The New York herald., 1877-08-31
Murder Of John MeeZner by
His Brother Karl.
AT ONCE A WIFE AND MISTRESS
A Tale of Domestic Misery and Socia
Oepravity.
Frightful Era of Suicides-POisOn Grown
Popular -Murderous Assaults.

city Whlcn lie al the hands oil
own brother Sudden passion, No doubt, caused the
murder: but also brought about by OF those
peculiar family complications which exhibit OF
The strongest phases Of crime. There 10 a woman
in the case, tut her position Is as yet
not positively defined. The family history of all tho
parties concerned is considerably involved aud the
relations o the actors In the strange drama have not
us yet met with iu Interpretation. Owing, too, to
the people concerned In the tragedy being ignorant OF
the English language and their being almost entirely
isolated from their country people in this city, II
has been matter OF difficulty account OF
their past career but from what be cleaned their
story has been singuiarly romantic one.
KARL MEszSER's EARLY LOVE
About nine years ago there lived IN q little German
village, IN Wurtemburg, two brothers OF the name OF
Mcszner. Karl. the younger, became enamored OF a
young woman of the place showed her such nten-
ton that his rivals thought It best to abandon the
field to him. Barbara Holzapfcl, her part, seemed
to have keen appreciation OF karl's favor and TO uy
return his affection. After paying his addresses to
The young woman for some time Karl led her 10 the
altar and shortly aiterward brought her to the home
Of the Meszners', where he resided with his elder
brother John Their were exceedingly
limited but all for timo went we'll
with them. Behteen months passed. during
which Barbara bore Karl two children No trouble
during this period occurred impair tue happiness Of
their married life But few months later the
ren-eyed monster jealousy took possession OF Karl
who had become suspicious or his brothers. relations
to his WIFE, He grew low spirited, isolated himself
from them, got IN trouble wnh tho officials OF the
place and then suddenly disappeared No one knew
where hc went. and no word of him ever reached his
native village. Meantime his brother John felt
strained 10 look after the interests Of his sister nlaw
and her children lie took the family in charge and
gradually assumed his brother position, living with
her IN OV Al no bes ho
could as well as the ttlo ones, who, however dod
Times were MT very good In the little German village,
and some years ago John came 10 America bringing
the woman with him. He was papermaker by trade,
and on his arrival here he secured employment, and
had worked steadily until lately when he lost his
situation and found IL Impossible TO obtain another
His tlle savings gradually windied to almost nothing.
ing either himself or the woman whose pro-
lection he had assumed While In this extremity |
in the city. Moreover he ascerlalned that he
had taken 10 himself another vile and had reared an
that Karl was plyrg his old ayocaton in a wood carv-
Ing establishment al No. 100 Monroe street. John AZ
had deserted all unmlndul, it seems OF tho peculiar
responsibility he himself had assumed in her behalf
and the position no had placed himself in with regard
to his brother. He did not STOP however, to reason
such matters, but c0ntented himself with telling
Barbara that Kari had been found and that they must
at once 20 TO him aud ask him tor lep.
AFTER sX YEARS
Tho furniture factory where Karl worked was that of
NJ II. Schrenkeisen IL is large concern and there
great number Of hands employed Karl worked
At q lathe on the first floor
Yesterday morning John accompanied by his
brothers. wife and ono child about SIX years old. went
the factory and inquired Tor Karl Meszncr. There
were two men OF that name employed IN the |
building, and one OF them was sent
for. lilo came, but when John him |
he said that be wanted the other Karl An employee |
directed him the first floor where he would |
find him. Proceeding up stairs the little party OF |
three carefully picked their way through the ma
chinery and presently came upon the man they |
sought.
THE MURDER.
Karl sood bafa hic turpi in all
conscious that within few feet Of him stood his de.
serted wife, his brother aud his little child. Calmly
and SAID "Knrl!" The familiar tones Of his brothers.
voice, not heard in years. startled him. aud with
inc stood and looked at each other. neither
uttcrIng n word. Gradually the recollection OF past
head and soobed while the little child casped ITS
mothers dress ana looked up into her face full Of
"Wbat do YOU 20 want" finally exclaimed Kari.
''Hcre is your wife, replied John, pointing to the
woman who was still weeping "You ought TO give
children. You arc doing we'll and can afford It AT
any rate she IS your lawful wife aud you ought to do
something to support her. ~ continued John
As his brother uttered these words Karl grew pale
with rage and yelled OUT:
"Do you expect me to support your mistress and
your chdrcng never will No; never never!
nevcrl"
He then turned TO his lathe, and taking up ono OF
tho chsels began work John advanced and put his
hand Karl's arm and said:
"Kari, | want---n but the sentence never
finsncd Tor with sore OF rage, heard far above
tne rafting OF the shop, Karl sprang upon his brother
and plunged the chisel deep into his heart His
OF rage was followed by ono OF agony as John
turned and with dizzy steps made his way 10 the |
street, his e's blood staining the floor behind him.
notified OF the afray, and he al once appeared
with tour officers Johu lay upon the sidewalk, his
from his breast and dripping down upon the ground
beneath h'm sever" people, with horrlled
s% Ay aSsas s ss's
sight and at loss what course to
slre Choir He was breathing heavily, and times his
face worked convusiveiy. piece o canvas was |
house. One OF the policemen who was walking at his
side saw his eyes open and close again and his face
grow rigid. He bent over the strctcher and glance
showed him tnat the man was dead.
ARREST or THE MuRDERER.
Meantime Captain McEwain and a couple OF officers
had asccndcd the factory stars The machinery was
still in notion its rumble and rat tie shaking tue build
ing, but several OF the hands had lett their places and
were watching who stood at his lathe, calm and
collected 1t seemed but dcathy PALE with ono hand
still resting upon tue weapon with which he had struck
the fatal blow. Captain Mcklwain approached him
.'Did you kill that nan?'
.KilI him; Yes, suppose did," Rail Meszuer
answered him, IN dazed, bcwildcrcd way.
'Was he your Orothcry"
'He was born my brother" This answer was given
in expressive Of the deepest hatred and IA he
spoke his face lost It's rgIdty and assumed look OF
the utmost lcrocity.
.Why did do ~" he shricked, rather than spoke,
sridng up TO the Captain and gesticuiatins Violently
''Nhy ola 40 IL! BrCauSc ue fulncu my nome ana
robbed me OF my wife and little ones That's what he
DID And this man came here ana brought that woman
to me. To me- My Goa WHAT could do but kill
him! Would you not do the slncY'
The Captain, without more ado, at once ordered Karl
90 with him. lie submitted, without word, put
ASIDE his weapon, wiped his hands upon bis apron
and went out oi the building prisoner.
scgNE Az THE roLicE STATION
The scene at the seventh precinct police station was
peculiar one immediately after The murder The
body o John was stretched upon the Iloor, the limbs
sun one arm slightly bent, with tho nngcrs pointing
apparently The tcrrius wound his breast. Almost
immediatey under where the body lay was Karl,
the murderer, alone in cell, his fingers
clutching the ir0n door, ana his lace, with the wd
gleam yet In hs eyes, pressed against tue bars. In
the with the corpse, and few icet from II,
sat the Barbara the cause OF the tragcdy-the
wie OF the living brother, the mistress OF the dead
she had dazcd, frightened expression. and every few
moments broke out into violent sobs. Her little
child, all unconscious OF the terror oil the scene, ran
about the room, stopping now aud again tn look upon