New-York tribune., 1876-01-12
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
THE FURY OF A JEALOUS HUSBAND.

THE FURY OF JEALOUS HUSDAND'
A CIGAR DEALER IN EAST TwENTY-EIGHTH-sr.
d. SHOOTS A FIREMAN AND THEN KILLS HIMsEIF-
THE CAUSE OF THE DEED-THE MURDERERs
RAGE Ar THE FIHEMAN'S ATTENTIONS To HIS
wIFE-THBEATs TO KILL THE NIRUDER-CiR-
CUMsrASCEs OF THE SHOOTING.
A terrible tragedy occurred in the Twenty
first Ward last night Antoine Martens cigardeaier nj
No. 2l3 East Twenty-eighth-st., shot and mortally
wounded Thomas Rogers, member OF the Fire Depart
uent of this city, aud then blew his own brains out.
The events that led to the tragedy were IA follows
Rogers was the Assistant Foreman of Hook and Ladder
Truck No T. whose house adjoned No 2l3 East twenty
eglth-st On May l. LS7j Mr. Martens bought the cigar
store at that place and moved there with his wife and
child, little girl about years OF age. soon
afterward Rogers entered Martens's store and
became acquainted with the proprietor and his
family. He was a good customer and made very IRE
Ouent visits 10 the store Mrs. Martens looked WIN
favor upon Rogers. both because he was lrontaOie
patron and because he was man OF fine appearance.
When he was somewhat under the influence Of liquor he
pad attentions to Martens that he probably would
not have ventured upon at any other times. Mrs. Mar
tens was plump rosy-cheeked young German, and her
husband appeared be extremely fond OF her or late
be has grown Jealous and has often seemed 10 be watch
inc his wife, especially when Rogers was in the store
In the rear OF the store the bedroom and behind that
neatly furnished paIlor on Thursday, Dec 30 Rogers
wa in the parlor with Nrs. Martens He was somewhat
under the influence Of liquor, and was chatting freely
Size said Let us 30 into the front store II any per
son should here it would give cause for scandal
She had hardly uttered these words when the door was
thrown open, and her husband, enrased and furious
stood in the entrance. Addressing Rogers, he said
What are YOU doing here Sir, in my private room with
nv wfeo Rogers was somewhat confused, but, laugh
ING as though joke said came IN 10 look nj
your stovepipe" "y stoveppe take care Of ITSELF
exclaimed Martens If you are TO live with my "ile'
am not"
Martens highly excited rushed back to the store de-
caring that he about to leave the house forever
Rogers went out Immediately and the nfuriatcd hus-
band clded ms wife severely and kicked her. lie swore
that he would kill Rodgers if ho came into The place
again.
The next day, on Friday Martens purchased seven
chambercd revolver, and loaded six Of tine chambers
Rogers did the place until the next Sunday
He was again under the influence Of liquor At h' sight
OF Rogers Martens furious and declared that he
would Kill him. Mrs. Martens seized her hus-
band and held him, while Rogers got out Of the place as
quickly as possible. The next day on the complaint oi
Martens Rogers was reduced 10 the ranks and trans
ferred to Engine No. Is at west TentAat and Gr',n
wich-aye This separated him from Mrs. Nor
tens and there was trouble until last ni< About
$50 D. m Rogers into Ie store and found MI and
Mrs Martens there with their little daughter. lie was
slightly intoxicated, and began taking 10 Mrs hutes
At this the husband became furious. H. cried 81
have got you now, you destroyer o. my honor
and will shoot you like djg" Marons then drew ms
revolver from his pocket His wife seized his aud
screamed TO Rogers from the s0fe. Throwing his
wife from him and threatening to kill her aiso Martens
sprang around the counter and fired at Rogers who was
Just going Of the door. The ball struck hiin In
the back Of LIS head He turned his face and the husband
fired again. the bail striking Rogers the point Of the
chin The wounded man staggered the sidewalk
and The husband fired again, this ball passing through
Rogers right arm. A fou:tl time Martens
fired and tls shot struck Rogers IN the
left side Just the angle Of tho sixth rib, and he fell
Seeing him fall and doubtless believing him dead Mar
ten, raised pistol and placing tho muzze close TO bis
right temple fred He frl on the sGo"al" and expired
without a word grOan.
Can't. Murphy, Sergeant Tuck, and number Of the
officers Of the Twentyrst Precinct Police, attracted by
the noise OF the shooting, hurried TO The
scene Of the tragedy. They TOOK up the dead
body OF Martens and bore 1t into the
little parlor behind lilo store. Rogers WAS
taken into the drug store near at hand lie remained
unconscious. The ambulance surgeon only examined his
wounds burriedly but pronounced thom mortal Rogers
was taken to Bellevue Hospital, and mis- wounds were
dressed. Tho surgeon found that ono ball
struck the back Of his lead, glanced oil, aud
was buried in the muscles OF tho neck, where
it was cut out 1t could not be ascerained positively
whether or the skull fractured. Another bah
struck point oftlo chin and glanced downward cut
ting the clothing but not penetrating the body the
third passed through the flesh OF the risht upper
arm, but did not fracture the bone.
The fourth and most dangerous wound WAS
made By the last bullets entering TIC left
side just below the angle OF tho sixth rns. Coroner
Croker and Dr. McWhnnie at the hospital at mid
night to take an ante-In0rem deposition but though
partly conscious, Rogers much under the miu-
ence of liquor that his abatement was not tkor iis
wounds were declared by the physician NJ the hospital TO
be fatal
Coroner Croker also called upon Mr. Marten, 10 take
her deposition. Dr. McWbinue found that the bah
which caused the death of Martens had passed completely
through the skull He extracted from under the skin
the opposite side from that which il had entered
Mrs. Martens made full statement OF the
II has been given above. shc said that she
had been married four years that her husband
Belgian. He had never shown any OF this fatal
jealousy, she said. until tho Thursday before
Christmas. when he found Rogers alone with her in
the parlor; but since that time he had acted
like crazy man, and frequently threatened
10 take the life OF After Rogers was transferred
she had hoped that he would not to her house
again. The Coroner gave Mrs. Martens permission to
bury her husband and make any Arrangements the
funeral that she desired.
The mother Of Rogers was overcome with grief when
she heard Of her sons fate. She went to the hospital
and sat there with him, bathing his head
sud mnistering to lis wants. she is lady
evidently about, C5 years Of age, and her hair
is white rs snow. Rogers frequently murmured Poor
old mother; L nm sony for your sake" Coroner
Croker is take the anenortem deposition OF Rogers
early this morning The police last night Aad charge OF
tie building where the tragedy occurred, and Kept the
curious crowd from attempting to enter the place.
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They were standing III front of her gate.
HIS rSnt arm was occupied IA holding her ny, Wmio LIS
Aud they were Watching tne bright aud glorious moon