The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-17

Two Accounts Of the Injury, one of which Ac-
cuses Max RappeygOtt of Murder.


cuses Max RappeygOtt of Murder.
August Meltz Of 81 Orchard street died
on Saturday morning Of injuries which tue
police say were inflicted by Max Rappe, gott Of
o. Henry street, and another man whose name
they are unwilling to disclose. Mrs. Nleltz tells
the following story: August Meltz lost an arm
In the late war, aud was thereby unified for
Work at any active trade. lie mana. led, with tue
aid OF pension Of ss2s, to support himself and
wife by raising pigeons. Max Rap2eygott l. also
a pigeon flncier and the birds Of the two men Wis
tied each other frequently Two weeks ago Metz
claimed that kappevgott had killed one Il his
birds. and he demanded one In return. Rappey-
gottinyted Metz to inspect his dove cote, prom
ising to return any bird tIat he could Identity
bis own. Meltz accepted the Invitation, but
could rot pick out his missing tird. On sunday Of
list week he wcut 10 Rlupcyso;ts house again,
accompanied oy Charles Reiner. They drank
some beer befnre leaving home, but were -ooer.
Ole hOut AftCrwAru tucy returned. " The J ews
b we Killed mt, Metz said TO his VILE on enter
Ing lie WAS covered with boDd. had great
dinicllty tn ureathius,compl ined of intense pain
In his WOunued Hrn, ana showed "a broken nuger
on hi- remaining hand. lie said tina, tue, had
gone uo u the roof OF RIppeygOtts house,
where bis dove cote is. an1 that kappeNgott
1 oked the seattle upon them and ian for a
policeman to arrest them. THIS enraged heltz,
VINO was still powerful man IN spite oi bis
mutilation. lie and Reiner broke open tue
scuttle, ana were descending Mneu party OF
men attacked them with chairs and clubs.
Meltz Was struck q blow when caused him to
fail down one flight of steps md keiner soon
alter fell on him. They lay there stunned for
time, and thcn staggered nome. Mrs. Meliz
summoned dispensary physlcian, who, she
..Ns made no examination Of ner husbAnO's
injuries, but merely asked a few questions. ur-
dered potion, ana lcft. Meltz grew worse
rapidly on " sdnesdAy he bec me- deiirious
anu Mrs. Meltz's strength was xed T. the ut
most TO restrain HIN from violence. On FRIDAY
Dr. O'Counor OF East Broadway. was ca ed iu
IHl hon TIM a IM len
good. Meliz died early on saturday morning.
Coroner W Gilman ana Deputy Marsh made IA
post-niortem examination; hey found large
ahscess at the shoulder JOINT OF Meltzs ARA
stump. This was lnaulitstly the result Of
bruises from a fall The bone Of the stump was
also broken. Two ribs were found to be broken
and the contact OF the lungs with the ragged
edges had produced pleurl-y. On the strength
OF heiners decl ration tnat happeygolt was one
OF the men who strurk Meltz u warrant was Is
sued, and he was ARE ted YESTERDAY morning
anu committed 10 the Iomos 10 await the Coro-
ner's action.
Mrs.. Rappeygott tells a story differing In some
material points from the foregoing. she says
that Metz was very dictatorial and violent wnen
he came to see her husband. He threatened t.
throw RappeN gott on the roof unless he restored
the pigeon which was the cause Of the quarrel
Tins was Oh Metz's st visit. On the second
ana fatal occasion Meitz declared, as hs entered
RdpueYgOtts door, that he WAS bound to have
that pigeon or r" throw every coop on the roof
He commenced, Mr-. KappeygOtt says by kicklug
her. lie then assembled 10 the roof. her husband
going last. Rap ueNgott watched his oppor, unity,
aud turning tue KEY IN the seattle door, he ran
for a policeman. A few minutes afterward the
inmates of the house were stlrtled 10y the sound
Of falling bodies, and those VINO Investigated
found k.iuer lying ON Metz AZ the foot 81 the
stairway leading 70 the roof. Their belief Ia that
the men. being drunk, lost their balance. when
the scuttle fastening gave way. Tnry lay there
stunned for few minutes, and were just emery
ing from the house a. II ppeygott returned with
"a policeman. The officer merely ordered tho
men to move on. II the testimony oi the in-
mates Of the house Is credible, neither Meltz
nor hsiner was struck blow.