The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-06-23

to appreciate the awful situation, and re-
auested Mr.. John Joshua Street, who stood
beside him, to accompany him TO the rear of
the building. When first apprehended by
Street, and lIarkins he denied having COM
mitied the deed, and said had he done it he
would not have alarmed the ncighbors.-
When alone with Mr.. John Joshua STREET.
and separated from the mob he confessed the
deed to him, and subsequently, to several
Others. The jury rendered verdict that the
deceased came 10 her death by the hands of
KlotZ. When asked why he had committed
the deed he stated lie always intended to kill
her through pure devlmcnt" He also stated
that there had never been any i'll feeling bp-
tween him md his victim One of the
parties thinking there must have been some
motive for the commission of the crime in.
quired if he had in any way insulted the de-
ceased on the morning OF the homicide {? He
said "No; and I'm very sorry have owned
up, rs | do not want to he hung"
TIE MURDERER's CONFESSION
klotz confessed freely 10 Mr.. Street, and |
others all the details of his terrible crime. lie |
said that knowing Almira had gone into the
cellar, he picked up the axe and followed
her. She was STOPPING over n fish barrel,
with fork in her hand, and did not perceive |
him. He approached and struck her on the
head with the poll of the axe. She fell
| pullI1 bNti anu lnp size Ot the BAR
rel, when he struck heragain She then sank
nearer to Che ground, and at the third blow
relaxed her hold and fell. With the blade of
the axe the fiend then struck her neck near
ly scvcring her head from her body
After his horrible work he went TO the
barn yard, and turned out his cows as usual
Upon returning to the house he met Mrs
Street, who sent him for her husband.
TIE HANGING OF I.LoTZ
The inquest was held about 12 O'Clock, and
between one and two I'M excited crowd took
klotz and hurried him along towards the
woods. Upon reaching the woods the end
of the rope was thrown over the limb of
tree. Then some one suggested he ought to
be allowed time to say a prayer. This the
crowd consented TO, but Klotz did not
pray. In response to n question as to
whether or not he was guilty, he said he had
committed the murder A lead pencil and
blank leaf from pass book were handed to
him, on which he wrote to his brother Will
liam, on Lombard street, near Broadway,
Baltimore, as follows
Dear Brother William-I am guilty of
the crime of murder Of" Then follow ed
the name and address of n friend in Balti-
more
In the meantime Squire Devoe arrived
upon the scene and summoned n posse of
eight or ten men to protect the prisoner
; A desperate struggle then cnsucd between
the Squire's posse and the hanging party
The latter succeeded in getting the rope
) around Klo!Z's neck and drew him uD from
the ground, but he was lowered before being
strangled.
The crowd then rushed with Klotz still
farther into the woods, the Squirrels posse
cndoavoring with all their might to protect
him. AS Klolz proceeded with his captors
, into the woods he asked for water. lie was
pointed to the branch, but said there was Il
cool spring near by, and proposed TO go
/; there. On his way there he said that if they
would get him gun he would shoot him
self He was told that there was no gun
about, and was asked if he would not hang
Q himself He inquired if hanging was an easy
death to die, and upon being told that it was
he consented TO it, and asked some one TO
pick him out tree. He proceeded TO the
spring, and took drink of water, rcmarking
that he had had no dinner nor breakfast. A
tree was selected for him, and on his way
thither he confessed that he had killed Miss
STREET., and remarked that lie had struck
l her in the back Of the head three times, and
she appeared to suffer so much, he thought
he would put her out of her misery by cut
ting off her head. He said he had been in
tending TO do it for two weeks, hut had no
| opportunity until that morning
Upon reaching the tree, which was tough
young chestnut, KloiZ remarked that il was
too small and pointed to white oak not far
distant. lie was told that the chestnut
would do, and without moments hesitation
: he took the rope which was handed to him,
and climbed the tree. Upon reaching the
limb nearest the ground, he placed the rope
around his neck, and cooly asked if it was
properly adjusted. Upon being told that
it was, he fastened the other end to the limb.
L He eniI the tDp lnpU mud nc
sisted oftwo halter ropes tied together, one of
them was united. Kot2 then tied the end
of the rope securely to the limb Some one
asked him if lie had anything to say, and if
he had not, to say God have mercy on my
/, soul" lie remarked, Gan have 10 say is,
! Good bye TO one and ALL" He then rolled
off the limb and struggled for few moments,
crying for help, and graspng the rope above
his head He let it go Immediately, and in
: IL few moments the struggles ceased
After life was extinct jury, consisting of
= Thomas Ii. Street, Frank McAtee, Thomas
I Butler Archibald Wilson, Samuel McAtee,
VIM, H. Wilson, DR.. NJ: l.. jarrett, Samuel
: Wilson, VIM. Hazlitt, Newton McCourtncy,
! John GLADDEN. and Thomas b. McAtee, rem
| dcred verdict that the deceased came to
1 his death by his own hands.
HIS FUNERAL.
Subsequent to the inquest two of the par
| ty, with the corpse between them, sprang
G into buggy standing near, and drove away
9 from the scene. After an absence of nearly
two hours they returned and said the body
! had been buried.
FUNERAL OF THE VICTIM
AS early as noon Friday all of the roads
contiguous to the residence of Mr. STREET. be-
| came crowded with moving vehicles contain
, ing friends of the family, and by 3 o'clock,
the hour set for the funeral, the house was
l completely filed and numbers unable TO
z gain admittance through the yard. Miss
2 Almira Street,, the victim, was Il beautiful
: girl of eighteen summers and a general fay.
orite of the ncghborhood in which she re-
: sided. She was noted for her kind DISPOSE
ton, and enjoyed a reputation unsurpassed
+ for simplicity and beauty of character With
, her parents she was the pet, being the only
one of four daughters remaining at home
Her remains were clothed in pure white with
Il large Elizabeth rulc conccaling from view
| the ghastly wound upon the neck The calm
, features, in the quiet sleep ofdeath, displayed
nothing to denote the character of her tragic
, end. The remains were cncascd in Il hand
some walnut casket, and literally covered
, with beautiful floral tributes. The interment
took place at the North Bend Church burning
ground about three miles from the residence
, of her parents.
The coffin containing the body was taken
into the church. Seated within the altar
were Rev Joseph Smith, pastor ofthe church;
Rev. b. F. Clarkson, of the M. E. Church
Rev. W. w. Litzinger, of the NJ p. Church;
and Rev. j. w. Steele, of the NJ Z. Church
South. The service began with reading the
hymn commencing "Lord, how mysterious
arc Thy ways" by Rev. j. w. Steele After