The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-12
SUSPICIOUS OF MURDER.
4 BROOKLYN NAV Accused OF
KILLING ms FOURTH VIE.
Mysterious Disappearance aud nm Unsaiis-
fnctory ExpIanntion-Is Mrs. schnaufer
Dead or AIivct-What the Husband says.


fnctory Expianntion-Is Mrs. schnaufer
Dead or AIivot-what the Husband says.
Charles G. Schnnufer, well-to-do Ger
man grocer. who until recently has been in busi.
ness in Bridge street, Brooklyn, was arrested
yesterday afternoon on suspicion of having mur-
dered his wife Annie. who has not been seen
since last August. Schnaufer had three wives
before he married Annie Deven. who was a do
nestle In his family. lie lived In extreme uu-
happiness with his third wife, and had begun
proceedings for divorce from her when she
died. During the unhappiness that preceded
her death lie made love to Miss Deven, and
promised to marry her After the marriage he
began to treat her with cruelty, and she en-
ployed Cooney & TiThe, Brooklyn lawyers.
TO get divorce. The complaint alleged that In
his inhuman treatment Schnaufer attempted to
starve her 10y locking her up without food that
he threw her down stairs, that on Bit
terly cold nights he locked her out when she
had scanty supply of clothing on her, and that
several times he came to her bed side after she
was asleep aud dripped h hot grease from candle
Into her eyes. After he had made many prom
ises OF Kindness for the future, she consented to
return to him. and to drop the suit He was
kind long enough to have her execute with him
some mortgages. Then no renewed his abuse.
She then began another suit for divorce.
Schnaufcr again promised kindness, saying that
his children had made all Of tho trouble and
tnat he would 20 with his wife to another part
OF the city. They did remove to broadway,
Nllliamsbureh, and since August last, Mrs
Schnaufer has not been seen. He opened a gro
CRY store there. which In December last was
burned.
Recently n number OF noighbors and friends
OF Mrs. SchnAufer have asked MIR. James Iighe,
her former counsel, to search for her They
said that. since her disappearance, Schnauier
had said that he was widower, and
that his wife was dead and buried.
hey expected, from the former Ill treatment
that she had received. that she had been Killed,
and one ueighuor said that Schnaufer said that
he would Nil his wife II he could make 1t look
| like Hn accident.
On Thursday a Mr.. Edward O'Rourke com
| rleted the purchase from Schnaufer of a stable
worth $3.50, and received deed with name
| on II purporting to be that OF Mrs. Schnaufer.
| The signature was pronounced n forgery at the
! Registers ofice yesterday, and another COM
| plant was made against Schnaufer based on
! this transaction.
| formation and belief, accusing Schnaufer OF
! murder. lie wns taken before Superinte ndent
Campbell, and when questioned AS to his wife.
| Mr.. Tlghe says that cold drops OF sweat oozed
greatly disturbed. lie said that she In
| Broome street, New York, but could not tell
| whore. lie was held by Justice wash on the
| charge OF forgery, the other charge being dis
| missed for want of evidence.
| The police, however, have determined to ind
| out whether the woman Is alive. As SohnaufeT
| bad Sl,hsA In money In his pocket, and several
| balanced bank hooks, IL is thought that he was
| preparing to leave the country. Schnaufer war
| committed to uaymoni street Jail.
| Schnaufer, In Raymond street jail last night
| said to reporter tnat he had not seen his wife
| for six months. but that II hs wanted her verS
| bad lac guessed he could 0nd her. When he wa.
asked how he procured bor signature to thu
| deed, he answered that he had found her Ia
| Broume street. New York, and that he had in
duced her to 60 TO BroOklyn long enough To sist
the paper. lie refused to say where his wifi,
WIS., aud added that there wasn't word u
| truth In the charges.