The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-05
THE CENTENNIAL MURDER
The German who was Killed for Seven Dol
Iars-The Trial of his Assassins.

YOUNGSTOWN, Sept. 4.--On Monday next
Heinrich wahlcn will be placed on trial for the
murder OF Max Hugo Hochne. This murder Is
widely known as the Centennial murder"
from the fact OF its having been committed at
the Centennial encampmcnt Of the Changers. ut
Elm Station. on the Pennsylvania Railroad. q
short distance from Philadelphia The MUIR
der was not discovered until four months after
II had been committed. and was then shrouded
in mystery. Detective Abrams OF Norrisown
undertook the case and in short time had
sufficient facts to warrant him In arresting
Wahlcn on suspicion OF being the murderer
Detective Abrams holds IA a witness Adolf
S,rcpolky n former associate Of wahlcn. After
strcpolky had been lodged in Jail the detective
found in his rooms at 53l North Fifth street.
Philadelphia. II trunk in which were Il black coat
and vest and other articles. They were brought
to Norristown and identified IA Hoehne's prop
cr,y by one Carl Thompson. The trousers that
Strrpoiky wore at the time OF the arrest were OF
the same goods az The clothing found in NE
trunk, and were finally acknowledged by the
prisoner to have been Hochnrs. before tnis
the detective gave the coat and vest to Strcpoky
in his cell. with the remark. Here's change
~ clothes for you" The prisoner seemed
startled. and. finding that some evidence Of his
ruilt had been discovered. said that he desired
To make n confession OF all he knew OF the
crime Tn the presence of the detective lac told
substantially the following story:
Mnhlrn. Hoehnc. and himself left Philadelphia
md walked to the scene Of the murder. about
irving there between 9and 10 o'.lock ut night.
To hnc was drums. he and Wahlcn sober.
Wuhlcn hal piled his victim with beer from nm
carly hour In the evening. and when the three
got well into the deep cut on the railroad, they
all sal down Strcpulky, and Hochne nearly he-
ln,ler Wahlrn had hummer belonging to
S.rrpulky. and about 10 uclo X. just us u train
was passing over. the road near by Wnhlen
fllf and 1ttttt a. "a hII
blow. Hoohnr f'll over With u groan wherc-
upon his u-saili,nt stru X him on the heed with
| Strnpoky. " guess have given him enough"
| Mnhlen then lifted tho dead man up by the
halr. AMI stripped on ~ his clothes and rlil"d
his 20 kcls NJ seven dollars. all the money they
Tir| nigh, the body Of IIochno was allowcito
| remain where II felt AMI Nnhcn and Strepolky
| went ton neigh boring cornncld for a few hours
| r'st Enrly nest morning they returned Ia the
! scene of tho murder. and with the hammer du.
! n sort Of hole close 10y. threw the body into it
! md covered II with earth, stones an under
! brush. With IN" clothing in their poss 'ssicn
woods not iar on and washed out the blood
stains from their own and the dead mans gar
wen, over 10 the Sehuylkll together. and agar
washed the clothing and themselves. SO tina
Wahlcn'~ ohlet was TO prrsona,e Hoehue fol
| the nurpose NJ drawing money from the dead
maa's father in Berlin. Str.polky was per
| surdsd To DO his shar" Of the decd for thu
soon as they were cleaned.
The two men Subsequently returned 10 Phila
d"lphia. md many ol the urtices stolen wcr
| pnwnrd there and IN New York. Nnhen wen
| 70 N.w York, AMI shortly aiterward TO Brook
! lyn. There II" broke into a drug store. Fol
| tins crime he was sent To- the p'ntentiary io
I six months. He WAS pardoned 10y Gov. Robin
son that he might he brought to Norris'owl
| ior trn
The Commonwealth has another witness il
! Frederick W Ho 'hne father OF the murdere'
! man. who came on from Berlin at the espccia
| request of the District Attorney.