National Republican., 1876-07-01
HOMICIDE.
A Butcher Knife the Marderous Weapon.

with the coming of the warm weather crime
appears to increase. Whether the heat makes
man more irritable and less cautious in wore or
action and aggravatcs him to desperate deefs is
unknown, but one fact Is evident, that the more
serious ottenses against the law and life occur in
the summer time and at a period when the ther-
mOneter ranges In the nineties. For several
months past this community has had reason to
congratulate itself on the good order and peace
prevailing in the city and the freedom Of the cap
ital of the nRtion from those terrible tragedies
that were once OF frequent occurrence. 1t was
hoped that tho time for deadly strife between
men, in this District, had passed beyond recur
renee, hut it seems that fhis much-d.sired cendi-
tiOn of affairs could not De made perpetual, and
aow another homicide, t5ckening in detail, has to
be chroncle1.
In yesterdays NATIONAL REPUBLICAN a
Charles Strobel and William Altman, at Sixth
and d streets, about 10 O'Clock last Thursday
night, in which the former stabbed the latter in
the abdomen with a butchers knife, from the
effects of which cutting Altman died yesterday
morning at $40 O'Clock, despite the physician's
trouble and its origin will now become necessary,
in consequence of the grave results that have
ensued and charge Of murder that stands against
the perpetrator Of the act and to which he has to
make answer.
The two principal actors in the bloody affair
Charles Strobel and William Allman-are both
South Washington, and have been acquaintanees
for some time past, associating with party OF
young men OF equal age of themselves
THE REPUTATION OF THE CROWD,
individually and collectively was none of the BEST
and most of thcm are we'll known TO the police Of
that section of the city who have had them in Gus
tody several times. Especially so in the case of
young StrObeI, who is Of a qlarrelsome disposI-
tion, and frequently mixed up in tights and sitter
cations, in which he has been known to perform
an active part
Last Thursday night, near 10 o'clock, VIM. AL
man and several Others met on Sixth, near
street, and there the former got into q dispute
with one OF his companions about a dog, and tn"
battle of words was sufficiently loud to att
the attention of persons residing in the ne
the street, went over 20 the scene - ae s,o o'
rying IN his hand a large butchS ,l,, 11e, 1sa 81
hay nsf anS ssnssedRs
sayiRS sast sis S1s fsDS o.
and and that me that he should have fair
time HeE< Stely on his arrival, and ct which
Bill = yAllman, brother of the deceased, and
~ lealy were fighting, Strobel went to the
Deer and passed something into his hand Upon
refusing to tell what It was, Altman knocked him
down; On rising, Really threw something at All
Henry Altman, after a brief chase for Ready,
came back and went up to Strobel, and accused
him, which was denied and the lie passed between
the parties. Altman struck ut him, and Strobel
WAS about retaliating when VIM. Altman inter-
during which Strobel used the butcher knife, and
Altman cried out:
''GRRAT GOD, I'm CUT.''
Stroebel, after the cutting, left the crowd, wip-
ing his knife. The injured man was removed 10
BCswelfs drug store where DR.. Leach was called
in TO attend him. The doctor at once came to the
concusion that the wound inflicted would result
in death. and had Altman removed TO his home,
ct tho corner Of a half and streets south.
west. About O'Clock yesterday morning DIR.
Johnston Eliot was called in for q consultation,
and both physicians decided that nothing could
be done but give the suffering man, who had been
vomiting nearly bucket full Of blood, injections
Of whisky to prolong life as long as possible.
from the effects of the wound at go o'clock.
Stroebel was arrested at his residence, on vir-
ginia avenue, between Sixth and Seventh streets
cinct, at o'clock yesterday morning, and locked
up at the station. Later he was conducted to
was taken. He was then brought to the Police
Court, where
A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION TOOK PLACE,
Mr.. Henry Cleary acting as counsel.
Henry Altman was the first witness, and testi-
fed that the a1ray occurred on street, near the
Island hall. He was present, and VIII Raley,
another boy, came over to fight witness. Charley
Stroeel ,el,, was with, with Raley Charley gave Raley
interfered and told Strobel and Raley not to hurt
witness. Strobel then Jerked out a knife and cut
his brother, and he called out, "Oh, Henry, am
cut" Strobel then made lunge at witness and
cut his vest; he wanted to kill him. Afterwards
he ran off home. After some cross-examlnation-
DR.. ii. L Leach was called, and testified as to
the wound, which was in the abdomen. He made
a cursory examination at the place of the stab
bing, and hen ordered the removal of the wounded
boy 10 his hOu-e. On the way he commenced
vomiting up blood, which satisfied witness that
he was severely injured internally. He fingered
until morning and died.
Frank Howard testified to the night He saw
Henry Altman strike Really, and also saw VIM.
Altman about to strike Strobel and the latter
mCde pass with something in his hand, and re-
marked that he would not allow any g. of a b.
to come down ON him.
Crossexamined: Saw Altman strike Strobcl
OF them. VIM. Altman told Strobel that his
brother Henry was too small TO bit, and If he
wanted to strike any one to strike him.
Sergeant Mslhall testified that when he arrest
ed Stfobel he gave up the knife and said he had
used ii in selfdefense He said the knife belonged
to his father.
ordered his commitment for the grand jury, and
said no bonds could be taken.
Strobel stood up in the dock handcufed during
the hearing and seemed to be striving to put on q
bold and uEconcerned look, although he betrayed
signs of nervousness. He does not look like bad
youth, but the officers state that he has violent
temper.
THE INQUEST
was beid at the First precinct station. and while
Drs. Hartigan and Leach were performing the
post mortem Coroner ID. q. Patterson impanelled
the following jury, summoned BY Sergeant Dun:
Small, r. E. England, 6. w. Talbert, George
Croson, Abraham Fisher, Joseph Gordon, Ed.
Hammersly, q. q. Bowling, J. W. Healey and y.
Frank Howard testified that he was returning
from swimming, when they came upon Henry
Altman, VIII Really and Floyd Mason. Bill
Altman called out to him to stop and see a stone
tight; Really had his hand behind him; Altman
asked him what he had in his hand, and Really
replied, Never mind what have" Altman
looked him in the eye and then struck him.
Really then threw something at Altman, which
sounded, when it struck the ground, like piece
of heavy iron. He then ran away, the boys fol.
lowing him with stones. Henry Altman came
back n a few moments and accused Strobel Of
giving Really piece Of iron to throw at him
iHenry.) A few words passed, during which the
lie was passed, Strobel denying to having given
| the iron. Henry Altman then struck Strobel,
| and the latter was going to strike back when
Bill Altman jumped up and grabbed Strobel by
| tho coat collar, saying that
HENRY WAS TOO SMALL FOR HIM TO HIT.
| They tusseled for q while, Bill Altman having
hold with both hands .'trobers coat-oollar. The
| witness saw Strobel mESa wipe with his right
1 hand. Altman let 90 of Strobel and cried out
| 'Great God, Frank, come here; am cutr' Wit
ness thought Altman was joking, and replied, ~
| nCne of my funeral" Just then Strobel passet
| by witness, viping something; witness could no
| say what il was. Strobel said, Il am going Il
| have a crowd sit on me-" Witness then said
| Boys, he has cut him; kill the s-n Of b-h"
| Strobel ran Of followed by boys, who were throw
| up a stone and threw 1t at Strobel Witnes
never knew the parties to have any seriou
\ trouble before.
| Dr. Hartigan testified concerning the wount
that 1t was three inches long cutting the stomach
in two places, and causing death.
| Dr.Leaeh also gave similar testimony.
| No further testimony was taken, and the Jur.
| returned a verdict that the deceased came to hi
| death by q wound in the abdomen, inflicted by
knife in the hands of Charles Strobel