeting.